What is it, in your opinion, that makes David Bowie a great artist?
I've been listening to his music for a while now and I've come to 2 conclusions:
1. The actual songwriting, in the sense of musical composition, is not amazing, except for a handful of songs. If you strip the production aside most of his songs are just workmanlike but not brilliant. There are exceptions though; Ziggy Stardust, Rebel Rebel, Modern Love, Under Pressure, Heroes, etc.
2. He's not really a great singer either. His voice is just kinda dull.
Yet a lot of people think he's great and I agree.
I've come to the conclusion that David Bowie's best strength as an artist was mainly on the conceptual level. He was a great lyricist and his albums always invoked all these interesting vague characters who were never fully explained but somehow felt compelling.
>2. He's not really a great singer either. His voice is just kinda dull. completely wrong
Thomas Richardson
Every Bowie release was fresh and different from everything, and each one usually had an interesting and "revolting" theme.
David Perez
Maybe he isn't a great singer in a traditional sense, but I would hardly say his voice is dull. So many of his choruses are so cathartic because of how passionate he gets singing them
Jose Sullivan
>OP listens to bowie after listening to almost half a century of bowie-influenced bands >"he doesnt sound that great guys whats the big deal"
Landon Moore
kys
Caleb Campbell
Listen to this album with an open mind, without scrutinizing every detail, then come back.
Benjamin Bailey
100% True
Jaxon Thomas
Bowie's a pretentious fag People think theatricality = artiness but except for the Berlin trilogy he made manufactured adult pop music Like every manufactured pop star he pretends to be geniuine and artsy and stupid people lap it up because they can't judge music without signs and symbols telling them what to think Just like how people think Grimes and Bjork are "smart pop" because they're not very catchy and know how to use reverb
Joshua Russell
to be so young and naive
Aaron Gutierrez
To be so young and naive Nigga you're the one who knows shit
Jack Lee
"nigga" idk how to respond to your reply
Angel King
Well then you're a retard and I'm right.
Gabriel Fisher
bowei's strongest stuff are his songwriting, voice, and his melodic sense
that man had one hell of a melodic ear
Jacob Long
No you just made no sense. I called you naive and then you told me I "know shit" instead of defending your self. So your only argument is that i'm a supposed retard.
Colton Smith
Knowing shit meaning that you don't know shit Are you 60 or something Refute my opinion.
Jaxson Cook
I didnt know "People think theatricality = artiness..." was an opinion, it sounded more like a false fact.
Matthew Rogers
Why do you disagree with me?
Robert Thomas
I simply called you naive.
Kevin Watson
His voice isn't dull at all. One man being able to perform both Rebel Rebel and Life on Mars is pretty special.
The songs you cited as having more complex composition do not make sense. Rebel Rebel, Ziggy Stardust, and Under Pressure are all pretty simple structurally and instrumentally. Those songs are exceptional because of the textures, vocal talent, and details. They are pretty basic songs though.
As others said, his releases are pretty damn fresh. I think his ideas of rock n roll, rock, pop, and electronic music were always a couple more steps evolved that his peers. It gave his music an extra dimension.
Christian Torres
K dude whatevs
Jose Richardson
maybe he was meming
Liam Ross
yeah i honestly dont feel like pointlessly arguing
Gabriel Ramirez
yea OP used some really shitty examples, the structure of those songs is very basic
if you want to see bowie's great ability of how to structure a song i can just say life on mars or five years
Christian Sullivan
>pretends to be geniuine He literally called his own music "plastic soul". People caring about how authentic music is has always been a 99% bullshit criticism. He knew that then and it's still true. Good music is good, regardless of how "manufactured" it is
Jaxson Barnes
His music is manufactured and cheesy and cliche It's manufactured and bad because of it
Cooper Foster
>signs and symbols telling them what to think Didn't rolling stone pan most of his work? He was successful and is still highly regarded based on the quality and uniqueness of his work. It's really that simple. You are essentially blaming an artist because you perceive his fanbase as being stupid, which has nothing to do with the actual work he released.
Elijah Morales
>cliche
what the fuck?
Blake Young
>Didn't rolling stone pan most of his work? He was successful and is still highly regarded based on the quality and uniqueness of his work. It's really that simple. You are essentially blaming an artist because you perceive his fanbase as being stupid, which has nothing to do with the actual work he released. Yes I suppose you're right, he was popular so he must be good. brb gonna go listen to some Nickelback what the fuck?
Ayden Lopez
Even Life on Mars is simple structurally. It's just very dramatic with how the piano/vocals grow and how well the guitar and violins are introduced.
Camden Butler
How do you make music without manufacturing it? What is non-manufactured music? Just music in which the artist didn't care enough to take their time with it?
Jaxson King
You know what I mean faggot His music is the type of soulless conveyor belt rock and every note is made to impress easily impressed retards
Samuel Reed
How did I say this: >his music is still highly regarded based on the quality and uniqueness of his work
and you responded with this: Yes I suppose you're right, he was popular so he must be good
I didn't bring his popularity up at all.
Jason Phillips
Then why don't more people do it? He is widely beloved, critically acclaimed, and made some nice money. If what he did is so easy, then why don't more people do it and attain his stature in music? And if what he did is not easy enough to be replicated, then why is it something you're shitting on?
Jason Martinez
>successful meaning popularity you fucking cum dumpster And what does it matter that his music is "highly regarded". Highly regarded by idiots who don't know shit about music. Not me. Because David Bowie was symptomatic of the growing pains of American society into the postmodern era imo There will never be someone like him because there are easier ways to get where he was at Plus rock and music hall/cabaret are dead
Leo King
>faggot
cum dumpster
lel
William Perez
>He's not really a great singer
>I've never listened to Fantastic Voyage
Jordan Brooks
wtf I love bowie now
Adrian Kelly
>Highly regarded by idiots who don't know shit about music. Not me.
Well I think you're an idiot for NOT liking Bowie
Checkmate
Levi Murphy
>not seeing why David Bowie is special
Hudson Anderson
Wow what a good well reasoned intelligent argument friendo I am now officially a fan of le thin white faggot
Michael Flores
Glad we could agree
Nolan Johnson
Why is he special? Explain it to me. Of course, like Doors fans, Bowie fans can never quite articulate WHY he's such a genius. It's just an unspoken agreement that he is.
Hunter Morris
lel no one cares if you like him. It's fine not to like any artist. You tried trolling a thread and were destroyed anyway.
Brandon Bailey
Take gun Point head Pull trigger
Dylan Garcia
How was I destroyed? Bowie is still shit and nobody has refuted any of my points.
Jayden Ortiz
No artist has had as big an impact on the rock singer as a visual/as many good albums/simply a career play out like his did
Wyatt Garcia
Woah he had a unique career Well so does every artist, what's your point nigger
Mason Brown
>bowie-influenced bands name one just one
ill wait
Robert Reed
>Bowie fans can never quite articulate WHY he's such a genius
Except for here:
I don't know how any fan of any musician can articulate why very well because of how visceral music is, but these are as decent as any other analysis I ever see on Sup Forums.
I will just say that if Bowie never existed, there would not be anything close to filling the void of music he left. No other career had a unique take on so many different styles. If a band like Boston or REO Speedwagon never existed, they wouldn't really be missed. Other bands do pretty much the exact same thing those bands did well enough. No one would really come close to the unique output of Bowie if his music disappeared.
Daniel Myers
You still haven't defined what non-manufactured music is. You just said "you know what i mean faggot". You seem to think that trying to impress people is a negative trait.
Connor Bell
They never explained why he was a genius beyond "he made le good pop music" Well then Rihanna and Drake are geniuses too, right? And his music isn't good. >I will just say that if Bowie never existed, there would not be anything close to filling the void of music he left. No other career had a unique take on so many different styles. If a band like Boston or REO Speedwagon never existed, they wouldn't really be missed. Other bands do pretty much the exact same thing those bands did well enough. No one Holy shit this is a revelation if guy didn't exist guy's music wouldn't exist either????? Woah
Alexander Evans
Nine Inch Nails
Not that they're my favorite, but it's an obvious one.
Sebastian Martinez
Ah yes I know it. I've been there. When you just KNOW you've lost the argument you resort to >but what even is words man? Just define ur terms that everyone knows the meanings to! It's OK, even Bill Clinton did it
Michael Collins
>They never explained why he was a genius beyond "he made le good pop music" The word "pop" was mentioned once in all of those posts. You are just desperate;y grasping at anything now.
>Holy shit this is a revelation if guy didn't exist guy's music wouldn't exist either?
The point is that his music and career were uncommon and far more singular than your average pop or rock act. Do you not agree the some music is more typical and common than other music?
Juan Clark
And that's worse than turning into a middle schooler and using faggot and cum dumpster to try to make a point? Even decent trolls don't do that. It gives it all away mang
Brody Phillips
i can't believe i'm sitting here explaining the appeal of a star as fucking ubiquitous as David Bowie but hey the world is a wacky place
Name one artist who has done all of these things simultaneously >Had upwards of 10 great albums >Had 5 albums that have become iconic in the canon >Is an utter pop star yet writes and arranges every note of the music >Has a ridiculous ear for catchy hooks that has been proven by immense chart success and turnouts of thousands at their shows >Has had a career of 40+ years >Made 3 serious stylistic shifts in succession during the peak of very high popularity >Has an idiosyncratic, evocative, ineffable singing voice (subjective but millions of people are of this opinion) >Epitomized the rock singer as a visual >Brought a decidedly queer sense of fashion to an unsuspecting mainstream audience and still managed to find a confident footing >Brought an angle of art music to a pop context (Low) (lots of people have done this but they haven't done all of these other things)
Christopher Young
>the world is a wacky place
Kevin Perry
>The word "pop" was mentioned once in all of those posts. You are just desperate;y grasping at anything now. >yo-you're mad user! They said he made good music not good pop music! It's the same thing you negroid >The point is that his music and career were uncommon and far more singular than your average pop or rock act. Do you not agree the some music is more typical and common than other music? Who cares if he was "singular"? Brokenycde has had a singular career in music too Well then good thing I'm not a troll But he hasn't had 10 great albums His art rock is fake and sterile and boring, as is his regular rock It doesn't matter how catchy his music when he had such a dubious talent for theatricality and literacy even though that's what made his music so le unique xD
Landon White
>don't use the word faggot on Sup Forums it's offensive!
Christian Wright
>fake
So you can't tell us what manufactured music is so you moved onto calling it fake? You sound like an pissy14 year old.
>Faggot! >Cum dumpster >lol I don't have to say what I mean >negroid >his music is so fake
Take a step back there Holden Caulfield. There is still life after getting ditched at prom.
Cooper Diaz
Bowies probably my favorite artist and I think hes revered for his songwriting and performances. Id disagree completely that hes a mediocre singer. Sons of The Silent Age and Life on Mars are two of the best vocal performances Ive ever heard just loaded with emotion. Beyond that his albums were always tight and cohesive and always had very little fat although they all had some
John Cooper
I never said don't use it faggot. Just that he should pair it with an actual argument or else he sounds like a retard.
Luis Sanchez
Okay then. Who would you say is a superior artist to Bowie. Preferably someone related to pop music so we can make a decent comparison. Who is your ideal artist? Or closest example of ideal?
Owen Collins
Wow I'm in awe ur so mature I'm sure you've never used any of the naugty words on the Sup Forums! So much intelligence! Well guess what you sound like a retards
Also why is everyone so mad that I don't like Bowie? Why is it such an issue that you have to argue with me over my obviously correct opinion?
Oliver Sanchez
This discussion is about Bowie you faggot. Stop trying to derail it.
Bentley Moore
>Why is it such an issue that you have to argue with me over my obviously correct opinion? Why the fuck is anyone on this website. It's a waste and everyone knows it.
Jose Walker
lel you're a fuckboi
/thread
Carter Richardson
Scary Monsters Low Young Americans Heroes Let's Dance Station to Station
listen to all of those and skip the rest.
Ayden Bennett
I dunno user why are you on this website?
Brayden Rodriguez
alright this is a lost cause, shame we couldn't convince our friend to consider our view
if anything, responding to him reminded me of pic related which i'm now listening to
Easton Butler
What a comeback Woah I'm heavily burned user pls don't hurt me no more
Logan Wright
Your a pretentious fag "My taste is so good and everyone else is stupid"
Benjamin Rodriguez
Have you done your daily Lodger listening yet?
William Hughes
Bob Dylan and Tom Waits. One of whom was a very big influence on Bowie when he started out.
>Ziggy Stardust, Rebel Rebel, Modern Love, Under Pressure, Heroes
How are these any more accomplished in terms of composition than his other songs? Those are some of his most straightforward pop songs, if anything.
Xavier Perez
MGMT Talking Heads
James Brown
>why is everyone mad that I don't like Bowie >is angry at everyone who likes Bowie
Hudson Rogers
Bowie died
Adrian Rogers
I have to disagree. For me, Bowie is all about the songs. I've never really loved his production, he uses way too many effects and it usually sounds tacky and dated. I don't really care for the costumes and, to be honest, the lyrics. But I adore his harmonies and melodies; I think most of them are brilliant.
Samuel Watson
You mean like the copyright issue is not such an issue?
Sebastian Ross
Yes, a ten minute long funk kraut song is definitely cliched i mean who doesn’t do that
Levi Fisher
There's a NWS content, and no janitor does shit about it.
Juan Hernandez
I dont understand why he is such a big thing. I never have listened to much western music and never will, but I guess he is "alright". He seems to be one of those guys who happened to make something right in the right time period when everything wasnt done to death already. Then he reached memestatus and became really popular. I will say this though, the lyrics are often quite something.
As a complete movie-burger, I can say for sure that the movies he is in are goddamn garbage and I am very lenient with movies. He just doesnt have anything to offer on screen, but his music is alright atleast.
Jordan Foster
My Chemical Romance
Hunter Watson
>2. He's not really a great singer either. His voice is just kinda dull.
Julian Harris
this
Jason Clark
He's goddamn perfect.
It's like he's a literal alien. Different eye colors, bizarre outfit, etc. This guy turned his death into goddamn art.
HE'S A STARMAAAAN WAITING IN THE SKY
Isaac Fisher
I honestly started listening to Bowie with Black Star. I don't know what it is about that album but it's amazing. It's caused me to go back and really appreciate his eye and ear for music. He may not be the greatest ever but he is one of the greats.