David Bowie released his first song in 10 years last month with the
pre-release single "Where Are We Now?" The first single to be taken
from Bowie's upcoming 24th studio album The Next Day. One month later and
he raised the stakes once again with the second track, "The
Stars (Are Out Tonight)". It's just a shame this 'new' Bowie track fails
to match the Berlin trilogy-esque "Where Are We Now?" At the tender
age of 66, Bowie isn't quite ready to quit. He could have quit while he was
ahead in the late 80s, but thankfully (unfortunately to some) he's still
releasing music, and even after a 10 year break his age bears no means on his
output.
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" will be released alongside
"Where Are We Now?" as a double A-side for this year’s Record Store
Day. This once entirely independent unique day has been somewhat manufactured, with Jack White the next in line from a string of 'ambassadors'
that have included Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osborne and Josh Homme. Some artists, more
importantly record labels now see this day as an opportunity to sell records,
advertise and promote with PR, rather than focus on what the day is actually
about.. As Jack White said in his Record Store Day manifesto: "Let's
wake each other up."
"The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" isn't quite the follow-up single I
was expecting from Bowie. You may have gathered from my negative inclination
above, this isn't what I want to hear. Let's start with the subject
matter. Bowie's lyrics have always been an oddity, metaphorical but sometimes literal,
like what we have here. Celebrities are at large in the western world, and
Bowie is one of the biggest music related celebrities in British history. He knows what
it's like to be famous, because he is famous. This is about the outsider’s
perception of celebrities, or as Bowie calls them: "Stars." I
think he has his realism mixed up, for instance he rightfully sings: "Stars
are never sleeping; the dead ones are the living." A correct
lyric, however I personally wouldn't use 'the' in this lyric, it takes the
mystery out of the lyrics. He goes on to sing: "They are the stars,
they're dying for you, but I hope they live forever." I'm sure
he's referencing celebrities that have died from pressure, drug use, anything
to do with fame and attention. The first part is wrong in my eyes, the stars
are not dying for their onlookers, they’re dying because of their own self monetary
gain, unless they gathered their fame from mummy or daddy. The second part to
this lyric is Bowie wanting those that are famous (more directly musicians)
that have died, to live forever, which they will, as Liam Gallagher once
profoundly put it.
I'm a fan of Bowie, I really am, but this is the simplicity you find in every chant at football matches up and down the country. From the raw basic lyrics to the
dull rock instrumentation, "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" just makes
me want to forget it has Bowie's name attatched to it. Sometimes critics / fans can't
turn against their favourites, but they should do. "The Stars (Are Out
Tonight)" doesn’t show any signs of improvement in Bowie's sound.
"Where Are We Now?" was and will be the Bowie single that could of regenerated
his music career, that's what I thought one month ago. Bowie has shot himself
in the foot with this one. Strip away the strings and the studio enhanced
equipment and you have a generic back album track for Noel Gallagher's
High Flying Birds. Fans of Bowie, critics, friends... Let's wake
each other up.
~Eddie
