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Bowie

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About this listen

Simon Critchley first encountered David Bowie in the early '70s, when the singer appeared on Britain's most-watched music show, Top of the Pops. His performance of "Starman" mesmerized Critchley: it was "so sexual, so knowing, so strange". Two days later Critchley's mum bought a copy of the single; she liked both the song and the performer's bright orange hair (she had previously been a hairdresser). The seed of a lifelong love affair was thus planted in the mind of her son, aged 12.

In this concise and engaging excursion through the songs of one of the world's greatest pop stars, Critchley, whose writings on philosophy have garnered widespread praise, melds personal narratives of how Bowie lit up his dull life in southern England's suburbs with philosophical forays into the way concepts of authenticity and identity are turned inside out in Bowie's work. The result is nearly as provocative and mind-expanding as the artist it portrays.

©2014 Simon Critchley (P)2014 Audible Inc. History & Criticism Music Celebrity

Critic reviews

"Critchley lovingly unearths profoundly deep cuts from every Bowie era in a short sharp book worthy of its subject. Miraculously doubles up as an introduction to philosophy." (Gruff Rhys, member of Super Furry Animals)
"The most powerful and provocative philosopher now writing..." (Cornel West)
"A truly inspiring voice..." (PopMatters)
All stars
Most relevant
This book is about a wonderful entertainer, Simon Critchley obviously admired David Bowie and his work. I found his book, a bit deep. I think i need to sit and listen to it again, without doing mundane jobs at the same time, to really appreciate it.

A bit deep

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better than the volumes and volumes of journalistic twaddle out there. knows of what he speaks

he's gettin it

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I'm of the age that Bowie was a known fact but too young for me to follow. And British punk rock wasn't my jam. This was rather interesting.

Interesting

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Adetsiled account of the music of the great David Bowie. A very person perspective on each song and what they mean to the author and the journey of the music.

Bowie the music

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