It took over a year to come to terms with David Bowie's death. Before that, I was one of the millions who looked at his last full album "Blackstar" as a final statement. Now, and thinking about it, I don't think that was the case. Bowie always wrote about death or a major change in one's life in all of his work. If nothing else, Bowie doesn't give in to the emotional aspect of 'his' life, but more of a reflection on the pathway from one world to the next.
As legend has it, these three songs "No Plan," "Killing a Little Time," and "When I Met You" (including "Lazarus")was recorded during the making of "Blackstar." Even when he was ill, he was thinking ahead with respect to his music and craft. I think Bowie based his lyrics on certain aspects of his life but then goes over it to make the music/narration a larger canvas for him to work on. "Lazarus" is both a song on "Blackstar" as well as the title of his theater piece he co-wrote for the theater. On his album, and video it seems to speak directly about his illness, but in the context of the theater piece, it's about the narration of "Lazarus."
The three 'new' songs are superb and classic Bowie. Written in character with respect to the theater show, it shows that Bowie was thinking ahead, and as much as possible being focused on his art and the overall project that was, or is "Lazarus." Strong melodies, performance and voice, this is not a work of a dying man, but someone who was very much into the moment that's life. When I hear "Blackstar" and the "No Plan EP" it makes me happy that someone can deliver such a powerful work in a situation that couldn't have been pleasant. Bowie is truly a heroic figure.
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