After hearing the first released song, Where Are We Now?, from David Bowie's 2013 album "The Next Day," I only initially sampled a couple of the other songs from it, and decided I wasn't going to like this work very much. I just couldn't find the melody in Where Are We Now?
Later I did find the easy, simple swing-song melody, and began to really appreciate the skill of that song.
Then sometime later I happened across Valentine's Day on YouTube, and found it quite appealing. I thought, "What a nice little jaunty tune." I listened to the song a couple of times before I listened to the lyrics. The morbid theme literally gave me a sort of sick feeling.
Valentine told me who's to go
Feelings he's treasured most of all
The teachers and the football star
It's in his tiny face
It's in his scrawny hand
Valentine told me so
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's Day
The rhythm of the crowd
Teddy and Judy down
Valentine sees it all
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's Day
Valentine told me how he'd feel
If all the world were under his heel
Or stumbling through the mall
It's in his tiny face
It's in his scrawny hand
Valentine knows it all
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's Day
Valentine Valentine
Valentine Valentine
It's in his scrawny hand
It's in his icy heart
It's happening today
Valentine Valentine
It's in his scrawny hand
It's in his icy heart
It's happening today
Valentine Valentine
So after that, when I would listen to the song, I would just change the lyrics to something happier. I often change the lyrics in my head when I like the tune but don't care for the words. I have no qualms about creating my own world -- indeed, I consider it one of my primary responsibilities.
And it was just earlier this week that I realized that the Parkland, FL, shooting happened on Valentine's Day. So I thought of David Bowie's song.
I've always considered Bowie a genius. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he might have been more of a genius than I have recognized. I can't help but recall how I felt in January 2016, 2 days after hearing that he had released a new album, being stunned by the news that he had died. For reasons that I cannot explain, I didn't even finish the article but went immediately to YouTube to hear what he had just released. Of course, I clicked on Lazarus, whose first line begins: "Look at me, I'm in heaven."
OK, dude, I'm looking. I'm looking at everything a little closer.
Later I did find the easy, simple swing-song melody, and began to really appreciate the skill of that song.
Then sometime later I happened across Valentine's Day on YouTube, and found it quite appealing. I thought, "What a nice little jaunty tune." I listened to the song a couple of times before I listened to the lyrics. The morbid theme literally gave me a sort of sick feeling.
Valentine told me who's to go
Feelings he's treasured most of all
The teachers and the football star
It's in his tiny face
It's in his scrawny hand
Valentine told me so
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's Day
The rhythm of the crowd
Teddy and Judy down
Valentine sees it all
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's Day
Valentine told me how he'd feel
If all the world were under his heel
Or stumbling through the mall
It's in his tiny face
It's in his scrawny hand
Valentine knows it all
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's Day
Valentine Valentine
Valentine Valentine
It's in his scrawny hand
It's in his icy heart
It's happening today
Valentine Valentine
It's in his scrawny hand
It's in his icy heart
It's happening today
Valentine Valentine
So after that, when I would listen to the song, I would just change the lyrics to something happier. I often change the lyrics in my head when I like the tune but don't care for the words. I have no qualms about creating my own world -- indeed, I consider it one of my primary responsibilities.
And it was just earlier this week that I realized that the Parkland, FL, shooting happened on Valentine's Day. So I thought of David Bowie's song.
I've always considered Bowie a genius. Now I'm beginning to wonder if he might have been more of a genius than I have recognized. I can't help but recall how I felt in January 2016, 2 days after hearing that he had released a new album, being stunned by the news that he had died. For reasons that I cannot explain, I didn't even finish the article but went immediately to YouTube to hear what he had just released. Of course, I clicked on Lazarus, whose first line begins: "Look at me, I'm in heaven."
OK, dude, I'm looking. I'm looking at everything a little closer.