I awoke on Monday, Jan. 11, and out of bad habit, checked my phone before I rose out of bed to start my day. I usually come across nothing special, but that morning I was shocked and disheartened to read that David Bowie, a man I grew up knowing and loving, passed away due to cancer. Bowie is one of the most significant figures in music history, establishing the beginning of his career as the androgynous glam rock character, Ziggy Stardust. He continued his unique career reinventing himself as different roles, combining his love of theatrics and rock 'n’ roll. Bowie left a mark that no other man could make and taught us life lessons that we will never forget. Here are just a few of them.
1. Don’t be afraid to be a pioneer.
“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring."
David Bowie showed an interest in music from the early age of 13. When he began his career, though, he was unsuccessful. So, he decided to take a quick hiatus and return to the stage in 1969 with “Space Oddity” (inspired by Kubrick’s "2001: A Space Odyssey") and "The Man Who Sold The World" just one year later. His music was contemporary and unusual, consisting of inspiration from outer space. It was when Ziggy Stardust was created a couple of years later, though, that Bowie was defined as a music pioneer.
Never before had musicians dressed up as different personas; it was something that the world was not used to. It was rare for a rock 'n’ roll artist to stray from the genre considering it was still relatively new at that time. His actions deemed successful because he took a risk that paid off greatly. He was one of the few musicians that inspired the future glam pop-rock era, and artists such as Prince and Madonna say that without Bowie’s inventiveness they would have never become stars. So, don’t be afraid to take a risk, especially when it comes to your career -- risk takers are always the ones who gain the most benefits.
2. Constantly experiment.
"I mean, my whole life is made up of experimentation, curiosity, and anything that seemed at all appealing,"
David Bowie would have never been famous if he had not experimented with his career options and strived to create a name for himself. When Bowie started out unsuccessful, he believed the only way to have his music heard by the public was to stand out of the crowd. He took multiple short hiatuses figuring out who he wanted to become next, and over his career went through thirteen stages as different characters, the last being himself with Blackstar. This lesson applies to young individuals struggling to figure out the future. It is necessary to experiment with new opportunities. Joining clubs, trying new hobbies, applying to different types of jobs, and even registering for interesting classes can help guide you. From there, you can figure out what appeals to you and thus create your own path, but you can't do that without experimenting first.
3. Never stop creating.
"What I have is a malevolent curiosity. That's what drives my need to write and what probably leads me to look at things a little askew."
David Bowie was always creating new characters for the stage in the '60s and '70s, as well as constantly writing beautiful lyrics and producing legendary rock and pop anthems without ever stopping. He was in a perpetual state of curiosity and imaginativeness. It is important to do something creative on a daily basis -- write in a notebook, doodle on your Calculus notes, play an instrument, or think of ways to decorate your room like that photo you found on Tumblr last year. Having the mind flow with ideas is imperative to the creativity process, as creativity causes us to become holistic thinkers with valuable skills that are important for every type of relationship. For Bowie, this relationship was with his fans. He created Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, the Thin White Duke, and Halloween Jack, and his personas will live on eternally. Design, produce, innovate, inspire.
4. Do what you love.
“Make the best of every moment. We’re not evolving. We’re not going anywhere.”
Bowie simply loved music and couldn’t imagine himself doing anything else. In countless interviews, he describes how his career was long and successful because he does what he loves, and that love for your work results in true authenticity and happiness. If you are reflecting on your life currently and find you are not truly happy with your place in the world, change your path. Quit your job. Travel. Again, experiment and create. Life is simply not worth living if you are miserable, and like Bowie, everyone has the potential to be successful by doing what they love.
5. Collaborate with others.
"But I'm pretty good with collaborative thinking. I work well with other people."
Bowie is defined by his individuality, but he also created successful work by collaborating on projects. Bowie wrote lyrics, sang, and played multiple instruments all in a breathtaking manner, yet he had musicians Tony Visconti on bass and Mick Ronson on electric guitar on two of his most famous albums, "Hunky Dory" and "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" and "The Spiders From Mars."
In 1972, Bowie collaborated with Lou Reed to create Reed’s "Transformer." With Iggy Pop, Bowie wrote and produced the iconic hit “Heroes.” And perhaps most famously, Bowie worked closely with Freddie Mercury and Queen to produce “Under Pressure,” one of the most well-loved rock songs of all time. While collaborating, though, Bowie never strayed from his originality and maintained his individualism. Collaborating and working with others is a necessary life skill, for no one goes through life alone. Work produced by people working together usually deems effective, professional, and in the end more rewarding.
6. Most importantly, be yourself.
"I'm just an individual who doesn't feel that I need to have somebody qualify my work in any particular way. I'm working for me."
I know, I know -- this is quite possibly the most cliché phrase out there. “Be yourself.” You hear it from your parents, your role models, and your teachers. You see it on the canvas art sold at T. J. Maxx, or on the bulletin boards in the hallways of your dorm. It is certainly overused, yet that doesn’t deem it untrue. David Bowie wasn’t always playing himself on stage, but he did not succumb to society’s expectations of what music should sound like and what a musician should look like. He created his own path in the music industry, took risks, and proved that there is nothing stronger than individuality. So, simply put, be yourself. Believe me -- it’ll get you noticed.
Rest in peace, Spaceman.
