Well stated. Bowie belongs to that rarefied class of popular talent unafraid of trying new paths and courses they feel might lead to aesthetic sublimity. Sure, not all these journeys turned up gold or even silver, but they made one appreciate their boldness and lack of fear of failing all the same. Us aesthetes gained so much from David's myriad explorations to the limits of artistic expression!
Indeed. Paul Simon and David Bowie were two of the greatest songwriters of their generation. So inspiring to watch this lovely, talented man honor his fellow musician.
the man was a genius.. a beautiful rendition and what balls to play this song as the opener to a televised charity concert.. he has so many hidden treasures in both live performances and rare album tracks... bless him
In tears there is such beauty in the understated. Only David would flip the expected. And what does he do. This. An absolute gem. And I miss him my heart still aches
This just sent me spiraling into tears. I miss normal. I miss Bowie. I miss what America used to be. The way he does this pulled every heartstring this morning… My transcendent, lovely Prince Bowie… how the world misses your genius…😪🙏🏽🎶
"the moon rose over an empty field" gets me every time. Pure genius...I think I am always expecting the "look for America" line and the detail is so beautiful. Testament to Simon & Garfunkel writing/music and Bowie's interpretation.
“counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike, they’ve all come to look for America”. What a profound line. At 71, I too miss what America used to be. Maybe I should get in my car and look for it, but I’m scared it’s not there anymore - and even more scared it’s not coming back.
As a lifelong Bowie fan, I am disappointed that I have heard this for the first time in 2023. I recall a review of "Cat People" where the critic said David could sing a shopping list and make it a hit. This is simply sublime and made all the better for him singing in the London accent of his younger days. Beautiful.
@@rorymacgowan4541 Thanks, Rory. I am always happy to listen to David singing anything live. A true talent who never needed electronic augmentation for that fantastic voice.
I love Bowie's rendition of this song. It's profoundly sad and describes that horrible feeling we all have had when you are trying to act like nothing is wrong but you are completely shattered inside.
I will never forget that day - seeing the tower fall from a train - and i will never forget this opening song at the 911 concert at MSG. I was never a big Bowie fan, and he came out playing this crazy little contraption whatever it was - doing this Simon & Garfunkel song - and just set the whole tone that this was going to be a serious and very heavy night of music, pain and hope.
@@Charleybones I own three different models - OM27, OM84, OM200M - each with different sounds and functions. Pro musicians (and nutty obsessives) do this sort of thing! :-)
I was there also! When *THIS* was the opening song, performed this way, we *KNEW* that we were in for an amazingly special, emotional, and unique show. We were both lucky to be there!
@@belyndamorris2236 Well, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks for letting me know. I have been so busy writing, recording, and publicizing my own music that I frequently get too caught up in the business. Take care!
Incredible. The emotion in that song alone - PLUS the emotion surrounding the context of the performance - is almost too much to bear. That man was a gift to the planet.
Where is this genius we have need of his wisdom. Our Country was so united after the 9/11 terrorist attack now some 19 years later I listen to this and cry. We can all do better some way some how
One of my all time favs! David Bowie’s incredibly understated artistic live performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” This to me is classic Bowie performance art stripping away all musical props and zoning in stripping the veil of musical form and familiar expectations revealing through his unique intimate delivery the complex layered mixed emotions of worn hope and buried despair while trying to maintain visibly undefeated unaffected. We miss you David!
America was gone by the time I got there from the UK .Now I’m lost ,like Cathy , I guess it’s part of the ageing process . Life is memories , the only reality is the present and that flies past so fast , you’ve not time to take it all in
My favorite Simon and Garfunkel song, covered by my favorite artist, what more can I hope for. I’m so glad to have been alive for all of Bowie’s amazing career. His many different styles, his paintings, his acting & his music, David Bowie, Forever our Black ⭐️
In all of his genres, and I'm old enough to have lived through them all, he is just mesmerizing and it's always, just him, indescribable. Talent, intelligence and those eyes. Let us be lovers, we'll marry our fortunes together. I love the romance between he and his Cathy. Picture a very young couple so in love, wanting to go on a lark to get away from it all to be alone with each other. Destination doesn't matter, the experience of it does.
@@dkjazzz Suffragatte City! Wish I had a Time Machine and we could all go back. Also his accent is so charming. I love how he says And the moon rose over an open field. I never appreciated this song so much until his rendition. Can't you just visualize better his way? I boarded a couple of Greyhounds back in the 70's and can relate to that whole experience. Darn, those were great times. Young and head full of dreams.
Its so strange that i miss David Bowie. I never met him, I never even saw him live. Lets dance was the first Bowie album i bought and from there i searched out each of the older one's. Its so strange to feel a loss for someone i didnt know. As far as i can remember i havent heard this before. Its an absolute gem. Thanks for unloading
Sometimes when you hear a song, even when it's the original you just don't get it. ....and then, sometimes, someone makes it all so clear. !! Well done David 👏
Can you imagine Paul McCartney being able to do this? Or Roger Waters? Or Mick Jagger? Bruce Springsteen? Bowie brings something else to his arrangements. There's an otherworldly quality, a beauty. Possibly the greatest pop musician of the twentieth century and beyond.
What a voice - saw him with my son at Birmingham NEC - every song was awesome - great to have been alive with him on planet - and to have seen him live was a pleasure- RIP David - a true gent and talent
Beautiful interpretation..brings a whole new depth and meaning to the tune, it's got that tinge of sadness to it , along with love. ..thank you David ❤️
David, since you've gone, we're empty and aching and we DO know why! Your love, mercy, compassion, and humanity are needed more now than ever in these troubled times. At least we still have your music, but how we miss your warmth and friendship!!!
@ I'm pretty sure my comment had a reason and made sense at the time, I don't know why 3 people would've upvoted it if it made no sense, but I have no idea what your comment looked like at the time as you seem to have edited it and can't make sense of my comment in the present context.
Was the original version nationalistic? What makes it "nationalistic"? Curious why you would say that?
3 года назад
@@fobbitguy Well, maybe the confusion is in the word I used - "hymn", rather than national anthems, which are generally nationalistic, as opposed to Simon's lyrics. Therefore, why sing “America”? Well, the title was a good applause line for 9/11 context and Bowie “was looking for something which really evoked feelings of bewilderment and uncertainty, because for me that’s how that particular period really felt. And I really thought that Paul Simon’s song in this new context really captured that,” he said in a November 2001 web-chat. So, it seems like the reverse side of a hymn/anthem, certainly in tones of dystopia, but with a strange hope/hopelessness feeling on the search for "America".
He was outof my time ,zone , so I didnot really know much about his abilities . How wrong I was . This performance is so simple and no adornment needed . Beyond brilliant .
I remember this with the concert or New York. It was one of the most fitting, touching songs that represented our country that was the ultimate dream from outside countries. We had unity then, a feeling of togetherness, and we hugged our neighbors kept all of her family and friends close to our breasts. David Bowie represents so much more than the singer. He represents what we all should be and that is represented through his iconic music. .Rest in peace David Bowie Ziggy Stardust . Houy are now amongst the creation of this country. When stars are aligning the universe they are all part of us in our DNA when they burn out they they crash is meteorites do they spread DNA and all other elements of the Earth. You already knew that and that is why you chose the name stardust. You shine bright amongst us we connect us with Earth and you'll never be gone
I cannot imagine the emotional impact thst this performance had on a live audience. Here he is David bowie, so raw and vulnerable, singing AMERICA with just a small keypad organ.. wow! What an absolute treat! And LOSS of performance talent. 😢
America. Haunting to remember this time and events. To those that don’t know, this was so important for us. We are still losing those who served as first responders. Peace and respect.
For me part of David's appeal is the unabashed use of his accent. Whereas so many Brits accents go by the wayside when they sing, Bowie embraces it. Thanks be that I was born at the time needed to be able to appreciate this icon. ✌
