David Bowie Tribute l The BRIT Awards 2016 

When David Bowie passed I lost a friend that I never met.

I can see why David said Lorde was the future, she's different and she's talented just like he was!

Imagine having your hero say that you're the future of music. Imagine performing in his honor, she was probably heartbroken and terrified and yet this is the best performance of her carreer. David is very proud of her, somewhere.

Imagine being 19 and paying tribute to David Bowie - a towering music icon - and singing one of his signature songs in front of his fellow Brits. The immense pressure Lorde must have been under to deliver a memorable performance. And boy did she deliver with such class and style. No gimmicks. No over-the-top props. Someone said that she has the ocean in her eyes, and a hurricane in her heart. Add to this nerves of pure steel.

Being "able to sing" isn't just about belting out high notes and screaming. It's about expressing the voice you have in such a way that it has an affect on the audience, which is something Lorde succeeds in here. Her voice wasn't made to belt, but she has terrific low and mid range. I also love how she, at 19, is the one doing this tribute. Almost like passing on the torch (fyi Bowie already called her the future of music so...what else is there to say). Wonderful performance.

Bowie loved Lorde because she is different, just like he was. She has her own unique style and isnt afraid to show it. I aspire to be like them. Why hate? Its so pointless, you dont gain anything. Rip Bowie, we love you forever 💔👼

Lorde was 19 only here. A true queen.

There’s a reason why David Bowie called Lorde the future of music

I was lucky to have accidentally met David Bowie in philly when I was a teen. Riding my skateboard in philly came around a corner and stopped at small group of people out front of a hotel. I said, holy shit, you're David Bowie! He said to me, and I'll never forget: "You've sussed me copper"... and he got in the limo. I didn't understand what he meant by that for quite a while and didn't get the joke at the time. Never been star struck since, I mean, who beats out meeting Bowie?

David looks down from space and smiles at Lorde for this amazing performance.

"The young lady who David himself said was "The future of music"" Gary Oldman

It's kinda sad to think that David couldn't live to listen to Melodrama one of the best albums of the decade where Lorde showed in fact that she was the future of music. RIP

Lorde's performance was beautiful. I don't understand how people can hate on her. Even Bowie himself thought she was the future of music. And I think so too. Lorde is truly unique, and this performance is not even her best, Pure Heroine was *_amazing_*.

Nicely done lorde. If bowie said she's the future of music, then that's be it.

A shoutout to the band, which was actually Bowie's final touring band. They were part of the Reality tour back in 2003/2004, which was cut short due to Bowie's health and was never resumed. They are Gail Ann Dorsey (bass), Sterling Campbell (drums), Mike Garson (piano), Catherine Russell (keyboards and percussion), Earl Slick and Gerry Leonard (guitars).

She sang just like herself, but captured his essence. David would have loved Melodrama.

why is there so much hate on Lorde here? I really enjoy her voice and music

I think it's very fitting that Lorde chose Life On Mars, because I think she kind of symbolizes the girl Bowie is talking about in the song. A girl with a lonely, detached homelife goes to the movies by herself because her friend didnt show, and uses the silver screen to escape reality, which in Lorde's case would be a microphone obviously. I dunno, to me her performance was great and pretty much encapsilated the feeling and emotion of the song better than anyone I've seen.

8:58 Space Oddity 9:34 Rebel Rebel 9:46 Let's Dance 9:58 Ashes to Ashes 10:06 Ziggy Stardust 10:16 Fame 10:25 Under Pressure 10:31 Heroes 10:48 Life on Mars?

Lorde was brilliant. Bowie was the absolute pinnacle of British musical artistry, innovation and talent. I cannot think of another person who is better. He was and always will be a legend.

Watching his Band playing without him is the saddest thing to watch...

For David Bowie to say that someone is the future of music, I'd say it's impossible to disagree.

man if that was me singing, i don’t think i could’ve gone thirty seconds into it without bawling tears

OMG, I got chills listening to Lorde do justice to one of my very favorite Bowie tunes. David was smiling down on this very talented young lady, saying, well done, I'm sure!

2020, still crying. Miss you Bowie✨

I think this is what he wanted.

Gary Oldman's contribution to this homage to our beloved David Bowie is absolutely gorgeous and deeply touching.

2023 and we’re still missing Bowie. RIP

I still get emotional watching this. :-(

Guys, relax! A tribute is a tribute. You can dress like him (David) or do it with your own style, both are fine cuz the thing is ♡ we all love and miss David

7 years and still tearing up, he will always be missed and never, ever equaled

its took me over 4 yrs to finally be able to watch this whole video

So glad Lorde sang it like Lorde and didn't insult David by trying to copy him....

Love Lorde's voice here. This is the first time I've seen her with straightened hair instead of her trademark big brown curls. She looks good here. I like her smoky metallic eye makeup, too. Bowie and Lorde seem very similar - unique, artsy, intellectual singer-songwriters.

Man David Bowie is literally the definition of icon. A true inspiration. He is one of the best musician ever.

Its 2022 and I still cry like a baby watching this. I never met David Bowie but he was always in my life. I'm so grateful I got to see him with NIN and a few times after. This is a wonderful tribute. Bowie Forever.

An excellent choice of by Lorde. An excellent rendition of a rarely played masterpiece! He would be proud.

Lorde is seven months younger than me, yet she has more talent in a single molecule of her body than I do in my entire body. "Future of music" indeed.

Very emotional to Hear David's band perform this with Lorde.

I'm a Kiwi, so proud that Lorde does as she does. Not only is this so epic, she displays so much beauty as she dose it. A fabulously beautiful young lady carrying the Kiwi flag while representing New Zealand in the recognition of arguably the greatest entertainer EVER

If you want to skip the speeches and go straight to the performance > 8:56

It's been three months and I still can't really believe David is gone.

He's not dead... he's just gone home... :'(

I recently discovered this. I have watched it so many times! Lorde understood the assignment. It wasn’t about her but about honouring Bowie ❤. She did an amazing job at capturing his essence on stage in her own way ❤.

I've never seen this before.. Wonderful tribute... Hard to say goodbye to Bowie. I've been a fan for 40 years. A wonderful wonderful man and artist.

After those tremendously sincere speech, Lorde must have felt so much pressure. Look how she was relieved when music was over. If it were me, I would have had a panic attack, peed in my pants and fainted.

I could tell that this performance was important to her, because she fought to keep her emotions in check during the performance and sang them through her heart instead. She choked back her tears at the end; clearly she loved Bowie very much and I choked back some tears of my own to see that love pouring out of her.

Bought my first Bowie single when I was 10, I'm now 58. I loved him then, I love him now. His music took me through every stage of my life. I was lucky enough to see him live three times and there is nothing to compare to being in the same space as this extraordinary man. The band's medley was fantastic and the vocal was very touching 💜

I don't understand why everyone's hating on Lorde's performance because it honestly sounded flawless to me

Lorde placed a photo of David on her instagram today saying how much she misses him

He’s still alive in my house, in my car and even in my mobile! His music joint me in every step of my life...I still don’t believe that this genius is not in this world anymore! Such a sad thing to know that we never gonna have this music again...(new) but we gonna have gor the eternity his music! His beautiful and amassing music!

He's not dead. He just went home. Kingly duties called✨

I'd pay so much money for Lorde's cover on iTunes

a tribute concert should happen, just like the one that's been done for Freddie

2020 and still hurt 😭

Why the hell is there 2.7k dislikes! Paying tribute to David freaking Bowie a absolute legend

Never seen any better tribute for any artist ever than what Lorde did here.

It's been nearly six months and the thought of David's passing still brings tears to my eyes.

I was working on the Brits in 2016 and was standing just right of the stage for this performance. I'm a huge Bowie fan and wasn't sure if Lorde was the right choice but boy was I wrong she was brilliant!

All these years later this tribute still holds up. Has it really been that long? The Starman did come to meet us... and he did blow our minds...

There is one reason why Lorde took part, and that is because Bowie loved her, and saw her as the future for music, that is why his family wanted her to sing at The Brits. That is all that matters about why she did it. His family, (especially his son) hated Gaga's tribute, and they had nothing to do with it.

Lady Gaga and Lord were an amazing performers. They did a special tribute that make us remember the amazing artist David Bowie was. It's not a competition. They both were very special. R.I.P David Bowie

5 years today since we've lost him... 💔💔💔💔

When she sings “is there life on Mars?” My heart almost stops for a little bit 💚 chills all over my body.

I would do ANYTHING for this cover to be put on Spotify

Gary oldman paying tribute to bowie..... speechless

I remember discussing David Bowie’s passing with my brother, also David, he died too, suddenly on 30th January same year. He too loved David Bowie, it was a really bad year, to lose both in the same month my brother was 67

I still cant believe he has gone , I continue to talk about him in the present and am even today finding new music or mixes of his work that are new to me . Bowie will be relevant forever

See it. This is a respectful tribute to a genius. Not that childish joke they did at the grammys.

and THAT'S how you do a tribute, ladies and gentlemen.

Annie, Gary and Lorde provided exactly that kind of tribute, that an outstanding artist like David Bowie deserves ❤️.

Imagine hearing compliment from legends and then performing in front of them ..... How nervous she must had been in that situation when everyone was looking forward to her who was praised!

Who else watching this in 2019 while crying because yo miss him???

THIS is how a Bowie tribute is done. It wasn't a Las Vegas show. It wasn't about anyone on that stage. The spotlight was only about Bowie, about the man and his music. This tribute was humble, modest, poignant, and simple, hosted by the people that David knew, worked with, loved, and admired. The BRITs did everything right with this. It was perfect.

Wow. Lorde’s voice is amazing in this

I'm so grateful I had the great honor to see David Bowie live three times. I will always love him.

Space Oddity Rebel Rebel Let's Dance Ashes to Ashes Ziggy Stardust Fame Under Pressure Heroes Life on Mars (The Song They Used "Life on Mars" Was My Favourite Song You will be missed David Bowie)

The Brits really know how to honor a legend, and the eloquent Gary Oldman is a class act.

So much pressure but Lorde just delivers everything anyone who loved Bowie would want from a tribute..just wonderful..what an artist. Amazing

His laughter (not just), his cackling laughter of joy was exuberant! His work accompanied my life and I’m better for it. He made the undeniable more understanding. I miss him or waiting for more music/sound/presence of this soul! I miss him today

Gotta say, I just watched this. Gary Oldman was good. Annie Lennox was fine. I thought Lorde did a great job. But y'all are burying the lead. The MOST amazing work here was done by Sterling Campbell on drums, Gail Dorsey on bass, Mike Garson, Gerry Leonard, Catherine Russell, and Earl Slick. These guys hit every groove perfectly. They played four bars of everything and I would have listened to them play 400 bars of everything. They were so tight, so inspired, and I can't imagine how sad it was for them to do it without their friend and frontman.

You can hear the pain in Gary Oldman's voice. He as well as being a friend must have been his biggest fan.

I deeply regret not listening to David Bowie when he was alive. Truly a legend.

Who else has goosebumps? Im never tired of watching this wonderful tribute! 5 years ago #Davidbowieforever

she is so cute, but an amazing voice. David was right about her... RIP David, I will never forget you.

Lorde covered Bowie and Nirvana? This girl is really the future of music

I've watched this video so many times now and love the tributes by Annie and Gary but Lorde's performance is just interstellar! For someone so (relatively) young to take that song and make it her own in such a situation and environment is nothing short of genius! A worthy tribute "the greatest"!

I once visited an art store in San Francisco where the owner mentioned David Bowie was just in the store…..he was taken back by what a wonderful personality David had while he talked with him in his store. It’s one thing to be a very talented musician, but it’s a whole other thing that someone with such incredible talent and fame is so down to earth and friendly with others.

Gary Oldman is such a genuine spirit.

I took his existence for granted. I feel like a fool, why didn't I care when he lived? Now I'm happy that my loved ones are still alive, I will never take anyones existence for granted.

It‘s been years and still I grieve his passing every single day...

Man!! Just now I realized. Gary was Bowie's friend. Bowie didn't want come back to acting but then ... he accepted The Prestige. Gary surely helped Christopher Nolan to get David Bowie for The Prestige.

The Brits got it just right and under an enormous amount of pressure Lorde and Bowie's wonderful band did the great man proud.

Well done Brits. That's how its done. Love to Catherine, Mike, Gail, Gerry, Earl and Sterling. You guys where Bowie's best band. May your memories stay fresh.

2021, still processing it.

I have been a bowie fan since I was 13 now I am 55 . It was the sadest day in my life when the starman left this world. There will never ever be someone like him again and I am glad he lived in my era.this tribute was a honour to a great man. That when he was on telly everyone had to watch he was uneasul in every way. This is what made him a icon .

I don't understand why 1,620 people, can dislike this? Its a tribute, to a man who was/is an icon, a legend, will live forever threw his music .... a "tribute to his life" .....

imagine the pressure on lorde here

This is the first time I've heard Lourde sing. I found this performance incredibly moving💔

Bowie, was/is the sound of my childhood, like so many artist his music was the soundtrack to the memories I made, and even now his music is timeless and will always be unique. RIP my memory maker.