Can Ziggy still play guitar? | Christine Cusack

David Bowie has undoubtedly inspired generations of musicians both past and present, but is his latest offering up to scratch? Christine Cusack gives her opinion.

 David Bowie incorporates everything that was the late twentieth century. His name triggers ideas of outlandish popular culture. His face, or the face of his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, is not just plastered across the chests of many adults of that generation, but younger generations of music lovers choose to wear the t-shirt too. The iconic image I’m referring to is of course the flame haired dare devil with the lightning bolt shooting across his face, a favourite amongst many high street brands. Famous for his ever-changing image, he never hesitated to put himself out there, inspiring artists and the general public to take risks. His songs acted as a social commentary of the time, with many focusing on youth culture (‘Rebel Rebel’). Others were more eccentric, mainly due to his experimentation of classified substances (‘Space Oddity’). However, now that Bowie has swapped his narcotics for back pills, can he still be the same awe-inspiring revolutionary artist?His new single, ‘Where Are We Now’, was released on 8 January. It’s the first single of his first album in ten years, entitled ‘The Next Day’, to be released later this year. The single is a love song of sorts, though Bowie manages to steer clear of the love song cliché by dipping into darker themes, the repetition of the phrase “walking the dead” dims the mood. The true meaning behind the lyrics is difficult to conceive. Maybe he’s acknowledging his own mortality, he is sixty-six and this single was released on his birthday, or maybe he’s just trying to keep his music unique. This single is certainly distinctive. The sound is unlike anything else dominating the pop charts at the moment. It’s simple but the lyrics suggest a lot. The references to Berlin scattered throughout the song are reminiscent of Bowie’s time in Germany in the late 70s. Basically the song is about love conquering all. However the gritty realities love must defeat are a little more intense than those faced in more conventional love songs. In true Bowie fashion, culture and society is brought into the equation, with references to crossing the ‘Bose Bruke’ into West Germany used to create shocking images.So David Bowie is still able to surprise. Well his comeback was certainly unexpected. Everyone presumed Bowie had retired after his heart attack in 2004. Many artists plan a comeback; they stimulate press interest by doing something a little bit crazy. Look at the controversy surrounding other comeback artists, Britney Spears is the ultimate example of a desperate fame seeker. In Bowie’s case, there doesn’t seem to be any other reason for his comeback other than his love for music. He was never much of a fan of press, preferring to hide from the limelight despite the extravagance and controversy which surrounded his music. It may also be the ultimate press ploy. The single sold so many units in the first week it was banned from the UK Charts. He released on the day of his 66th birthday. Whether Bowie’s comeback will make a long-term impact in the music industry is difficult to determine. Only time and the quality of the album released on March 11will tell. One thing’s for sure, Bowie’s influence on the music industry and on British society is indisputable. He has made his mark on music. I can’t help but feel it may be time to roll over and let someone else pioneer the industry.