Blackstar: An Album Review

By: Emily Eade 

Blackstar by David Bowie, was the legendary musician's 26th and final studio album to be released. The album expressed this powerful emotion of knowing his end was near. Bowie wasn’t wrong, his illness would take his life two days after the release of this album. This album would showcase his readiness for the afterlife, and the simplicity life has to offer. 

“Blackstar” is the first song on the album. The song brings up and expresses multiple Christian beliefs and traditions. This can be seen through the lyrics, “Stands a solitary candle, ah-ah, ah-ah. In the center of it all, in the center of it all… Your eyes''. These lyrics were Bowie's way of creating an image of his common theme of death, a reference to his future demise. He would also use the song to try to make the listener part of his story. 

“Lazarus” is the third song on the album. This song was Bowie’s way of making a connection or common ground with Christianity, through the story of Lazarus. The song would start with the lyrics, “Look at me, I’m in heaven.” These lyrics were to express his final farewell. “Girl Loves Me” is the fifth song on the album. This song consists of a bare, inharmonious instrumental track. Bowie used this song to encapsulate the pain he was going through and his heavy drug medication. 

The final song on the album is “I Can’t Give Everything Away”. Bowie would express himself through the lyrics, “I know something's very wrong. The pulse returns the prodigal sons.” These lyrics were his way of saying he knew the cancer took over his body and he was going to die. This would cause his faith to be part of himself once again as he was dying.

Bowie’s final album, Blackstar, was released on his birthday, January 8th, 2016. This seven song album consisted of pain, readiness, and themes of death. Bowie would pass two days later completing what he wanted, a perfect farewell to his fans.