Emily Kidd

Ms. Olding
ENG 21011
3 March, 2016
The Musical Journal of David Bowie
One of the most impactful men in all music was the incredible and original David Bowie.
Beginning his career in England, Bowie later would become a pop hit all around the world. His
music is extraordinarily daring and poetic and his multiple personas gave different people a way
to connect with him. When listening to a few of his songs, its sometimes unrecognizable that
they are the same artist. Music gave Bowie a way to express many different characteristics of
himself and ultimately a close path to self exploration. David Bowies songs The Man Who
Sold the World and Heroes is about finding himself through self exploration. This analysis
will demonstrate his path by looking at the lyrics, instrumentation, and vocalization of these
songs.
On January 8, 1947, David Jones was born in South London, England. He was introduced
to music early on by his older brother Terry, who unfortunately suffered from mental illness and
was later institutionalized. It took some time creating music for David to find his place. He
changed his name to David Bowie to not confuse anyone as David Jones and the Monkees.
His first hit was The Space Oddity which was created after Bowie went extremely high to see
the movie Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey. Bowies next album The Man Who Stole
the World captivated his newly forming fans that included the song All The Madman that was
written about his brother Terry. Although Bowie only needed one song to make his name known,
he would later create tens of albums.

Not only was David Bowie a talented music artist, he also enjoyed acting. Although his
acting career kicked off towards the later end of his career, Bowie brought a sense of acting to
his music performances. Wearing extravagant clothes and makeup, Bowies looks and
performance was just as interesting as the music itself. This was a completely new concept at the
time and sparked a new view of music. Bowie put everything he had into performing and even
used it as a way to express himself. Creating new personas with almost every album, fans were
continuously intrigued and on their toes for whatd come next. Not only did new personas, like
Ziggy Stardust, allow Bowie to express different sides of himself, it gave him a new edge for
people to connect to and use him as their outlet. These aspects made artist take notes from Bowie
as he set the bar for what glam-rock could be. Expressing himself in so many ways made him
question who he really was and who he wanted to be.
The song The Man Who Stole the World was one Bowies most covered song and also
the title of Bowies third album. The song describes a man who he thought died alone, a long
long time ago (Bowie, The Man Who Stole the World). When I first listened to the song I had
thought it might have been about friends and people he had lost a long the way of fame. After
listening to the song again and paying close attention to the lyrics, I believe Bowie was talking
about himself. He describes seeing a man who he thought he had lost, and who said he was his
friend / which came as a surprise (Bowie, The Man Who Sold the World). Sometimes when
you encounter someone who used to have an important role in your life youre often surprised
that they still feel sincere about you after everything you two may have gone through. I think in
this instance Bowie is very surprised that a younger him would be proud of the man he has
become. I know when things drastically change in my life, I often wonder if a younger version of
myself would approve my decisions. I believe this song explains that the man Bowie became was

not the same as the man he once was when he began in the music business, or even in life in
general. The title The Man Who Stole the World could refer to the man Bowie became, and
who stole the world of his earlier self. By becoming famous and exploring who he was, he
drastically altered his world. In the second verse of the song, Bowie writes that he searched for
form and land / For years and years [he] roamed (Bowie, The Man Who Stole the World). I
think this describes Bowie trying to find the form of himself he wanted to be. He felt that the
was still unsure of who he was and needed time to explore that path for years.
By looking at the musical instrumentation, you can also sense the eerie feeling the song
gives by repeated notes from multiple instruments. The guitar is the dominant instrument in this
song and replays its part in your head on repeat even after the song is finished. The beats also
become quicker and higher pitch during the chorus to emphasize the phrase The Man Who Stole
the World. The drums were used in the song but dont have a dominant presence to ensure the
listener focuses on the lyrics. Overall, the musical instruments play at slow and repeated notes
and allow the vocals to be heard and understood. This allowed Bowie himself to be the main
focus of the song and to show hes the only person thats being demonstrated in the song.
Bowie wrote the song Heroes that was also the name of another album that was
produced in 1970. Its a beautiful song about two star crossed lovers that ultimately know their
love cant make it. Although Bowie knows that nothing, will drive them away.. [and] nothing,
will keep [them] together (Bowie, Heroes), hes confident that his and his lovers love can beat
all the odds for one day. Although this song is ultimately about two peoples love, I believe this
song shows how far Bowie has come as himself. In the third verse of the song Bowie writes that
theyre nothing, and nothing will help [them] (Bowie, Heroes). Rather than lie to himself, he
knows deep down that their love wont make it. Rather than to struggle with problems with

someone he loves, he gives it one last effort then will continue his life and move on as a stronger
person. Many people who have problems in their relationship continue to put meaningless effort,
because theyre not confident with who they are, they depend on others. I believe this song
shows the strength Bowie has developed and the willingness to let things that cant work out
(after valiant effort) go. This ultimately was established through self exploration and finding a
deeper understanding of who he is and what he wants.
I absolutely love the musical aspect of this song. I first heard Heroes in the movie
Perks of being a Wallflower and didnt know David Bowie was the artist. The song begins with a
slow beat of the drums and guitar and doesnt pick up until towards the end of verse one. I dont
know a lot about musical instruments but I think because the beat doesnt pick up towards the
end up the song it lets the momentum build. Once Bowie sings loud and proud I will be king
(Bowie, Heroes), I just want to scream it with him. The simple components of the guitar,
drums, and tambourine lets you easily connect to the song. The visual aspect of this song I find
very important as well. When watching the music video first made in 1977 you can tell by his
movement and how he sings the song that hes portraying a broken heart trying to be strong. I
then watched a music video from 2006 of Bowie performing this song and it was completely
different. Every song can be sung a different way, but just by the performance Bowie gives you
can see how genuinely happy he is. Hes smiling most of the song, hes getting the crowd to clap,
and hes giving strong long notes to show his confidence. I think this shows that through time
Bowie became more and more confident in himself and his abilities which allowed him to be a
happier person.
After learning about many glam-rock artists, David Bowie would definitely be my
favorite. Regardless of what people thought, Bowie tried to be no one other than the 9 personas

of himself. He constantly tried new and daring things and seemed unstoppable. Bowie was the
man that set the standards for all glam rock artist by his change of style and music. His different
array of music allowed various groups of people able to connect and relate to his songs. By
looking at these two songs that were 37 years apart, The Man Who Stole the World and
Heroes, I can see two completely different Bowies. In the first song Bowie described roaming
for himself for years and not being on good terms with his former self; implying that he doesnt
approve of who he became. In the second song, Bowie describes a strong love that can go against
anything for a day but knows that he must move on in confidence and be without the love. By
looking at the lyrics and musical instrumentation of these songs, you can see how David Bowie
went through self exploration and was able to become a confident musician and person.

Works Cited
Bowie, David. The Man Who Stole the World. The Man Who Stole the World. Mercury
Records, 1940.
Bowie, David. Heroes. Heroes. Bowie and Tony Visconti, 1977.
Dombal, Ryan. ""Heroes"" David Bowie:. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
"David Bowie Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.