The Man Who Sowed the World: why we mourn the loss of David Bowie

It’s not enough to say it’s unfortunate to say goodbye to someone who was a brilliant composer, cultural visionary, and pop icon. The loss of David Bowie hits much closer to home for many people than the death of most celebrities, myself included. Why has his departure left such a visceral impact on so many people? Does it really suffice to say that his early death was another terrible example of an admirable human being getting cut down before their time? Absolutely not.

David Bowie single handedly took over the helm of rock ‘n’ roll where The Beatles had left it at the end of the 1960s and guided it through the next two decades through territories that would otherwise had gone uncharted. Just as everyone else thought they were catching up to the thin white duke, they realized he had already made laps around them. He was the indisputable prophet of rock, combining radically new music with counter culture to change the landscape of western conventions irreversibly. His indelible influence on musicians through the 70s and 80s has cemented his role as one of the most integral pioneers of composition in the 20^th century-but it’s not why we cried when we lost him.

His lyrics and music encapsulated what it means to be isolated: everything from the celestial themes of Space Oddity and Ziggy Stardust, to his unapologetic attitude in his bisexuality. His discography is the soundtrack for any beatnik, bohemian, rebel, or godforsaken wretch. His influence on musicians is incomparable to his influence on outcasts to celebrate their distinctions, rather than resent them. He filled a void for countless wanderers without a grip on their idiosyncrasies; a beacon of light for people who didn’t have the insight they needed from family or friends, and in that sense, had an intimate connection to many of his fans that made him feel like a genuine companion. Now that Bowie is gone, we feel that we are alone again.

David Bowie was an exemplary model for what you can do with nothing but a human body and 69 short years: You can change the horizon of music, style, culture and art for generations to come, and still have enough time to be a close friend to millions of confused, scared, introverted and dissident individuals. I’m not sure what planet he actually came from, but I can only hope that some future generation may be blessed with another one of his kind.

“No matter what or who you've been
No matter when or where you've seen
All the knives seem to lacerate your brain
I've had my share, I'll help you with the pain
You're not alone”

-David Bowie

1/8/47 – 1/10/16