Call me traditionalist (or too old...), but I don't think David Bowie enhanced this piece even a little bit. I miss the original four (or five), anyway.
Personally, I think Bowie is first and foremost a performer (check out Jazzin for Blue Jean, continued in part 2). He even has a similar talent for comedy as Ricky Gervais (no wonder they are friends nowadays).
Yes, he has a knack for writing songs too, but not in anyway extraordinary when compared to other song writers in pop/rock. What he has is a great sense of style. Songs like Ashes to Ashes, Heroes, China Girl etc. work so well not because of compositional value, but because there's a great sense of style and vision in the arrangement and production.
I agree with George Georgiev, Bowie is completely out of place here in Comfortably Numb. Somehow Bowie's voice doesn't mix well with that of others'. To me, even Under Pressure, which is a great song, always felt like there's something wrong with it. Mercury+Bowie+Taylor = too much different personalities of voice in one recording.
I also thought that in collaborations between stars, one part is often superfluous. It is quite difficult and rare to get the The Whole Is Greater Than The Parts which happens with exceptional synergy.
Call me traditionalist (or too old...), but I don't think David Bowie enhanced this piece even a little bit. I miss the original four (or five), anyway.
ReplyDeleteWell, you may be right. I am a big Bowie fan, but I think that while he's a good performer, his genius is as a composer.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think Bowie is first and foremost a performer (check out Jazzin for Blue Jean, continued in part 2). He even has a similar talent for comedy as Ricky Gervais (no wonder they are friends nowadays).
ReplyDeleteYes, he has a knack for writing songs too, but not in anyway extraordinary when compared to other song writers in pop/rock. What he has is a great sense of style. Songs like Ashes to Ashes, Heroes, China Girl etc. work so well not because of compositional value, but because there's a great sense of style and vision in the arrangement and production.
I agree with George Georgiev, Bowie is completely out of place here in Comfortably Numb. Somehow Bowie's voice doesn't mix well with that of others'. To me, even Under Pressure, which is a great song, always felt like there's something wrong with it. Mercury+Bowie+Taylor = too much different personalities of voice in one recording.
He sounds great alone, of course.
Yes, well, great talents are mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that in collaborations between stars, one part is often superfluous. It is quite difficult and rare to get the The Whole Is Greater Than The Parts which happens with exceptional synergy.
... And yes, Bowie's a very good actor and comedian.
ReplyDelete(Not a great painter though, from what little I've seen. But heck, there was only one Da Vinci.)