How Death Redefined David Bowie’s ‘Blackstar’
The Ringer••entertainment
Key Points:
- Blackstar, released on David Bowie’s 69th birthday in January 2016, quickly became iconic as a "final" album, widely interpreted as Bowie’s musical farewell following his death two days later from liver cancer.
- The album topped the US Billboard chart despite its experimental sound, and its themes and lyrics sparked extensive analysis, with many seeing it as a profound meditation on mortality and legacy.
- Blackstar stands apart from other "final" albums by artists who died young or those embracing their mortality; Bowie’s work was conceived as a creative exploration rather than a definitive end, with plans for future projects before his death.
- Critics initially focused on Blackstar’s innovative musical style rather than its morbid themes, highlighting Bowie’s continued
