This year’s Grammy Awards have been just as eventful as the last few. From Kendrick’s history-making performance, Taylor Swift returning some shade to Kanye, and of course, Lady Gaga’s tribute performance to the late David Bowie. We reported earlier this week that Bowie’s son Duncan Jones wasn’t a huge fan of the tribute, coming out publicly on Twitter to call it “mentally confused.” Well, long time Bowie collaborator and Gaga’s co-star Nile Rodgers has come to her defence via Twitter.

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Gaga’s performance has been criticised for making her performance seem like product placement for her sponsor Intel, but surely being backed by a long time collaborator and friend brings some legitimacy to her tribute?

No doubt this situation will continue to escalate, so keep it locked here for all future news.

Image: The GRAMMYS

A man whose influence spanned decades and defied genres, David Bowie has long been cited as one of the biggest influences of pop sensation Lady Gaga. Having never made a secret of her admiration of Bowie, it seemed fitting that Gaga be the person for perform a tribute medley of his hits at yesterday’s 58th Grammy Awards.

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Gaga was joined by Bowie collaborator Nile Rodgers for the tribute of nine Bowie songs, including Rebel Rebel, Suffragette City, Lets Dance, Fame and Heroes. The performance earned a standing ovation from the Grammy audience and has since received praise from a number of celebrities, including Bette Midler, declaring that it was a wonderful tribute to the musician who inspired so many.

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Now, the late musician’s son and BAFTA Award winning director, Duncan Jones has commented on the commentary via Twitter. Jones clearly wasn’t as appreciative, suggesting that the end result was a strange, melodramatic display of infatuation than an entertaining performance – via what we can only assume is the the dictionary definition of the word “gaga.”

We kind of get where Jones is coming from; Lady Gaga clearly has a lot of love for David Bowie (hell, she got a tattoo of his face on her torso a few days ago), but the show wasn’t exactly outstanding and it did seem like it was just a massive ad for Intel, who Gaga has a partnership deal with, with a Bowie medley stuffed in the middle. That being said, it wasn’t as though Mother Monster and co. totally butchered the songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fGBZhsa4VU

Images: Google, The Verge 

Almost a month following the death of David Bowie, the tributes are still coming in from those whose whom he influenced – aka, you know, everybody.

Now, actor Ewan McGregor has performed a cover of Heroes live during a Bowie tribute concert at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles last night. McGregor first performed the song in Baz Lhurmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge! as part of the wonderful musical piece known as the Elephant Love Medley. He also acted in a 1997 film called Velvet Goldmine, a film which was loosely based on the relationship between David Bowie and Iggy Pop. McGregor played the Iggy Pop character, to Jonathan Rhys-Myers’ Bowie, known as Maxwell Demon or Brian Slade.

Spanning six and a half minutes, it’s an emotional, passionate rendition, one which easily rivals any of those released by artists throughout the previous weeks.

The recording itself isn’t that great, but his delivery and full backing band makes for a spectacular performance. We can only hope to find a better recording soon, of McGregor’s performance, along with the rest of the tribute show, which also featured performances from Seal and Gary Oldman.

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Here, watch Gary Oldman performing The Man Who Sold The World:

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Amy was undoubtedly one of the most successful films to hit screens during 2015. So successful is it that it’s the top pick to take out the Oscar for best documentary. Following the acclaim they gained through their feature film on the late Amy Winehouse, film makers Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees have already announced two further projects: one being a series focusing on the life of soccer great Diego Maradona (Maradona) and an as-yet unnamed project on Brit-Rock Royalty Oasis. 

However, one of the film makers has said that both those projects would be happily put on hold were they presented with the opportunity to make a film about the late David Bowie. In an awkward turn of phrase, Gay-Rees told Hollywood Reporter, “We would kill to make that film. We would do anything to make that film.”

Though he followed his comments up admitting that it is far too soon after the iconic singer’s death to discuss making a film about him, the cogs already seem to be turning, with Gay-Rees stating that trying to fit everything into one 90 minute feature film would be difficult. “There’s so much great material to work with,” he says. “Trying to do that in 90 minutes would be tricky.” Coincidentally, they’re already looking to make a foray into “more documentary series, more for the platforms in the States, the Netflixes and the Amazons…they’re the people we’re talking to a bit more now.”

While a Bowie documentary series would, undoubtedly be a massive hit if done well (and in the trusted hands of the Amy film makers, there’s confidence it would be), it seems particularly early to be discussing one. Gay-Rees added “If his estate is listening, please give us a call…but it’s far too soon. But if there was ever a conversation to be had around it….”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kszLwBaC4Sw

Senator Bernie Sanders has continued to win over the hearts of music loving voters, walking off stage to David Bowie’s Starman after a near tie with Democratic front-runner Hilary Clinton in the Iowa caucus.

Although Sanders’ increased popularity has been more due to policy than music taste (although his musical affiliations are certainly impressive,) the politician still earned himself the title of “cool” as a result of the move.

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It’s just the latest link in a chain of connections that Sanders has had with the music industry throughout his political career.

Sanders was recently interviewed by rap icon Killer Mike who later joined Sanders on a panel to discuss the legacy of Martin Luther King Junior. 

Sanders will also be joined by The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco for his very own Feel The Bern benefit concert this week in LA.

Sanders is also becoming known for his considerable musical talent.

Last week whilst campaigning for Iowa, Sanders got up onstage and fulfilled every twenty-something hipster’s dream, belting out the lines of Vampire Weekend’s This Is Your Land with Ezra Koenig performing behind him.

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Going back in his career, Sanders even released a spoken word (lol) folk album in the 80s which you can check out below.

With his political campaign gaining traction, we can only hope Sanders will continue to use the power of good music to bring in the votes…. and use his own influence to inspire the next Frank Ocean album.

 

While his departing gift to his fans is the music he released during and the impact he left on them, David Bowie still had a few things that needed to be sorted out after his passing. His will has detailed where his $100 million estate will go.

The New York Times have provided some details from his will, which was filed in Surrogate’s Court in Manhattan last week. His wife of 23 years, Iman Abdulmajid Jones will receive 50% of Bowie’s estate, while his children will receive 25% each. He also left Iman his SoHo apartment and his daughter Alexandria his mountain home. There are smaller shares for his personal assistant Corinne Schwab and the family nanny Marion Skene, who will receive $2 million and $1 million respectively.

While he has already been cemented in New York City, his will asks for his body to be cemented in Bali “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals”. His ashes have therefore been scattered in Bali, as written in The Guardian.

His family previously released a statement thanking the public for their support and tributes:

“THANK YOU

The family of David Bowie is currently making arrangements for a private ceremony celebrating the memory of their beloved husband, father and friend.

They ask once again that their privacy be respected at this most sensitive of times.

We are overwhelmed by and grateful for the love and support shown throughout the world.

However, it is important to note that while the concerts and tributes planned for the coming weeks are all welcome, none are official memorials organized or endorsed by the family.

Just as each and every one of us found something unique in David’s music, we welcome everyone’s celebration of his life as they see fit.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8

Image: Music Feeds

Since David Bowie’s passing, there has been a rush of public outpouring for the beloved singer. Sarah Blasko, Arcade Fire and Lido have all done tributes to Bowie’s work in the form of covers, and today Miguel joins the ranks with a stripped down and moving performance of Space Oddity.

The singer performed the song at an intimate 300-person free-gig at Bardot in Hollywood, Los Angeles. With the help of only one guitar, Miguel does a sweet and poignant cover of one of Bowie’s most renowned hits. The tribute eventually segues into a rendition of Miguel’s own track, Waves from his album Wildheart.

The only video that exists thus far is shot on an iPhone, but even the granular footage is enough to demonstrate Miguel’s raw talent and ability as a live performer.

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Over an hour, Miguel played a variety of tracks, including Simple Things, Hollywood Dreams and Adorn. “We need music and film and visual art. We need to seek knowledge in life,” said Miguel said to the crowd.

“There’s an amazing Kurt Vonnegut story about a society where they had these things attached to their heads where every 30 seconds there was a sharp ring where they forgot everything that happened in the last 30 minutes, and I feel like we’re being programmed the same way.”

“Tonight I just wanted to feel something… new. We all know that life is about being who you are, doing what you believe in, trusting yourself, trusting your instincts. There’s an infinite knowledge of wisdom that you already have that transcends all this programming.”

Back in October, Miguel states in an interview with NME that his wishes he had written Space Oddity, and listed Bowie as one of his biggest inspirations. “That song is just forever going to be classic,” he said. “At the time … we were just going to the moon. It’s just insane, the timing of it.”

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Since releasing Wildheart last summer, the accompanying videos for the singles have been steamy to say the least. Coffee, Waves …goingtohell are all sure to leave you red-faced afterwards. 

Image: www.bet.com

As the world is still in mourning over the death of David Bowie, footage has emerged of Bowie mourning the death of another before him – his friend, and Beatles superstar, John Lennon.

In a newly uncovered video (thank you, Reddit,) we see Bowie performing an absolutely heartbreaking cover of Lennon’s peace anthem Imagine, on the anniversary of his assassination (December 8.)

The clip begins with Bowie talking about his camaraderie with the late Beatle. He details how Lennon jokingly described Bowie’s music as “rock ‘n roll with lipstick on,” before sharing a touching anecdote of the last time the pair were ever together. He spoke about how they visited a store in a Hong Kong market, and that he asked Lennon to don a replica Beatles jacket in order for him to snap a photo. “I’ve still got the photograph. The jacket doesn’t fit properly, it looks like John had outgrown it.”

“On this day, December the eighth, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside of his New York apartment,” he laments, before launching into the universally beloved song.

This is a powerful moment in musical history. As the world wipes away the tears we’ve shed for Bowie, it’s beautiful to look back on Bowie doing exactly the same for yet another musical legend.

Rest in peace John Lennon (1940 – 1980) and David Bowie (1947 – 2016.)

Read our tribute to David Bowie here.

In case you missed it, David Bowie died last week. Since then, the world has been in the throws of a crippling grief, but as grief seems to do, it’s now beginning to turn into a celebration of his life rather than a mourning of the world’s loss. Just days ago, Arcade Fire threw a parade in his honour that brought New Orleans to a standstill, and now New York City has given the man his own day.

As his album ★ (Blackstar) sits comfortably at #1 on the charts in more than 20 countries including the US for the first time ever, and the final shows of his Broadway play Lazarus sold out, the mayor of New York City, Bill de Blasio, has proclaimed January 20, 2016 as David Bowie Day. He is also tipped to read out the proclamation at the curtain call of Lazarus‘ final performance that night, to which huge crowds are expected to gather. Previously, the city of Chicago declared September 23, 2014 as David Bowie Day, when the fantastic exhibition, David Bowie Is came to town.

Bowie’s family made the announcement via his official Facebook, along with the ever growing list of accolades his final album is receiving. Made as a departing gift to fans, even Bowie’s palliative care doctor has written an open letter thanking him for how he handled his death, and inspired others to look at things differently.

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Read one of our editor’s obituary for David Bowie

It’s only been a minute since we heard the (alleged) news that Kanye West is planning on releasing a David Bowie tribute album, but somehow petitions aimed at stopping this from happening have already gained thousands of signatures.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, really. Kanye is as fiercely hated as he is loved, and his career moves are often met with rage from his detractors- even his headlining position at Glastonbury gained him 100k petitioners calling for his cancellation. The petition against the album, started by ‘Peter Piranha’, states that “David Bowie was one of the single most important musicians of the 20th and 21st century, it would be a sacrilege to let it be ruined by Kanye West,” with many clearly agreeing.

However, it’s interesting to note that the album is yet to be confirmed by anyone from West’s camp. News of the album was originally posted by The Daily Star, who quoted “a source close to the rapper” (as per). According to this reliable source, Yeezus wants to pay tribute to the legendary performer by recording a mix of straight covers, and some tracks with his own spin. The Daily Star also claims that Kanye pictures himself as a successor to Bowie, and is “determined to carry on David’s work as a musical innovator. He says that the torch has been passed to him.”

In actuality, it’s very likely that The Daily Star’s trusted source may not be so close to Kanye at all, and that a tribute album is not in the works. Though, with all this fuss, we may have just given him an idea.

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