Lazarus (David Bowie song) explained
Lazarus |
Cover: | David Bowie - Lazarus cover art.jpg |
Type: | single |
Artist: | David Bowie |
Album: | Blackstar |
Released: | 17 December 2015 |
Recorded: | 2015 |
Studio: | - Magic Shop, New York City
- Human Worldwide, New York City
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Genre: |
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Length: | - 6:22 (album version)
- 4:05 (video edit)
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Label: |
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Producer: |
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Prev Title: | Blackstar |
Prev Year: | 2015 |
Next Title: | I Can't Give Everything Away |
Next Year: | 2016 |
"Lazarus" is a song by English rock musician David Bowie. Released on 17 December 2015 as a digital download, it was the second single from his twenty-sixth and final studio album, Blackstar (2016). It is Bowie's last single to be released during his lifetime. The single received its world premiere on BBC Radio 6 Music's Steve Lamacq on the day of its release as a single.[4] In addition to its release on Blackstar, the track is used in Bowie's off-Broadway musical of the same name.[5] The official music video, directed by Johan Renck, was released on 7 January 2016, three days before Bowie's death.
Bowie never performed the song live, but on 17 December 2015, Michael C. Hall appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, singing "Lazarus" to promote both the single's release and the musical running at New York Theatre Workshop starring Hall.[6]
"Lazarus" was Bowie's first top 40 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in more than 28 years, landing at number 40 in the week after his death.[7]
Billboard ranked "Lazarus" at number 40 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list.[8] Pitchfork listed "Lazarus" on their ranking of the 100 best songs of 2016 at number 5.[9] In the annual The Village Voices Pazz & Jop mass critics poll of the year's best in music in 2016, "Lazarus" was ranked at number 8.[10]
Lyrics and meaning
"Lazarus" is a swan song. According to Bowie's producer Tony Visconti, the lyrics and video of "Lazarus" and other songs on the album were intended to be a self-epitaph, a commentary on Bowie's own impending death.[11] [12] [13] The song's reference to Lazarus has been interpreted as referring to Bowie's prediction of increased fame following his death.[14]
Music video
The official music video for "Lazarus", featuring a shorter edit of the song lasting just over four minutes, was uploaded on 7 January 2016 to Bowie's Vevo channel on YouTube.[15] The video was directed by Johan Renck (who also directed the music video for Bowie's previous single, "Blackstar") in November 2015; during the week of shooting, doctors reportedly informed Bowie the cancer was terminal and that they were ending treatment.[16] The filming location was a studio in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.[17] The video is shown in a 1:1 aspect ratio and prominently features Bowie, appearing with a bandage and buttons sewn over his eyes, lying on a deathbed. A director's cut exists restoring the original widescreen aspect.[18]
The video finishes with Bowie retreating into a dark wardrobe. In the scenes featuring the wardrobe, Bowie is wearing a diagonally striped suit as seen on the back cover of the 1991 CD reissue of the Station to Station album, where he is pictured sitting on the floor drawing the kabbalistic Tree of Life.[19] [20] The Tree of Life is also referenced in the Station to Station lyrics, a "magical movement from Kether to Malkuth".[21] [22]
The video was nominated for three awards: Best Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing, at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.[23]
Cover version
In 2020, American rapper G-Eazy covered the song for his compilation album Everything's Strange Here.
Personnel
Personnel adapted from Blackstar liner notes.[24]
- Musicians
- Technical personnel
Charts
Weekly
Year-end
Release history
See also
References
Sources
- Book: O'Leary . Chris . Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016 . 2019 . Repeater Books . London . 978-1-91224-836-0.
- Book: Pegg, Nicholas . The Complete David Bowie. . London . 2016 . 978-1-78565-365-0 . Revised and Updated .
Notes and References
- News: The best songs of 2016. Daily Times. 16 December 2016. 13 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170314002615/http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/16-Dec-16/the-best-songs-of-2016. 14 March 2017. live.
- Web site: West. Michael J.. 11 January 2016. Review: David Bowie's "Blackstar". live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160216234634/http://jazztimes.com/articles/171514-review-david-bowie-s-blackstar. 16 February 2016. 11 February 2016. JazzTimes.
- Web site: The Best Song From Every David Bowie Album. Gallucci. Michael. 16 January 2019. Ultimate Classic Rock. 5 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20190629153057/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-best-songs/. 29 June 2019. live.
- Web site: David Bowie launches trailer of new single Lazarus. The Guardian. 18 December 2015. 14 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073122/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/14/david-bowie-new-single-lazarus-black-star?CMP=twt_a-music_b-gdnmusic. 5 March 2016. live.
- Brandle. Lars. David Bowie Shares New Song 'Lazarus': Listen. Billboard. 18 December 2015. 18 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151218072255/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6813667/david-bowie-shares-new-song-lazarus-listen. 18 December 2015. live.
- Michael C. Hall Performs David Bowie's "Lazarus" on "Colbert". Matthew Strauss. 18 December 2015. Rolling Stone. 25 December 2016. 24 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193232/https://pitchfork.com/news/62606-michael-c-hall-performs-david-bowies-lazarus-on-colbert/. live.
- David Bowie Scores First Top 40 Hot 100 Single Since 1987 With 'Lazarus'. Gary Trust. 19 January 2016. Billboard. 19 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409144437/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844155/david-bowie-lazarus-top-40-hot-100-single-since-1987. 9 April 2016. live.
- Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks. Billboard. 12 December 2016. 12 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161213090422/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2016/7617635/billboard-top-100-pop-songs-of-2016. 13 December 2016. live.
- Web site: The 100 Best Songs of 2016. 12 December 2016. Pitchfork. 12 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161213224620/http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9981-the-100-best-songs-of-2016/?page=10. 13 December 2016. live.
- Web site: PAZZ+JOP 2016. Village Voice. January 25, 2017. January 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203205750/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2016. 3 February 2017. live.
- Web site: Cooper. Leonie. How David Bowie told us he was dying in the "Lazarus" video. NME. 11 January 2016. 11 January 2016. 14 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210214125919/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/how-david-bowie-told-us-he-was-dying-in-the-lazarus-video-12143. live.
- News: David Bowie: Was Lazarus Bowie singing his epitaph?. 11 January 2016. BBC. 11 January 2016. 24 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193235/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-35278855. live.
- News: David Bowie's last release, Lazarus, was "parting gift" for fans in carefully planned finale. the Telegraph. 11 January 2016. 4 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325201617/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12092542/Bowies-last-album-was-parting-gift-for-fans-in-carefully-planned-finale.html. 25 March 2016. live.
- Web site: David Bowie dead: Swansong "Lazarus" takes on poignant new meaning in lyrics and music video the Independent the Independent . . 11 January 2016 . 15 May 2021 . 27 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027044617/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/david-bowie-dead-swansong-lazarus-takes-poignant-new-meaning-lyrics-and-music-video-a6805571.html . live .
- Web site: David Bowie – Lazarus . YouTube . 7 January 2016 . 10 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160110000850/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8 . 10 January 2016 . live .
- Web site: When Bowie knew he was dying. adelaidenow.com.au. 13 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170111103711/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/music/director-reveals-when-david-bowie-found-out-his-cancer-was-terminal/news-story/5aa915d144b6f4e7f82f4912fa48ee2b. 11 January 2017. live.
- Web site: David Bowie's last days: an 18-month burst of creativity. The Guardian. 15 January 2016. 15 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160127052115/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/15/david-bowies-last-days-an-18-month-burst-of-creativity?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other. 27 January 2016. live.
- Web site: David Bowie – Lazarus (Widescreen Version). 13 August 2016. davidbowienews.com. 13 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202050850/http://davidbowienews.com/2016/08/lazarus-widescreen-video/. 2 February 2017. live.
- Web site: Rykodisc Reissue CD Station to Station 1991" . . 3 August 1991 . 27 January 2016 . 24 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193232/https://img.cdandlp.com/2015/03/imgL/117428263-2.jpg . live .
- Web site: David Bowie Station to Station publicity photo . . 10 January 1976 . 16 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170116201014/https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71293CFpnWL.jpg . 16 January 2017 . live .
- Web site: Bowie's last single said to feature tribute to Kabbalah . . 27 January 2016 . 19 February 2021 . 19 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210219032210/https://www.timesofisrael.com/bowies-last-single-said-to-be-a-tribute-to-kabbalah/ . live .
- Web site: Never Before Published Photos Reveal Clues Bowie Left Before His Death . . 11 April 2016 . 12 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160412023326/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/never-before-published-photos-reveal-the-clues-david-bowie-left-before-his-death_us_570bea59e4b0836057a1d8fc . 12 April 2016 . live .
- David Bowie Receives Four Posthumous 2016 VMA Nominations . 26 July 2016 . 26 July 2016 . US Weekly . Megan . French . https://web.archive.org/web/20160727150757/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/david-bowie-receives-four-posthumous-vma-nominations-w430994 . 27 July 2016 . live .
- Blackstar. David Bowie. 2016. album liner notes. ISO Records.
- Web site: ARIA Singles: Justin Bieber "Love Yourself" Spends 6th Week at No 1. Noise11. Ryan. Gavin. 16 January 2016. 16 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160122093111/http://www.noise11.com/news/music-news-aria-singles-justin-bieber-love-yourself-spends-6th-week-at-no-1-20160116. 22 January 2016. live.
- Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. 15 January 2016. 24 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193232/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1505887. live.
- Web site: Media Forest weekly chart (year 2016 week 03). 29 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002213912/http://www.mediaforest.biz/WeeklyCharts/. 2 October 2017. dead.
- Web site: http://www.billboard.com/biz/search/charts?f[0=ts_chart_artistname%3ADavid%20Bowie&f[1]=itm_field_chart_id%3A1188&f[2]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=David%20Bowie David Bowie – Chart history]. Billboard Mexico Ingles Airplay for David Bowie. January 29, 2017.
- Web site: NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 15 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160116081911/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4190. 16 January 2016. live.
- Web site: Portuguesecharts - David Bowie - Lazarus. portuguesecharts.com. Hung Medien. 18 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160412123705/http://www.portuguesecharts.com/archive.asp?todo=show&woche=02&jahr=2016&sparte=s. 12 April 2016. live.
- Web site: Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista. 15 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226145037/http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/. 26 December 2015. live.
- David Bowie Scores First Top 40 Hot 100 Single Since 1987. Billboard. 19 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409144437/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844155/david-bowie-lazarus-top-40-hot-100-single-since-1987. 9 April 2016. live.
- https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-rock-songs "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016"
- Web site: David Bowie – Lazarus Radiodate. radioairplay.fm. 11 January 2016. 19 December 2015. 24 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193300/https://radiodate.it/radio-date/david-bowie-lazarus-143949-18-12-2015-radiodate/. live.