By Derek Westenholt
On March the 12th, the living rock icon and legend David Bowie releases an album that probably only was expected by Bowie himself and those working with him on making the record. You might already have heard his first single from the expected album. It is a beautiful song that has many similarities and connections to David Bowie's classic album and single 'Heroes.'
History and the Berlin Wall ties the new album and its opening single, 'Where Are We Now?' together with Bowie's epic album and single 'Heroes.'
History and the Berlin Wall ties the new album and its opening single, 'Where Are We Now?' together with Bowie's epic album and single 'Heroes.'
Both singles are about Berlin and the Berlin Wall, but on different levels. On the new single, Bowie sings about Berlin during the Cold War and Berlin today after the Wall has fallen. On the 'Heroes' single, The Thin White Duke sings about a young couple. He got the inspiration from seeing two lovers sitting on a bench by the Berlin Wall. In an 1977 interview, Bowie told that he had wondered why the young couple had chosen to meet on such a unromantic location.
In Bowie's song the settings gets a twist. Thus, the verse: 'I, I can remember standing by the wall, And the guns shot over our heads, And we kissed, as though nothing could fall.' Here the drama is on, guns are firing over the two lovers heads. Are the guns real, maybe firing at a couple who tries to cross the Berlin Wall, or are the guns symbolic fire against a dying relationship that is being killed by the harsh consequences of reality.
Thus, The Berlin Wall was already a central in Bowie's song universe in 1977, where the 'Heroes' album and single were released. Although, David Bowie sings about a relationship that seems to be ending, the couple pretends that it will last forever. They do this by living for the moment: 'kissing like nothing could fall,' not worrying about something else.
The location is by the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and its cruel reality that East- and West Berliners' couldn't travel free and risked getting shot, if they tried to cross the Berlin Wall.
On 'Where Are We Now,' Bowie returns to the Berlin Wall and reflects on Berlin and
In Bowie's song the settings gets a twist. Thus, the verse: 'I, I can remember standing by the wall, And the guns shot over our heads, And we kissed, as though nothing could fall.' Here the drama is on, guns are firing over the two lovers heads. Are the guns real, maybe firing at a couple who tries to cross the Berlin Wall, or are the guns symbolic fire against a dying relationship that is being killed by the harsh consequences of reality.
Thus, The Berlin Wall was already a central in Bowie's song universe in 1977, where the 'Heroes' album and single were released. Although, David Bowie sings about a relationship that seems to be ending, the couple pretends that it will last forever. They do this by living for the moment: 'kissing like nothing could fall,' not worrying about something else.
The location is by the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and its cruel reality that East- and West Berliners' couldn't travel free and risked getting shot, if they tried to cross the Berlin Wall.
On 'Where Are We Now,' Bowie returns to the Berlin Wall and reflects on Berlin and
Thus, The Berlin Wall was already a central in Bowie's song universe in 1977, where the 'Heroes' album and single were released. Although, David Bowie sings about a relationship that seems to be ending, the couple pretends that it will last forever. They do this by living for the moment: 'kissing like nothing could fall,' not worrying about something else.
The location is by the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and its cruel reality that East- and West Berliners' couldn't travel free and risked getting shot, if they tried to cross the Berlin Wall.
On 'Where Are We Now,' Bowie returns to the Berlin Wall and reflects on Berlin and the Wall from a historical perspective, and his own time in Berlin in the 70s. The singer refers to locations that were important during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and for our historical understanding of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War.
Looking at the two album covers, the connection between the albums become even more obvious. The front cover from the 'Heroes' album is used on the new album. However, Bowie's face have been replaced with a white square and the album title: 'The Next Day.' Is it the aftermath of the 'Heroes' single or the Fall of the Berlin Wall? We will know more 12th March, where David Bowie's new album is released.
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The location is by the Berlin Wall, a symbol of the Cold War and its cruel reality that East- and West Berliners' couldn't travel free and risked getting shot, if they tried to cross the Berlin Wall.
On 'Where Are We Now,' Bowie returns to the Berlin Wall and reflects on Berlin and the Wall from a historical perspective, and his own time in Berlin in the 70s. The singer refers to locations that were important during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and for our historical understanding of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War.
Looking at the two album covers, the connection between the albums become even more obvious. The front cover from the 'Heroes' album is used on the new album. However, Bowie's face have been replaced with a white square and the album title: 'The Next Day.' Is it the aftermath of the 'Heroes' single or the Fall of the Berlin Wall? We will know more 12th March, where David Bowie's new album is released.
About the Author:
Check out this preview of David Bowie's new album 'The Next Day' + the latest news on the album, or read about David Bowie's 'Heroes.'