The skeleton is Major Tom, his 1st caracther, from the "Space Oddity" song, who died in space during a mission. A black star is a gravitational object composed of matter, so that's probably the reason why Major Tom is floating on the video. There's a rumour that Bowie decided to "unalive" himself in a assisted way after getting tired of the treatment, so that's probably why we have the verse "on the day of execution", but that's just a rumour. We don't know if that's what really happened to him, but it's really a huge coincidence that he passed away 2 days after the release of an album that was released on his birthday. So this song is probably about death and only that, and the video is just an allegory for that. There's a video called "David Bowie's "Blackstar" Is Not About Death | OVR THNKR #18" that explains it way better. About his religion, Bowie wasn't an atheist, but he probably had no religion by the time of his passing, but he tried Satanism, Thelema and Christianity, but neither of these believes worked for him.

He was like 2 weeks away from a terrible death of liver cancer. Had lots of chemo. He was reflecting on his whole life here. He is portraying in art his own death. When i first saw the video i was also thinking ''what is that?'' but when he died a few days later, just after this album was released (and he kept his illness a secret!) then i realized that it was a song about death, darkness and pain.

Black star Ablum. Is simply a masterpiece.

@jsghetler

3 ай бұрын

One of his best. We got a masterpiece at the very end.

A showman to the end. Thank you for checking out this, one of the final tastes of his genius.

It's art. Don't over think it. Fwiw, the astronaut hearkens back to Major Tom from Space Oddity (and Ashes to Ashes). At the end of his career and life Bowie was clearly thinking about the beginning of his career and how far he came, which I find touching. The astronaut (or Major Tom if it's supposed to be him in particular) has landed or crashed on a planet and died. The people don't know what he is and his skull has become a religious artifact/icon used in rituals. Beyond that there's a lot of religious iconography and that's really all I have for meaning. It does look somewhat creepy, and the song has some menace, but I think the video is beautiful. BTW, the jumping/shaking dance is a reference to the video for his song "Fashion." You might find it less scary there! Anyway it's a gorgeous and wildly creative song. I hope you're able to listen to it without being bothered by the memory of the video!

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

So interesting! I love the song fashion but i never knew there was a video for it so I for sure will look Thank you so much for the insight!!

He sounded like an alien in this

Can’t wait Hannah, have you seen the labyrinth you should❤👍

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

I love the Labyrinth!! One of my FAVORITE movies

@Jaguar29.

3 ай бұрын

@@celineophile that’s great. We have something in common than have a great day Hannah I hope you do like you do it around the weekend. If you’re not busy, then I can see it.❤️

I think the shaking people may be a throwback to the video Fashion,He always wore a cross around his neck.

7:36 😂

Everything about this album was timed to coincide with his death. The vinyl that was sold would change colour some time after being left opened in sunlight. The release date was set when he had about two days left. So for fanatical buyers, they bought the album and within a day or two heard the news that he was gone. To quote this very song - "Something happened on the day he died". So thats why the song is about a Black Hole. Black Holes are science. If you travel into a Black Hole, you can't come back. He is also a 'star' (famous) who is dead. So he would be singing from beyond the grave. Back then, I was listening to this and didn't guess what was going on. Others have noticed references to his career in this video, you saw Labyrinth. He was never religious, so his reflections on death were being in awe of his life ending. It was scary. The buttons for eyes - covering bandages - represent what he cannot see beyond hospitalisation and death. He was literally leaving hospital to record this album, then returning to hospital. The shaking in the clip, if someone knows what that's about, i'd like to know too. Just fear? The music is both sad and scary during those bits. Other songs on the album refer to his struggles at hospital and some of the absurdity of his life. Mentioned often in this song are the things that Blackstar does NOT refer to. He didn't want to confuse people. He is not a famous Hip Hop gangsta, who is a 'Black star'. Lyric from the song - "I'm not a gangster". Its not a Black or White thing either as he is also "not a White Star" - he is a star that has gone supernova and become a black hole. Someone who is a Blackstar is famous, and dead, to use both meanings. "On the day of execution" is wordplay. Execution may mean killing, but it also means a process. Something happening, or the unfolding of an event. Example : how well was this song executed? So he's saying : on the day when death does its thing. In part, he sees that cancer is going to kill him. He feels like something is killing him. Another dual meaning. Bowie fans have found many more things about this song but these are what I thought when I pondered it. Here is one last reflection : in Shakespeare, someone pondering why people choose NOT to kill themselves concludes that "none have returned from that undiscovered country". Perhaps they're anxious in the face of the unknown and so don't dare find out what's there after they die, even if life is pretty rough. So we can't know what's next. Yes, I know you're religious, and you know what's next. This is Bowie's perspective though.

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

On your Shakespeare point I completely agree. As someone who has struggled with suicidal episodes I can attest to staring death down and being terrified at not knowing. I of course am religious but it doesn't protect me from the fear of the unknown so I understand that!

I wonder if what we have here is the product of Bowie's phenomenal creativeness combined with the effects of the medication keeping his pain under control. He was dying when the did this, and he knew it. And Major Tom is in there too, dead.

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

Very insightful!

6:38 - Bowie was a lot of things, and believed a lot of different things too. He was influenced by so many philosophies. The Ziggy Stardust persona literally references "like a leper messiah" and the conclusion of that album has Ziggy, disillusioned with fame and humanity's greed and fickleness, die onstage. Most of his work deals with struggling with mortality, identity, and time. This was the last waltz, his final statement of intent, but rather than linger on regrets, he prophecies a second coming - someone who will take his place. The blackstar.

This video and song is creepy ..more creepy than thriller short film😬

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

FR THO!!!

@James-xw6yl

3 ай бұрын

@@celineophile lol fr 🤗🤭

If you’re looking for the ‘so normal’ bit, David Bowie will disappoint you again and again.

@celineophile

Ай бұрын

I'm a big fan of Bowie 🤗

The director of the of the video had a vision, there is not a direct link between the video and the music.

That was a little bit scary and my gosh would i just die if i had to watch that for 1hr 😂

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

It is so freaky!!

@Jaguar29.

3 ай бұрын

Literal nightmares 😱😰 Hannah I mean I like david bowe but what the so weird and creepy

You have the same birthday as my sister :D

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

That's really cool!!!

They are scarecrows

Stick with pop....this went well over your head😂

@celineophile

Күн бұрын

😞

creepy but interesting

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

Oh extremely hahahaha

ignorance is a poison.

@celineophile

2 ай бұрын

??

@BluEx22329

Ай бұрын

​@@celineophile 😂

Annoying reaction. Really awful.

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

My bad dawg😂😂

Something is wrong with you.

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

Dangit!! Everytime!

Totally get it. Im a christian too. Its some kind of dark ceremony, maybe related to black magic and possession

@miradoresdecarmen1206

3 ай бұрын

This was a gross mess of all ugly.

Hiiii

hide that cross. its a trinket of uselessness. didnt learn from the blackstar video?

@celineophile

2 ай бұрын

okayyy buddy!

@celineophile

2 ай бұрын

honestly i use it more as a nametag if anything

What film????

@celineophile

3 ай бұрын

Music Video, Blackstar