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.'
The Berlin Wall and history ties the new album, and its beautiful first single 'Where Are We Now?,' together with the classic 'Heroes' album and single.
On the new single, The Thin White Duke sings about Berlin today and Berlin and the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. The Berlin Wall also played an important role in the classic 1977, 'Heroes' single, where David Bowie sings about a young couple that meets at the Berlin Wall. In an interview later that year, Bowie wondered, why the two lovers, sitting on a bench, had met on such an unpleasant location.
Bowie alters the story on 'Heroes,' now guns are firing over the couples heads: "I, I can remember standing by the wall, And the guns shot over our heads, And we kissed, as though nothing could fall." You wonder, whether the guns are real, and if the couple are trying to cross the Berlin Wall and escape the guards, or if the guns are a symbol of a dying relationship?
So, the Wall was already on Bowie's mind, in 1977, where 'Heroes' was released. Furthermore, there is a duality between the two songs texts, which gives 'Where Are We Now' an extra dimension; one could call it a unique historical perspective. On 'Heroes,' Bowie sings about a relationship that is doomed to fail by the circumstances of reality. However, the lovers pretend or dream that it will last forever, by ceasing the moment and forgetting about everything and 'kissing like nothing could fall,' acting like dramatic heroes.
The Berlin Wall is also a stark symbol of the Cold War and its inhumanity. East- and West Berliners' couldn't just visit each other, they ran the risk of getting shot if they tried to climb over the Berlin Wall.
David Bowie sings about the Berlin Wall again on 'Where Are We Now,' but this time from a historical perspective. He mentions locations that were important during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and which became important for our understanding of the Cold War. But, many of the places is also from his personal experiences during his time in Berlin in the 70s, were he lived for a period.
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.
The Berlin Wall and history ties the new album, and its beautiful first single 'Where Are We Now?,' together with the classic 'Heroes' album and single.
On the new single, The Thin White Duke sings about Berlin today and Berlin and the Berlin Wall during the Cold War. The Berlin Wall also played an important role in the classic 1977, 'Heroes' single, where David Bowie sings about a young couple that meets at the Berlin Wall. In an interview later that year, Bowie wondered, why the two lovers, sitting on a bench, had met on such an unpleasant location.
Bowie alters the story on 'Heroes,' now guns are firing over the couples heads: "I, I can remember standing by the wall, And the guns shot over our heads, And we kissed, as though nothing could fall." You wonder, whether the guns are real, and if the couple are trying to cross the Berlin Wall and escape the guards, or if the guns are a symbol of a dying relationship?
So, the Wall was already on Bowie's mind, in 1977, where 'Heroes' was released. Furthermore, there is a duality between the two songs texts, which gives 'Where Are We Now' an extra dimension; one could call it a unique historical perspective. On 'Heroes,' Bowie sings about a relationship that is doomed to fail by the circumstances of reality. However, the lovers pretend or dream that it will last forever, by ceasing the moment and forgetting about everything and 'kissing like nothing could fall,' acting like dramatic heroes.
The Berlin Wall is also a stark symbol of the Cold War and its inhumanity. East- and West Berliners' couldn't just visit each other, they ran the risk of getting shot if they tried to climb over the Berlin Wall.
David Bowie sings about the Berlin Wall again on 'Where Are We Now,' but this time from a historical perspective. He mentions locations that were important during the fall of the Berlin Wall, and which became important for our understanding of the Cold War. But, many of the places is also from his personal experiences during his time in Berlin in the 70s, were he lived for a period.
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.'
