Colours

Every Wednesday I share five things I liked and think you might like too. Here are this week’s Five Things…

1. Since the passing of David Bowie a year ago, there have been many great articles written about him. This might just be my favourite. I particularly love this quote: "How starstruck, after all, can anybody feel after the object of one’s veneration says, early on, without a trace of irony, that he was excited to start a new project because: 'Now I get to do one of my favourite things. Go to a stationery store and get Sharpies and Post-its!'" Rock star, musical genius and stationary fan.
    
2. I recently stumbled on a BBC series from 1972 called "Ways Of Seeing". So far, I've only watched the first episode, but highly recommend it. You can watch the whole series here on Youtube.
    
3. An interesting piece on the importance of music in our lives.
    
4. A long and moving read on B.J Miller and his "Quest to Change the Way We Die". He's a fascinating guy. A doctor, triple amputee... and the proud owner of a motorbike. 
    
5. I've just discovered the music of Julia Holter... I have no idea how or why it's taken me so long to hear of her music! Here she is performing her song In The Green Wild on KEXP. 

That's all for this week. If you enjoyed it, sign up to receive future posts or check out my previous Five Things posts.

Like many people, I was devastated to hear the news of David Bowie's death. He was an inspiration in so many ways; an incredibly talented performer, a brilliant songwriter, a real artist.

If you haven't listened to his last album 'Blackstar' yet, do so, it's fantastic. 

Here are few quotes that caught my eye over the last few weeks.

"When in doubt, listen to David Bowie. In 1968, Bowie was a gay, ginger, bonk-eyed, snaggle-toothed freak walking around south London in a dress, being shouted at by thugs. Four years later, he was still exactly that – but everyone wanted to be like him, too. If David Bowie can make being David Bowie cool, you can make being you cool. Plus, unlike David Bowie, you get to listen to David Bowie for inspiration. So you’re one up on him, really. You’re already one ahead of David Bowie." ~ Caitlin Moran

"Cameron Crowe: Since you put yourself first, do you consider yourself an original thinker?
Bowie: Not by any means. More like a tasteful thief. The only art I’ll ever study is stuff that I can steal from. I do think that my plagiarism is effective. Why does an artist create, anyway? The way I see it, if you’re an inventor, you invent something that you hope people can use. I want art to be just as practical. Art can be a political reference, a sexual force, any force that you want, but it should be usable. What the hell do artists want? Museum pieces? The more I get ripped off, the more flattered I get. But I’ve caused a lot of discontent, because I’ve expressed my admiration for other artists by saying, ‘Yes, I’ll use that,’ or, ‘Yes, I took this from him and this from her.’ Mick Jagger, for example, is scared to walk into the same room as me even thinking any new idea. He knows I’ll snatch it." (Playboy, September 1976)

"I've always felt bemused at being called the chameleon of rock. Doesn't a chameleon exert tremendous energy to become indistinguishable from its environment?" ~ David Bowie