Bowie was immense, and changed so many things, affecting the lives and futures of millions of people.
Bowie never became commercial. He was Bowie; he did what he wanted. I doubt he ever read a critique or review, he just came up with his unique stuff, and we just sat back in awe.
Some people, like Durham Giant - most people, even - get old and jaundiced, and at a certain point, stop listening to music (the oldies were the best) but not Bowie.
When I first listened to "The Next day" (2013, a while past 1982) I was astounded. Not that it wasn't as ground-breaking or unique as his 70's output, but that a 66 year-old who'd been away from the game for a decade could still possibly burn so creatively bright, and produce such a stunning album.
But he always knew how to top things. Looks like on getting his diagnosis, his choice was to create a goodbye album for his fans, Blackstar. I've just listened to it and watched the videos, and only Bowie could have done it. Enough musicality and imagery to write several theses, and as one critic put it "David Bowie gains immortality with Lazarus, the boldest character of his career".
A true one-off, a genius not only of music but art and creativity, I consider it a stroke of amazing luck and a privilege to have lived through his magnificent career.
