David Bowie | Berklee Commencement Address 1999

[@timothydog76]

Wow! This is my graduation. Glad to see it up on KZbin. I have a picture of Bowie handing me my degree on that day. Very cool!

[@BenG9C9]

That "Rockers, Jazzers, Samplers" reference seems like it was a hilarious inside joke. I wish I was there.

[@caw2161]

David Bowie was simply just a beautiful man who was a gift sent to us with love.

[@ineffableoracular7260]

+Christopher Woodring Truer words could not be spoken.....as Philip Glass said;...this is a terrible, terrible loss......

[@tristanavakian]

By way of explanation: Berklee has two factions: rockers and jazzers. At least that was the basic division when I was there in the 70s. They were constantly at war, like street gangs. By the 90s it seems that a third faction, “samplers”, had emerged, at least at the time of this speech.

[@Stardust_7273]

I would have fainted if Bowie had come to my school to speak... I've had dreams about such a thing happening... RIP David. Miss you so much...

[@julianikitina4954]

This speech is as brilliant as his artwork. I'd give 10 years of my life to hear him live.

[@stationtostation8311]

i could have listened to David telling stories about his life for hours and hours....... what a life he had.

[@brittadogbe4552]

He was so nervous so sweet❤

[@711honved]

These students were standing in the presence of true greatness. I have no doubt that people will be talking about Bowie in a thousand years.

[@Chinachik]

"These are just a few moments from my life...." he said. Ah, mate....how I wish now that we could've had even just a few moments more. Call me greedy, but...well, you know.... you're just that damned easy to miss.

[@goldenpig0711]

How I love his sense of humour.

[@tukamorris]

charming speech. David and John, two of the best rockers Britain will ever produce.

[@brendaluna173]

god! the lost of David felt like losing a father figure, yesterday i started hearing his music again since he passed away and i felt such an anguish, i'll always love you David.

[@AronOrtegaG]

Loved it! Loved the faces in the background even more!

[@jomontanee]

No matter how magnificent his multi-personas was the real David Jones was a man of fantastic humor, kibdness and loving character.

[@mikehamblen9917]

I still look at his name in the record store and browse through his records like I did many years ago always anticipating his next album thinking what will be his next musical style and fashion. Those days in the late 70s were the most surprising. I remember first listening to Low and thinking this will never catch on but now it seems so avant garde even to this day. Every album was a like a painting completely different than the one before. The music world seems so empty now since he is no longer here.

[@ShahyarGhanbari]

"If it itches, play it"...RIP MAESTRO...What a BEAUTIFUL GENIUS...

[@suzietschirsch1257]

+Shahyar Ghanbari Trully he is!! No one like him ever-------

[@ShahyarGhanbari]

Suzie Tschirsch YESSSSS. Maesrto David Jones Bowie is the GREATEST and underrated = Something or someone that deserves much more respect than people will allow.

[@necholecordova5513]

I absolutely adore this man and would be awe struck if he had come to my school...I can't believe all the straight faces behind him

[@julichio6241]

The face of the two on the right behind 🤣❤️🙏 rip David

[@branmanact1424]

very down to earth individual, and had a lot of humor

[@ThinWhiteAxe]

Beautiful human being David was, and what a sense of humour. His Lennon impression is spot-on too. 👌

[@mikecanoga6278]

so funny and I hope I never run out of Bowie surprises because I can't get over him being gone.

[@zookytar]

This speech is kind of mental. Bowie existed on his own plane, didn't he.

[@krunchy1647]

A plane we mere mortals will never completely comprehend...

[@SuperSquishface]

Man, this speech you can see how he tailored it to be as entertaining as possible. Masterful. The Lennon anecdotes & 70's stories were things that anyone with even an ear for music will understand & enjoy, laughing at the humor. I mean, it is so clear that he put such thought into this speech & delivered it so well. The man was truly a gift.

[@d3a1990]

This is so cool. Bowie has always been a class act.

[@JC-Beefcake]

Bowie inspires me, to this day, to break out of the box and do my own thing. Amazing personality.

[@HarmonicHewell]

Wonderfully articulate, perfectly unique, missed dearly.

[@collettebadgley4102]

Bowie & Lennon: Goofballs apart and goofballs together. I like their friendship.

[@Salicath1]

John and David such 2 beautiful people! RIP!

[@sa65cn1]

I am so thankful to have seeen his Glass Sipder tour and the Superdome in New Orleans, I think in the 1980's. Great show! RIP, David

[@StinsonTango]

I so want to know this "rockers, jazzers, samplers" joke now

[@stephenotoole6633]

Beautiful funny and touching speech - miss this man so much

[@ladyblackstardust390]

What a gem. Thanks very much rockers, jazzers, and finger at sides of head people! Bowie was so knowledgeable, insightful, funny and creative.

[@bohwe43]

Genius, truly knew and studied music as a whole. Who knew that a rocker studied different forms of music, and able to combine them to create his sound.

[@iainmcguire7190]

Anybody who listened to his 25+ studio albums...?

[@chriscorman734]

Very few artist have have something to say or offer outside the wonderful music they give us but when David spoke he commanded your attention

[@dorothyallspice1862]

He was a really engaging, witty storyteller....and full of insight too. 💖

[@FancyTortoise]

Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing we can do. RIP

[@paolacelletti2056]

Thanks David! Always funny with his magical smile. What skin, what robe, what hat... but he is always charming and unique. This footage is a kind of theatrical piece and David is the “primadonna”. David forever! God bless us. Paola, Roma, Italia

[@kynby24]

Wonderful speaker.

[@Cosmogirl014]

Awe tears...he's a true gem.

[@GreenSeafoam]

The part on John Lennon popped up in my Facebook memories today. I am so happy to have found it and watch the whole thing. John Lennon has been my all time favorite since I was 10.... Bowie close behind, but earlier, since Labyrinth.

[@henryyuliano3288]

I have to say I think this moment is phenomenally underrated. I watch it whenever I’m lacking inspiration or confidence and I feel immediately comforted. Thank you David...for making it itch 💛

[@brillo55]

What an amazingly brilliant and beautiful person

[@dafyddil]

I love how it's just grandpa Dave up there telling stories...

[@fogboundd]

WHY DIDN'T THEY LAUGH AT HIS JOKES THEY'RE HILARIOUS

[@tracylf5409]

David Bowie- "authentic human being"... David was honest. I am so incredibly sad...he was a truly good person. He was the person you would be lucky to meet. And now he's gone. Sad.

[@amirascher]

I love this guy

[@MikeyTd00d]

a true legend.

[@ineffableoracular7260]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting THIS, I have wanted to see it for ages!!!!!!!!!!

[@paullynnlightfoot7663]

I'm watching this for Paul. Berklee, Boston, Paul's playing jazz with, omigod it was over fifty years ago, and it's gonna take a while for the name of their band to bob to the top in my beleaguered consciousness. I'm still only about halfway through my first year of being a widow, which was preceded by several years of steadily increasing demands on me as caregiver for my darling husband, who had Parkinson's disease, which in the last couple of years meant I never got more than at most an hour and a half of uninterrupted sleep, and that has taken its toll on my aging brain. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. By the way, this address of Bowie's with his reminiscences of John, whom I love, is just wonderful!

[@seikaflores1238]

I’m all tears, he was a genius

[@32mybelle]

What a brilliant man!

[@ralex3697]

RIP Beautiful man !

[@HugoEscudeiro]

Damn... How I miss this guy!

[@fotomusic]

He might have been in the wrong business. So natural with the humor. Shine on, Starman!

[@burpie3258]

He could have been in any business and shined the brightest.

[@ianhudgell5150]

Was a ver important part of my young life..David Bowie and Mick Ronson

[@marycollins8215]

So pleased to find this today. I enjoyed reflecting on David Bowie recently.

[@rachelhannah69]

What a supremely delightful human being. How I wish I had been at that commencement myself! Thank God Almighty for David Bowie.

[@PW1316]

David Bowie, a man who endeavored the music life and spread his talent to everyone.Godbless RIP Bowie

[@jimianderson809]

Genius

[@jameshoward3124]

When Sinatra died, I thought my parents would be devestated. But . . . nothing. Yet there has been such an outpouring of grief over Bowie's death. I find it very moving.

[@eddiegonzalez6916]

I miss you.

[@bropous4265]

DAVID. I mss you SO MUCH.

[@j.d.jdthinktankersorg.asa.4237]

So modest..... Dearly missed....

[@williwombat1066]

Bowie & Lennon speaking poltical / philosophical was like Beavis & Butthead on Crossfire… DWL

[@simmy3000]

0:36 was that David's stomach???

[@GaryMurgatroyd]

The Man !

[@vegxnvxmpire]

oh god i love him so much

[@vanessaclark3443]

Ah, so this is what Gary Oldman in his Brits Awards speech was making reference to when the time David talked about what music gave to him :).

[@jomidelgado]

That's where I heard it! Couldn't remember...

[@annwhite2346]

Best thing is David and Iman popped into Taco bell on the way home and stood in line with the other customers.

[@jasonmcdonald3235]

"..if it itches, play it!!"

[@grasshoppersunny688]

MY GOOD MAN I'M NOT TAKING A PISS IN A SINK! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! ☺ THANK'S DAVID 4 THE MUSIC FILMS FASHION ART WISDOM LAUGH'S & BEING AN ALL ROUND TOP BANANA (TOP BLOKE 4 THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PHRASE) MISS YOU MAN 💖 X X

[@liorap5636]

David used Tuba on his first album quite nicely!! Rubber Band, etc!

[@bennie9718]

AWWWW the David and John stuff was so cute tho, I miss both of them so much

[@justjohn7049]

A one off, terribly missed....

[@rossellamusina]

Ma quanto simpatico era . . .? Ci manchi David

[@patriciaright8465]

Eric Schassberger + What are you talking about? I didn't catch it if it was in this Speech! Or is it just some random question?

[@anthonycristante2874]

Everytime he said "Rockers" I found it fairly humourous for whatever reason.

[@burpie3258]

Rockers!

[@atlmswbko4394]

I thought I saw either Aretha kiss David or they kissed each other in the footage titled "David Bowie 1975 Grammy Awards" (where David begins with "Ladies and gentlemen..... and others"). But sure enough, she DIDN'T. She just turned her right cheek so that David could kiss her. So technically David is correct.

[@mikeseaquest9246]

GREAT SPEECH

[@MrIceIceBaby2000]

such a jokester, love him!

[@RelaxAlexEX]

10:25

[@rampageclover9788]

To be in that room

[@lauraschen2624]

He❤ the best!!

[@burpie3258]

Can you be any cooler???

[@OzzyMandias]

This is sooo koool maaaan!!!!!

[@miskaloupatreyu782]

Oh David, this world is definitely not the same without you :-( Could someone tell me what is the last sentence he is saying in this speech? something like "if it …, play it"? i can't understand it well, Thanks!

[@iainmcguire7190]

If it itches... Play it. A reference to his earlier chat about advice he always gives musicians, in the same speech

[@miskaloupatreyu782]

Great thanks!!;-)

[@sannimcable]

Very good speech

[@glennfromthebronx]

This was a nice commencement....apparently the commencement weekend at Breklee had some form of a concert. anyone/any grads have any info?

[@peetey897]

"If it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you"

[@64davrecon]

They should have had Bowie play "The Most Interesting Man in the World" guy for Dos Equis....

[@mentoncouve]

I was in my twenties and out of my head. Haha

[@katjakirsche5740]

How many likes can I give, a THOUSAND?!

[@Rache28]

Aww bless him, he looks really uncomfortable with public speaking!! Lovely guy!!

[@sannimcable]

I wish I had been there

[@tingdzinkochu]

Hero

[@garrison7888]

I went to Berklee when Buddy Rich came.

[@FlashakaViolet]

man when he recounted that moment with Aretha...that gotta hurt

[@kevcatnip7589]

knowledge comes with deaths release ,,,sadly no and we will miss you forever

[@camerondodge2070]

It's funny how the story of Bowie's first meeting Lennon parallels how Henry Rollins first met Bowie. If you've heard Rollins tell that story, then you know, and it's funny to think that our idols react in the same way we do when they meet their idols.

[@Skoora]

Had many slices at Little Steve’s when I went there in the early 90’s. We had the pleasure of Billy Joel at our commencement. He was great too. Had to get my hot tea and corn muffin every morning at Dunkin across the street. It’s hard trying to maintain decent quality tea drinking in the U.S….lol Many nights of doing laundry and going next door to Cappy’s for a Chicken Parm sub and some Mortal Kombat..lol Only 21 year olds can do laundromats when it’s 18F outside. I was a rocker. Can’t believe I used to put my 100 watt plexi in the bathroom of my small apartment (ghetto isolation) and blast the hell out of it. My neighbors must have hated me.