David Bowie - Understanding Major Tom

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During his career, David Bowie created a lot of characters through his music. This video explores the role of Major Tom in Bowie’s music and life. A journey that starts in the late 1960’s with the release of ‘’Space Oddity’’, through his personal struggles in ‘’Ashes to Ashes’’, to the very end of his life and career, in ‘’Blackstar’’.
#DavidBowie #SpaceOddity #VideoEssay

[@foppof882]

I personally think of Space Oddity as someone finally fulfilling their dreams, getting what they’ve always wanted, but feeling even emptier than ever. Over the course of the you see Major Tom happy/exited, then confused and unsure what to do, and then a feeling as if he is drifting through his life with no purpose but accepting of his fate

[@edwardlewis1963]

@1:19 "5 days before the launch David Bowie released Space Oddity" 1969. People watched a man walk on the Moon. When they hear the song, they are reminded of the personal risk that the astronauts are in. Not only to die in a strange land far away from home, but not even on Earth. An entire generation of young, worldwide, were inspired by the future of space. Start Trek and Star Wars were born. "here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do"

[@AlexanderTechniqueMadeEasy]

What Bowie really shows us is the importance of creativity. It moves through time and is essentially the greatest expression of our being here.

[@mister3566]

Bowie's songs are all open to interpretation by the listener, David himself has said this. He left us a a massive catologue of work to listen to, so headphones on, eyes closed and drift off into David's imagination.

[@EdneiMonteiroO]

Thanks, I'll never listen David Bowie the same way after your great video.

[@ghostrider2664]

Bowie was a true artist. more than a singer or songwriter, more of a communicator. such an impressive and intellectual mind. At 44 years old, i am coming to really resent death in a big way, even though I know that non-existence is where we really belong, considering thats where we spend most of time. but im also beginning to understand why religion exists, and why the concept of a god who is involved in terrestrial goings on is so comforting to some. and how evil the people who use religion to control others are. Bowie sends me off into thought tangents. maybe that was his aim. if so. he accomplished his goal 100%.

[@orakkeli]

Amazing video! Please continue with the essays, you're very talented

[@45cal.69]

I will always be grateful for his music and his art... We are losing some of the most beautiful people in our lives and we will never forget them We love you David, We love Tom

[@nickrvoid]

what about Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home) ?

[@Adventures_For_Miles]

Major ton is he hero of mine. I know he’s not real but to me he is. I think it’s beautiful how he goes from hero to zero and back to being worshiped after death. I could easily see a movie or series based off the story of major Tom. Also love Peter schillings major Tom song ❤️

[@garrettcarroll5808]

Please keep making more videos!! Your channel is a new gem in the rough.

[@markgreet3543]

Thanks for this excellent points,amazing song and video ashes to ashes.

[@latiicherdulcemtz9574]

I love the way you clear this out!!!! I feel the same way about it!!

[@kraz007]

Blue Danube is such an iconic soundtrack to Space ...

[@paulherndon5237]

Thank you for a good informative video.ive been a fan of david Bowie since the 70s great artest R.i.p.love you David.

[@YourIRLFriend]

keep up the good work, hope to see more videos from you

[@martymartz6872]

Dope video man

[@hylianbatman3153]

He was such a beautiful human

[@FreeOpenTruth]

???? 🤔

[@hollismoore1097]

bro why does it only have 600 views bro this is the shit

[@pattycassiani1352]

Bellissimo video....grandissimo Bowie....

[@thatmovienitpicker8070]

I believe that Tom evolved with Bowie. In Space Oddity, it’s said that Major Tom “really made the grade.” He’s a hero, an icon. However, in Bowie’s later songs, Tom is shown to be an incredibly flawed person, before eventually being immortalized as a god-like figure on this alien planet. I think, especially in the later songs, Bowie was choosing Tom to be a metaphor for himself. Obviously, Bowie knew he would die, but, like Tom, he will be immortalized and “worshipped” forever by his fans, even if he was a flawed human being.

[@prestigeproductionsaustral1171]

I love that I can dial up the most random thoughts I have like “ who is major tom anyway?” And I can find it right here on KZbin thanks 🙏🏽

[@agusbuffa]

Amazing video

[@MoreCovers]

What about Peter Schilling's Major Tom?

[@juang8360]

Asking the real questions! I want to know too!

[@PartyDude_19]

Perhaps the idea that Major Tom is actually a drug addict and that Space Oddity is a metaphor for an overdose could go to explain the rest of Space Oddity as an album and the rest of the songs are prequels detailing Major Tom's drug induced ramblings which could explain the album's many songs that talk of fantasy stories and the bizarre phrasings seen in most if not all songs on the album. The album Space Oddity could be simply Major Tom recording the thoughts he had while under the influence of drugs.

[@willsr2112]

great viedo so fricken underated

[@discountpotato5680]

Im your 60th subscriber

[@ashleybutler4524]

Well said...

[@BlackOps2543x]

Your videos remind me of LEMMiNO, both you and he are amazing channels with very similar styles of creating videos.

[@carysasmr]

If you listen to the song Rocket by Def Leppard at 2:40. Major Tom is Mentioned

[@barauder]

Major Tom rest in pepperoni

[@JEROLPOA]

Maybe You should had menctioned Peter Schilling song Major Tom

[@timmy18135]

Space oddity is a series of songs related to major tom

[@trentmaffeo4986]

I've always believed that David Bowie viewed Major Tom as his alter ego, being addicted to drugs and becoming a junkie just like he was. This would also explain the skull since from his perspective, he's just a "deceased junkie" whose significance to life is worth all the songs and life, its weight in jewels, that he gave us before parting

[@gatt2b]

Wow how crazy is it that he passed away 2 days after his last album was released that's very stange. I hadn't even realized David Bowie died a very different kind of artist really there's no one I know that was like him one thing he wasn't scared to express himself or his ideas.

[@garygrinkevich6971]

Its challenging to move through live, survive and try and create a legacy worth remembering while also being a tool of an indifferent system that will immediately forget you when you die broken and penniless, even as an Adonis of a man. Bowie knew that people all over the world looked to artists, poets, actors, writers, eccentrics, gurus and celebrities for guidance on what they should be living for and getting some really bad advice; that even he wasn't immune from being seduced by. Theres something about a period of exile for creatives that is profound and unites everyone from lgtb, black, white, rich poor male female etc. disparity is the human condition many spend their entire lives trying to ignore rather than fix. for whatever reason sex, drugs and rock and roll seem to be the cause and solution of every problem.

[@LINKJW]

Absolutely great video. I made a Chinese subtitle and posted it on Bilibili (hope you don't mind, I also make clear notation about you channel and original link on KZbin)

[@noonesflower]

Bowie was attached to aristocrats and he knew they were not really going to space

[@threeraven13]

Way too short his life like this video please more

[@RaceTheAce-ef9sg]

Only two comments?

[@tuchesuavae]

What about peter schilling?

[@buildingwithtavo6664]

Waaaat I think it ends with the song major tom - coming home

[@abook2141]

great video!

[@ehsh231]

What about a man who sold the world

[@skeletonkiss1112]

That didn't have a specific character, that was bowie playing himself and it was primarily based off of identity.

[@ehsh231]

@@skeletonkiss1112 true I learned this after a day of listening to the song a couple weeks but thank you for responding

[@skeletonkiss1112]

@@ehsh231 oh my bad man haha, that's a personal favorite album of mine so I was more than happy to respond.

[@Puppy_Puppington]

That’s about Diamond dogs and that whole MSF & Outer Heaven fiasco.

[@stevengd4678]

Völlig losgelößt von der erde Schwebt das Raumschiff. Schwerelos

[@easterislandhead9579]

Move to Berlin to clean up & get away from drugs. Berlin was the heroin capital of Europe - him & iggy were getting it posted though the door 😆