The song that reduced David Bowie to tears: “Puts me in a place that no other music does”
Art is often judged solely on its look or technical ability, but it should be evaluated based on the emotional complexities it is able to convey. Throughout history, all the greatest artists have been those who have been able to imbue their work with an unavoidable sense of emotional weight, and that fact is particularly true within the music world. One figure who was all too aware of this idea was David Bowie, whose extensive discography drew upon every emotion from grief to jubilation over the years.
There is no debate over the songwriting genius that was David Bowie; his music helped to soundtrack the latter half of the 20th century, and countless people around the world attached their own lives and emotions to his music. Bowie is regularly hailed for his unique ability to reinvent himself, taking on different characters and embracing a wide range of musical styles and genres, but the one constant throughout his illustrious career was his innate ability to explore complex emotions within his work.
Perhaps the finest example of this came with the release of Blackstar mere days before the songwriter’s tragic passing in 2016. Detailing Bowie’s grappling with his own mortality, the album is undoubtedly the Brixton songwriter’s most emotionally impactful, particularly following his subsequent passing. Understandably, given the intense popularity of Bowie’s music, there was a colossal outpouring of love after his death, and much of that emotion was tied to Blackstar.
Conversely, in his private life, Bowie was said to have been an enthusiastic and good-humoured bloke – which can be seen through his appearances on various comedy programmes, notably his iconic performance in the Ricky Gervais series Extras.
Nevertheless, Bowie was always in touch with his more emotional side, particularly within the world of music. As you might expect from the songwriter, given the breath of his own material, Bowie’s record collection was extensive, incorporating virtually every musical style you can imagine.
Despite his reputation as a giant of pop and rock music, Bowie held a special place in his heart for classical music. Back in 2003, Bowie was asked by Rolling Stone for a song which regularly brings him to tears, to which he responded, “There is one piece of music that puts me in a place that no other music does. It’s called Four Last Songs, written by Richard Strauss.”
The 19th-century German composer was an essential figure in the Romantic era of composition, and his work – much like Bowie’s – has a compelling emotional quality to it. Four Last Songs was his magnum opus. Of course, as with the vast majority of classical music, the quality of the music is largely down to the individual performances. Bowie highlighted a specific version of Strauss’ Four Last Songs, sharing, “Particularly a performance by Gundula Janowitz. It can definitely bring me to tears.”
Janowitz was an icon of 20th-century opera, stunning audiences with her soprano vocal range. Bowie was often noted for his love of opera and theatrical performances, so it makes sense that he would find solace in the distinctive tones of the Austrian singer. Indeed, hearing her perform Strauss’ final works is certainly an experience to behold.
