Everyone was pretty surprised when David Bowie dropped The Next Day in 2013, about a decade after his previous album. People were even more surprised when the secret album Blackstar dropped in 2016, just a couple of days before Bowie himself passed away from complications of liver cancer. Those two albums are nothing to sneeze at, either. Let’s take a look at just a few of David Bowie’s best late-career songs from those two albums!
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1. “Lazarus”
Nothing David Bowie has ever produced has been as gut-wrenching as “Lazarus” from Blackstar. We could only compare it to Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt”. Both songs were produced by dying men reflecting on their lives, as they provided a glimpse into a future all of us will someday have to face.
“Lazarus” was the second single from the album, and it is still by far the most memorable. It was Bowie’s final single of his lifetime. We understand why it was never performed live, and we’re almost glad it never was. That would have been far too much to bear. A truly stunning swan song for the ages.
2. “Where Are We Now?”
This track from David Bowie’s album The Next Day is one of his best late-career songs and also was quite a surprise when it dropped out of nowhere. Surprises aside, it’s a genuinely great little art rock tune.
You can hear how Bowie’s voice had aged on this track, and it suits the song itself quite beautifully. The addition of pianist Henry Hay was a smart one, as the two musicians complement each other wonderfully.
3. “Blackstar”
The title track of David Bowie’s final album is a fine one that is rich with art rock and avant-garde jazz elements. Every song on that album is haunting, even without the context of Bowie’s then-impending death. But there’s something about “Blackstar” that just sticks to you. Who else could combine drum and bass with Gregorian chants and make it amazing? Only Bowie could.
4. “I Can’t Give Everything Away”
“I Can’t Give Everything Away” closes out David Bowie’s final album, and it’s an underrated favorite among his late-career songs. It’s a bit more upbeat than other songs on the record, with a level of serenity that made it perfect for ending an incredible musical career.
Fun fact: The harmonic track on this song is very similar (and likely inspired by) “A New Career In A New Town” from Bowie’s famed 1977 album Low.
Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images
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