David Bowie was an artist who never repeated himself. With every album came a new creative direction that somehow worked flawlessly within the Bowie zeitgeist. Not that he ever intended to double back on himself, but there is one era in particular that Bowie never wanted to revisit. Find out what that is, below.
Videos by American Songwriter
The One Era David Bowie Never Wanted to Revisit
A winter’s day, a bitter snowflake on my face
My summer girl takes little backward steps away
Jack Frost took her hand and left me, Jack Frost ain’t so cool
Sell me a coat with buttons of silver
Sell me a coat that’s red or gold
Sell me a coat with little patch pockets
Sell me a coat ’cause I feel cold
Prior to the release of Hunky Dory in 1971, Bowie hadn’t quite figured out his lane. He was experimenting, as he always did, but those experiments weren’t paying off in the same way they did in his heyday. Nevertheless, fans still enjoy Bowie’s early work to varying degrees. Despite this, Bowie said he never wanted to revisit that material.
“The thing I’ve found interesting is the amount of enthusiasm and fire in the early stuff – there was a real desperate edge to it,” Bowie once said. “This guy really wanted to be heard. I’m not sure if it’s endearing or embarrassing, but you definitely get the impression that this person didn’t want to be left behind.”
And when she smiles, the ice forgets to melt away
Not like before, her smile was warming yesterday
See the trees like silver candy, feel my icy hand
He went on to say that he acknowledged the compelling “naivety” that can be found in his early work, but that he ultimately wasn’t “very comfortable” with it.
“It’s the very early stuff, there’s a naivety there that’s not disenchanting, but I’m not very comfortable with it,” he added.
Revisit one of Bowie’s early songs, “Sell Me A Coat,” below. Do you agree with Bowie that this sound isn’t his best? Or do you find his naivety charming?
Sell me a coat with buttons of silver
Sell me a coat that’s red or gold
Sell me a coat with little patch pockets
Sell me a coat ’cause I feel cold
(Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images)
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