All art really does is keep you focused on questions of humanity, and it really is about how do we get on with our maker.
David BowieRead
I'm well past the age where I'm acceptable. You get to a certain age and you are forbidden access. You're not going to get the kind of coverage that you would like in music magazines, you're not going to get played on radio and you're not going to get played on television. I have to survive on word of mouth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
As one ages, societal acceptance in certain industries can diminish, pushing individuals to find alternative paths to success.
David Bowie's quote reflects the harsh reality that as artists grow older, they often face exclusion from mainstream media and celebration in their fields, such as music. He emphasizes how this phase of life necessitates resilience and adaptation, relying on word-of-mouth rather than traditional channels for success and validation.
Themes
AgeAcceptanceMusicMediaResilienceWord Of Mouth
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a panel discussion on age and creativity can use this quote to illustrate challenges faced by aging artists.
More from David Bowie
All quotes →I guess, taking away all the theatrics or the costuming and the outer layers of what I do, I'm a writer... I write.
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I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human.
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But I've got to think of myself as the luckiest guy. Robert Johnson only had one album's worth of work as his legacy. That's all that life allowed him.
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I'm an early riser. I get up between five and six, have coffee, and read for a couple of hours before everyone else gets up.
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