Monday, December 8, 2014

40 Year Itch : A Chameleon on Cavett



“David Bowie is a superstar in a category that has never actually been defined, because as soon as a critic tries to say what he is, he changes, like a chameleon.” 
      Dick Cavett, December 5, 1974



   On December 5, 1974 David Bowie, sniffing so many times you'd think he'd had some kind of substance stuck in his nostrils, sang and talked on The Dick Cavett show. He performed three songs: "1984" ( from Diamond Dogs),  "Young Americans" ( from his forthcoming Philly soul album by the same name) and a medley of "Foot Stompin'" and "I Wish I could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate".
 


  Among the back-up singers, an unknown Luther Vandross.



   It's a fascinating thing to watch because Bowie is so strange. Sniffing, fidgeting with his cane and his jacket, laughing awkwardly. Cavett, though looking at ease, felt like he was drowning during the interview. Eventually he asks Bowie if he want sot be understood.
    Bowie's response:
  "There's absolutely nothing to understand."

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