Exploring some of the science fiction and space science themes in Bowie’s most iconic songs and acting roles.

Intro

My love for David Bowie’s music began when I first saw the famous “tunnel song” scene from the 2012 film, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I remember frantically searching online for the mysteriously dubbed “tunnel song” by the three main characters of the movie. This song turned out to be “Heroes” which was created by the gifted English singer-songwriter, David Bowie. Ever since I first listened to this song, I have immersed myself in learning more about David Bowie’s music, his influence in science fiction, and obscure messages derived from some of his most iconic repertoire.

The late musician, who passed away on January 10th, 2016 due to losing his internal battle with liver cancer, is one of the most iconic figures of the rock music genre. He experimented with different forms of music genres outside of rock, known for famous songs such as “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars”. Bowie was also one of the most talented songwriters of his time, and one of my favorite music artists.

Iconic Songs and Personas

Ziggy Stardust Persona

David Bowie was known for his creation of characters for each album(s) consisting of unconventional narratives released, with each song portrayed as chapters of an alter ego’s existence. Some of Bowie’s most popular stage names and personas were Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Vince Taylor, and several others depending on the purpose of the music created.

Audiences were enthralled by Bowie’s 1972 album called The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which was created through the late singer’s collaboration with the eclectic band, The Spiders from Mars. Bowie released some of his most popular space-centric music on the album, including iconic songs such as “Moonage Daydream”, “Starman”, and the “Ziggy Stardust” song reflecting the alter ego of the same name.

It was also the first and only album where audiences were able to see the life and “death” of Ziggy Stardust, an androgynous alien persona who fell to Earth and became a rock star. This persona was referenced for the main character in the 1976 film, The Man Who Fell to Earth as well.

While short-lived, the Ziggy Stardust character remains one of the late musician’s most influential personas of rock music and science fiction to this day.

Life on Mars? (1971)

One of my favorite songs from David Bowie is known as “Life on Mars?”, an influential musical inverse of the beloved Frank Sinatra song, “My Way”. “Life on Mars” has been heavily used in media for the soundtrack of the British series version, Life on Mars, the 2015 musical called Lazarus, in the 2006 Factory Girl indie film, and other soundtracks.

The brilliant musician, Trent Reznor from NIN (Nine Inch Nails), and his frequent music collaborator (Atticus Ross) created a cover version of the song in memory of Bowie for the 2019 HBO series, Watchmen.

Space Oddity (1969)

Another favorite space-themed song from David Bowie is called “Space Oddity”, which was released and heavily advertised in conjunction with the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. This time also represented one of the most celebrated accomplishments of NASA’s existence, which was landing humans on the moon for the first time in history.

The song is a personal story about an astronaut named Major Tom who experiences a mechanical malfunction, and whose fate correlates with the end of the “Space Race” era. Its melody also reflects a bittersweet message for its listeners, which stresses the importance of personal connections with others in the limited time we have in our human existence.

Famous Sci-Fi Roles and Inspirations

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

Based on the 1963 science fiction novel by Walter Tevis, the The Man Who Fell to Earth is a film where Bowie plays Thomas, an androgynous alien (alter ego also known as Ziggy Stardust) whose planet is in turmoil. His character later becomes engaged in joyful activities and discovers different aspects of humanity along the way. Bowie’s main role in the movie later led Oppenheimer director, Christopher Nolan, to eventually casting him as the character, Nickola Tesla, in The Prestige (2006).

Labyrinth (1986)

Possibly the strangest role Bowie has been cast as has been Jareth the Goblin King in the amazing eighties fantasy musical called Labyrinth. This eccentric fantasy film follows the protagonist, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) on a journey to save her brother when she is captured by the Goblin King.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

If you’re a fan of the beloved tv series, Twin Peaks, you are likely already aware of the prequel film — also starring Bowie — called Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. While the film’s predecessor focuses on odd supernatural crime mysteries investigated by FBI agent Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), the prequel film shows the final living days of the first main victim, Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). David Bowie made a cameo appearance in the film. Despite the character’s purpose in the film never being explained, it solidified Bowie’s popularity among sci-fi fans.

“The Sandman” Comic Book Series (1989 — present)

The Sandman comic book series was written in 1989 and later adapted by the well-renowned fantasy writer, Neil Gaiman, in 2022 as a Netflix series of the same name. The comics are written in the point-of-view of the character, Dream, one of seven Endless god-like beings in existence, who goes on a journey to find out who planned his kidnapping and descent in power.

Neil Gaiman has openly mentioned his inspiration for The Sandman character, Lucifer, is David Bowie. Some of Gaiman’s most recently adapted work includes American Gods, Good Omens, and other critically-acclaimed novels and short stories.

Key Takeaways

David Bowie’s remarkable journey in the world of science fiction, musical contributions in correlation to space science, and the influence of his personas’ narratives continues to impact many fans to this day. Bowie‘s memory is also survived through his wife, model/actress Iman, two children, and through his outstanding work in film and music. With Bowie’s contributions, the world has certainly become a more interesting place in the universe.