David Bowie would have turned 78 on January 8, but his legacy continues to illuminate the history of music since his death on January 10, 2016.
On January 9, 1997, David Bowie celebrated his 50th birthday with an unforgettable concert at the Madison Square Garden from New York. Accompanied by a stellar lineup of guests, bowie He offered a performance that fused his musical legacy with the contemporary trends of the time.
The evening featured the participation of emblematic artists such as Frank Black (Pixies), Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Lou Reed, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Sonic Youth. The concert stood out for its focus on recent material for the time, avoiding falling into nostalgia. bowie opened with “Little Wonder”a single from their then-upcoming album Earthling.
Among the most memorable moments of the night, Lou Reedwhom bowie introduced as “the King of New York”, joined to perform “Queen Bitch”, “I'm Waiting For The Man”, “White Light/White Heat” and “Dirty Boulevard”. Robert Smith collaborated on an acoustic version of “Quicksand”while Billy Corgan participated in “All The Young Dudes” and “The Jean Genie”.
The climax of the show came with an intimate performance of “Space Oddity”. bowiealone on stage, began the song in complete darkness, with a single light focused on his face, creating an atmosphere that captivated the 14,500 attendees.
Critics praised the performance for its energy and relevance. Jim Farber of the New York Daily News highlighted that the show “kept one eye firmly on the future”, while Jon Pareles of the New York Times pointed out that bowie “He has repeatedly bet his career on the new.”
This concert not only celebrated the half century of life of bowiebut also became an indelible testimony of his genius and ability to reinvent himself. Today, 28 years later, this moment continues to shine in the collective memory as a tribute to the eternal legacy of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
