♪ (ragtime music) ♪
♪ (David Bowie, "Lazarus") ♪
- The door opens slowly.
♪ (mellow brassy music) ♪
(deep gasp)
- Oh my gosh. It's David Bowie.
- Oh my god. This made me very sad.
- ♪ Look up here ♪
♪ I'm in Heaven ♪
- (sadly) Oh.
(tearfully) This is gonna make me cry. I'm sorry.
- ♪ I've got scars that can't be seen ♪
- I haven't watched this yet.
- ♪ Look up here, man ♪
♪ I'm in danger ♪
- Oh, that's so sad.
- He did this just before he passed away.
- ♪ I've got nothing left to lose ♪ - I wonder if he did this video
knowing that his days were numbered.
- ♪ I'm so high ♪ - He just continues to amaze.
- ♪ Drop my cellphone down below ♪
♪ By the time... ♪ - He's still awfully handsome.
- ♪ ...I got to New York ♪
- He's still gender bending.
- ♪ I was living like a king ♪
- Looking at death, um... - ♪ I was looking for your ass ♪
- I'd like to think of it as a prettier picture.
- ♪ You know I'll be free ♪
- I'll be free when I go to Heaven?
- ♪ You know I'll be free ♪
- He's such a poet.
- ♪ Just like that blue bird ♪
♪ Oh, I'll be free ♪
- How prophetic is this?
- He's singing with so much feeling.
It's just... it's really amazing.
- ♪ Ain't that just like me? ♪
- He was saying goodbye.
- If I died, this is the way I would like to go out at the end.
He actually went out as a performer.
- He wanted to leave some mark, perhaps.
Well, this guy did it.
- (sharp exhale)
Whoof.
- He's going into his coffin at the end.
He knew he was dying.
- (voice wavering) That's a big one for me.
(sighing)
I just adored that guy.
(movie reel clicks)
- (Finebros) So that was a new music video by David Bowie.
What are your thoughts when you watched that music video?
- It was incredibly emotional.
I mean, I could feel it in my chest.
- There seemed to be somewhat of a dark side to it.
- It was like he was being accepting
of what his life force was-- allowing to let go.
- He already knew that he was terminal.
I've never thought about what I would be thinking if
I knew that after I walked out of here I was gonna die.
- And we're all gonna make that transition,
and I think he knew it was coming,
and he had the courage to make something like that
is pretty extraordinary.
- (Finebros) How did you feel when you found out
that he had passed away? - Oh, I was-- pfft.
I was absolutely stunned.
- I was a little shocked.
- He kept it quiet for so long, of how sick he was.
It kinda tells you what type of person he was.
- When you get to my age, people who have been part of
the soundtrack of your life starts to die,
and it blows your mind!
- (Finebros) So this song is called "Lazarus".
- Wow. Really?
Lazarus was raised from the dead.
He is rising again, musically, after his death.
- (Finebros) What are your thoughts about him,
as he was so sick, making new music?
- I think it's brilliant.
- Still had a lot that he wanted to do, to create.
- That was his life, so I think that's how he
could revive himself a little bit.
- It's wonderful that you could do your art
until the very last moment of your life.
- It truly was goodbye.
To know you're that close to death, but still make a video
to say goodbye to everybody.
I mean, like I said, he's a class act.
- (Finebros) Over the years, were you a fan of David Bowie's music?
- No. No, I really wasn't.
- I wasn't a big fan, but I so appreciate him now.
- He really wasn't my taste.
You know, I came from a different music world.
- I always liked David Bowie.
He was extraordinary. He crossed all boundaries.
- Of course! Who isn't?
I saw him live many times
because I lived in England when he was doing his thing
and I was lucky enough to see him in England and in America.
There's very few artists like David Bowie.
- I liked his theatricality.
A friend of mine wrote for a music magazine or newspaper,
and she said, "We're going to the Civic to see
this new English guy."
And then he started singing, and it was just--
he truly was magical.
I couldn't just applaud and cheer.
My life had been changed.
- (Finebros) Over the course of his career,
he was known for changing his genre of music
and his look many times, taking on personas
like Ziggy Stardust or Thin White Duke.
Why do you think he made those choices?
What was he trying to say? - Keep the fans' interest,
you have to keep changing.
- He was smart because if you stay the same
all the time, you can't be One Direction.
You know what I'm saying?
- He just wanted to explore it all and take us with him.
And not bore us!
- He was a very creative person,
and people who are very creative don't want to stay in one mold.
- (Finebros) Many people also say that David Bowie's impact
went far beyond just music.
For people who are watching this that might not be as familiar
with his life, how else would you say he impacted culture?
- Well, he did some extraordinary films.
He was an amazing actor too.
- And his style and fashion.
- People responded so much to his music,
they also adopted some of his dress styles, hairstyles.
- I don't think there was one before him who rocked
the androgynous thing like he did.
- He might've been the precursor for the acceptance
of transgender/LGBT rights.
- By being different. By dressing different.
Prior to that in the LBG community,
they were that way, but only in certain areas.
- He changed history.
He changed what music, art, theater, acting,
what it was all about.
Very few people are that impactful.
- When I first started seeing him, I thought, "Oh man.
This guy looks like he might be a homosexual."
And then he gets married to Iman or "Eman"
and all that, you know,
and then it's just like, "Shoot. I could wear a dress."
- (Finebros) Now a little bit of a heavier question:
when people of influence to your life from when you were younger pass away,
what kinds of thoughts does it give you?
- It's a sense of loss.
Emotions that you have, and they're gone.
- It makes you think of your longevity,
and it makes you think how valuable life is.
You don't expect that your heroes are gonna die before you do.
(voice wavering) You think they're gonna live forever.
- It's so strange because so many people have passed
and many of them are younger than me.
It makes me stop and appreciate what they did,
and that I was able to be a part of that moment.
- (Finebros) All right, so to end this episode,
we're going to show you a montage
of some of Bowie's greatest hits. - All right.
- Nice! (laughs) That's awesome.
- ♪ There's a starman waiting in the sky ♪
♪ He'd like to come and meet us ♪
- I don't remember that song, but I remember that look.
- ♪ Is there life on Mars? ♪
♪ ...while you're dancing ♪
- That's the Mick Jagger look.
- Interesting the way his look changed so much.
♪ (funky beat) ♪
- ♪ Fashion ♪
♪ Pressure ♪ - (squealing in delight) Oh, Queen!
My boys.
- ♪ Pressing down on me ♪ - That's the American bandstand look.
- ♪ Let's dance ♪
♪ (funky beat) ♪
- When I heard that he died, the first thing that came
to my mind is ♪ let's dance ♪.
♪ (upbeat brassy music) ♪
- ♪ Let's dance ♪
♪ To the song they're playing ♪
- Who can listen to this and not dance?
- David Bowie is what we all try to be, and that's cool.
- Here we go.
This is what the type of music I'm used to and I like.
- ♪ Church on time ♪
♪ This is Major Tom to Ground Control ♪
- Oh yeah. You have to remember that one.
- ♪ I'm stepping through the door ♪
♪ And I'm floating in the most peculiar way ♪
♪ And the stars look... ♪ - I love this song.
- ♪...very different today ♪ - Oh, I like it. I like it.
- ♪ For here am I... ♪ - Doesn't everyone in the world
know this song? - ♪ ...sitting in my tin can ♪
♪ (song concludes) ♪
- Oh, thank you.
- That was great to see that.
- I think he's indescribable.
That's should wrap it all up.
- Another icon passes.
And I get closer to my time.
(rapping table) That's why I'm having fun, guys.
(laughing) I'm having as much fun as I can.
- (sniffles) Thank you.
(voice breaking) That was... that was great.
(sniffles and sighs)
(softly) Bye, David.
- Thank you so much for watching this episode of Elders React.
- This is Ground Control saying goodbye.
- Farewell, Major Tom, and thank you.
♪ (ragtime music) ♪