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David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy is one of the greatest masterpieces in classic rock

Today we're going to talk about David Bowie's greatest albums that made up the Berlin Trilogy. How were the records created and what are the best tracks included in them? Let's find out!

All about David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy: history, release and greatest hits

In the late '60s, David Bowie became a well-known figure in rock music and the innovatorThe middle of the new decade brought commercial success with albums considered to be commercially successful. The middle of the new decade brought the musician commercial success with albums considered to be important a milestone in Bowie's oeuvre and marked development of his style.

However, critics and David himself consider the end of the 70s to be the most fulfilling period of David's life, which gave the music world trilogy of "Low," "Heroes" and "Lodger." About how they were created revolutionary Bowie's records, about their recording and best tracks will be discussed in this article.

Background and sources of inspiration

Bowie in the '70s
Bowie in the '70s

Despite the success of the albums "Yong Americans" and "Station to Station," the musician's well-being worsened with each passing day because of his substance use. For about two years, Bowie's addiction worsened, so the singer decided to leave Los Angeles, which had a detrimental effect on him, for Europe. The move to another country was made only after the end of the tour "Isolar Tour", at a time when the musician changed his image again and received negative publicity for it.

The first impetus for the trilogy's initial album was to work on the film's music score "The Man Who Fell to Earth"in which the musician got the lead role. After David managed to record about six He was informed that his work would be considered on an equal footing with songs by other composers. After that, the director declined to incorporate Bowie's compositions into the film because he needed the sound other format, and the tracks written by the vocalist were never released.

David Bowie in 1977
David Bowie in 1977

In 1976, there is a landmark meeting between David and the keyboardist of the band Roxy Music Brian EnoIno's influence on Low would later be noted by critics and the singer's biographers. Eno's influence on Low would later be noted by critics and biographers of the singer. Much of what the musicians listened to was reflected in their work on all Berlin Trilogy albums, including German trends in electronic music and kraut rock.

Another basis for Bowie's new work was an album by his mate Iggy Poppa "The Idiot"recorded in Switzerland. The colleagues were trying to abstract themselves from addictions, so they decided to start a joint a work on which David showed his talent as a producer. Many of the ideas for Popp's record soon became the material for the album "Low.", which was a reason for critics to tacitly include Iggy's release as part of a trilogy.

Creation process

Bowie in the late '70s
Bowie in the late '70s

The creation of the album "Low" began before the musician moved to Berlin, and together with Bowie, Eno and Tony Visconti started to work, and their musical orientation, together with the singer's desire to make the album "Low". atypical the record, helped create base from experimental and art rock, ambient and electronic music by German artists. An important moment was the creation of particular of the recording atmosphere. Location tracks was also one of the interesting moments of creation: the first side had classic short songs and the second side had long instrumental songs. This album was a frontrunner for all rock music of the late 70s, and despite the lack of advertising, it sold well.

"Heroes."According to those involved in the recording, it has empowered the musicians and is a more positive version of "Low". You can see the whole larger a bias towards experimentation and artistry, as well as a deliberate departure from guitar music. Among other things, "Heroes" was sole album of the trilogy, recorded entirely in Berlin. The slightly different sound of the record was influenced by Bowie's interest in new art forms, as well as the singer's improved health. This time the release was promoted actively by both the label and the musician himself.

David Bowie during the recording of "Heroes."
David Bowie during the recording of "Heroes."

Two years later, the final album of the trilogy is released. "Lodger.". Unlike the previous two, it was the forerunner of a new musical movement global music, as reggae and Middle Eastern motifs dominated most of the compositions, both textually and melodically. In many ways, this sound maintained Eno's innovative songwriting methods. The structure of the album has changed, with the musician now returning to the typical the arrangement of the tracks. The theme of the record also became important; the lyrics now had a non-fantastic character, and were addressed to the eternal art motifs.

Top 5 favourite tracks

Favourites and most top David Bowie's compositions from the Berlin Trilogy:

Sound and Vision

One of the best tracks from the album "Low". At Eno's insistence, Bowie's voice doesn't appear in the song until later on two minutes after the start of the track, and this idea is designed to deceptions the expectations of the listeners. The important point is that this particular composition reflects the internally the singer's state of mind at the time of the record's creation, and the lyrics and dense, avant-garde sound help us understand the depth of the musician's feelings.

Warszawa

The melancholy of this track also conveys the saturation with this sense of David Bowie's soul. The song was named in honour of the capital of Poland after the musician's visit to it, and is fully reflexively Bowie's attitude to the history of this city. One thing worth noting is the basis of the track: the singer bought a recording of a local singing choirs and sang his part identically to them, thus creating a touching and yet aesthetic a tune.

Heroes

Despite the lack of success in the initial time after release, this track has now become a iconic and carries enormous significance. Thanks to his influence, the Berlin Wall was actually torn down, and it is the most main A sign of the track's success and greatness. Influence kraut rock noted both Eno and Bowie, while admitting that they were inspired by the rhythmic nature of one of The Velvet Underground's songs.

V-2 Schneider

There is a clear influence of the godfather of electronic music in this composition Florian Schneiderco-founder of the legendary Kraftwerk. The technique of creating the melody connects to Bowie's sensual impulse and his uncomplicated and the abundance of effects immerses you in a tense, yet unrealistic atmosphere.

Boys Keep Swinging

One of the best tracks from the last album of the trilogy. Cheerful rhythm, ironic Bowie's lyrics and parodic movements in the music video emphasise what the musician is talking about. The musician's particular playfulness with the theme can be noted here masculinities in the moments with changing into drag costumes to perform backing vocals. Also already in this song you can see prerequisites to the musician's new look and album, which will be released a year after the release of "Lodger".

What's the point?

David Bowie at one of his performances
David Bowie at one of his performances

In spite of ambiguous The first album of the trilogy received critical acclaim and remains one of the musician's most innovative works to this day. Heroes" was more highly praised, labelled as favourite among all the records released that year, and "Lodger" was greeted coldly and labelled the most weak Bowie's work since the release of his second record.

Many music critics have agreed that skilfully collected by "Low", incorporating the best traditions of a new vision of the world and art. In addition, the record actually became the first non-standard not only in the musician's work, but in rock and pop music in general.

A still from the film The Man Who Fell to Earth.
A still from the film The Man Who Fell to Earth.

"Heroes" was breakthrough not only creatively but also commercially, and "Lodger" was still in last place. After the release of all the albums conceived for the trilogy, Bowie called them his own DNAand the critics have confirmed epochality records with a lot of new sound and structural ideas for the whole music.

An influence that has not faded to this day

David Bowie at one of his concerts
David Bowie at one of his concerts

The breakthrough of the late '70s is still considered by critics to be particular a page in the musician's life. The trilogy is called the progenitor of synth-pop and industrial, and Iggy Popp's first album and record are considered the start of the genre postpunk и post-rock. They have gained cult status from musicians who started their careers in the 90s in these particular directions, such as Joy Division, The Cure, Arcade Fire and Gary Newman.

"Heroes" has become guide into music for Andy McCluskey, Vince Clarke, Ian Astbury, as well as John Lennon on his album "Double Fantasy" and the band U2. The third album was. impressive for the Brit-pop movement and the bands Oasis and Blur, who used elements of songs from the record in their works.

David Bowie for the cover of the album "Heroes"
David Bowie for the cover of the album "Heroes"

The trilogy had a great influence on the composer Philip Glasswho created two symphonies based on the albums "Heroes" and "Low". The adaptation of pop music into academic music was the same way innovationlike all of David Bowie's work, and in this, Glass is completely identical to his idol. There were ideas to create third symphony, but the project failed to materialise at first. It was only a couple of years after David Bowie's death that Glass's work was published.

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