
Reflecting on the design of the cover of the upcoming album and “Bowie’s Berlin trilogy”, Jonathan Barnbrook, graphic designer said: “The “Heroes” cover [used for this new cover] obscured by the white square is about the spirit of great pop or rock music which is ‘of the moment’, forgetting or obliterating the past.” The second surprise, I’d say after the announcement of this new material definitely comes from this cover.
Taking deliberate inspiration from his own past to create something new, is in itself an innovation. Is Bowie telling us?: “please forget what I did in the past and focus on something new, but don’t forget it at the same time…”. The only reference to his past I could remember is in Ashes to Ashes where “Major Tom had become a junkie”…
I am under the impression that he must have also been bored and fed up with today’s “music icons” who keep on stealing from his visual identity and past innovations. These people who are more interested in becoming famous than producing good music. Isn’t it what is expressed through the simplicity of this video? An anti-marketed and superficial artist appears in “Where are we now?”… He doesn’t need to wear a stupid outfit Lady Gaga, he did that 40 years ago, so don’t pretend you invented it all. Well done David. I am glad you’re back with a big splash. Oh and happy birthday !