David Bowie BBC Proms

This programme contains strong language.

David Bowie is undefinable, Romantic. Beautiful. Trance

formedive. Ahead of his time. Handsome. Space child. Dude. Great

guy. # There's a Starman waiting in the

sky # Head's like to come and meet uses

# Oh, you pretty things # Don't you know you're driving your

mamas and papas insane # Lives on his back... #

He changes your life. He changed my life. If he talked about a musician

or a film or a book or an arti you wanted to explore it. He led you

into a world of exploration. I'm very honoured to be involved in

curating this special concert in tribute to the work of David Bowie

and I'm also directing Stargaze, classically trained musicians. We

have brought together eight or nine singers from the world of pop and

soul music, classical singer and rock music.

# We spoke of... # We want to bring out the different

elements that in the songs. Maybe in different colours, different ways.

Three songs I was asked to arrangement there were no boundaries

as to how the arrangement would go. It let me get closer to the song.

The lyrics have so much power. It's great. We had a long list of artists

we spoke to. Some said, this is amazing, we want to try it. Even

though it scares me a lot, not only because it's David Bowie, and this

particular year, but also because they are working out of their

comfort zone. A very experiment It's al concert. Expect to really hear

things that you've never heard before.

# Makes a man take thingses over... #

Fame has that funk element. When we did it in rehearsal, I was like -

OK, it has a whole new lilt. We wanted to really show off the depths

of the compositions of David Bowie's songs and it's reach beyond genre

borders. We always say from David Bowie he has a super loyal and super

male. It makes sense for me to sing between male and female.

# I will be King... # Underneath everything there is this

idea that we're honouring and the music is all about rev reasons for

David Bowie and what he did. I think for the audience it's going to feel

slightly out-of-body. Slightly psychedelic at times. I think people

will be talking about this for a long time.

# Look up here # I'm in heaven

# I've got scars that can't be seen... #

I think there will be will be some grieving in it. Ultimately, I think

I think it should be celeb rate are you. You can ask me that again if I

get through the songs. Pole tongsly, celebratory. -- potentially

celebratory. # Here are we, one magical

moment, such is the stuff # Bending sound, dredging

the ocean # Tall in this room overlooking the

ocean # Here are we, one magical movement

from Kether to Malkuth # There are you, you drive

like a demon from station to station # The return of the Thin White Duke,

throwing darts in lovers' eyes # The return of the Thin White Duke,

making sure white stays # Once there were

mountains on mountains # And once there were

sun birds to soar with # Got to keep searching

and searching # Oh, what will I be believing

and who will connect me with love? # Wonderful, wonderful,

wonder when # Have you sought fortune,

evasive and shy? # Drink to the men

who protect you and I # Drink, drink, drain your glass,

raise your glass high # It's not the side-effects

of the cocaine # I won't let the day

pass without her # Should I believe that

I've been stricken? # Does my face show

some kind of glow? # The European cannon

is here, yes it's here Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

APPLAUSE. This is Conor O'Brien on the guitar and Neil Hannon. Conor

O'Brien from Villagers. This is the Stargaze gaze. They will be our

house band tonight. I'm Amanda Palmer.

We are so incredibly honoured to be here. And the most important thing,

I think, is that we feel this is not a wake for David Bowie, this is an

amazing art form, Hall, secular celebration of some of the most

incredible music in the world. So thank you so much for being here

with us. And Conor O'Brien is going to take it away with this next song.

Put your hands together. APPLAUSE

The man who sold the world, sung by Conor O'Brien. Thank you, Connor.

We got as many composers and arrangers involved in this evening

as singers and soloists. This next song was arranged by a Dutch

composer, and I am not going to give it away quite yet, but we welcome

back onstage Neil Hannon. # Will die

This is not America # Falcon spirals to the ground

This could be the biggest sky # This is not America

Oh, this is not the miracle # Oooh

For this could be the biggest sky this ain't America, but trust me, we

love it. This is my home, no place like the other. This ain't America.

Trust me, we are on it. In the projects, and trust me, there's no

place like home. That's my man them. Standard. To Stansted. I'm saying,

this ain't America. # Oh

Sha la la la Neil Hannon, ladies and gentlemen.

And joining him on stage was our special guest, Elf Kid. Thank you.

Now it's my great pleasure to welcome onstage Mr Marc Almond.

# But her friend is nowhere to be seen

# Now she walks through her sunken dream

# And she's hooked to the silver screen

# For she's lived it ten times or more

# She could spit in the eyes of fools

# Take a look at the law man beating up the wrong guy

# That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow

# Now the workers have struck for fame

# See the mice in their million hordes

# Take a look at the law man beating up the wrong guy

Thank you, and this song was arranged for Malc by the great

British composer, Anna Meredith. APPLAUSE. This winning combination

will be back later, actually. But now, we welcome on stage Anna Calvi

and Jherek Bischoff. APPLAUSE.

Jherek Bischoff has arranged this next song. Thank you, Jherek.

# The lady from another grinning soul

# And when the clothes are strewn, don't be afraid of the room

# She'll lay belief on you, but she won't stake her life on you

# How can life become her point of view

# And when the clothes are strewn don't be afraid of the room

Here's another song that Jherek Bischoff arranged. Actually, this

was part of the tribute EP that inspired a lot of the cure ration of

this programme that Jherek Bischoff and Amanda Palmer did shortly after

David Bowie's passing. It was a true inspiration and, but tonight we hear

it with a different singer. It's my great pleasure to welcome on stage,

Paul Buchanan. APPLAUSE.

Hi. You should feel free to sing, if you like. CHEERING.

Is that a, yes? CHEERING. # I heard a rumour

from ground control # They got a message

from the action man # The shrieking of nothing

is killing me # Just pictures of Jap girls

in synthesis # But the little green wheels

are following me # One flash of light,

but no smoking pistol # I never did anything

out of the blue # No

No, no # You better not mess

with Major Tom. # # You better not mess

with Major Tom. # And now we welcome onstage Laura

Mvula. This next song was arranged by Greg

Saunier. # Puts you there

where things are hollow # Is it any wonder

you are too cool to fool? This next one was also arranged by

Greg Saunier. Shall we say it was recomposed? Now

we welcome back onstage Laura Mvula and Paul Buchanan.

I would like to introduce the next three songs, actually, because we

wanted to find a special place in this concert for David Bowie's last

work and we decided to have a little trilogy...

APPLAUSE We wanted to have a little trilogy

of songs here. The first one, Girl Loves Me which was arranged by

Stargaze, and is a duet between Laura and Paul. And then a song that

meant a lot to Paul when he first heard it, and it was one of his

wishes to sing this, I Can't Give Everything Away. And then we welcome

back onstage Amanda and Anna Calvi to play the amazing Black Star.

# Cheena so sound, so titty up this Malchick, say

# Party up moodge, ninety vellocet round on Tuesday

# Real bad dizzy snatch making all the homies mad, Thursday

# Popo blind to the polly in the hole by Friday

# I'm go to this Giggenbach show I'm sailin' in the chestnut tree

# Yippie loving little zipshot # Professor wanshot yarbles

Arranged by another young British composer, Josephine Stephenson. I

Can't Give Everything Away. # The post returns

for prodigal songs # With blackout harks

with flowered muse # The blackout harks

with flowered muse So now we're going to ask back on

stage the formidable trio of Anna Calvi, Amanda Palmer and Jherek

Bischoff. APPLAUSE So right after David Bowie

passed away Jherek Bischoff put out this EP of string songs. We decided

to try Blackstar which felt so intimidating because it was brand

new and David Bowie had just left a week before. Once he was gone and we

heard that album, we understood what it was. It was such a gift. And... I

think he's in the house tonight. APPLAUSE.

Anna Calvi is going to join us. # In the villa of Ormen,

in the villa of Ormen # Stands a solitary

candle, ah ah, ah ah # In the centre of it all,

in the centre of it all # On the day of execution,

on the day of execution # Only women kneel

and smile, ah ah, ah ah # At the center of it all,

at the center of it all # In the villa of Ormen,

in the villa of Ormen # Stands a solitary

candle, ah ah, ah ah # At the center of it all,

at the center of it all # Something happened

on the day he died # Spirit rose a metre

then stepped aside # Somebody else took his

place, and bravely cried # How many people lie

instead of talking tall? # He trod on sacred ground,

he cried loud into the crowd # I'm a blackstar, I'm

a blackstar, I'm not a gangster # I can't answer why,

I'm a blackstar # Just go with me,

I'm not a film star # I'm-a take you home,

I'm a blackstar # Take your passport

and shoes, I'm not a pop star # And your sedatives,

boo, I'm a blackstar # You're a flash in the pan,

I'm not a marvel star # I'm the great I am,

# I'm a blackstar, way up, oh honey, I've got game

# I see right so white, so open heart it's pain

# I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes

# I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar

# Something happened on the day he died

# Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside

# Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried

# I'm a blackstar, I'm a star star, I'm a blackstar

# I can't answer why, I'm not a gangster

# But I can tell you how, I'm not a film star

# We were born upside-down, I'm a star star

# Born the wrong way 'round, I'm not a white star

# I'm not a porn star, I'm not a wandering star

# In the villa of Ormen stands a solitary candle

# At the centre of it all, your eyes

# On the day of execution, only women kneel and smile

# At the centre of it all, your eyes, your eyes

Anna Calvi, ladies and gentlemen, and Jherek Bischoff, the Stargaze

ensemble. Amanda Palmer. How is everybody doing? I wanted to

especially thank the people who queued today. You guys did excellent

queueing. # I wish I could swim

# Like dolphins can swim # But nothing will keep us together

# Forever and ever. # We can be heroes

# Just for one day.

Thank you so much. Stargaze ensemble, everybody. Andre de

Ridder. And I think it's fair to say, now to

something completely different. Maybe this next guest will stand out

from the cast, as I think he's the only one that comes more from the

classical world. And a wonderful, amazing artist from France. His name

is Philippe Jarrousky. We have the pleasure to commission a

wonderful American composer, David Lang, to compose and reimagine this

next song. # Every chance, every

chance that I take # Those kilometers

and the red lights # I was always looking left

and right # Always crashing in the same car

# As I pushed my foot down to the floor

# I was going 'round and 'round

# Must have been touching close to 94

# Oh, but I'm always crashing in the same car #

# But I'm always crashing in the same car

I promised we would have Marc Almond back and I promised Anna Meredith

arranging for him again. Welcome back, Marc Almond.

Back in 1972, I was there and I think a lot of you were to. This is

an iconic song of David Bowie's. It introduced him in 1972 to a whole

new young audience. And his unforgettable appearance on Top of

the Pops with the late, great guitarist, Mick Ronson. It was a

life changing moment for so many teenagers, such as me. And David

Bowie made us look at the world through different eyes.

You can sing to this one if you want to. I'm not going to stop you.

# Hey, now, now # Hey, now, now

# Didn't now, now know what time it was

# Some cat was layin' down some rock'n'roll lotta soul, he said

# Then the loud sound did seem to fade-a-ade

# Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase-ha-hase

# That weren't no DJ That was hazy cosmic jive

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He's told us not to blow it Cos he knows it's all worthwhile

# He told me - Let the children lose it

# Let the children use it Let all the children boogie

# I had to phone someone so I picked on you-hoo-hoo

# Hey, that's far out so you heard him too-oo-oo

# Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel two

# Look out your window I can see his light-a-ight

# If we can sparkle he may land tonight-a-ight

# Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He's told us not to blow it Cos he knows it's all worthwhile

# He told me - Let the children lose it

# Let the children use it Let all the children boogie

# He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds

# There's a starman waiting in the sky

# He's told us not to blow it Cos he knows it's all worthwhile

# He told me - Let the children lose it

# Let the children use it Let all the children boogie

# Let the children use it Let all the children boogie

Stargaze. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

Rebel Rebel. His band is ready. Please welcome the amazing John

Cale. CHEERING AND

APPLAUSE # Feelings he's

treasured most of all # The teachers and

the football stars # If all the world

were under his heels INSTRUMENTAL.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. # With your long blond hair

and your eyes of blue # The only thing I ever got

from you # You're acting funny,

try to spend my money # You out there playing

your high class games # You never do what

you know you ought to # Something tells me you're

the devil's daughter # I tried to find her

cause I can't resist her # I tried to find her

cause I can't resist her # I never knew just

how much I missed her # With your long blond hair

and your eyes of blue # The only thing I ever got

from you # With your long blond hair,

I couldn't sleep last night # With your long blond hair,

I couldn't sleep last night ... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. I have to tell you something... Wait

a minute much I have the floor! All week I've been watching these

wonderful musicians here put together a show that really has

poured hard soul, blood, sweat and tears into showing a different side

of David Bowie. Mraus mraus. And I'm so glad, I'm so #2k3w4r5d that so

many of you came out tonight to enjoy it, celebrate that side of

him. That side of him will keep going. -- glad. Prosperity has that.

APPLAUSE David wherever you are, for one

night, we can all be Space Oddities. # Take your protein pills

and put your helmet on # Check ignition and may

God's love be with you # This is Ground

Control to Major Tom # And the papers want to know

whose shirts you wear # Now it's time to leave

the capsule if you dare # I'm stepping through

the door # And I'm floating

in a most peculiar way # And the stars look

very different today # Though I'm past one

hundred thousand miles # And I think my spaceship

knows which way to go # Tell my wife I love her

very much, she knows # Here am I floating

round my tin can # Here am I floating

round my tin can # I'm here

# I'm here. Mr John Cale. The house gospel

choir. It's kind of hard to follow this

one. But the House Gospel Choir is going to stay and we are going to

ask some of the artists back onstage, including Conor O'Brien,

Philippe Jarrousky, Marc Almond and Amanda Palmer.

For the final song of this evening, and the next generation. And also

back on this magnificent organ, Jamie McMahon near.

# Please trip them gently, they don't like to fall, oh, by jingo

# There's no room for anger, we're all very small, oh, by jingo

# And dressing in thoughts from the skies, from paradise

# But they think that we're holding a secretive ball

# They're just taller children, that's all, after all

# Man is an obstacle, sad as the clown, oh, by jingo

# So hold on to nothing, and he won't let you down, oh, by jingo

# Some people are marching together and some on their own

# Others are running, the smaller ones crawl

# But some sit in silence, they're just older children

# I sing with impertinence, shading impermanent chords

# I've borrowed your time and I'm sorry I called

# But the thought just occurred

# That we're nobody's children at all, after all

# Live your rebirth and do what you will

# Forget all I've said, please bear me no ill

Thank you. Marc Almond, Amanda Palmer, thank you, Stargaze, Jherek

Bischoff. Andre de Ridder. APPLAUSE

And thank you, David Bowie. Thank you.