The Meaning Behind The Song: Valentine's Day by David Bowie - Old Time Music (2024)
The Meaning Behind The Song: Valentine’s Day by David Bowie
David Bowie’s “Valentine’s Day” stands as a poignant piece in his musical repertoire, and its layered meanings add depth to the listening experience. Released as the fourth single from his 25th studio album, “The Next Day,” in 2013, the song not only captivates with its melodic allure but also unfolds a sobering message on the complex issue of gun control.
At its core, “Valentine’s Day” delves into the psychology of a school shooter. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of inner turmoil and darkness, exploring the mindset of an individual capable of committing a violent act. Bowie, known for his ability to tackle diverse and challenging subjects through his music, chose to address a deeply unsettling societal issue.
The Recording Process
Recorded as one of the final pieces for “The Next Day,” “Valentine’s Day” came to life at the Magic Shop in New York City. The backing track was laid down on July 24, 2012, while Bowie’s vocals were added on September 18, 2012, at Human Worldwide Studios in the same city. The deliberate choice of recording locations adds an element of authenticity to the song, capturing the energy of New York, a city known for its diversity and complexity.
Release and Recognition
“Valentine’s Day” made its official debut on August 19, 2013, in the UK, followed by its release on the 20th in the US and other countries. The single quickly gained attention, earning a spot on BBC Radio 2’s A-list in early August 2013. It entered the UK’s Airplay Chart Top 40 on August 9, 2013, showcasing its impact on the airwaves.
Misleading Title: A Song of Social Commentary
Despite its title, “Valentine’s Day” takes an unexpected turn away from themes of romance or affection. Instead, it serves as a vehicle for Bowie to deliver a profound social commentary on a disturbing reality: gun violence. The dissonance between the title and the song’s content invites listeners to reconsider preconceived notions and challenges societal norms.
The University Shooting Connection
The song’s connection to a tragic event adds a layer of poignancy. It’s believed that “Valentine’s Day” references a 2008 university shooting in Northern Illinois that occurred on Valentine’s Day. Bowie’s decision to channel this real-world tragedy into his art highlights his commitment to addressing pressing social issues through his platform.
Tony Visconti’s Insight
American producer Tony Visconti, who worked on the track, provided valuable insight into the song’s subject matter. He described it as “pretty scary” and directly related to individuals who commit violent acts with firearms. The choice to address such a sensitive and alarming topic showcases Bowie’s courage to confront societal issues head-on.
The Music Video: Visual Symbolism
The music video for “Valentine’s Day” adds another layer of symbolism to the song’s message. Bowie, playing a G2T Hohner guitar, is visually connected to an unsettling silhouette resembling a gun. Critics have drawn parallels between this image and an infamous photograph of Charlton Heston addressing gun laws at an NRA convention in 2000. Bowie’s intentional use of visual symbolism reinforces the gravity of the song’s theme.
The Final 7-Inch Single: Bowie’s Closing Artistic Statement
“Valentine’s Day” holds a unique place in Bowie’s discography as his final 7-inch single released from a new album during his lifetime. The song, with its weighty subject matter and artistic craftsmanship, serves as a closing statement from an artist who consistently pushed boundaries and used his platform to address societal challenges.
Legacy and Reverberations
“Valentine’s Day” continues to resonate as a thought-provoking piece in the wake of Bowie’s passing in 2016. Its enduring legacy lies not only in its musical composition but in its capacity to spark conversations about gun violence and societal responsibility.
In crafting “Valentine’s Day,” David Bowie created more than a song; he crafted a vessel for societal reflection and discourse. Through its intricate layers of meaning, the song challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and encourages a deeper understanding of the world we inhabit. Bowie’s ability to infuse art with social commentary ensures that “Valentine’s Day” remains a compelling and relevant piece of musical storytelling.
Reviewers have interpreted "Ashes to Ashes" as commentary on Bowie's own personal struggles with drug addiction throughout the 1970s. Several said the song represents Bowie's reflection and acknowledgement of the past, at the same time offering hopes for the future.
It came from a feeling of sadness about this aspect of the space thing, it has been dehumanized, so I wrote a song-farce about it, to try and relate science and human emotion. I suppose it's an antidote to space fever, really. By the end of 1968, Bowie had begun to feel alienation from his career.
In the song "Ashes to Ashes" (1980), Bowie reinterprets Major Tom as an oblique autobiographical symbol for himself. Major Tom is described as a "junkie, strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all-time low".
What is Valentine's Day? St Valentine's Day is an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship and admiration. Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends.
A valentine is a sweetheart: specifically, someone who receives a greeting or attention on Valentine's Day. There are many words for someone you like in a romantic way, such as sweetie, main squeeze, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, and special someone.
You can't find ashes to ashes, dust to dust in the Bible because it isn't there! The phrase comes from the funeral service in the Book of Common Prayer, and it is based on Genesis 3:19, Genesis 18:27, Job 30:19, and Ecclesiastes 3:20. Those passages say that we begin and end as dust.
In the Bible, there are no passages that prohibit or encourage cremation and scattering of ashes. However, many Christian sects believe a burial funeral aligns with best end-of-life practices. As a result, some Christian clerics may discourage cremation or prohibit it entirely.
She has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. Her work has appeared in Brides, Parents, What To Expect, Romper, The Knot and Forbes. Iman and David Bowie's love lives on through their daughter, Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones.
He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. He returned from a decade-long recording hiatus in 2013 with The Next Day and remained musically active until his death from liver cancer in 2016.
The quote "dust to dust, ashes to ashes" is a well-known phrase derived from the Christian Bible, specifically from the Book of Common Prayer's funeral service. The phrase is typically used to refer to the cycle of life and death, and suggests that all living things ultimately return to the earth from which they came.
“It was a song that tried to talk about the downsides, of the despair and loneliness that might come from [Major Tom] being so far from home,” says Heller. He says the song was banned “because it was kind of a killjoy”. The ban, however, did not last long.
Quite often, the skeleton does not completely turn to ash during cremation, and the peripheral bones of the hands and feet tend to stay intact. These larger fragments are then ground down into smaller pieces.
The English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St. Valentine's Day as a day of romantic celebration in his 1375 poem “Parliament of Foules,” writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.”
There are also a few songs taken straight from the soundtracks of the best Valentine's Day movies, like "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston and "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion.
"My Funny Valentine" is a show tune from the 1937 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart coming of age musical Babes in Arms in which it was introduced by teenaged star Mitzi Green. The song became a popular jazz standard, appearing on over 1300 albums performed by over 600 artists.
However while Damon's training enabled him to recreate the proper keyboard fingering, the music heard in the film is played by Sally Heath (the Bach) and Gabriel Yared (the Vivaldi). Matt Damon actually sang the song "My Funny Valentine."
Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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