In the twilight hours of January 10, the world was sent into a state of shock and remorse. Within a matter of hours, citizens around the globe would be waking up to the fact that music legend and artist David Bowie had passed away. After an 18-month battle with liver cancer, Bowie had died at the age of 69, surrounded by his closest family and friends.  It was two days after his birthday, and the release of his new album Blackstar.

The world was taken back by the news as many – fans, fellow musicians and celebrities – went to social media to mourn the singer’s death. Fans across the globe gathered in celebration of Bowie’s life, with cities like London and New York uniting in the streets to sing his songs to honor him. For many, David Bowie wasn’t just a singer; he was an artist of the most valuable form and status. Many admired him as a musician, but his sudden death hit home for anyone who has felt like an outcast, and had been fans of Bowie for this reason. His creative way of living his own life was shown through his work. For example, Bowie did not go to the news to announce the fact that he had cancer. Instead, he released the avant-garde jazz and art rock-influenced album Blackstar, filled with themes and stories of death and tragedy, to say “farewell” to his generations of fans and listeners.

“Look up here, I’m in heaven,” sings Bowie in his newest single ‘Lazarus’, third track on Blackstar.

The record expresses the melancholy last thoughts of a man who had lived his life to the fullest, through many personas and eras. He was ever-changing as an artist and performer, stepping up the game with every album release. He wore the coat of many genres, and has left a mark on nearly every music genre from rock and pop, to R&B and hip-hop. Bowie’s music is so dynamic that there is something for everyone in his complete discography. Beginning his music career as a folk singer, David Bowie changed music forever with the release of his glam rock album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The album even introduced Bowie as a new character, “Ziggy Stardust.” He began to transform gender, sexuality, and music as an art form.

He moved onto other personas and characters in his five decade-long career, such as the soul-singing “Thin White Duke” and “The Man Who Fell to Earth,” releasing experimental, ambient and German rock-influenced music. He wore a hat as a pop singer in the ‘80s, releasing dance-worthy tunes left and right.  The last 25 years of career could be described as very industrial and experimental.

David Bowie defied binary and black-and-white styles of music, talent, art and fashion. He left his fans with enough music and magic to last a lifetime. Without him, the stars will certainly shine different and brighter.

R.I.P David Bowie (1947-2016)