Lazarus (David Bowie song)
{{short description|2015 David Bowie song}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Lazarus
| cover = David Bowie - Lazarus cover art.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = David Bowie
| album = Blackstar
| released = 17 December 2015
| recorded = 2015
| studio = *Magic Shop, New York City
- Human Worldwide, New York City
| genre = * Jazz-rock{{cite news|title= The best songs of 2016|url= http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/16-Dec-16/the-best-songs-of-2016|work= Daily Times|date= 16 December 2016|access-date= 13 March 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170314002615/http://dailytimes.com.pk/life-and-style/16-Dec-16/the-best-songs-of-2016|archive-date= 14 March 2017|url-status= live}}
- gothic rock{{cite web|last=West|first=Michael J.|date=11 January 2016|title=Review: David Bowie's "Blackstar"|url=http://jazztimes.com/articles/171514-review-david-bowie-s-blackstar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216234634/http://jazztimes.com/articles/171514-review-david-bowie-s-blackstar|archive-date=16 February 2016|access-date=11 February 2016|website=JazzTimes}}
- art rock{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-best-songs/|title=The Best Song From Every David Bowie Album|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|date=16 January 2019|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|access-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629153057/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-best-songs/|archive-date=29 June 2019|url-status=live}}
| length = * 6:22 (album version)
- 4:05 (video edit)
| label = * ISO
| writer = David Bowie
| producer = * David Bowie
| prev_title = Blackstar
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = I Can't Give Everything Away
| next_year = 2016
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|y-JqH1M4Ya8|"Lazarus"}}}}
| tracks = {{Hidden
| title = 7 tracks
| text =
- "Blackstar"
- "'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore"
- "Lazarus"
- "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)"
- "Girl Loves Me"
- "Dollar Days"
- "I Can't Give Everything Away"
}}
}}
"Lazarus" is a song by English rock musician David Bowie. Released on 17 December 2015 as a digital download, it was the second single from his twenty-sixth and final studio album, Blackstar (2016). It is Bowie's last single to be released during his lifetime. The single received its world premiere on BBC Radio 6 Music's Steve Lamacq on the day of its release as a single.{{cite web|title=David Bowie launches trailer of new single Lazarus|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/14/david-bowie-new-single-lazarus-black-star?CMP=twt_a-music_b-gdnmusic|website=The Guardian|access-date=18 December 2015|date=14 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073122/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/14/david-bowie-new-single-lazarus-black-star?CMP=twt_a-music_b-gdnmusic|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}} In addition to its release on Blackstar, the track is used in Bowie's off-Broadway musical of the same name.{{cite magazine|last=Brandle|first=Lars|title=David Bowie Shares New Song 'Lazarus': Listen|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6813667/david-bowie-shares-new-song-lazarus-listen|magazine=Billboard|access-date=18 December 2015|date=18 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218072255/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6813667/david-bowie-shares-new-song-lazarus-listen|archive-date=18 December 2015|url-status=live}} The official music video, directed by Johan Renck, was released on 7 January 2016, three days before Bowie's death.
Bowie never performed the song live, but on 17 December 2015, Michael C. Hall appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, singing "Lazarus" to promote both the single's release and the musical running at New York Theatre Workshop starring Hall.{{cite magazine|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/62606-michael-c-hall-performs-david-bowies-lazarus-on-colbert/|title=Michael C. Hall Performs David Bowie's "Lazarus" on "Colbert"|last=Matthew Strauss|date=18 December 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193232/https://pitchfork.com/news/62606-michael-c-hall-performs-david-bowies-lazarus-on-colbert/|url-status=live}}
"Lazarus" was Bowie's first top 40 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 in more than 28 years, landing at number 40 in the week after his death.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844155/david-bowie-lazarus-top-40-hot-100-single-since-1987|title=David Bowie Scores First Top 40 Hot 100 Single Since 1987 With 'Lazarus'|last=Gary Trust|date=19 January 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409144437/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6844155/david-bowie-lazarus-top-40-hot-100-single-since-1987|archive-date=9 April 2016|url-status=live}}
Billboard ranked "Lazarus" at number 40 on their "100 Best Pop Songs of 2016" list.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2016/7617635/billboard-top-100-pop-songs-of-2016|title=Billboard's 100 Best Pop Songs of 2016: Critics' Picks|magazine=Billboard|access-date=12 December 2016|date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213090422/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2016/7617635/billboard-top-100-pop-songs-of-2016|archive-date=13 December 2016|url-status=live}} Pitchfork listed "Lazarus" on their ranking of the 100 best songs of 2016 at number 5.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9981-the-100-best-songs-of-2016/?page=10|title=The 100 Best Songs of 2016|date=12 December 2016|website=Pitchfork|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213224620/http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9981-the-100-best-songs-of-2016/?page=10|archive-date=13 December 2016|url-status=live}} In the annual The Village Voice{{'}}s Pazz & Jop mass critics poll of the year's best in music in 2016, "Lazarus" was ranked at number 8.{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2016|title=PAZZ+JOP 2016|publisher=Village Voice|date=January 25, 2017|access-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203205750/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|url-status=live}}
Lyrics and meaning
"Lazarus" is a swan song. According to Bowie's producer Tony Visconti, the lyrics and video of "Lazarus" and other songs on the album were intended to be a self-epitaph, a commentary on Bowie's own impending death.{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Leonie|title=How David Bowie told us he was dying in the "Lazarus" video|url=http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/how-david-bowie-told-us-he-was-dying-in-the-lazarus-video|website=NME|access-date=11 January 2016|date=11 January 2016|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214125919/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/how-david-bowie-told-us-he-was-dying-in-the-lazarus-video-12143|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=David Bowie: Was Lazarus Bowie singing his epitaph?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35278855|access-date=11 January 2016|publisher=BBC|date=11 January 2016|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193235/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-35278855|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12092542/Bowies-last-album-was-parting-gift-for-fans-in-carefully-planned-finale.html|publisher=the Telegraph|title=David Bowie's last release, Lazarus, was "parting gift" for fans in carefully planned finale|date=11 January 2016|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325201617/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12092542/Bowies-last-album-was-parting-gift-for-fans-in-carefully-planned-finale.html|archive-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live}} The song's reference to Lazarus has been interpreted as referring to Bowie's prediction of increased fame following his death.{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/david-bowie-dead-swansong-lazarus-takes-poignant-new-meaning-lyrics-and-music-video-a6805571.html |title=David Bowie dead: Swansong "Lazarus" takes on poignant new meaning in lyrics and music video {{pipe}} the Independent {{pipe}} the Independent |website=Independent.co.uk |date=11 January 2016 |access-date=15 May 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027044617/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/david-bowie-dead-swansong-lazarus-takes-poignant-new-meaning-lyrics-and-music-video-a6805571.html |url-status=live }}
Music video
File:Bowie Lazarus music video still.png
The official music video for "Lazarus", featuring a shorter edit of the song lasting just over four minutes, was uploaded on 7 January 2016 to Bowie's Vevo channel on YouTube.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8 | title=David Bowie – Lazarus | publisher=YouTube | date=7 January 2016 | access-date=10 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110000850/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JqH1M4Ya8 | archive-date=10 January 2016 | url-status=live }} The video was directed by Johan Renck (who also directed the music video for Bowie's previous single, "Blackstar") in November 2015; during the week of shooting, doctors reportedly informed Bowie the cancer was terminal and that they were ending treatment.{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/music/director-reveals-when-david-bowie-found-out-his-cancer-was-terminal/news-story/5aa915d144b6f4e7f82f4912fa48ee2b|title=When Bowie knew he was dying|website=adelaidenow.com.au|access-date=13 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111103711/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/music/director-reveals-when-david-bowie-found-out-his-cancer-was-terminal/news-story/5aa915d144b6f4e7f82f4912fa48ee2b|archive-date=11 January 2017|url-status=live}} The filming location was a studio in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/15/david-bowies-last-days-an-18-month-burst-of-creativity?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other|title=David Bowie's last days: an 18-month burst of creativity|website=The Guardian|date=15 January 2016|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127052115/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/15/david-bowies-last-days-an-18-month-burst-of-creativity?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other|archive-date=27 January 2016|url-status=live}} The video is shown in a 1:1 aspect ratio and prominently features Bowie, appearing with a bandage and buttons sewn over his eyes, lying on a deathbed. A director's cut exists restoring the original widescreen aspect.{{cite web|url=http://davidbowienews.com/2016/08/lazarus-widescreen-video/|title=David Bowie – Lazarus (Widescreen Version)|date=13 August 2016|website=davidbowienews.com|access-date=13 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202050850/http://davidbowienews.com/2016/08/lazarus-widescreen-video/|archive-date=2 February 2017|url-status=live}}
The video finishes with Bowie retreating into a dark wardrobe. In the scenes featuring the wardrobe, Bowie is wearing a diagonally striped suit as seen on the back cover of the 1991 CD reissue of the Station to Station album, where he is pictured sitting on the floor drawing the kabbalistic Tree of Life.{{cite web | url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a9/36/7b/a9367b0f6f1a7a343828bc2ad4bf23c0.jpg | title=Rykodisc Reissue CD Station to Station 1991" | publisher=CDandLP | date=3 August 1991 | access-date=27 January 2016 | archive-date=24 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193232/https://img.cdandlp.com/2015/03/imgL/117428263-2.jpg | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71293CFpnWL.jpg | title=David Bowie Station to Station publicity photo | publisher=Tumblr | date=10 January 1976 | access-date=16 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116201014/https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71293CFpnWL.jpg | archive-date=16 January 2017 | url-status=live }} The Tree of Life is also referenced in the Station to Station lyrics, a "magical movement from Kether to Malkuth".{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/bowies-last-single-said-to-be-a-tribute-to-kabbalah/ | title=Bowie's last single said to feature tribute to Kabbalah | website=Times of Israel | date=27 January 2016 | access-date=19 February 2021 | archive-date=19 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219032210/https://www.timesofisrael.com/bowies-last-single-said-to-be-a-tribute-to-kabbalah/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/never-before-published-photos-reveal-the-clues-david-bowie-left-before-his-death_us_570bea59e4b0836057a1d8fc | title=Never Before Published Photos Reveal Clues Bowie Left Before His Death | website=The Huffington Post | date=11 April 2016 | access-date=12 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412023326/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/never-before-published-photos-reveal-the-clues-david-bowie-left-before-his-death_us_570bea59e4b0836057a1d8fc | archive-date=12 April 2016 | url-status=live }}
The video was nominated for three awards: Best Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Editing, at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.{{cite journal | url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/david-bowie-receives-four-posthumous-vma-nominations-w430994 | title=David Bowie Receives Four Posthumous 2016 VMA Nominations | date=26 July 2016 | access-date=26 July 2016 | journal=US Weekly | first=Megan | last=French | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727150757/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/david-bowie-receives-four-posthumous-vma-nominations-w430994 | archive-date=27 July 2016 | url-status=live }}
{{clear}}
Cover version
In 2020, American rapper G-Eazy covered the song for his compilation album Everything's Strange Here.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download
| title1 = Lazarus
| length1 = 6:22
}}
Personnel
Personnel adapted from Blackstar liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Blackstar|others=David Bowie|year=2016|type=album liner notes|publisher=ISO Records}}
;Musicians
- David Bowie – vocals, guitar, mixing, production
- Tim Lefebvre – bass
- Mark Guiliana – drums
- Donny McCaslin – saxophone
- Ben Monder – guitar
- Jason Lindner – wurlitzer organ, keyboards
;Technical personnel
- Tony Visconti – production, engineering, mixing engineer
- Joe LaPorta – mastering engineer
- Kevin Killen – engineering
- Erin Tonkon – assistant engineer
- Joe Visciano – assistant engineer
- Kabir Hermon – assistant engineer
- Tom Elmhirst – mixing engineer
Charts
=Weekly=
=Year-end=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2016 year-end chart performance for "Lazarus" ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Rank |
| scope="row"|US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-rock-songs "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413221514/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/hot-rock-songs |date=13 April 2018 }}. Billboard. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
|68 |
|---|
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label |
| scope="row"| Worldwide
| 17 December 2015 | Digital download | {{hlist|ISO|Columbia}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Italy{{cite web|title=David Bowie – Lazarus Radiodate|url=http://radiodate.it/radio-date/david-bowie-lazarus-143949-18-12-2015-radiodate/|publisher=radioairplay.fm|access-date=11 January 2016|date=19 December 2015|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724193300/https://radiodate.it/radio-date/david-bowie-lazarus-143949-18-12-2015-radiodate/|url-status=live}}
| 18 December 2015 | Columbia |
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
=Sources=
- {{cite book |last1=O'Leary |first1=Chris |title=Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie 1976–2016 |date=2019 |publisher=Repeater Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-91224-836-0}}
- {{cite book|last=Pegg |first=Nicholas |title=The Complete David Bowie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LqFkDQAAQBAJ |publisher=Titan Books |location=London |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-78565-365-0 |edition=Revised and Updated }}
{{David Bowie singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Music videos directed by Johan Renck
Category:Song recordings produced by David Bowie
Category:Song recordings produced by Tony Visconti