"I'm Afraid Of Americans" by David Bowie

I figured since it's David Bowie's birthday, and since I'd already shown a 70s video and an 80s video, I'd better now show a 90s video of his - in this case I'm Afraid of Americans, from the 1997 album Earthling; lest those of you out there who are sensitive to such things become overwrought and insensible with worry that either Bowie or I are engaged in even more (or, indeed, any) America-bashing I should first let you know that the title is ironic. The clues are subtle, but they're there:

• the song comes from an album called Earthling, which Bowie clearly is not, so how could a song he wrote with that title also be literal
• it was written and recorded in 1997, when Americans were much less scary than they would become circa 2001-2006
  
• in it, Bowie is in collaboration with industrial music pioneer and noted American Trent Reznor, of Nine Inch Nails fame
• since Bowie doesn't appear to be afraid of Trent Reznor he's probably not afraid of anyone
  
• Bowie lives at least part of the year in New York City, a well-known place in America
• as the song's lyricist and co-composer (alongside Brian Eno) he says it's not - therefore he should know - and,
• it just isn't, okay?!?
  

If anything, the song (and especially its video) satirizes the paranoia with which much of the rest of the world views America and its people, seemingly inured to the horribility of their own populations. After all, as the lyric says 'I'm afraid of Americans / I'm afraid of the world'; let's not forget kids, it's not Americans that are awful, it's humans in general...

I hope that helps put your collective minds at ease...
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"Cracked Actor" by David Bowie

David Bowie's song Cracked Actor was originally released on his 1973 album Aladdin Sane; this footage of him performing it is derived from a 1974 documentary of the same name, made by Alan Yentob for the BBC series Omnibus.

The song's shocking story and frank lyrics are as redolent of the 1970s as Bowie's costumes and cocaine-addled demeanour, and point to the genius of the man which continues to grow, even as he passes his 64th birthday today.
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"Let's Dance" by David Bowie

The David Bowie of this era was the first incarnation of his with which I was familiar; not only was Let's Dance the first song of his I'd knowingly heard, it came from the first album of his (not coincidentally also entitled Let's Dance) I'd ever bought, and so therefore this is the version of him which provides me the necessary context for him and his extraordinary career. Naturally enough, the tres cool video isn't available; in lieu of this, I've decided to post a clip of the man himself performing the song live during his Serious Moonlight tour.

Of course, entire websites are devoted to each of his personae - with their webmasters slavishly devoted to supporting the claim that their favourite is best to the exclusion of all others - but here at the Pop Culture Institute we take the long view... A single-affect Bowie would have burnt out his appeal long before now; it's his chameleonic tendencies which specifically commend him to iconic status*.

Amazingly, today marks Bowie's 64th birthday, and it's one which sees him still going strong despite a 2004 cardiac incident he suffered while performing in Germany.

*That and his willingness to embrace new music, even unto mentoring up-and-coming bands such as Arcade Fire.
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"Changes" by David Bowie

And so, as a suitable accompaniment to the previous post, it's David Bowie performing Changes, as introduced by Ellen DeGeneres.
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