ELDERS REACT TO DAVID BOWIE

♪ (ragtime music) ♪

♪ (David Bowie, "Lazarus") ♪

- The door opens slowly.

♪ (mellow brassy music) ♪

(deep gasp)

- Oh my gosh. It's David Bowie.

- Oh my god. This made me very sad.

- ♪ Look up here ♪

♪ I'm in Heaven ♪

- (sadly) Oh.

(tearfully) This is gonna
make me cry. I'm sorry.

- ♪ I've got scars that can't be seen ♪

- I haven't watched this yet.

- ♪ Look up here, man ♪

♪ I'm in danger ♪

- Oh, that's so sad.

- He did this just before he passed away.

- ♪ I've got nothing left to lose ♪
- I wonder if he did this video

knowing that his days were numbered.

- ♪ I'm so high ♪
- He just continues to amaze.

- ♪ Drop my cellphone down below ♪

♪ By the time... ♪
- He's still awfully handsome.

- ♪ ...I got to New York ♪

- He's still gender bending.

- ♪ I was living like a king ♪

- Looking at death, um...
- ♪ I was looking for your ass ♪

- I'd like to think of it
as a prettier picture.

- ♪ You know I'll be free ♪

- I'll be free when I go to Heaven?

- ♪ You know I'll be free ♪

- He's such a poet.

- ♪ Just like that blue bird ♪

♪ Oh, I'll be free ♪

- How prophetic is this?

- He's singing with so much feeling.

It's just... it's really amazing.

- ♪ Ain't that just like me? ♪

- He was saying goodbye.

- If I died, this is the way I would
like to go out at the end.

He actually went out as a performer.

- He wanted to leave some mark, perhaps.

Well, this guy did it.

- (sharp exhale)

Whoof.

- He's going into his coffin at the end.

He knew he was dying.

- (voice wavering) That's a big one for me.

(sighing)

I just adored that guy.

(movie reel clicks)

- (Finebros) So that was
a new music video by David Bowie.

What are your thoughts
when you watched that music video?

- It was incredibly emotional.

I mean, I could feel it in my chest.

- There seemed to be
somewhat of a dark side to it.

- It was like he was being accepting

of what his life force was--
allowing to let go.

- He already knew that he was terminal.

I've never thought about
what I would be thinking if

I knew that after I walked out
of here I was gonna die.

- And we're all gonna make that transition,

and I think he knew it was coming,

and he had the courage
to make something like that

is pretty extraordinary.

- (Finebros) How did you feel
when you found out

that he had passed away?
- Oh, I was-- pfft.

I was absolutely stunned.

- I was a little shocked.

- He kept it quiet for so long,
of how sick he was.

It kinda tells you
what type of person he was.

- When you get to my age,
people who have been part of

the soundtrack of your life starts to die,

and it blows your mind!

- (Finebros) So this song
is called "Lazarus".

- Wow. Really?

Lazarus was raised from the dead.

He is rising again,
musically, after his death.

- (Finebros) What are
your thoughts about him,

as he was so sick, making new music?

- I think it's brilliant.

- Still had a lot that he
wanted to do, to create.

- That was his life,
so I think that's how he

could revive himself a little bit.

- It's wonderful that you could do your art

until the very last moment of your life.

- It truly was goodbye.

To know you're that close to death,
but still make a video

to say goodbye to everybody.

I mean, like I said, he's a class act.

- (Finebros) Over the years,
were you a fan of David Bowie's music?

- No. No, I really wasn't.

- I wasn't a big fan,
but I so appreciate him now.

- He really wasn't my taste.

You know, I came from
a different music world.

- I always liked David Bowie.

He was extraordinary.
He crossed all boundaries.

- Of course! Who isn't?

I saw him live many times

because I lived in England
when he was doing his thing

and I was lucky enough
to see him in England and in America.

There's very few artists like David Bowie.

- I liked his theatricality.

A friend of mine wrote for
a music magazine or newspaper,

and she said, "We're going
to the Civic to see

this new English guy."

And then he started singing,
and it was just--

he truly was magical.

I couldn't just applaud and cheer.

My life had been changed.

- (Finebros) Over the course of his career,

he was known for changing his genre of music

and his look many times,
taking on personas

like Ziggy Stardust or Thin White Duke.

Why do you think he made those choices?

What was he trying to say?
- Keep the fans' interest,

you have to keep changing.

- He was smart because
if you stay the same

all the time, you can't be One Direction.

You know what I'm saying?

- He just wanted to explore it all
and take us with him.

And not bore us!

- He was a very creative person,

and people who are very creative
don't want to stay in one mold.

- (Finebros) Many people also say
that David Bowie's impact

went far beyond just music.

For people who are watching this
that might not be as familiar

with his life, how else would you say
he impacted culture?

- Well, he did some extraordinary films.

He was an amazing actor too.

- And his style and fashion.

- People responded so much to his music,

they also adopted
some of his dress styles, hairstyles.

- I don't think there was one
before him who rocked

the androgynous thing like he did.

- He might've been the precursor
for the acceptance

of transgender/LGBT rights.

- By being different.
By dressing different.

Prior to that in the LBG community,

they were that way,
but only in certain areas.

- He changed history.

He changed what music,
art, theater, acting,

what it was all about.

Very few people are that impactful.

- When I first started seeing him,
I thought, "Oh man.

This guy looks like
he might be a homosexual."

And then he gets married to Iman or "Eman"

and all that, you know,

and then it's just like, "Shoot.
I could wear a dress."

- (Finebros) Now a little bit
of a heavier question:

when people of influence to your life
from when you were younger pass away,

what kinds of thoughts does it give you?

- It's a sense of loss.

Emotions that you have, and they're gone.

- It makes you think of your longevity,

and it makes you think
how valuable life is.

You don't expect that your heroes
are gonna die before you do.

(voice wavering) You think
they're gonna live forever.

- It's so strange because
so many people have passed

and many of them are younger than me.

It makes me stop
and appreciate what they did,

and that I was able
to be a part of that moment.

- (Finebros) All right,
so to end this episode,

we're going to show you a montage

of some of Bowie's greatest hits.
- All right.

- Nice! (laughs)
That's awesome.

- ♪ There's a starman waiting in the sky ♪

♪ He'd like to come and meet us ♪

- I don't remember that song,
but I remember that look.

- ♪ Is there life on Mars? ♪

♪ ...while you're dancing ♪

- That's the Mick Jagger look.

- Interesting the way
his look changed so much.

♪ (funky beat) ♪

- ♪ Fashion ♪

♪ Pressure ♪
- (squealing in delight) Oh, Queen!

My boys.

- ♪ Pressing down on me ♪
- That's the American bandstand look.

- ♪ Let's dance ♪

♪ (funky beat) ♪

- When I heard that he died,
the first thing that came

to my mind is ♪ let's dance ♪.

♪ (upbeat brassy music) ♪

- ♪ Let's dance ♪

♪ To the song they're playing ♪

- Who can listen to this and not dance?

- David Bowie is what we
all try to be, and that's cool.

- Here we go.

This is what the type of music
I'm used to and I like.

- ♪ Church on time ♪

♪ This is Major Tom to Ground Control ♪

- Oh yeah. You have to remember that one.

- ♪ I'm stepping through the door ♪

♪ And I'm floating
in the most peculiar way ♪

♪ And the stars look... ♪
- I love this song.

- ♪...very different today ♪
- Oh, I like it. I like it.

- ♪ For here am I... ♪
- Doesn't everyone in the world

know this song?
- ♪ ...sitting in my tin can ♪

♪ (song concludes) ♪

- Oh, thank you.

- That was great to see that.

- I think he's indescribable.

That's should wrap it all up.

- Another icon passes.

And I get closer to my time.

(rapping table) That's why
I'm having fun, guys.

(laughing) I'm having
as much fun as I can.

- (sniffles) Thank you.

(voice breaking) That was... that was great.

(sniffles and sighs)

(softly) Bye, David.

- Thank you so much for watching
this episode of Elders React.

- This is Ground Control saying goodbye.

- Farewell, Major Tom, and thank you.

♪ (ragtime music) ♪