Top singles from the past
19 November 2025
Late musical genius DAVID BOWIE released his 25th and final album Blackstar, on
8 January 2016, on his 69th birthday. Two days later, he passed away due to cancer.
At the time of recording, Bowie was already very ill. The LP was recorded secretly in New York City with his longtime co-producer Tony Visconti and a group of local jazz musicians.
The title track, stylised as ★ was released on 19 November 2015, today 10 years ago.
An elliptical, multi-faceted, and cryptic masterpiece. At 9:58, it was his second-longest recording, behind the ‘Station To Station’ song.
It lasted originally more than 11 minutes long, but after Bowie and Visconti learned that iTunes would not allow tracks for individual sale which lasted longer than 10 minutes.
Visconti: “That was total bullshit, but David was adamant it be the single, and he didn’t want both an album version and a single version, since that gets confusing.
“I can’t answer why (I’m a blackstar)
Just go with me (I’m not a filmstar)
I’ma take you home (I’m a blackstar)
Take your passport and shoes (I’m not a popstar)
And your sedatives, boo (I’m a blackstar)
You’re a flash in the pan (I’m not a marvel star)
I’m the Great I Am (I’m a blackstar)”