David Bowie - Media Frenzy?

[countrykid]

At the risk of being controversial! Yes David Bowie was a Music Legend. We have lost many great musicians and other celebs. But why has the media gone overboard on DB, saying everyone will be devastated by his passing etc etc. It's top story all over the place. He was liked by many I know, but certainly not by everybody I feel sure.

He deserved his place in Pop History but......................

[fiction-factory]

I think it's sad that those who are not interested begrudge the fact that some people are. The media generally respond to what they know is of interest to people- and that was certainly the biggest news of the day. When i got home at just after 8pm last night I saw this thread and looked to see the extent of the frenzy- and apart from a concert on Radio 2 I could find no programmes on my freeview or Sky channels dedicated to Bowie- it was just the usual diet of EasteEnders, Coronation Street, Big Brother, Only Connect etc. Frenzy? What frenzy?
The papers missed out today and will make up for it today but I am certain it will get little mention on TV after tomorrow. And if it is mentioned there will be dozens of other channels you can switch to.

[-Talbot-]

Just realised this one is the envy thread!

Sorry ... Do carry on

[ichkeria]

"I could find no programmes on my freeview or Sky channels dedicated to Bowie-"

No indeed. Well, I may be being harsh there, but I had a flick through the gunge that passes for "music" channels, and it seemed to be the same old dross (how much of it I wonder poorly inspired by the great man).
Maybe it was tucked away somewhere in the wee small hours.
On the other hand, on the BBC we had tributes by Lauren Laverne, Mark Radcliffe, Jeremy Vine in the News Channel (still going for now), Simon Mayo (featuring a wonderful piano instrumental "Life On Mars", on BBC 2 there was a fascinating interview with Nile Rodgers recounting how he first came across Bowie's music after been taking to a nude beach and had it played to him by a woman in the buff! Tom Robinson (the REAL one), and Bernard Sumner (who'd still be talking now if they'd let him!)
And a piece by the wonderful Shaun Keaveney who is 3 minutes painted a picture of The Jean Genie that I'd never seen before.
Plus documentaries and tributes some of which (but not all) passed me by.
All on the wonderful BBC, which if we aren't careful we will also lose in a few years time

[Cloverjo]

I've just mentioned on another thread about this that there was no frenzy.
A couple of radio stations were dedicated to playing Bowie all morning, he was mentioned in the news at each update and there were a couple of documentaries. As fiction-factory said, he'll be in the papers today, but I suspect that will be it.

[jd_1984]

Was there any more or less when Lennon was shot, when Freddie Mercury died? He joins a very small and significant list ok uk male artisits who have incredible legacy and inspired so many of us. Naturally the difference is social media and internet so we seem to see news everywhere!

[Robinia]

It's barely 24 hrs since we heard about DB and there's whinging about media hype. Do people forget that when John Lennon, JFK etc went we didn't have as much media. No tv's in every room/waiting room/pub, no internet or mobile phones.
Even my mum who'd have been 95 this month would have been sad about his death.

[viv41]

I'm not a fan, but I can understand people being sad. It's only been two days to be fair.

[DebsyDoo]

Mamyalynne - I think you have hit the nail on the head, to those of us (who are probably of a certain age) he was just part of our life in our 'formative' years, someone whom you didn't necessarily take that much notice of at the time- but someone who was just 'there' & to hear of his death somehow brings you up short, I don't know, maybe we don't expect 'pop stars' to die, but at the end of the day, obviously - they are human beings the same as the rest of us - but just maybe, for as much as we remember the songs, and where we were/ what we were doing etc, etc - it also (for me) made me wonder where my life has gone & how much of it I have left !

[EDDIE51]

It certainly seemed to be an AB frenzy ,at several points on the dayof the death 4 0r 5 of the 6 items in 'latest posts' were about it. Still 2 out of 6 now!