I agree with BowieOwnsAll (and oh he does!), however, Bowie himself, in an interview once said in regards to this song something like "Oh my god! I've written a GAY song!"
Bowie himself, in an interview once said in regards to this song something like "Oh my god! I've written a GAY song!"
ockquote>
Bowie himself, in an interview once said in regards to this song something like "Oh my god! I've written a GAY song!"
lockquote>
To be fair, this is the entire quote:
lockquote>
To be fair, this is the entire quote:
"I've written a new song on the new album called 'Time', and I thought it was about time, and I wrote very heavily about time, and the way I felt about time - at times! - and I played it back after we recorded it and, my God, it was a gay song! And I'd no intention of writing anything at all gay. When I listened to it...
"I've written a new song on the new album called 'Time', and I thought it was about time, and I wrote very heavily about time, and the way I felt about time - at times! - and I played it back after we recorded it and, my God, it was a gay song! And I'd no intention of writing anything at all gay. When I listened to it back I just couldn't believe it." - Bowie, Jan 1973.
It's apparent that in terms of content and intent, this is merely a song about time, but even Bowie himself realized that people were going to take the general impression from the words (whore, wanking, boy) and declare it to be a gay song.
Recall that years later the gay community dropped him like a hot rock for having the audacity to write songs about, for, and with women, many of whom he was also sleeping with. And a very large percentage of "gay icons" aren't gay themselves, just seen as accessible to the gay community. Not all of them are very happy about that, but whatever, it's pretty graceless to slam one's fans when they are supporting you.
In recent years this has become a very polarizing issue. Ani DiFranco, who says she is bisexual, has stopped a number of shows right in the middle and flat-out asked the lesbians in the crowd to be more respective of the straight people (and men) in the crowd - she said the music is for everyone, she's glad it makes people feel, but doesn't want the feelings of one part of the crowd to drown out, prevent, or invalidate the feelings of others in the crowd - something the gay people in the crowd should have already thought about, since they're always upset about being on the other side of that equation. Later Ani married a man and at our local dyke bar the now ex-fans burned Ani's records, Cds, and t-shirts.
The point? This isn't a gay song, if there even is such a thing. It's a song, about time, but even Bowie realized it would be taken by the gay community to be one of 'their' songs. But all of that "us & them" "ours & theirs" stuff is after the fact, completely irrelevant, and missing the point. It's a song. It's a very, very good song. Listen to it. Enjoy it.
@QuietEarp I think the point is that Time wasn't meant to be "gay" but was perceived as such. I believe he knew very well how "gay" Width of a Circle is...lol
@QuietEarp I think the point is that Time wasn't meant to be "gay" but was perceived as such. I believe he knew very well how "gay" Width of a Circle is...lol
@IcarusIncarnate as a lyran, bowie would try anything,even gay sex, including addictions, Lyran starseed, he was a starman, still is but in higher dimensions now, but also giving advice in his lyrics(lyre the musical instrument and also lyrics, associated to the lyra consellation. Artistic genius.
Listen to them all again with a new perspective, with your 6th sense. All of Bowies tunes, then tell me what you really see.
PaulAT
@IcarusIncarnate as a lyran, bowie would try anything,even gay sex, including addictions, Lyran starseed, he was a starman, still is but in higher dimensions now, but also giving advice in his lyrics(lyre the musical instrument and also lyrics, associated to the lyra consellation. Artistic genius.
Listen to them all again with a new perspective, with your 6th sense. All of Bowies tunes, then tell me what you really see.
PaulAT
I agree with BowieOwnsAll (and oh he does!), however, Bowie himself, in an interview once said in regards to this song something like "Oh my god! I've written a GAY song!"
ockquote>
Bowie himself, in an interview once said in regards to this song something like "Oh my god! I've written a GAY song!"
ockquote>
Bowie himself, in an interview once said in regards to this song something like "Oh my god! I've written a GAY song!"
lockquote>
To be fair, this is the entire quote:
lockquote>
To be fair, this is the entire quote:
"I've written a new song on the new album called 'Time', and I thought it was about time, and I wrote very heavily about time, and the way I felt about time - at times! - and I played it back after we recorded it and, my God, it was a gay song! And I'd no intention of writing anything at all gay. When I listened to it...
"I've written a new song on the new album called 'Time', and I thought it was about time, and I wrote very heavily about time, and the way I felt about time - at times! - and I played it back after we recorded it and, my God, it was a gay song! And I'd no intention of writing anything at all gay. When I listened to it back I just couldn't believe it." - Bowie, Jan 1973.
It's apparent that in terms of content and intent, this is merely a song about time, but even Bowie himself realized that people were going to take the general impression from the words (whore, wanking, boy) and declare it to be a gay song.
Recall that years later the gay community dropped him like a hot rock for having the audacity to write songs about, for, and with women, many of whom he was also sleeping with. And a very large percentage of "gay icons" aren't gay themselves, just seen as accessible to the gay community. Not all of them are very happy about that, but whatever, it's pretty graceless to slam one's fans when they are supporting you.
In recent years this has become a very polarizing issue. Ani DiFranco, who says she is bisexual, has stopped a number of shows right in the middle and flat-out asked the lesbians in the crowd to be more respective of the straight people (and men) in the crowd - she said the music is for everyone, she's glad it makes people feel, but doesn't want the feelings of one part of the crowd to drown out, prevent, or invalidate the feelings of others in the crowd - something the gay people in the crowd should have already thought about, since they're always upset about being on the other side of that equation. Later Ani married a man and at our local dyke bar the now ex-fans burned Ani's records, Cds, and t-shirts.
The point? This isn't a gay song, if there even is such a thing. It's a song, about time, but even Bowie realized it would be taken by the gay community to be one of 'their' songs. But all of that "us & them" "ours & theirs" stuff is after the fact, completely irrelevant, and missing the point. It's a song. It's a very, very good song. Listen to it. Enjoy it.
Funny he should choose this one to call gay. Read the lyrics to "Width Of A Circle"!
Funny he should choose this one to call gay. Read the lyrics to "Width Of A Circle"!
@QuietEarp I think the point is that Time wasn't meant to be "gay" but was perceived as such. I believe he knew very well how "gay" Width of a Circle is...lol
@QuietEarp I think the point is that Time wasn't meant to be "gay" but was perceived as such. I believe he knew very well how "gay" Width of a Circle is...lol
@IcarusIncarnate as a lyran, bowie would try anything,even gay sex, including addictions, Lyran starseed, he was a starman, still is but in higher dimensions now, but also giving advice in his lyrics(lyre the musical instrument and also lyrics, associated to the lyra consellation. Artistic genius. Listen to them all again with a new perspective, with your 6th sense. All of Bowies tunes, then tell me what you really see. PaulAT
@IcarusIncarnate as a lyran, bowie would try anything,even gay sex, including addictions, Lyran starseed, he was a starman, still is but in higher dimensions now, but also giving advice in his lyrics(lyre the musical instrument and also lyrics, associated to the lyra consellation. Artistic genius. Listen to them all again with a new perspective, with your 6th sense. All of Bowies tunes, then tell me what you really see. PaulAT