No. 002 - David Bowie's "Rock and Roll Suicide" changed my life
Clémentine Koenig talks loneliness, lyrics, and loving Bowie
This Song Changed My Life is an independent music publication featuring essays from people all around the world about the songs that mean the most to them. Created by Grace Lilly, supported by readers.
• 2 min read •
The first time I listened to this song was about 8 or 9 years ago. I had just moved back to France after 10 years overseas and felt very lonely and completely alienated from my own country.
A lot of sad memories came back into my life at that time.
And, there it was: a song that told me that I'm not alone, and that I'm wonderful. It's cliché, I know, but that's really all I needed to hear :
You're watching yourself, but you're too unfair... Give me your hand, cause you're wonderful, wonderful...
I'm not a native English speaker, and I remember looking up the lyrics.
I'm still blown away by the poetry and the imagery in the song – “Don't let the sun blast your shadow, don't let the milkfloat ride your mind...” All these images still live happily in a corner of my brain.
Whenever I listen to this song, I have the same very specific feeling: I feel like the song is being played LIVE, like, it's being recorded for the first time and I'm in the middle of the recording studio, watching Bowie and his band play. It's amazing. It's like the music is so present and alive. No other song gives me that feeling.
If I could go back in time I would definitely want to go to 1973 to see them perform this song at the last Ziggy Stardust concert. ◆
About Clémentine
My name is Clémentine. I used to work as a journalist, and then I moved to the south of France near the sea to become a Montessori school teacher.
Instagram @nils_hazard
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Read the first entry — No. 001 - Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Mary’s Place’ changed my life”
How it all got started — No. 000 - The Origin Story: This Song Changed My Life