David Bowie’s Final Video Takes on Haunting New Meaning After His Death

The final music video released by legendary rocker David Bowie has taken on a new level of meaning after his passing on Sunday.

Bowie’s family announced early Monday morning that he passed away on January 10 after an 18-month battle with cancer. The singer’s final album, Blackstar, was released just days before his death to coincide with his 69th birthday on January 8, 2016.

As part of the promotion for Blackstar, Bowie premiered a video-clip for the song “Lazarus” the day before the album’s release. The clip received rave reviews for it’s dark presentation and surreal visuals upon its release, and has now gone viral since news of Bowie’s death broke. Scenes such as Bowie dancing until being grabbed and dragged off by a mysterious figure have been re-analyzed by commentators and fans alike with knowledge of Bowie’s illness and his possible feelings on death.

Retrospectively, the most haunting scenes of the video may be it’s opening moments.

Bowie is shown from above, lying in a hospital bed with bandages over his eyes. Eventually he begins convulsing before rising up above the bed. All the while, Bowie sings the song’s retroactively prophetic opening lines:

“Look up here, I’m in heaven,

I’ve got scars that can’t be seen,

I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen,

Everybody knows me now.

 

“Look up here, man, I’m in danger,

I’ve got nothing left to lose,

I’m so high it makes my brain whirl,

Dropped my cell phone down below.”

Many have interpreted the scenes as Bowie’s own way of saying goodbye to his audience.

David Bowie was a force in the music world from the early 1970s, known for hits including “Space Oddity,” “Young Americans,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Let’s Dance,” and his constantly evolving look and public persona. In addition to music, Bowie was a successful actor in numerous films, including his best known roll as the Goblin King in Jim Henson’s 1986 film Labyrinth.