Absolute Beginners (1986) – David Bowie

Posted on September 10, 2023 by observationblogger — 3 Comments

Absolute Beginners is a song about unrequited young love, but there’s so much to listen to in this. It’s very broad sounding – eclectic music at its best. It’s theatrical as most of Bowie’s music I find. Absolute Beginners is considered one of his finest songs from the – ‘Let’s Dance‘ era. I only discovered this song recently such is my ignorance of his discography.
It is said his career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.
Absolute Beginners was the theme song to the 1986 film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book Absolute Beginners). Although the film was not a commercial success, the song was a big hit, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.

[Verse 1]
I’ve nothing much to offer
There’s nothing much to take
I’m an absolute beginner
And I’m absolutely sane
As long as we’re together
The rest can go to hell
I absolutely love you
But we’re absolute beginners
With eyes completely open
But nervous all the same

[Chorus]
If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Could laugh at the ocean
Just like the films
There’s no reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It’s absolutely true

[Verse 2]
Nothing much could happen
Nothing we can’t shake
Oh we’re absolute beginners
With nothing much at stake
As long as you’re still smiling
There’s nothing more I need
I absolutely love you
But we’re absolute beginners
But if my love is your love
We’re certain to succeed

Excerpts from Wikipedia:

Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. He eventually achieved fame achieving his first top five entry on the UK Singles Chart with Space Oddity in 1969. After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Then these two records: Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) reached top five in the UK and received lasting critical praise.

More songs will follow from David Bowie in the Music Library Project.

References:
1. Absolute Beginners (David Bowie song) – Wikipedia
2. David Bowie – Wikipedia