In this Slate Plus exclusive, music journalist and David Bowie scholar Chris O’Leary joins Chris Molanphy for an expansive breakdown of the Starman’s life, career, and legacy. O’Leary spent years listening to and writing about every song in Bowie’s catalogue, as captured in O’Leary’s books Rebel Rebel and Ashes to Ashes. He explains the importance of Black American music in Bowie’s work, from soul and funk to jazz. Ten years after his passing, Bowie’s direct musical influence may be hard to hear on the charts—but O’Leary says his shapeshifting mastery of pop stardom lives on through concepts like Taylor Swift’s sprawling Eras Tour.
Also: Chris Molanphy tests a Slate Plus listener’s music knowledge, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own, and offers a sneak peek at the next episode of Hit Parade. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.
Podcast production by Kevin Bendis.
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