Declan O'Leary

🎥 Nina Simone looking for David Bowie at her show in Montreux (1976): "David Bowie, are you here man?" ⚡️ David Bowie drew other musicians in and attempted to soothe their troubles by letting them know they were not alone. If he saw someone feeling held down by the pressures of the industry, he was quick to remind them that their unique artistry was a strength, not a burden. At least, this is how his friendship with Nina Simone started: after attending the same member’s club one night, he called her up to remind her of her power. As Simone recalled, “He said, ‘The first thing I want you to know is that you’re not crazy—don’t let anybody tell you you’re crazy, because where you’re coming from, there are very few of us out there’.” Bowie went on to describe her as “gifted”, telling her that her “genius overshadows the money”. He also admitted that he was never a genius, he just wanted to be a “rock and roll singer” who found out “the right formula”. In his view, Simone was the real deal whose artistry deserved to be shared with the world. Afterwards, Simone found Bowie to be the most authentic person she ever crossed paths with. “He’s got more sense than anybody I’ve ever known,” she explained. “It’s not human—David ain’t from here.” Although the ‘Starman’ would later pay homage to Simone by recording a version of ‘Wild Is The Wind’, it’s clear that he regarded her as a true visionary. In his eyes, the world needed her artistry more than it needed his science fiction-infused creativity, and he was keen to draw it out of her with positive encouragement and uplifting compliments. Bowie may have frequented the stars, but to him, Simone was the North Star.