Five instances of Bowie's work being modified due to content restrictions
David Bowie, the iconic British musician, has always been known for pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. This is evident in his album covers, which have often caused controversy and sparked debates.
In 1974, Bowie released his album "Diamond Dogs," marking a significant shift in his career. The album, which was his first after retiring the Ziggy Stardust persona, continued his trend of ruffling straight-laced feathers. The original cover art for "Diamond Dogs" featured Bowie as a half-man and half-dog, a hard-to-miss canine penis being one of the more controversial elements. Due to censorship concerns, this art was airbrushed over before the album was released in the United States.
Bowie's performance of "Boys Keep Swinging" on "Saturday Night Live" in 1979 also faced censorship. NBC's censors muted a line, but Bowie responded with a creative solution. He performed the song with his head strapped to a life-size marionette that featured a realistic bulge.
The art for Tin Machine's second album, a short-lived side project of Bowie, also caused controversy. The statuesque displays of four metal man parts were objected to by U.S. distributors, leading to a rework of the art in 1991.
Bowie's album "The Next Day," released in 2013, was briefly banned from YouTube for violating the streaming site's terms of service. However, the video was later cleared for viewing, with a YouTube spokesperson stating that the video was blocked by mistake.
Throughout his career, Bowie has maintained a regular acting career, appearing in films like "The Prestige," "Labyrinth," and the controversial "The Last Temptation of Christ," which was protested and even banned in several countries.
In 2011, Bowie's representatives denied a request to use his catalogue of songs for a British stage performance called "Heroes: The Musical." Despite this, original versions of the "Diamond Dogs" album cover art have become sought-after collectibles.
Bowie's willingness to push boundaries and challenge societal norms has made him a legend in the music industry. His album covers, performances, and acting roles have left a lasting impact, continuing to spark conversations and debates even today.
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