“But are you sure that it really was him?”
One week on from its release, there’s a great full-page piece in this week’s NME (May 18) regarding the video for The Next Day.
Headlined The Jean Jesus, the intro goes like this:
It’s a story now sewn into the very fabric of western culture – the outsider whose divine wisdom and messianic magic made worshippers of millions, and whose incredible resurrection wowed the world. But enough about David Bowie – let’s talk about Jesus Christ. The Son Of God makes an appearance in the video for ‘The Next Day’, played by Bowie, rubbing shoulders with French actress Marion Cotillard and Brit thesp Gary Oldman. Directed by Floria Sigismondi, it features angels, prostitutes, horny priests and platters of human eyes. But what’s it all about? NME asked Dr Jon Balserak, lecturer in Theology & Religious Studies at the University Of Bristol (“and a huge, huge Bowie fan”) for some guidance.
Dr Jon takes a look at the various characters populating the video, though even he failed to spot the eyeless Saint Lucy.
NME is available in the traditional print format and on your iPad or desktop.
The black and white images here are behind the scenes shots of David with Marion Cotillard, Gary Oldman and Floria Sigismondi during the making of the video.