Today marks 10 years since David Bowie released his 26th and final album ★ (pronounced “Blackstar”). It was released on his birthday. 2 days after it released, Bowie was dead, having been secretly battling cancer for some time.
In immediate hindsight, ★ was clearly made as a farewell from Bowie, the album explores themes of death throughout, such as how on the track “Lazarus“ where Bowie sings “look up here, I’m in Heaven.“ There’s also Dollar Days, where Bowie repeatedly sings “I’m dying too,“ which was initially just interpreted as the turn of phrase meaning eagerness to do something, but after his death, it was seen as him literally telling the world he was dying.
Throughout the album it continuously opens the jaws of death and lets the listener vicariously explore what its like to stare death in the face. Along with that, ★ is one of Bowie’s most experimental records, having been inspired by of all things To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar. And no, Bowie doesn’t start rapping lol, rather he took the inspiration and fused jazz and saxophone elements into art rock instrumentals like how Kendrick incorporated jazz elements with hip hop.
I recommend this album btw, its obviously heavy in tone but it never is entirely dreary either, its imo the greatest swan song and farewell from what was a legendary musician. To take your own death and turn it into art and one of your best works is pretty damn impressive. Happy 10 years ★!
can't wait for when Microsoft renames the entire company to Microsoft Copilot Company Series X 360 One Copilot
watched the new knives out film called wake up dead man and they cooked again. they’re now 3 for 3 with these films so far. still think glass onion is my favourite of the three.
considering how fast trump has run the u.s. into a ditch the fact that he has said the u.s. is going to run venezuela even just for a transition period is the biggest punishment he could force upon the country
here’s the 2025 wrapped for my discord server called ta’s hangout, you can find more stats and fun stuff here too: https://wrapped.hangout.seanjw.com/
Here are my top 10 favourite albums this year. 2025 had plenty of good stuff drop, so not everything I enjoyed made this short list, I have a full list on my AOTY if you wanna see more: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/year-end/citysmartie/2025/
Other than that, let me know what you enjoyed this year from the world of music! Also lemme know your thoughts on any of the albums I have on this list, always curious to hear other peoples perspectives on stuff I like.
Here is some unused headlines I wrote for The Wasted Onion, they either didn’t get written or posted for being not good enough, too niche, or things not panning out. Who knows, can always circle back to any of them perhaps if I feel like it.
Taylor Swift Awarded Nobel Peace Prize For Services To Capitalism
‘One Genocide At A Time Please’ Says UN While Condemning Sudan Mass Killings
Evil Jeffalo Just Normal Jeffalo If He Had Created Blaze Instead Of Wasteof
Trump Boys Delete Grindr From Fathers Phone
David Cameron Reveals He Had Medical Condition That Makes Victim Think Brexit Vote Is Good Idea
Reddit Moderator Erect After Banning User For Breaking Stupid Bullshit Rule
French Prime Minister Quits Due To Morning Croissant Not Being Flaky Enough
UK Equality And Human Rights Commission Renamed To Just Be Grateful You Haven't Been Lynched Yet Commission
U.S. Government Shutdown Affecting Congresses Ability To Fuck Over Working Class People
Police On Accidentally Shooting Civilians During Manchester Synagogue Attack: ‘So We Just Started Blasting’
U.S. Sues Australia For Copyright Infringement Following Bondi Beach Shooting
Trump Files Defamation Lawsuit Against The BBC For Not Making Him Look Badass Enough
its not even been a full day and they already removed an image from the epstein files that included trump 
tame Impala reference??
