Cover illustration of Captain Billy's Whiz Bang, April 1921
If you know what "As the World Falls Down" is, then you already know my dirty little secret - I own a copy of the official soundtrack to the movie Labyrinth, the mind-destroying Jim Henson/David Bowie/Jennifer Connolly Muppet fantasy from 1986. I don't think I'll ever fully understand Bowie's involvement in the project, writing five original songs for the score and playing the skintight-pantaloons-wearing goblin king Jareth. But I am glad that these five bizarre songs exist, especially the druggy ballad "As the World Falls Down", which I can't hear without picturing the nightmare masquerade scene it accompanies in the movie. A children's movie, I should emphasize.
The song is oddly overlong and features some great '80s production touches - I was surprised to find, though, that at one point Bowie contemplated releasing the song as a Christmas single. According to Wikipedia, the reasons for the single's cancellation are "still largely unknown." Really? I would think that the reasons are self-evident.
"As the World Falls Down" by David Bowie
1 comments:
I love this movie, and this song. I was seriously considering using lyrics from this song as a tattoo, and instead went with "Within You" lyrics.
This is the best movie ever.
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