Before Lorde‘s surprise, stunning performance of “Life On Mars?”, David Bowie was posthumously honored at this week’s BRIT Awards for his contributions to music and to society. On his behalf, Bowie’s longtime friend and well-known British actor Gary Oldman accepted, while lending some words to console hurting hearts with snapshot memories and inspiring Bowie-esque wisdom.
“The world lost an artist, a man, of transcendent talent,” Oldman emotionally began. After describing his career, lifepath, and legacy, defining him as the singular word “icon,” he went on to describe Bowie’s relationship with music, and the words he left before leaving our planet.
“In recent years David sparingly spoke about music and his process; but in one of these rare instances, he graciously and elegantly expounded,” Oldman explained before narrating Bowie’s final words.
”’Music has given me over 40 years of extraordinary experiences. I can’t say that life’s pains or more tragic episodes have been diminished because of it, but it has allowed me so many moments of companionship when I have been lonely and sublime means of communications when I have wanted to touch people. It has been my doorway of perception and the house that I live in.’”
Oldman eloquently added to this profound statement, that “Over his career, David challenged and changed our understanding of the medium, whether in music or life, he emphasized originality, experimentation, exploration, and in his very unique way, he also reminded us to never take ourselves too seriously.”
He continued, “David faced his illness with dignity, grace and his customary humor, even in dire circumstances. When he wrote to tell me he had cancer, he added, ‘the good news is I have my cheekbones back.’”
You can watch the full speech,alongwithAnnieLennox’stributeandLorde’s performance here:
[via CoS]