People die every day. Some of them are famous, some important, many newsworthy. This thread is for announcements of deaths in the news, discussions of the legacy of those recently deceased people, and memorials of same.
Please observe the usual rules about posting ettiquette and note that this is in On-Topic Conversations.
To start with, the last of the original Von Trapp Singers has died, Maria Von Trapp, 99, in Vermont. (This is the daughter of Captain Von Trapp, not her stepmother who was also named Maria. In the musical, they called her Louisa.)
http://news.yahoo.com/maria-von-trapp-99-dies-vermont-005546425.html
2023 mod note:
In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.
This doesn't mean that you can't discuss their life or legacy, or express an opinion as to whether they escaped justice for their actions. But if that starts to become a longer conversation, there are other OTC threads that may be more appropriate.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:28:19 AM
I've never met the man, and yet I feel sadness. As I write this, my eyes are holding back tears. But why do I weep for a man who is, to me, a stranger?
Perhaps that is because he was an artist. I listen to Life on Mars, and I feel like a loner wishing to break out of my life. I listen to Starman, and I feel joy. I feel like someone is out there listening to me, telling me not to worry. I listen to Heroes, and I want to break free from my constraints and do the right thing.
Bowie was an artist. He moved me to feel sadness, joy, anger, and sensuality. His voice sounded like he had the soul of a gospel singer, but his face was like that of an emaciated alien. His persona would change from the outer space rockstar Ziggy Stardust, to the cold and heartless Thin White Duke, and his music would change with him. He experimented more than Bob Dylan, and had fun doing it.
Yet why do I weep for the stranger? I weep because he impacted me. I weep because he now has no more to give. I weep because he died doing what he loved: making art. He united many with his music, and taught others to experiment and make music of their own. Without Bowie, there would be no Nine Inch Nails or Nirvana. And yet despite all the various genres he's experimented with, one fact remained: there was only ever one person like David Bowie. And that is why I weep. The world has lost a visionary. Let us remember him by listening to his art. As long as he shall be remembered, he shall never die.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?If Elton John dies this year, I'm going to riot.
It's been a while since I listened to much David Bowie, but this news fucking sucks. Like I try not to get flowery and insightful about celebrity deaths, because everyone ever gets flowery and insightful after a celebrity death, but I really liked David Bowie. One of my favorite albums is Earthling, one of his mid-90's alternative albums which has "I'm Afraid of Americans" on it. He has this reputation of a weird space man which gave him some sort of... I dunno, immortal air about him? Like he'd live forever. And now he's dead. Just like that.
Here's one of my favorite songs of his.
I don't want to paint him as an amazing genius years ahead of his time, like everyone else - I want people to remember that he was crazy and had a sense of humor. This song captures that, in my eyes.
What's even sadder and creepier is that this new music video for "Lazarus" was released two days before his passing. So Harsher in Hindsight.
I just can't believe he passed away at 69. I feel like he'd be proud of that.
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.Actor David Margulies, perhaps best known for playing the mayor of New York City in the Ghostbusters movies, has died at the age of 78
.
Alan Rickman dies at 69 from cancer.
You may have known him as Snape in Harry Potter or Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He'll be missed.
Back to David Bowie. Even though he was cremated, the Westboro Baptist freaks are planning to picket his funeral claiming that God sends cancer to kill Bowie, making a Bowie parody called "Shame", and comparing him to Cain (which they claim was the first pervert and gay man; Cain was actually a murderer). Instead, they prompted America and the organization Planting Peace to raise money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of Bowie to help find cures for cancer. Weird!
Alan Rickman comes as quite a shock! I wasn't aware he was having problems with cancer either. This year isn't off to a very good start. :(
Join my forum game!

I'm still trying to process it.
I've postponed listening to the new album (which I bought in the store). Maybe I should listen to it now...