On rue de Seine

David Bowie is has come to Paris after opening to record crowds in London. The venue is Philharmonie 1 at Cité de la Musique – think Kennedy Center in Washington DC or Lincoln Center in Manhattan.  The dramatic architectural design is a stunning backdrop for performances and music education for all ages.

Philharmonie 1

We loved the exhibition.

A state-of-the-art multi-media assault on almost all of the senses which turns out to be exactly what’s needed to present the diversity of David Bowie’s talents.  The sound portion of the experience was developed by Sennheiser.  Everyone wears a pair of Sennheiser earphones which have been equipped with sensors to play the audio associated with your current location in the exhibit and, of course, the sound is spectacular.

If you’re a David Bowie fan you may already know this but, David Bowie was born David Jones.  When his career started to take off he changed his name to avoid the being confused with Davey Jones, the then-popular singer in The Monkeys.  He chose the stage name Bowie for the American pioneer Jim Bowie, an association with the pioneer spirit he displayed throughout his career.

We were familiar with his music and one of his persona, Ziggy Stardust, but it turns out that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  He has had many other persona, has appeared in more than a dozen feature films, is an accomplished mime and a rather good painter.

We spent over two hours in the exhibit without realizing so much time had passed.  Well worth it!.

I tried to strike a similar pose.  As you can see that didn’t work, perhaps because I wasn’t wearing something a bit more edgy and “feeling the vibe!”