by Jess Grant

Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a meter and stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
"I'm a Blackstar, I'm a Blackstar"

As news of David Bowie's death ricocheted around the globe on the morning of January 11, 2016, many of us reacted by revisiting the scriptures of the recently released Blackstar in search of cryptic clues about the British icon's impending mortality.

David Bowie wasn't always a name readily associated with rock's great poets – Dylan, Cohen, etc. With his words piercing our hearts posthumously, however, it would appear that this self-proclaimed "chameleon, comedian, Corinthian and caricature" has at last earned his place in this most coveted of canons.

But how well do you know your Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

---

More Music Quiz

Comments: 37

• Amy B from Somerville, MaWhat a lyricist. As much as I lived the music, I now need to go back and read the lyrics!
• Arjael from Bristol Uk100% difficult but was lucky
• Colin Smith from CralieghAwesome quiz, got every one
• Lilylovesbowie from North CarolinaCh-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
• Niki from NyAlways loved David Bowie. Especially love “The Man Who Sold the World”.
• Lisa Wilson from HoustonI love David Bowie since I was very young and I still do
• Thethinwhiteduke from MonaghanAll correct. Drive in Saturday won me over in 73
• Coljock from AustraliaMuchly missed.
• AnonymousBest British entertainer for a lot of years on the pop music front. Loved the 80-90s stuff. Nice also to see so many world people paying tribute t an absolute super premium rock star that gave us so much. RIP DB - miss you now as I did when you passed. Awesome. Thankyou David.
• Gilly from Essex Harder than I thought!
• Theresa Bradley from EnglandGot the lot
• Bret A. from AlabamaPerfect score! Great quiz.
• Ray Lukunic from Canberra, AustraliaGot 7, very happy with that - Bowie's music saw me through my teenage years in the 70's
• Robert Zimmerman from Xlp4Got the lot
• Randal Mcdonald from BtrI can do better
• Ileia from TennesseeBowie is greatest rock star that has ever lived.
• Kelly from ProvidenceWe lost a Brilliant Artist. I always like to think he went back to his home planet to save it from dying like in “The Man Who Fell To Earth.” Maybe in a few years he’ll come back and save this planet. We miss you David!
• Linda from Now N Carolina, Before LiA fan since Ziggy days 1973, lost faith after his newer albums, Heroes etc (Ziggy forever)! RIP BB
• Carol Hughes from Tenby, PembrokeshireBowie the soundtracks to my life
• Jen from OregonBeen a fan since ‘74. Some of the songs , like from blackstar I hadn’t even heard.
• Nico from SicilyNot so bad.
• Daniel from North CarolinaMissed 2, dammit ... Bowie was a Treasure ... hearing he died was just like losing an old, very dear friend.
• Peter Bent from Staffordshire EnglandGot them all. Ziggy stardust was the first concer I ever saw,I was 14..
• Steve Duncan-smith from Austin Texas I got lucky on one or two of his new stuff I think in part because Maybe i’ve Matured 66 now and also so hard to play Blackstar a lot because of his passing. I love the music however I’ll get into one day. Otherwise I got all right !
• George from From Ohio2 wrong...I'll take it. We lost too many in the last couple of years and he was one of the best!!! My generation for sure is one of the greatest ever!!! We had the best music, the best cars and the worst war!!!
• Mike from MiddlesbroughHad to guess the german one
• Kay from Scotland2wrong..but I really enjoyed the informative reading content given in the answers.
• Rob from Newcastle Upon Tyne Better than I thought
• Rob from New OrleansI got 6 cos i don't know his later stuff
• Dascat from ItalyGreat!! All answers correct!
• Zabadak from That LondonI am a better guesser than I thought, with just one wrong! Yay me!
• Graham from Newcastle Upon Tyne EnglandI enjoyed taking part in the quiz on David Bowie, I did not know all the answers but found the explorations of the songs very informative.… I said, do it again, do it again. Turn most (around go back
• Kathleen from MarylandI missed two....
• Robbie from Huddersfieldevery lyric a master piece, even " ha ha ha he he he, I'm a laughing gnome and you can't catch me " !!!!
• Jed from Woodstock Va, United StatesAs soon as I clicked the two I missed, I gasped knowing, what a hasty fool I'd been.
  It's a God awful small affair...
• Steve from OttawaJust one wrong!
• Jim from Mobile, Al (formerly North Billerica)I missed three. Not up on his newer stuff.

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

More Songfacts:

Don't Dream It's OverCrowded House

"Don't Dream It's Over" is the biggest hit for Crowded House, whose lead singer, Neil Finn, sang it on tour when he joined Fleetwood Mac. He wrote the song when he was feeling a bit lost as a way of urging himself on.

Oh WellFleetwood Mac

"Oh Well," from their 1960s Peter Green era, is the only Fleetwood Mac song played in concert in every decade they've been extant.

All ApologiesNirvana

When the Christian band DC Talk covered Nirvana's "All Apologies" at concerts, they would change the line "Everyone is gay" to "Jesus is the Way."

The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Tokens

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is an English version of a Zulu hunting song from the 1930s.

I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash

"I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash was the first reggae song to hit #1 in America on the Hot 100.

Don't Bring Me DownElectric Light Orchestra

Jeff Lynne sang the word "groose" in the chorus of "Don't Bring Me Down" as a nonsense placeholder, but left it in when he found out it means "greetings" in German ("gruss").