Jazzin' for Blue Jean

This is an interesting little video, but I'll be honest, it's not really MTV material, not on the level of what Michael Jackson was doing at the time. Still, it is entertaining for Bowie fans, and a funny little piece of Cinema. Bowie plays two parts, Screamin' Lord Byron, and someone trying to get into his concert. The music video itself really is the highlight of the whole thing, it's like Bowie's acting ability goes up 10 fold when he is singing. Sadly, when he isn't singing, his acting seems to suffer a bit in this piece. Like I said, this is a funny little piece of cinema, and great for collectors.

Sometimes, people just totally miss the point. David Bowie 'not known for his acting'. Harsh dude, his whole life is pure drama but, forget that, check out Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence..... I rest my case.

First and foremost, this is a pop video. This is a medium to deliver a new song to an audience. During this era, a few artists with bottomless bank accounts (Michael Jackson) fancied trying their luck in the movies. Fortunately, people like Julien Temple were there to help them and so started the 'Video Short', a mini movie containing a pop video.

So, here we have an attempt at the most simple story. Boy meets Girl, Boy wants to impress Girl, Boy gets in all sorts of trouble.... Since David Bowie is not known for his acting we need a strong supporting cast to carry him.

Dream Girl, Louise Scott, she says nothing, does nothing and goes on to do a lot more nothing. The Bouncer, nope. Ah, the pop star, eh.... that's David Bowie again, he's playing two roles with no real supporting cast AND he does a sterling job. Some marvellous 'off the cuff' ad lib. I find it hard to believe it was scripted as it's far too natural, and his character is so likable, straight out of Only Fools & Horses.

OK, context folks, this is a tongue in cheek extended pop video with a superb performance by David Bowie. A 20 minute advert for Blue Jean and very enjoyable it is. I saw it premier on TV and I just watched it again on YouTube. It's OK, fun and mildly entertaining and, YES, it has a jolly good pop song at 13:32.... Enjoy, just don't expect Gone With The Wind or Citizen Kane. ;-)

In the mid 1980s, thanks mainly to Michael Jackson, seemingly everyone and their codfish was making overlong promo videos with stories on either side of the song.

David Bowie only made one of these - but it's far better than most. The story is that Bowie's character, Vic, manages to impress a girl enough with his false tales of being friends with rock star Screaming Lord Byron, and for some reason says he has tickets for his gig that week - the hottest gig in town!

Bowie manages to get her a ticket, but not himself, and the opening part of the video sees his ridiculous attempts to get past security while Byron (also Bowie) prepares for the gig by doping himself up and moping about in a stereotypical rockstar manner.

Post performance of 'Blue Jean' from Byron, Bowie and his date meet the star... with disasterous consequences, and a funny exchange between Bowie and the director about what 'should' happen...

A classic video, and now easy to own thanks to the 'Best Of Bowie' dvd... as long as you can work out how to find it (hidden easteregg) that is...

i just remembered Julien Temple last weekend when i went to listen/see Robyn Hitchcock at Symphony Space in NYC and Jonathan Demme was sitting in front of me... both being the makers of incredible music videos

then looking him up as a sweet memory, i noticed in Wikipedia that his birthday is the 26th of November Happy Birthday Julien Temple with many joyous returns

actually, i am Blue Jean

was feeling antsy checked the Voice and saw that a Bowie video night at the then called Ritz now Webster Hall

to my surprise the balcony space usually reserved for PR or Record people were free for the public to sit. i sat at a table soon to realize that i was sitting across from Bowie incognito

what could have been the greatest gift i could give to one of my favorite musician craftsman but his freedom to enjoy himself incognito so i just cherished the energy and expressed my thanks through my appreciation towards his video and music

then came the Kraftwerk videos, another of my favorite Michael Rother, but i kindly asked the DJ to switch back to Bowie as i had to go back home to my daughter also born January 8 (much later though, in 1975).... whom i had left to be back home by 1 o'clock or so... (and who in the meantime became yet another incredible artist www.seze.net )

the DJ cooperated, i danced frantically, a Black-Sea Turkish folk dance called Hamsi sort of a River dance.... and saw Bowie looking... then i was embarrassed and didn't look up again...

finally when having a drink at the bar the master, revered Julien Temple came up to me, then i didn't know who he was, i told him my story about wanting to give a painting i had done to Bowie at the Booth Theatre where he was performing The Elephant Man.... and i couldn't leave the gift at the box office so me and my friend went in the garage entrance and found ourselves on stage... ran out the other side where the lighting and sound engineers' boards were, and during the show we had two gorillas breathing over our necks... very funny

of course i shared my invisible date with Bowie with all my friends the next day, and in 7-8 months later to be gifted with the video and song Blue Jean....

here it is - an arrow of cupid sent to infinity to allow the other its joy of freedom - and having done this with respect and reverence.... and not even mentioning it to the friend at the bar, Julien...

so Julien thinks i didn't know it was Bowie right next to me Bowie thinks i didn't recognize him and they both see my admiration in recognition of our common energies therefore reverence in a way towards Bowie...

only to be gifted with this song to which i was a muse...

a few decades have passed and here i'm coming out only to send my best wishes to Julien ...

Blue Jean wishes Julien Temple a very Happy Birthday - xoxo

I thought this little short was absolutely adorable. It wasn't meant to be taken seriously - just a lighthearted caper. I thought David Bowie was lovely as Vic - made me laugh quite a few times. Overall, I thought the film was very cute and enjoyable.