We are all freaks, but Bowie was the freakiest first. This was a dude who had four-foot-deep sex pit in his living room so that he could get down n’ dirty with his famous friends. Labyrinth was surreal until we got a glimpse of Bowie in full costume–then it became the stuff of childhood nightmares.
That is why Jessica Lange‘s cover of pre-Ziggy Bowie on last night’s premiere episode of American Horror Story: Freak Show was especially spot on: it was (hopefully) a signifier of things to come. Just like all the material that came out after Hunky Dory, the new season of Ryan Murphy‘s most frightening show will hopefully take us on an unexpected and mind-expanding ride through a parallel universe.Â
The tenured American Horror Story story actress nailed the classic track with her cartoonish, eye makeup and a full band of freaks in tow. Though nothing will ever truly beat the original, a very close second is seeing Jessica Lange, in a stream of glitter and confetti, sing: “It’s the freakiest show!” Let’s see how that Lana Del Rey cover stacks up to this masterpiece.
How do you think this new season of American Horror Story will stack up to the rest? Would you be opposed to a musical number on every episode? Let us know what’s gucci in the comments below and on Twitter.
You know why I don’t watch Glee? Because musical numbers (especially those that break with when they actually occur in time) are the sort of tired, pedestrian plot devices that lazy writers rely on after a series has jumped the shark, dry-humped it while staring down the audience through the fourth wall. Do you really want to count the sort of lowest common denominator idiots who cannot identify formulaic writing as part of your target audience just to artificially boost the numbers? Just stick to writing something entertaining/macabre and stop trying to appeal to the morons who lap up camp the same way my cat eats the same boring crap all day every day. This type of “homage” has its place on YouTube in crappy amateur videos and anywhere else people aren’t just sick to death of the necrophilic adoration of vaudeville/camp being inserted into EVERY DAMN TV SERIES.
I’m done.
I just can’t stand a show that has no single likable person. And don’t get me wrong, I love camp, but one has their limits.
Ah. “Der Blaue Engel”. (Look it up kids.
This. At least equal parts Lola and Bowie.
Actually her make-up wasn’t that cartoonish. The make-up and outfit mirrored that from the original music video. It was a nice homage to an amazing artist though.
Yes, its painful to see how many heads this all flew over. I think this show is just gonna make all those who aren’t “hip” to its references feel alienated and you know what? Good, its the viewers fault for not being aware of the cultural references the show makes – not the shows. Im looking forward to this season, I feel it might be one of the best.
Our collective knowledge of cultural/social/historical events has hit an all time low in a lot of areas, and in people of all ages. I cannot believe how many viewers couldn’t figure out the music reference, the make-up/cabaret stuff, and the relevance of how routinely handicapped and “freaks” were really treated. I was mesmerized by Lange (as usual) and feel bad for those who really don’t get her talent and sublety.