David Bowie Predicts the Rise of the Internet in Old Interview

Apparently David Bowie holds the secret to time travel, and we can’t say that we’re surprised.

In an interview with Jeremy Paxman held at the turn of the millennium, Bowie predicted with alarming accuracy how the Internet would eventually become this all-consuming, nigh-on uncontrollable force, that would irreparably impact upon the relationship shared between provider and consumer, artist and fan.

Bowie stumbled onto the subject of the Internet, which was still in its infancy in the year 2000, after discussing how the way the perception of rockstars had changed since the ’70s, saying: “[Rock and roll] is now a career opportunity, and the Internet carries the flag for the subversive and rebellious, chaotic and nihilistic.” He added: “Forget about the Microsoft element, the monopolies do not have a monopoly [on the Internet].”

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He continued: “I don’t think we’ve even seen the tip of the iceberg. I think the potential of what the Internet is going to do to society, both good and bad, is unimaginable. I think we’re on the cusp of something exhilarating and terrifying… it’s an alien life form.”

Then, predicting how the Internet would eventually alter the face of entertainment from music through to TV and film, he concluded: “The context and the state of content is going to be so different to anything we can envisage at the moment, where the interplay between the user and the provider will be so in simpatico it’s going to crush our ideas of what mediums are all about.”

Watch the interview below, and prepare to deeply consider whether or not Bowie is actually a time-travelling alien from the deep recesses of the universe. 

(Via @RichStanton)

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