Ready to hear what your descent into madness will sound like? David Bowie is back with a brand new song.
Described as a “demo track” on the music icon's official Facebook page, “'Tis A Pity She Was a Whore” is a song that might result “If Vorticists wrote Rock Music” (Bowie's words). Vorticism, of course (!), was a modernist art movement in early 20th century Britain that rejected the stodgy Victorian-style artwork of the period in favor of geometric shapes and bold colors. The movement was cut short by the First World War, a fact also referenced in Bowie's Facebook post along with an explication of the song's title:
“The song acknowledges the shocking rawness of the First World War and the title is a play on ‘Tis Pity She's A Whore” a John Ford Restoration play first performed in 1629 at the Cockpit Theatre in London.”
Now that I know more about Vorticism, I totally kinda get what he means: “'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore” is bold and brassy and jagged and complex and a little bit hard to take in all at once. Also, I feel like enjoying it maybe isn't the point? Oh David Bowie, you challenge us.
“'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore” will be available to buy on Tuesday via digital download and on 10-inch vinyl (as a B-side to “Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)”) on Nov. 28. “Sue” will be included on Bowie's forthcoming box set “Nothing Has Changed”
Check out the song and official artwork (with full lyrics) below.