Music and Persona
A songwriter's legacy is sometimes what gets successfully covered or performed. It is like the idea that a building is not exterior so much as interior, as that's where life takes place. The life of a song begins again once the writer has passed. The Bowie tributes show this happening and it is interesting to watch how some songs have a natural resonance that emerges.
Not anyone can cover just any material. Sting did a terrible job with "Life On Mars" because he was doing an impersonation. Impersonations are bad attempts at reverence. Sting's cover of this song should have been in his breathy voice, a much more personal approach to a songwriter's work. Sting is interesting because his work is certainly at the same level of Bowie, and will be duly interpreted after his passing.
Not anyone can cover just any material. Sting did a terrible job with "Life On Mars" because he was doing an impersonation. Impersonations are bad attempts at reverence. Sting's cover of this song should have been in his breathy voice, a much more personal approach to a songwriter's work. Sting is interesting because his work is certainly at the same level of Bowie, and will be duly interpreted after his passing.
