David Bowie - the original funky diva

Before any of the gender challenging, fashion-busting, headline-driving stars that we have today, before Lady Gaga, there was David Bowie.

Growing up in the 1980s, we approached his music with an almost freaked-out reverence.

There was power in it, but there was also an ungratifying drive away from pop-star reverence.

Above all, he challenged you – tastes, beliefs, agenda, life. Then he riffed a bit.

His voice was cultured and rambunctious in an effortless sway between rock, pop, punk and all else.

In today’s star-per-second social media madness David Bowie was the great goth of yesterday’s music magic-ness. No more.