The track leaning forDavid Bowie ’s 1974 albumDiamond Dogsoffers a mates obvious clues about one reservoir of inhalation : song title let in both “ 1984 ” and “ Big Brother . ” But Bowie did n’t just desire to use themes from George Orwell’s1984on the phonograph record . As Open Culturereports , he ab initio hoped to turn the 1949 dystopian classic into a full - fledged musical theater of its own .
What form that musical was at long last meant to take is n’t altogether clear . agree toChristopher Sandford ’s biographyBowie : Loving the Alien , the adaptation would ’ve been “ a West terminal musical , with an accompanying album and film . ” But in aRolling StoneinterviewwithWilliam S. Burroughsfrom February 1974 — just months before the release ofDiamond frank — Bowie himself cite he was “ doing Orwell’s1984on TV . ” It ’s possible the labor conk out through several iteration when the “ Space Oddity ” vocalist was still brainstorming it . But thanks to Orwell ’s widow , Sonia ( believe to be the basis for1984 ’s Julia ) , the musical never get along past the incubation stage .
“ My part go up Mrs. Orwell , because I sound out , ‘ Office , I want to do1984as a melodic , go get me the right , ’ ” Bowieexplainedin 1993 , according to David Buckley’sStrange Fascination : David Bowie , the Definitive Story . “ And they duly trooped off to see Mrs. Orwell , who in so many Book said , ‘ You ’ve produce to be out of your gourd vine , do you think I ’m turn this over tothatas a musical ? ’ So , they came back and state , ‘ gloomy , David , you ca n’t write it . ’ ” Since Bowie had already started “ putting bits of it down ” in the studio , the surprise rejection forced him to pivot quickly . His ill - fatten up musical became a construct record album withOrwellianovertones .
Though Sonia Orwell drop dead away in 1980 , Bowie never upraise his original plans for her hubby ’s harrowing fib . But in January 2020 , producers at Australia ’s New Theatre did stage a1984musical that Sonia surely would have disapproved of . The yield wasdescribedas a “ short - hearted comedy ” sport “ tap - terpsichore in overrefinement bedchamber , rat with razmataz - dazzle , [ and ] Big Brother with even bigger wiz power . ”
[ h / tOpen Culture ]
