I have to say some words about the passing of beloved actor Alan Rickman, who passed away at the young age of 69 from a battle with cancer, the same way as musical icon David Bowie. I cannot begin to fathom the pain and grief their respective families are surely experiencing, and I can only wish them the deepest of sympathies from my heart to theirs at this most difficult time in their lives.
It is difficult to realize that two individuals who I cherished so much for so long, are no longer with us anymore, and the thought that I will never be able to hear their voices ring in my ears, or see them perform as splendidly as they both did for so long, is one that has left a void in my heart that cannot be filled. I grew up with Bowie’s unique sounds drifting from the speakers and dancing into my ears, every tune as weird, wonderful, and fascinating as the last. I was a little four year old boy cheering for Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood to defeat the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham, who Alan Rickman brought to life with such ferocity and grace, in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. Throughout my life I continued to listen to Bowie’s tunes and watch him strut his stuff in films such as The Man Who Fell To Earth, and watch Rickman’s enthusiastic performances come to life onscreen, in everything from the badass Die Hard to the magnificent Harry Potter series, blindly assuming these two would be around for much, much longer.
Something deep within me believes that these two brilliant men wouldn’t want me to feel sadness, pain, and grief, but would rather wish that myself and legions of fans around the world, instead take the time to remember the time we did have with them. To that notion, I say we shall. In the hours and days and years to come, lifelong fans of these tremendous artists will continue to gleefully listen to the soulful otherworldly music of David Bowie, and relentlessly watch the vast filmographies of both Bowie and Alan Rickman. Whether you know Bowie for Rebel Rebel, or Starman, or Ziggy Stardust, or some other tune or one of his varied film roles, or Rickman for The January Man, Die Hard, or that most beloved Professor Severus Snape, or for some other role, whether you have engaged in their work for twenty years or just a few months, take the time to remember what you love most about their respective careers, and them as individuals. Remember if Snape broke your heart. Remember if Hans Gruber gave you chills and made you laugh at his witty one liners and sarcastic demeanor. Remember if Rebel Rebel made you crank up the volume in your car and speed down the highway in pure bliss. Remember if Space Oddity, or Starman, or Heroes touched the deepest part of your soul. Remember if Bowie, with his flaming red hair and trendsetting outfits and makeup made you embrace your inner self and feel proud to be the unique individual you surely are. Remember the laughs. Remember the tears. Remember the smiles, the joy, the fun. Remember their work and how they made you feel. Remember your heroes, and never forget them.
“I do take my work seriously and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously .” – Alan Rickman
Podcasting Them Softly 