I grew up listening to David Bowie, and, as an amateur musician, manytimes played and sang Bowie songs. I admired his songwriting as well as his brooding vocals. In one song, the Iggy Pop cover “China Girl,” he goes from almost muttering “I’m a mess without my little China Girl…” to bellowing “Visions of swastikas in my head/ Plans for everyone!”

Simply put, Bowie was cool. When I heard he had died a few weeks ago, I wanted to write an homage to him. Something important. But that became ever...