We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us their memories of David Bowie and how he influenced or changed their lives. Here are some of the responses we received.
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2. "David Bowie will always hold a special place in my heart. When my now husband and I got pregnant, everything was upside down and scary. We would lie in bed, often silent, both scared of what was to come. But eventually my husband would pick up his guitar and start playing 'Space Oddity' and we'd both quietly sing along. The baby would kick and kick. It was our thing and how I knew everything would be OK."
Submitted by Alyssa Stanley on Facebook
3. "When I was younger I remember being completely weirded out by his appearance and his music at first. But I kept finding myself watching his videos and listening to his songs, fascinated. I grew to wholeheartedly love and appreciate what he was doing, the creativity and boldness involved in all of it. He didn't censor himself for anyone, he didn't care what little people with closed minds thought. And he seemed able to do it all without being an asshole."
Submitted by delorienaz
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5. "When my dad was near the end of his own battle with cancer, I introduced him to using YouTube to find old songs he hadn't heard in years. We sat at his computer and listened to Bowie, the Stones, and lesser-known bands.
"My dad told me how he saw Bowie perform 'Space Oddity' live and how it was one of the most amazing things he'd ever seen. He cried as he told me how in awe [he was] of watching Bowie come down on a giant hand while singing, 'Ground Control to Major Tom.' It was one of my favourite moments with my dad. I had loved Bowie since my childhood Labyrinth days, but after that story 'Space Oddity' always makes me tear up."
Submitted by crystalr4e07d031a
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7. "Last year and the year before, I went through a lot of trouble with depression and anxiety. Bowie's music calmed me down and brought me to an alternate universe. Songs like 'Changes' and especially 'Heroes' have made me cry on more than one occasion. I'm mourning the loss of David today and playing his music on repeat. I'll miss you, Starman."
Submitted by Claire Elise on Facebook
8. "David Bowie and Michael Jackson: They showed me that music isn't only about well-written lyrics and good music, but also about the personality and soul put into performing. When I heard about his passing today, I felt like I lost a dear friend that I haven't spoken to in years, but who has been in the back of my mind all the time."
Submitted by Magdalena Wolniak on Facebook
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10. "Back in 1999 when I was in middle school, I happened to hear 'Let's Dance' and I remember stopping dead in my tracks. It was one of the most interesting and amazing songs I had ever heard. I immediately went to Tower Records and bought a full-length David Bowie album and my music life was never the same again."
Submitted by yolie4u
11. "When I was in school I suffered from depression and anxiety, though I didn't know that at that time. Everything seemed bleak and every moment was filled with stress and tension. I loathed myself and the way my life was going. And at that time Bowie and Queen's 'Under Pressure' inspired me and soothed my soul.
"'Cause love's such an old-fashioned word / And love dares you to care for / The people on the edge of the night / And love dares you to change our way of / Caring about ourselves.'"
Submitted by Sadia Afrin on Facebook
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13. "When I was a teen I was very very sick. Music got me through about six years of physical and emotional pain – I joined a band in which Ziggy Stardust covers featured heavily, and one phrase will always stay with me, and got me through those dark days: 'Oh no, you're not alone.'"
Submitted by Billie Gold on Facebook
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15. "My uncle died in an accident when I was only 3 years old. I have vague memories of him, being so young when he died, but he is still the greatest influence in my life. He was a HUGE Bowie fan. He had even painted an Aladdin Sane lightning bolt above the door of his bedroom. A few years after he died my great-nana moved in and they made a kitchenette for her in my uncle's old bedroom. They repainted the room but painted around this amazing lightning bolt. It is one of the main memories of my childhood. Looking up at that door and seeing that and remembering my uncle.
"Having Bowie and his music in my life was a way of my uncle staying alive for me. I am totally devastated. He was truly magic. They both were."
Submitted by sierrar47bab4afb
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17. "I am so lost for words. My love of David Bowie has helped me through the darkest hours of my existence. Being trapped in an abusive relationship, I would listen to 'Starman' and 'Ziggy Stardust' and imagine being off in some other galaxy with him. He is my hero, idol, starman. David Bowie is forever."
Submitted by sierrar47bab4afb
18. "This is the epitome of David Bowie to me, in a nutshell: during Live Aid, the time for each group's performance was very short, about 18 minutes each. Not many of the performers wanted to give up time to show a video about the people in the Ethiopian famine, the very reason they were trying to raise money at Live Aid. David Bowie was one who more than willingly stood up and offered the minutes for his last song in order to play the video instead. It wasn't about him, it was about them, and he knew that. Humble, beautiful, thoughtful, wonderful. That is David Bowie."
Submitted by leslieb48f1cef0f
19. "When I was just a little baby, my father always put me to sleep with Bowie's music in the background. And ever since, David Bowie was our thing. In my teenage years, my relationship with my father wasn't at its best which was my fault, but Bowie kinda brought us back together. We started to listen to his music together non stop, discussing his songs and the meaning behind the lyrics. Long story short, I give my greatest thank you and miss you to you, Ziggy."
Submitted by nono2no
20. "My fondest and most vivid memories are from a little film called Labyrinth. It was perfect in everyway and they could not have picked a better villain. I won't even call him a villain. I would call him the antihero. He was terrifying and fascinating all at the same time. My heart is broken and I miss him already."
Submitted by Kiki Kubacki on Facebook
21.
Thank you, David Bowie.
Contributions have been edited for length and clarity.