Paris achieved a world first yesterday by inaugurating a street dedicated to rock icon David Bowie in its 13th arrondissement.
This tribute took place on the day the talented British musician would have turned 77, had he not passed away on January 10, 2016 due to liver cancer.
The mayor of the 1947th arrondissement, Jérôme Coumet, a passionate Bowie fan, presided over the official unveiling of the memorial street. The street sign, similar to the others, is a classic dark blue panel with white lettering that reads "Rue David Bowie 2016-XNUMX," framed in green.
This inauguration marks the conclusion of a process initiated in 2020 by Coumet, who obtained the approval of the Paris City Council in February of that year. Rue David Bowie, already featured on Wikipedia, now becomes a tangible reality in the daily lives of Parisians.
It is a 50-meter-wide road, formerly called "VoieDZ/13" by urban planners, which begins at number 61 Avenue Pierre Mende's France, near the headquarters of the newspapers Le Monde and Le Nouvel Observateur, and then extends to the bridge connecting the avenue to the Boulevard de l'Hopital.
The area is known for hosting the Austerlitz train station and the ultra-modern Francois Mitterrand Library. In a post on X, Mayor Coumet declared: "The 13th arrondissement welcomes David Bowie. Dancing in the Street!", referencing the famous song performed by Bowie with Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.
The opening night was followed by a tribute to Bowie at the borough's town hall, attended by his friend Jerome Soligny, a journalist and Bowie biographer. The soirée, which took place against a politically charged backdrop, was attended by numerous guests, including photographer Geoff MacCormack and painter George Underwood, both childhood friends of Bowie. The latter's works are on display in an exhibition at the mayor's office until January 13th.
The city of Paris, in a press release, declared itself "proud of this long-standing bond that unites it to the artist" and emphasized its intention to "continue this legacy through the inauguration" of the street. Although the 'Thin White Duke' had no specific ties to the 13th arrondissement, his connection to the French capital has been evident since his debut in 1965, when he performed for the first time outside the United Kingdom at the Golf-Drouot, nicknamed the "Temple of Rock."
French avant-garde theater culture influenced his visual style, and Bowie successfully performed French-language songs. His presence in France is still actively celebrated today by fan clubs such as "Bowie France."
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