'Really emotional': Australians mourn David Bowie

David Bowie lived in Sydney in the 1980s and filmed some of his most iconic music videos in Australia. News of his death has been met with shock and sadness by local residents.

David Bowie

David Bowie in Sydney in 2004. Source: AAP

In 1983, an outback pub in New South Wales played host to an other-worldy figure.

The video for David Bowie's smash hit "Let's Dance" put the town of Carinda on the world stage.

And gave a voice to Indigenous Australians.

"My idea was to present an Indigenous people in a capitalist mainly white society," Bowie said of the video.

Ties to Australia

Bowie first visited Australia in 1978. He played in the country four times to packed stadiums, before moving to Sydney in the 1980s.

He filmed the video for "China Girl" in Sydney's China Town district. It was described as a direct statement against racism.

The New Zealand based "China Girl", Geeling Ng, said the role changed her life forever.

"I'm totally blessed to have worked with such an iconic person," she said. "I'll take that to my grave as well."
Rebecca Sheehan of Sydney University said the video had a wider impact.

"For Asian Australians or Asian New Zealanders, who still are underrepresented in mainstream media, for him to make a clip with Geeling as he did at that time gave visibility to people who are considered minorities," she said.

Bowie tribute artist and musician Jeff Duff lived next door to the pop-culture force in Sydney's Elizabeth Bay.

His tribute shows are now selling out.

The news of the star’s death hit him hard.

"I actually started crying, I was really emotional," he said.

"I don't think there will ever, ever be another person like him."

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Published 12 January 2016 5:07pm
Updated 13 January 2016 6:01am
By Hannah Sinclair

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