The Next Day

David Bowie's The Next Day, released March 8, 2013 on ISO / Columbia Records, was one of the most celebrated surprise comebacks in music history, announced with no warning via the single 'Where Are We Now?' on his 66th birthday after ten years of silence, produced again by Tony Visconti. Bowie wrote all fourteen tracks himself, spanning dark political commentary ('Valentine's Day'), personal reflection ('Where Are We Now?'), and the propulsive title track, which reached number one in the UK. The album debuted at number one in more than fifteen countries and was widely declared one of the best albums of 2013. Tilda Swinton and Marion Cotillard appear in the controversial music videos. Bowie co-wrote 'If You Can See Me' with Brian Eno, the only external collaborator on an otherwise self-written set. The Next Day confirmed that after fifty years of making records, Bowie's songwriting authority had diminished not at all.