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David Bowie had a long illustrious career ever since he first rose to fame in the late 1960s. Ever since then he has been celebrated for being an innovative artist whose passion for visual presentation rivaled that of his love for music. Bowie’s life was anything but ordinary and he often defied social norms and conventional ways of thinking and doing things. One of his most famous quotes, “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring” perhaps best sums up his thoughts on life. It offers a revealing glimpse into his mindset and shows how he never planned or relied on going along with the grain.
Bowie’s individualistic way of thinking is what helped set him apart from the crowd and made him an iconic figure throughout the world. It famously came into play in 2000 when he turned down an offer of a CBE award from the Queen of England, Elizabeth II. She had extended to him the CBE, which stands for Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a title that is bestowed upon people who have made “a distinguished, innovative contribution to any area” of British life. Instead of happily taking the Queen up on her offer as most would have, he declined, explaining that “I seriously don’t know what it’s for.”
Three years later, in 2003, he again refused an award of recognition and what many view as an offer of a lifetime from the Queen. This time he was extended knighthood in recognition of his decades long, momentous, innovative, and highly lauded musical career. Knighthood is similar to the CBE award in that it’s given to those who have made a “major contribution” to British life that is “inspirational and significant.” What distinguishes and sets it apart is that being knighted carries with it much more precedence and weight, it’s a top honor in the UK. Bowie declined the rare award explaining that “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”
Not many people would turn down being recognized and knighted by the Queen, but Bowie did. In turn, he stayed true to himself and defied conventional norms once again by going against the traditional way of doing things. That’s just how he chose to live his life.
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The post This Is Why David Bowie Turned Down Being Knighted By The Queen! appeared first on Sun Gazing.