Love You till Tuesday

Love You till Tuesday is a unique and eye-catching slice of late-60's pop art that was released in 1969. This 30-minute long film serves both as a pseudo-documentary as well as a music video compilation featuring the dynamic and talented English music sensation David Bowie. This precious nugget is as much a curious historical document as it is an artistic statement of a time long gone by.

Interestingly, the film came into full public view only in the mid-1980s but instantly drew the fascination of Bowie enthusiasts along with cinephiles and music lovers worldwide as it offered an illuminating glance into the proto-Bowie era when the not-yet-a-megastar Ziggy Stardust was still exploring and pushing his artistic boundaries.

The film contains a collection of Bowie's music videos made during the late sixties before the man himself was launched into superstardom. Bowie's youthful charm and early raw talent shine through each sequence, essentially flirting with the potential of music videos years before they became a popular promotional tool.

His repertoire here is extensive, ranging from "Sell Me a Coat" to "When I'm Five". Set in an era long before Bowie donned his iconic glam rock persona, 'Love You till Tuesday' is a nostalgic exhibit of how this genius was honing his craft, perfecting his performance style, and establishing his distinctive image.

Bowie’s flame-haired girlfriend at the time, Hermione Farthingale, features in several songs along with John 'Hutch' Hutchinson, Bowie's guitar player and musical collaborator. Both add vibrant elements to the film's colorfulness and quirkiness. Particularly engaging is the special track—the eponymous "Love You till Tuesday," which is beautifully screen-adapted and adds to the sense of innocence and whimsy pervading the entire film.

The most striking feature about this film is how it chronicles Bowie's aesthetic and musical experimentations that set the stage for his unstoppable rise and remarkable journeys through various personas and music styles in later years. Bowie’s creativity and unique vision stand as the overwhelming highlight of the film, revealing a young artist's focus and determination, along with his relentless pursuit of innovation.

What makes Love You till Tuesday exceptionally exciting and engaging for Bowie fans and music lovers alike is the opportunity to observe Bowie in his formative years. It offers a rare look into how an artist evolves, offering flashes of the distinctive music stylings and androgynous fashion sense that would later become Bowie's hallmarks.

The film’s visual elements and filmography contribute significantly to the overall mood. It employs a mix of psychedelic color palettes and monochromatic sequences that set a stark contrast, providing an avenue for Bowie's vibrant music and tunes to take center stage. The late sixties' aesthetics loom large in every sequence, making the film an invaluable relic of that era.

Overall, Love You till Tuesday offers a glimpse into how Bowie approached music and performance: not just as art forms but as vehicles for storytelling and self-expression. His charisma is palpable even in this early setting, foreshadowing the legendary figure he would soon become.

The quirky humor, the playful self-expression, and the youthful experimentation are what make Love You Till Tuesday a must-see, not just for hard-core Bowie fans, but for anyone with a curiosity about the roots of one of the world's most iconic artists. It's a fitting tribute to an artist who insisted on pushing boundaries even at the dawn of his career—a talent that's as much a testament to Bowie's integrity and authenticity as it is to his unrivaled creativity.

Lovingly packaged in half an hour, Love You till Tuesday serves up an incredibly sampling of early Bowie. It represents a fascinating window into the past, allowing viewers to watch a legend in the making. Watching Bowie at this stage in his career is like reading the first drafts of what would become a groundbreaking opus—raw, unrefined, but undeniably precious. This film is a documentation of the evolution of a prodigy, making it an invaluable artifact of music history.