10 Perfect Rock Albums That Are Incredibly Sad

Every artist is going to have to come to grips with their own mortality sooner or later. None of us are immortal, and there's going to come a time when all of these performers will have to bow out for the final time. It's never an easy thing to come to grips with, but the Starman spent most of his final days searching for his own peace on Blackstar.

Leading up to this record, David Bowie had been given a terminal cancer diagnosis that he kept close to the chest. During the time when most people would have spent the rest of their remaining time seeing the world or tying up the loose ends of their life, Bowie poured himself into his music, recording in whatever means he could with some of the greatest jazz musicians in New York City. Released just a few days before he passed away, Blackstar is Bowie reflecting on the persona that he has built for himself, knowing that he has to leave himself behind while also trying to keep some things to himself as he reaches the afterlife.

Across songs like Lazarus or the title track, Bowie doesn't really feel like he's scared of looking death in the eye anymore, looking to take the hand he's been dealt and push through it in whatever way he can. The Starman would never see what an album like this meant to all of his fans, but wherever he is on his journey through the cosmos, here's hoping that he's still staying true to himself like he did when he was here.