His own career is constantly revered, as he was a master at reinventing himself and creating new ways to leave people in awe. It was impossible to predict what he would do next, but he built a trust with his fan base that he always knew what would work. His words would come to mean so much to artists, especially bands like Arcade Fire. Their relationship with Bowie turned out to be an important one in his career and theirs. One collaboration turned into a relationship, and neither knew how much it would come to mean at its start.

The Story Behind David Bowie On Arcade Fire's "Reflektor"

Don't Steal The Song, Sing On It

Forming in 2001, Arcade Fire quickly made a name for themselves after releasing their debut album, Funeral, in 2004. The Canadian indie rock band became one of the most prominent up-and-coming acts, capitalizing on their success by releasing a few more albums in 2007 and 2010. As they began work on their fourth studio album in New York, they were met with a visit from David Bowie. This was a huge time in Bowie's career as his 25th record, The Next Day, had just come out, but having a relationship with the band, he wanted to see what they were up to.

In particular, Bowie enjoyed the band's song "Reflektor," which is the title track to their fourth album and the one he threatened to steal. Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Perry spoke with NME about the experience, stating: "He basically threatened us – he was like, ‘If you don’t hurry up and mix this song, I might just steal it from you!’"

Since Bowie enjoyed the song so much, the band knew they had the chance to do something special. Instead of giving the song to him, they, of course, kept it, but offered him a chance to sing on it. This was their opportunity to have their "Under Pressure" moment with him like Queen got back in the '80s.

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To their delight, Bowie accepted: "We thought, well, why don’t we go one better, why don’t you sing on our version? Thankfully, he obliged, and we were really happy about that." The song would be mixed, and Bowie's voice would be on the track, though it was only a little bit. This allowed the band to shine on their own song, but fans knew how special it was. Adding to its allure was the music video, which featured the band wearing papier-mâché heads and hunting down a disco man. This would win Best Art Direction at the 2014 MTV Music Video Awards.

David Bowie Was A Huge Influence On & er Of Arcade Fire

Their Relationship Goes Back Years

Before this collaboration ever took place, the relationship between Bowie and Arcade Fire began back in 2005. They met during the Fashion Rocks event, which was an annual charity fundraiser that integrated fashion and music. This event featured some of the biggest designers in the world, alongside some of the most iconic musicians. The 2005 event would become known for being one of David Bowie's last onstage appearances. Here, he performed three songs: "Life on Mars," "Five Years," and "Wake Up." The latter was an Arcade Fire song that he performed with the band.

This was Bowie giving the rising stars of the time a chance to stand in his spotlight. Together, they put on a tremendous performance, one that will never be forgotten. Bowie gave the band everything he had that night, including playing guitar. The band never forgot how Bowie treated them, and it marked the beginning of a mutual respect. This relationship lasted until Bowie's death in 2016. After the news spread, Arcade Fire took to their Facebook page to write a brief but powerful message about a mentor and friend.

This statement from the band truly puts into perspective how much their few works with Bowie meant to them. Arcade Fire has become so good that they are now a band inspiring others, thus it is incredible to think they may never have even existed without Bowie. Some people dream of simply meeting their heroes, but they actually got to work with theirs. Not only that, but he was the one who enjoyed their music so much that he was ready to steal it for himself, which may be the biggest compliment any musician could receive.

"Reflektor" Is Even More Meaningful Now

A Pivotal Piece Of Bowie's Legacy Resides Here

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career of David Bowie is one of the most memorable in music history. Whether it was his iconic alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, or his 26 studio albums, Bowie left behind a career that cannot be replicated. Unfortunately, in his later years, he was forced to move out of the public eye at times, but he remained as consistent as he could. Thankfully, due to his chance meeting with Arcade Fire in that New York studio, he was also able to have one of his final guest features.

This now makes the legacy of the band's fourth studio album, Reflektor, much more meaningful. Along with being a piece of their history, it is now part of Bowie's as well. If fans ever want to hear one of his final guest features, this will be the song they go to. What was interesting about this guest appearance was that, as much as Bowie commanded the spotlight, he truly played the background piece well. His voice still shone through, showcasing his exuberance and charisma while being able to do so even with a small part; it also demonstrated his respect for others' work.

For Arcade Fire, they have continued their career, releasing three more albums since this 2013 record came out. Their latest, Pink Elephant, arrived in 2025, helping to continue the legacy of the band that has now been together for over 20 years. Additionally, their story with Bowie remains a key highlight of what they have accomplished. For a band that was so inspired by him, Arcade Fire will now forever be a part of David Bowie's legacy, and it was thanks to the song that it was so good, he wanted to steal it for his own use.