Back in January when David Bowie died, I almost altered my publication schedule in hopes of capitalizing on the attention his death was getting in the media. I chose not to because it probably wouldn’t have worked but also because it seemed a cheap stunt.
I enjoy David Bowie’s music and can list off a dozen radio hits that we’ve all heard many times but I’d be remiss to consider myself a huge fan. Much of his newer music, and by that I mean anything since the Eighties, while experimental and of great interest to fans, artist, and musicians, just doesn’t do much for me. I don’t deny his coolness, but that can only compensate for so much when the music isn’t appealing.
There is, however, one David Bowie creation that I cherish. When playing those silly hypothetical games of which three albums would you want if stranded on a desert island, I always include this Bowie masterpiece. As a concept album and rock opera, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is surpassed by only Pink Floyd’s The Wall and rivaled by few others. It is a fantastic listen from beginning to end and alone justifies all the praise Bowie received upon his demise.
I first became interested in this album after hearing “Ziggy Stardust” for the first time. This song is not heard on the radio as often as other Bowie hits so my first experience with it was a bit of a shock. How had I not heard this song before, with its fantastic guitar riff? I immediately explored deeper and discovered what has become one of my all-time favourite rock albums. And while “Ziggy Stardust” is a terrific song and started me on my Bowie journey, it is this song that is my favourite from the album.
Perhaps it was my yearning for a girlfriend for most of my first quarter century that caused this song to strike such a powerful note with me. Or perhaps it was my feelings of insecurity. Whatever the reason, this song meant a lot to me even if I was misinterpreting the lyrics terribly. To me it was about acceptance and comfort and isolation and loneliness. Yeah, we hear what we want some times. It remains a wonderful song so let’s kick of the weekend with “Lady Stardust” from David Bowie’s legendary 1972 opus The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
Studio Version:
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