The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was released 50 years ago this week. It’s arguably David Bowie’s greatest album, and certainly the longest titled.* In these days of existential dread, there’s something vaguely comforting in the existential dread of its opening track, Five Years. At least we can reflect that this is not a new sensation, and that we’ve now beaten the song’s prediction of world apocalypse in five years by a factor of ten (and counting). Way to go humanity!
On the other hand, Ziggy’s not around to save us this time.
- I can almost feel a “Sorry, nope,” coming. Let’s just say it’s the longest title I can think of.