# Five Years turns 50 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 20, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-years-turns-50/966525 "2022-06-20T21:38:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-years-turns-50/966525/1 "2022-06-20T21:38:32Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-years-turns-50/966525/2 "2022-06-20T22:29:31Z")
Our local paper noted the 50th this year of several albums. Ziggy was one. Others were: Can’t Buy a Thrill, Eat a Peach, Talking Book and a few more. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-years-turns-50/966525/3 "2022-06-20T22:52:11Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > It’s arguably David Bowie’s greatest album Arguably Rock n Roll’s greatest album. Amazing bit of work, even without considering the risks of producing anything like that in 1972.