It's often hailed as David Bowie's definitive album, and regularly listed amongst the greatest records ever made - so there's no doubt that The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars has been written about countless times. In honour of what would have been Bowie's 78th birthday on the 8th of January, I've decided to add my thoughts into the mix.
Ziggy Stardust was more than just two sides of vinyl: it was a concept, a persona, an intensely dramatic soap opera about the life and death of a superstar alien who fell from the stars in order to save a doomed Earth. Onstage, Bowie became Ziggy - he wore outrageously flamboyant costumes, blurring the lines between traditional stereotypes with his "snow white tan" and iconic red mullet. He was confusing to some, but inspirational to thousands, pushing boundaries and changing people's perception of what a popstar could be. Even the album's cover is a reminder of this. It was taken on Heddon Street in central London, just around the corner from Savile Row's bespoke tailors. Bowie's bright blue jumpsuit and knee-high boots signposted that something new had arrived.
To tell the truth, it's one of my favourite albums, and one that I always come back to - and as soon as I hear the opening drumbeats of Five Years, I remember why. The track begins with just the drumbeat, sparse bursts of piano, and Bowie's vocal, and sets the scene of a mundane world that will soon be destroyed. Over almost five minutes, the song builds to a fantastic, emotive climax, which Bowie gives his all to. Legend has it that his impassioned vocals were recorded in one take, and that by the end he had broken down in tears in the recording booth.
Other highlights include Mick Ronson's sprawling guitar solo at the end of Moonage Daydream. It's abstract, it's both rock'n'roll and something that transcends it, something that conjures up imagery of floating in the cosmos. There's also the classic Starman, which was released as a single in April 1972 and peaked at Number 10 in the UK. It's a ray of hope that has stood the test of time, driven by Bowie's 12-string acoustic guitar and a glorious string arrangement. Over just under 40 minutes, the album sails between foot-tapping tunes, soulful ballads and gritty rock'n'roll as it charts Ziggy's rise to superstardom and eventual demise.
The final track of the album, Rock'n'Roll Suicide, is one of my all-time favourite Bowie songs. Its simple acoustic guitar intro starkly contrasts the relentless power of the previous song, Suffragette City: as listeners, we quickly understand that the album is drawing to a close. At first we feel bittersweet as we are delicately guided through a life that's "been lived too long", buts soon the song soars to a rousing climax that parallels the beginning of the album. Propelled by tasteful arrangements of electric guitar, strings and brass, Bowie comforts us: "Oh no, love! You're not alone!" It's an incredible closing statement for an equally incredible album.
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars was originally released on 16 June 1972 by David Bowie, and should be available in all good record shops and streaming services.
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