By Kerrick Shaw

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

David Bowie, born in 1947, was not one to take criticism to heart. He was able to switch personas as quickly as they came to him, allowing himself to express his creative mind to the absolute fullest. 

He managed to make the world more diverse and more accepting of those who were unique; with his flashy makeup, glitzy costumes and ambiguous sexuality, he inspired fans to be confident in who and what they were. Affecting the lives of hundreds of millions, Bowie literally – and figuratively – changed the world. 

The influence he spread throughout the music industry can be found within just about any genre. His work was sampled by Hip Hop artists such as A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy and Dr. Dre. He accumulated an incredible list of collaborations with artists like The Rolling Stones, Queen and Iggy Pop.  

He never stopped making music, continuing to record into the 21^st century, releasing “Reality” (2003), “The Next Day” (2013), and his final album, “Blackstar” (2016), just two days before his death from cancer.  

During the modernist era of the 1960s, Bowie released what’s considered the kickstart of his career, “Space Oddity.” Although it made its way to the Top Ten in Britain in 1969, it, as well as his first two studio albums, failed to make his name a radio staple.  

“The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” (1972) was what truly placed Bowie in the center of the dance floor. Using the boundaries of rock as a starting point and pushing past their limits with the flamboyant fashion and his seamless blending of genres, he transformed into what he is remembered as today. 

Although it may not be his best album in a technical sense, meaning others were more compositionally groundbreaking, none, in my opinion, sit on the same level as “Ziggy Stardust.”  

Kicking off with “Five Years” – one of my favorite songs of all time, let alone off the album – should immediately capture the ears of the listeners. It immerses you with its gloomy piano melody and simple drum beat and pulls you along as Bowie’s vocals and instrumentals build up to a sweeping end. 

The melodramatic feeling of the first track is carried throughout the album with “Starman,” “Lady Stardust,” and the fantastic album closer “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide.” However, showing the power of his genre fluidity, the album also had rockers of the highest order like “Suffragette City” and “Moonage Daydream.”  

Anybody can describe the sounds of the songs, but I see it best to solidify their greatness. Any time I’m packing for trips across the state, “Ziggy Stardust” manages to always find its way into my hands. 

There are countless introductions to recommend for the 70s rock era, but no matter what, “Ziggy Stardust” has to be one of the first. There is Old Wave, there is New Wave, and there is Bowie.