studentjournalism

Greensburg Night Market 

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By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

Greensburg’s monthly Night Market only grows with each year its around, introducing countless small businesses to the Greensburg area. 

Once a month from April through December, over 140 vendors line the heart of Greensburg with food trucks, grills, art and so much more.  

“The Greensburg Night Market is a really fun thing,” Owner and founder of the Night Market Ms. Jessica Hickey said. “On top of our vendors, we have food, drinks, live musicians; it all really helps bring people downtown for shopping and having a good time.” 

Having started with only half of a block shut down and 28 vendors in 2019, the Night Market has become a Greensburg tradition; something for everyone to look forward to each month. 

Vendors come from all around the Greensburg and Pittsburgh area, but some make their way from as far as Washington and Uniontown for the event. 

GSHS Art Honors Society has a booth at the market, run by art teacher Mrs. Kelley Audia, giving students the opportunity to make and sell their own products such as art and jewelry. 

“We always talk about, as teachers, giving kids authentic experiences,” Mrs. Audia said. “They’re surrounded by professional artists who are selling their work, so they’re seeing what they could become while still doing the work themselves.” 

She encourages all students to participate, especially because they keep all earnings for themselves. The booth can be found in the parking lot along Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Along with being one of the many sellers, students also have the opportunity to help the market run smoothly. 

“The Night Market has always been an amazing place for me to visit, even before working there,” junior Theresa Schuetz said. “Working there is really fun, too, because I’m able to still enjoy the market on top of the tasks I have to get done.” 

Now, on the first Sunday of every month, Night Market attendees are invited to visit the brand-new Vintage Market. 

Photo Courtesy: Alex Newill

The Vintage Market, located at St. Clair Park, welcomes a whole new environment for locals, featuring vendors who specifically sell vintage furniture, clothing and collectables. The market also has local food and drink trucks to make for a pleasant time in the sun. 

“I wanted to expand the downtown Greensburg project,” Ms. Hickey said. “I knew vintage was becoming really popular; I think it’s just going to get bigger.” 

Although there’s not much space left to expand the night market, her goal is to continue bringing in new vendors with each season. However, the vintage market will only grow from here. 

“There’s a lot in store for this year’s season,” she added. “My favorite part is seeing all the people who attend, so I would love for even more people to come and experience something exciting in Greensburg.” 

Ramones | “Ramones” 

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By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

With the 70s punk movement on the uprise, the Ramones provided a foundation with their simple yet strong lyrics and three-chord sound; they live on with being considered the first true punk band. The Ramones took shape in 1974 following each member’s adopting of the surname Ramone and went on to play a raging 2,263 concerts over the next 22 years. 

The Ramones was the combination of members from two bands and a rookie in the New York City borough of Queens. The original lineup consisted of John Cummings and Thomas Erdelyi, who played together in a garage band during the late 60s; Jeff Hyman, singer of the early 70s glam rock band, Sniper; and Douglas Colvin, who had recently moved from Germany. Colvin and Cummings invited Hyman to join their new band, with Erdelyi looking to be their manager. As each member’s role in the band was solidified, the name “Ramone” was introduced by Colvin, inspired by Paul McCartney’s pseudonym: Paul Ramon. 

Hyman, Cummings, Erdelyi and Colvin went on as Joey (vocals), Johnny (guitarist), Tommy (drummer) and Dee Dee Ramone (bassist), respectively.  

Sporting their ripped jeans and leather jackets, the Ramones played their first CBGB gig in August of ’74, managing to cramp in over 70 more shows at the club before the year’s end. With their electric performances lasting barely 20 minutes per and still pulling in an incredible crowd, they quickly rose to be the faces of the New York punk scene. 

Bands such as The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, The New York Dolls and many more all brought punk rock to life before the Ramones became known as originators, which I feel is necessary to mention. Depending on how you view it, punk music can even be traced back to the 1950s with ruder rock and roll garage bands. However, the influence the Ramones left is still undeniable.  

After two years of earning a powerful reputation through intense performances all over New York, they finally recorded their debut self-titled album in only one week’s time and released it in late April of 1976. 

Coming out to be just under thirty minutes long, “Ramones” consists of 14 hard-hitting tracks that each go only slightly above or below two minutes – the longest being the seventh track, “I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement,” at two minutes and forty seconds. Although it stands today as one of the most famous albums of all time, especially for punk rockers, it didn’t push the Ramones up the charts – managing to only reach 111th on the US Billboard 200 chart with both singles falling flat upon release. 

Their music took the early rock music essentials and boiled them down to the basics; each song remained simple and comedic, but they were loud, fast and kept everyone listening, regardless of whether or not they understood the gibberish coming out of Joey’s mouth.  

“Ramones” kicks off with 20 seconds of their fast-paced instrumentals that immediately have you shaking your head and tapping your feet before hitting you with Joey’s iconic drum-backed hey-ho-let’s-go’s that have since become the band’s chant. “Blitzkrieg Bop” was one of the two singles that failed to become hits at the time, the other being “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.” Although it didn’t do much for them then, it’s now one of their most recognizable songs and is an iconic ‘70s punk rock tune.  

“Judy Is a Punk,” is a prime example of their repetitive nature with the first and second verse being identical. Its fictional lyrics follow two juvenile girls, Judy and Jackie, through their antics and joining of the SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army, a far-left American terrorist organization of the 1970s). The girls returned in the 1980 album “End of The Century” track titled “The Return of Jackie and Judy.” 

 “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” follows “Judy Is a Punk” and is one of my all-time favorites from them. By far the slowest song on the album, “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” is a straightforward love song written by Tommy to breakup the trend of I-Don’t-Wanna’s in their song titles. It features instruments you wouldn’t expect to hear from a punk band like tubular bells and a glockenspiel. In comparison to their live performances, every song on this album is slower than what their fans were used to.  

 In my opinion, “Ramones” was never topped. Like most bands, their debut stood the test of time and is truly their best work – however they do have other classic albums to offer, like “Rocket to Russia” and “Road to Ruin.” The Ramones had countless big successes, such as: “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” (1979), a film from legendary film producer Roger Corman; various iconic singles like “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?” (1980) and “Pet Sematary” (1989); and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2002.  

Unfortunately, as of 2014, all original members of the Ramones have passed away, but sequential members, Marky, Richie and CJ Ramone, still tour to this day. In 2003, “We’re a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones” was released – co-produced by Rob Zombie and featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, U2, Kiss and many others. 

I can almost say that you had to be there to fall in love with the sound of the Ramones – but, obviously, I was not. If you’re interested in punk music whatsoever, whether it be classic, ‘90s or ska, “Ramones” is an essential, no-skip listen.   

Pros and Cons of Teens Working  

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By Samarah Guy   

Photo by: Samarah Guy

With the rise of teenagers working, it is important to look at the pros and cons of adolescents with jobs.  

Working can provide critical life lessons for young adults. It also gives them an opportunity to further explore different career paths while earning some spending money.  

“I’ve learned a lot while working, like communication and time management,” sophomore Mariah Mann said. 

Although some may say having a job as a teenager can be very time-consuming, it helps kids understand how valuable time is and teaches them how to schedule plans around important events. 

Teens can learn things like responsibility, how to work in stressful situations and building more confidence while staying active and motivated. Working also helps them to create a good work ethic. 

The teenage years are the best times for kids to learn these critical skills. Because the brain is still developing, it is easier to consume and hold new information.  

“Working teaches you that it is important to show up on time, you learn how to take orders, you have responsibility and commitment,” guidance counselor Mrs. Laura Klipa said.  

Regardless of the benefits, there are still some downfalls to working during the adolescent years.  

“Kids tend to devote more and more of their time and energy to their job, so much that they start to lose time for things like school,” Klipa added.  

Having a job can be very time-consuming and may end up leaving no time for things like hanging out with friends, family plans or hobbies.  

“Kids tend to see their first paycheck and lose the sight that a diploma and doing well in school is really going to ultimately give them a higher pay,” she said.  

Many kids put off schoolwork because they are earning money and feel that school isn’t as important anymore. This hurts kids because they still need to learn new information, and they may not be ready to completely give up their adolescence. 

On top of not being motivated, having work immediately after school most days of the week may cause students to struggle with sleeping and keeping their focus on assignments. 

“Trying to balance work and school can be hard at times, but you just have to make sure you push through and don’t give up,” senior Demetrious Daniels said.  

Queen | “A Night at the Opera” 

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By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

Made up of Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and Freddie Mercury, Queen is no doubt solidified as one of the world’s most recognizable bands of all time. Their presence in the music realm is impossible to overlook; no matter your music taste, I’m sure you have participated in the stomp-stomp-claps of “We Will Rock You.” 

Prior to Queen, May and Taylor worked together in a band called Smile, which brought a large enough following to stick them on the map, one of those followers being Mercury. Upon Mercury’s joining the band in 1970 and their eventual name change, Queen performed live with various bass players before Deacon joined in 1971. The band played their first live show with the iconic lineup that July and went on as one of the most exciting groups in rock ‘n’ roll history.  

The opening track of their debut album, “Queen,” and their eventual first single, “Keep Yourself Alive,” caught the ears of visiting producers John Anthony and Roy Thomas Baker during the early recording sessions of the album. It prompted them to work with Queen, promoting them to a number of record labels through “showcase” performances before striking a deal with EMI Records and Trident and finally putting out the finished album in 1973. 

After the drawn-out process that came before their debut, they held a steady pace, releasing an album yearly until 1980 and then releasing less consistently before Mercury’s death from bronchial pneumonia, a result of AIDS, in 1991.    

All while playing minor shows on tours promoting their first album, Queen recorded “Queen II,” now with access to regular studio time. They took advantage of the tools at hand and earned themselves the number five spot on the British Album Chart. It featured their first hit, “Seven Seas of Rhye,” and helped to establish the layered sound that became a staple of theirs. Regardless of the complex yet fantastic instrumental passages and fantasy driven lyrics, and the overall boost it brought the band, it received mixed critical reviews; the Winnipeg Free Press called it an “over-produced monstrosity.” 

They quickly one upped themselves with the release of “Sheer Heart Attack” in 1974, reaching number two in the UK and going gold in the US; it was their first go at international success. The album features various hits, but most prominently “Stone Cold Crazy” and “Killer Queen.”  

Being fully welcomed by American fans as they grew with fame, Queen headlined tours in the US in 1975. Although they were quickly becoming one of Britain’s most popular bands, they were held back from living the lavish lives they earned because of their contract with Trident. They fought to break free from Trident’s management and landed in the hands of Elton John’s manager, John Reid. 

“A Night at the Opera,” at the time the most expensive album to ever be produced, was released later that year. Like most of their work before it, “A Night at the Opera” experimented with the sounds of various genres and bent the radio rules with songs like May’s “The Prophet’s Song,” and, of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” arguably their most well-known single. 

This album took Queen to an even higher level. It showcased each member’s talent and how the band as a whole was an incredible music machine. It opens with “Death on Two Legs,” a track dedicated to their manager before Reid. It brings an intense sci-fi sound to the album, but is then followed up with the soft, piano-led, “Lazing on A Sunday Afternoon.” The contrasting themes flow throughout the album. 

After Roger Taylor’s heavier track, “I’m in Love With my Car,” Deacon, the most in-the-shadows member of Queen, shines in composing “You’re my Best Friend,” one of the bigger hits off the album.  

Kicking off the B-side, the incredibly overlooked eight-minute-long track, “The Prophet’s Song,” was overshadowed by the singles and hits off the album, however it is where Brian May shines most. Although the A cappella segment takes up a large chunk of the song and can drag on for some, it is nonetheless a powerful and epic feature.  

Serving as a cushion to land on after the long ride that is “The Prophet’s Song,” “Love of my Life” is yet another all-time greatest hit of theirs featured on “A Night at the Opera.” It’s an emotional ballad that lives on through Freddie and Brian May’s voices, being the one song not sung live by Paul Rogers or Adam Lambert after Mercury’s passing, because of being dedicated to Mercury’s ex-wife Mary Austin.  

The closing track, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” was a shock to all. When recording, over 180 overdubs were used to accomplish the incredible operatic vocals that remain unbelievably recognizable today. The song may be one of the few to live on forever, having been revived various times, such as with the release of the (subpar) Queen biography of the same name in 2018, or its iconic cameo in Wayne’s World (1992).  

Regardless of your taste in music, whether it’s modern pop or an obscure rock subgenre, I find it safe to assume that everybody knows and loves Queen’s hits. It is undeniable that Freddie Mercury’s voice is known amongst all, hopefully including today’s kids. It could be hard for some to explore the songs that aren’t as widely recognized as others, but no matter which one is chosen and when, Queen will always bring the same electrifying feel.  

GSHS BotsIQ Finals 

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By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo Courtesy: Mr. Matthew King

The GS BotsIQ team had a smashing close to their season at the BotsIQ Finals Competition. 

On April 26th, GS’ “Smacky, The Spinner Bot” advanced three rounds in the winner’s bracket before forfeiting due to terminal electronics issues. The competition took place at Penn West California University. 

“The point of the team is learning how to make something from scratch; from the design process to finished product,” GS BotsIQ Advisor Mr. Matthew King said. “You end up having to learn through failure a lot of the time; it takes a lot of hard work.” 

This year’s group of students consists of only four members: juniors Samantha Hanawalt, Jacob Penley, Aidan True and sophomore Rocco Himes. 

The team’s goal is to build a functioning 15-pound combat robot for battling against other similar bots, striving to destroy or disable its opponent. 

Photo Courtesy: Mr. Matthew King

“We spent from the beginning of the year to about mid-February building our bot,” True said. “We each have assigned roles to make everything easier; it’s all a big team effort.” 

Preliminaries took place at Westmoreland County Community College’s Student Achievement Center and were required before competing in the annual Finals Competition on April 26th and 27th. 

Each student is ambitious for next year’s season. A new and improved bot will be designed and built with the help of the industry partner General Carbide and Industry Advisor Mr. Mike Bulebosh. 

“I think it’s an exciting, positive experience, and a really great opportunity,” Himes said. “Because it was my first year being a part of the team, I learned a lot while programming and making the robot.” 

Greensburg ArtsWalk  

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By Samarah Guy  

Photo by: Samarah Guy

On Saturday April 20th, GS students participated in the Greensburg ArtsWalk.  

The ArtsWalk is an annual event in Greensburg’s “Art Alley” where local artists and small businesses get to display and sell their work while enjoying live performances, food trucks, small activities and much more.  

“ArtsWalk is a collaborative effort between the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, Westmoreland Museum of American Art and Seton Hill Performing Arts to help showcase local artists and performers, while also generating downtown business,” Event and Program Specialist for Westmoreland Cultural Trust Ari Burkel said. “Many businesses within the cultural district of downtown Greensburg open their shops up to galleries, showcases, performances and activities that help advocate the importance of all kinds of art.”  

In the fall, students created their own individual designs and painted skateboards that are currently being displayed throughout the small businesses in Greensburg.  

The skateboards were auctioned off to raise money for two different causes: half of the funds raised went to The Giving Tree project (a GS tradition that helps students who may need financial assistance during Christmas time), while the other half went towards the art department for items like supplies, exhibition opportunities and field trips.  

Last year’s group of art students worked with partners to paint wooden chairs which were then auctioned off to raise money for the same purposes.  

“Last year we did an art auction of these chairs,” art teacher Mr. Darryl Audia said. “We didn’t make them go with the ArtsWalk because it was a month ahead. The local businesses supported this and said, ‘Why don’t we do it with something that’s already existing, which is the ArtsWalk.’”  

This year was the first year GS got to participate in the ArtsWalk. 16 students, Alexa Anker, John Ashbaugh, Sydney Dainty, Sarah Glowa, Josalynn Hayden, Adrien Isenberg, Laila Kerns, Paige Kline, Lucy McChesney, Chyna Moore, David Mori, Giavanna Rosensteel, Adrianna Scalzo, Kerrick Shaw, Tyler Shaw and Brad Skero were acknowledged for their contributions to the ArtsWalk.  

“Having my work showcased at an event like this was really cool,” Ashbaugh said. “Also, when we received our certificates from Mr. Audia, I felt honored to be recognized in front of so many people for my creativity.”  

The students were presented with certificates by Audia, after which they signed banners of their boards for display in the Art Alley.  

Photo by: Samarah Guy

 “I care very much for all my students, but it’s moments like these where I am so proud of not just their talent but also their selflessness,” he said. “It is one thing to make a killer work of art…that’s great stuff for sure.  However, it’s quite another matter to then go and give that awesome artwork away to benefit others. I have so much respect for our student skateboard design team.”  

The Clash | “London Calling”

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 By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo by: Kerrick Shaw

The Clash, nicknamed “The Only Band That Matters,” formed in 1976 and quickly rose to the top of the 70s punk movement, second only to the Sex Pistols. Swimming in the musical movement of 1974, The Clash was surrounded by bands like Television, The Ramones and The Damned, all jumping from garages to the stages. 

Formed by guitarist Mick Jones, the band, then named Weak Heartdrops and Psychotic Negatives, was made up of Paul Simonon (bass guitarist) and Terry Chimes (drummer). In search of their missing piece, the energetic and rough lead singer they needed, Joe Strummer left the 101’ers and completed the puzzle of The Clash. 

They were considered the most political band stemming out of the U.K., however they thought of themselves more as social, having focused their music on the hardships they saw in people’s everyday lives – serving as a look into the world of the less fortunate.  

Their explosive debut single “White Riot” and first studio album “The Clash,” both released in 1977, were kept on the shelf in America until their eventual, and late, releases in 1978.  

In 1977, Chimes had left the band due to their chaotic nature and he was then replaced by Nicky “Topper” Headen, who went on to play with the band until 1982. 

With their self-titled release considered too raw and disorderly for American audiences, their second album, “Give ‘Em Enough Rope” (1978), was overseen by an American producer in an attempt to make it more appealing for that potential audience. 

Regardless of their efforts, The Clash didn’t make their big breakthrough in America until the release of their third studio album, “London Calling,” which was released in 1979 in the U.K. and 1980 in the U.S. 

The album dips into multiple genres, stacking songs of blues and jazz on top of ska and dreary punk. Although the combinations may sound overbearing, they managed to make each song go together perfectly. To work around their controversially literal lyrics, “London Calling” displayed their growth in writing through hiding clever metaphors in the stories of each song.  

After reaching their definitive peak with “London Calling,” The Clash tried replicating the same feel with the following album, “Sandinista!” which came out in 1980. Unfortunately, it failed to spawn the same reaction. Their next release, “Combat Rock,” released in 1982, the last album featuring Jones as the lead guitarist, thankfully included “Rock the Casbah,” one of the band’s most popular songs today. 

However, they only put out one more, poorly received, album before disbanding in 1986. 

Although The Clash had a rough ending to their story, “London Calling” stands today as one of the most recognizable and popular punk albums, especially with its iconic cover: a photo of Simonon smashing his bass guitar. 

To throw a little spice into the album, some songs feature organ and piano (“The Card Cheat,” “Wrong ‘Em Boyo” and “Clampdown”), as well as horns poking through, especially noticeable on “Rudie Can’t Fail.”  

“London Calling” is essentially a greatest hits, only missing a few songs from their debut and future albums, such as “Should I Stay or Should I Go” from “Combat Rock.” 

Regardless of the many different attributes I’ve explained for individual songs, a full listen through is the only way of understanding the level this album is on. As per usual with the albums I review, this one is another go-to pick when I need an album to play at room-filling volume. In my opinion, although The Clash aren’t at the top of my list for the best punk bands, “London Calling” is one of my favorite punk albums of all time.   

Mock Trial Recap 

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By Samarah Guy  

Photo Courtesy: Mr. Zilli

GS’ Mock Trial team placed 3rd during the State Championships in Harrisburg.  

On March 24th, the team earned 1001 points by the end of the second trial, placing 3rd out of the 14 teams in the championships.  

“We were the only team in our district to go to states, and we had the third most points out of everyone there,” Mock Trial Advisor Ms. Kristen Solomon said.  

Mock Trial is an organization that gives students the opportunity to take part in the courtroom and understand how the court system works while also competing against other schools. 

“Mock Trial is a program where students can actually try to participate in a ‘mock’ trial and have an experience similar to a real trial,” Ms. Solomon said. 

The main goals are to score more points than the opposing team and to win the case with strong evidence. 

“They are given a case, and the students are either attorneys or witnesses,” Solomon added. “They also have to write open and close directs and cross examinations to present at the Mock Trial.” 

Direct and cross-examinations come at the beginning of the trial, providing information on the case. The performance and content of the examinations, as well as the attorneys’ performances are graded on a scale of 1-10. The opening and closing statements are also scored on the same scale. At the end of the trail, all the points are added up, and that number is the team’s final score. 

“There’s a ballot that has everything that happens in the trial on it,” senior Lea Kasmer said. “There’s opening and closing statements from both prosecution and defense, along with six witnesses who each have a direct and a cross examination on the ballot. The judges and jury will score it on a scale of 1-10.”  

Mock Trial helps students see and understand the court system firsthand. This group can help set students up for their futures in law, and it also helps form bonds. 

“To me, Mock Trial is not only about building cases, but it’s really important to have a relationship with your team and communicate with everyone,” junior Katie Shea said.             

FCCLA State Leadership Conference and STAR Event 

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By Kerrick Shaw 

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Morgan Ferczak

GS FCCLA members were rewarded for their efforts in the State Leadership Conference and STAR Event. 

On March 20th, Students were recognized for their achievements and proficiency in chapter and individual attributions such as projects, leadership skills and career preparation. 

“FCCLA means ‘Family, Career and Community Leaders of America,’” Dr. Tiffany Smietana-Lysell, GS FCCLA Advisor of 5 years, said. “It’s a leadership organization for grades five through twelve … it focuses on personal development with students while doing community service and planning for their future.”  

They participated in the STAR state competition, which stands for “Students Taking Action and Recognition.” 

State leaderboard placements are determined using a point system with 90 through 100 earning Gold, 75 to 89 earning Silver and the remainder earning bronze. The more points a student earns, the higher up they are on the leaderboard. 

Three students qualified for nationals, each earning Gold in their respective categories: junior Lisa Leeman in National Programs in Action, junior Karma Schall in Chapter Service Display and junior Brenna Kohl in Chapter Service Display. 

Photo Courtesy: Mrs. Morgan Ferczak

“It’s given me the opportunity to be more involved in the community, helping me with paying more attention to what other people need,” Kohl said. “We all try to tag team helping out in any way that we can.” 

Juniors Emily Ruggeri and Azreal Franklin earned Silver in Event Management and Professional Presentation, respectively.  

Along with them, junior Thomas Kohl was awarded for student timekeeper and voting delegate. 

All preparation and work that comes before the competition is primarily done outside of school, with their efforts being just as rigorous as what senior projects bring, according to Dr. Smietana-Lysell. 

Although everything is student led, the Advisors are able to keep them going in the right direction. 

“As Advisors, we act as guides and a resource for our student leaderships and officers,” Mrs. Morgan Ferczak, GS FCCLA Advisor of 3 years, said. “We work with our administration to do fundraising and events; we also make sure we can get in contact with our state and national representatives.” 

Students who made nationals will be attending the National Leadership Conference in Seattle this summer from June 29th through July 3rd.  

The conference is an opportunity for them to work with other members and Advisors from across the nation, as well as working with industry experts to further explore their career paths.    

“They did amazing, all placing Gold and Silver,” Dr. Smietana-Lysell said. “Azreal took third place in the whole state. … Karma and Brenna made second place … and Lisa got first in all of Pennsylvania. It was all absolutely remarkable.” 

David Bowie | “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” 

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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 21st 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.