Originally my intent was to write a blog celebrating and mourning the life and loss of the inimitable David Bowie. Then last Friday we lost Alan Rickman (one of my very favorite actors), next Dan Haggerty (aka Grizzly Adams), Glenn Frey, Dale Griffin, and Pat Harrington (aka Schneider). Not mention, for our northern comrades in the wilds of Canada the loss of Rene Angelil (Celine Dion’s husband) and Daniel Dion (her brother).
Am I wrong or is 2016 a bit rough on the male celebrity thus far? Sheesh, buckle up, folks
I mean, 2015 was no picnic. We lost Lemmy, Natalie Cole, Christopher Lee and, worst of all, Leonard Nimoy.
One of my very favorite bloggers is a lovely, independent, sassy, intelligent woman who only goes by her blog name, Wind Up My Skirt. In her latest blog she pointed out that we are all simply going to have to get used to this state of affairs. After all, we are faced with an aging generation of icons. Not only that, many of them are Baby Boomers and that’s a humongous generation, lots to lose. So, look for many more opportunities for a good cry and an excuse to raise a glass in reverence of those gone ahead.
This week’s song is a David Bowie classic, and one of my very favorite songs by him, Ashes to Ashes. I also adore Cat People (Putting Out Fire) from the movie of the same name, but that will have to be another Musical Monday. Ashes to Ashes came out in 1980 from the album, Scary Monsters and Super Creeps. It proved to be Bowie’s quickest selling single to date and topped the British charts at #1. The song resurrected the long lost character Major Tom from 1969’s Space Oddity. Bowie said that Ashes to Ashes was a modern nursery rhyme bidding good-bye to the seventies. A song for farewell. How very appropriate today.
Clearly, for most of us, the phrase “ashes to ashes” evokes images of a funeral, a memorial, or a wake. Ultimately, again, a good bye.
Good-bye, dear ones. We’ll miss your humor, your talent, your songs, and your performances. God speed.
Click here to enjoy the video for Ashes-to-Ashe
Lyrics to Ashes to Ashes
In such an early song
I’ve heard a rumor from Ground Control
Oh no, don’t say it’s trueThey got a message from the Action Man
“I’m happy. Hope you’re happy, too.
I’ve loved. All I’ve needed: love.
Sordid details following.”
The shrieking of nothing is killing me
Just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis
And I ain’t got no money and I ain’t got no hair
But I’m hoping to kick but the planet is glowing
[Chorus:]
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom’s a junkie
Strung out in heaven’s high
Hitting an all-time low
Time and again I tell myself
I’ll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh, no, not again
I’m stuck with a valuable friend
“I’m happy. Hope you’re happy, too.”
One flash of light
But no smoking pistol
I never done good things
I never done bad things
I never did anything out of the blue,
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
[Chorus]
My mama said, “To get things done
You’d better not mess with Major Tom.”
This post was written by Erika Gardner. If you enjoyed it, please sign up to receive updates on this blog. Or you can follow Erika on Twitter @Erika_Gardner or “Like” her Facebook page Erika Gardner- Writer and Storyteller. Check out her contributions to the BBB Blog.
Hell of a body count thus far. Very sad.