This is the number that started it all for me, as far as the creature Ziggy Stardust was concerned. I was aware of, and already impressed by, David Jones/Bowie from his one and only previous hit, "Space Oddity". Seeing Bowie and Ronson getting out there on BBC television's 'Top Of The Pops' was a pivotal moment in my life - not just musically, but it helped shape a 'different' look for me and millions of others, and a renewed individualistic outlook on life as it developed over time.
Out went the long lank 'hippy/greaser' shoulder-length hair, in came the spiky top, layered back and sides, and the constant headache of getting the 'spike' to stay spiked!! Impossible during the day at work, but, with a lot of effort and maintenance (and a little of mum's hairspray!), it was well-groomed for the evening down the pub, or out and about in the modest rural clubs.
Whereas my life during secondary school had been starkly devoid of "female company" (shall we say), all that changed with the monumental makeover which occurred - mainly thanks to 'TOTP', and THAT record! No. 10 peak in the UK in 1972, and No. 65 in the same year in the USA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starman_%28song%29
Like you, Lee, my teenaged years can neatly be defined by "pre-That TOTP" and "post-That TOTP". Musically anyway - as regards girls, it just meant I was knocked by a different group of girls.
@21schizoid See? We'll turn you in the end!
@ian38018 I knew what you meant. It's just that, for me, it was such a complete re-invention of myself as they knew me locally that something clicked - I have no idea exactly what (or how to bottle and sell it!), but it was quite surreal in some ways.
Mind you, anyone who aligned themselves with "Ziggy" Bowie in the early days came in for a bit of "gay/bi" stick off the blokes, and I was no exception. Got into a fight or two over that!
@glimmer9 My experiences as a 'Ziggy-ite'? Yes, near Bath Somerset. So, someone walking round a rural town with that strange spiked-up hair was not a usual sight. And we all know that some of us are uncomfortable with anything or anyone different - quite apart from the usual prejudices.
21 Comments (since 1 Jan 2014)
leejohnson
[YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5iOiLX5ppA Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/lee.johnson.2000/posts/10152129319744295]
leejohnson
This is the number that started it all for me, as far as the creature Ziggy Stardust was concerned. I was aware of, and already impressed by, David Jones/Bowie from his one and only previous hit, "Space Oddity". Seeing Bowie and Ronson getting out there on BBC television's 'Top Of The Pops' was a pivotal moment in my life - not just musically, but it helped shape a 'different' look for me and millions of others, and a renewed individualistic outlook on life as it developed over time.
leejohnson
Out went the long lank 'hippy/greaser' shoulder-length hair, in came the spiky top, layered back and sides, and the constant headache of getting the 'spike' to stay spiked!! Impossible during the day at work, but, with a lot of effort and maintenance (and a little of mum's hairspray!), it was well-groomed for the evening down the pub, or out and about in the modest rural clubs.
leejohnson
Whereas my life during secondary school had been starkly devoid of "female company" (shall we say), all that changed with the monumental makeover which occurred - mainly thanks to 'TOTP', and THAT record! No. 10 peak in the UK in 1972, and No. 65 in the same year in the USA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starman_%28song%29
leejohnson
@lynn200 Thanks for the New Year greeting earlier, and the same to you! :)
Axol
Yeh - I went a bit mad for Bowie when this album came out - great song.
ErnieBilko
Absolutely! Legendary TOTP performance! Him and Bolan changed my life completely!
lynn200
yep,yep...healthy 2014 to a great man of many faces :)
wolfrayetstar
I love this one so much ... thank you for posting this!
malp11a
One of my all-time favourites.
ian38018
Like you, Lee, my teenaged years can neatly be defined by "pre-That TOTP" and "post-That TOTP". Musically anyway - as regards girls, it just meant I was knocked by a different group of girls.
ian38018
...............erm. That should, of course, have read "knocked back" :-(
rickydicky49
Just one of so many great songs!
21schizoid
Well Lee, I keep sayin' I'm not a Bowie-ist, then keep liking all his stuff! 'Tis a classic though, is it not... :-)
leejohnson
@21schizoid See? We'll turn you in the end! @ian38018 I knew what you meant. It's just that, for me, it was such a complete re-invention of myself as they knew me locally that something clicked - I have no idea exactly what (or how to bottle and sell it!), but it was quite surreal in some ways.
leejohnson
Mind you, anyone who aligned themselves with "Ziggy" Bowie in the early days came in for a bit of "gay/bi" stick off the blokes, and I was no exception. Got into a fight or two over that!
21schizoid
@leejohnson Haha. Looks that way, Lee! :-)
glimmer9
good jam, was that in england lee?
strangelandic
Still amazing after all these years.
leejohnson
@glimmer9 My experiences as a 'Ziggy-ite'? Yes, near Bath Somerset. So, someone walking round a rural town with that strange spiked-up hair was not a usual sight. And we all know that some of us are uncomfortable with anything or anyone different - quite apart from the usual prejudices.
kompani101
Fabulous song that just gets better and better as time passes.