It was this blog’s 8th birthday yesterday and I got one of these anniversary badges from the WordPress people. Considering my long enforced absence for much of last year, the popping up of that badge was extra special, as at times I had thought my blogging days were over.
I always know when the anniversary is approaching as my blogging career started the day we found out about the death of David Bowie so it was inevitable I would write about him. He was only 69 when he died so we felt a bit cheated as he had become quite prolific over the last few years of his life producing new albums and creating a musical, Lazarus, which opened Off-Broadway in the December of 2015 when he made his last public appearance. Lazarus is a jukebox musical that was inspired by the 1963 novel The Man Who Fell To Earth which in turn was made into a film starring David in 1976. Lazarus continues the story of Thomas Newton, a humanoid alien who is stuck on Earth, unable to die or return to his home planet.
Of late, whenever I write about David Bowie I can’t help remarking on his incredibly good hair. Some of us in life are blessed with “good hair” (as my mum would have called it), and I am very jealous of them, as my fine baby soft hair has always been tricky to deal with and the fashionable styles of the day have usually had to pass me by. Bowie on the other hand changed his hair’s style and colour every time he invented a new persona. Who could forget his Ziggy Stardust “do” and the Thin White Duke’s (above), as well as his long locks of earlier years and the blond bouffant of the Let’s Dance years. Even at his death he still had a fine head of hair which is quite unusual for men approaching 70.
I mention all this as I have my final story to tell that relates to my stay in hospital last year. Before my blogging hiatus I had mentioned that my life in the sun (without a hat at any rate), had come to an end as the troublesome “sore” on my scalp where my parting fell, turned out to be a carcinoma, or BCC as they are called. I had ignored it for a long time and the waiting list to have such things removed is equally as long.
At last the date for the procedure at our local General Hospital came round, however, I was still an inpatient at the other large hospital in our town (see previous posts for which one). It took a bit of coordination, but I was transferred across very early in the morning, wheeled down to theatre and put under general anaesthetic, after which the offending bit of scalp was removed. It took me a bit of time to come round, after which I was given some lunch and transferred back to “my hospital”. All very efficient and seamless I hear you say, which is true as the procedure went well, except I now had a set of stitches across my scalp smeared in a Vaseline-like substance that couldn’t be washed out for seven days. My hair was also caked in blood at the back where it had trickled down during the surgery. I didn’t quite look like Frankenstein’s monster but in my mind’s eye I did, because there were no mirrors in the hospital. Every meal time I had to explain to whoever sat next to me what had happened, but I still got many odd looks that week. Finally we got to hair washing day. Andrea the nurse helped with that, and also gave me a bit of a blow dry which was good of her. They don’t shave your head any more thankfully when having such procedures but it’s definitely a bit thinner than it was, so the parting has had to move west a little and a mini combover has to be hair-sprayed into place. Even now, a few months on, I still have to apply chemotherapy cream (who knew that was a thing?) onto the offending bit of scalp every day. Thankfully Mr WIAA, with the help of a cotton bud, does that for me as I don’t have eyes on the back of my head, although we all know people who do!
Anyway, back to the music and the follicly blessed David Bowie. As I’ve written about his time playing the character Thomas Newton in the film he made in 1976, I’m going to choose something from the album he released that same year, Station To Station, where he played the character The Thin White Duke. I give you Golden Years.
Golden Years is apparently a funk and disco song reminiscent of the music on David’s previous album, Young Americans. The song also utilises elements of several ’50s doo-wop tracks in its arrangement. Lyrically, the narrator offers a companion the hope of entering a limousine, and being isolated from the outside world. He assures his companion that she will always be protected by him, and promises her a brighter future. Well, now we know, and I wouldn’t have worked that one out back in the day.
So, “What’s It All About?” – Who would have thought eight years ago I would still be tapping away on my keyboard all this time later. We had a bit of a scare last year when it looked as if I might not make a return, but happy to say I am just as enthused about blogging as a hobby as ever (or again, could it be the drugs!?).
As for having good hair like David Bowie, I think that ship has well and truly sailed, although I paid a visit to my hairdresser earlier on this afternoon and she did report back that there are short hairs growing in the general area of the surgery, so that’s a relief.
David Bowie was the first person I ever wrote about on this blog and I have revisited his body of work many times since, usually around the time of the blog’s anniversary. I think I was too young to truly appreciate him during the height of his fame in the early ’70s, but in later life I have come to realise he was the consummate artist, who could sing, act, write songs, create art… the list goes on. I also remember reading this week that he has been voted the Best Dressed Man In History. Not sure if some of his wacky Ziggy Stardust outfits helped or hindered in the receiving of that accolade, but he certainly was one cool dude. On that note I shall finish for today. Have a good weekend everyone.
Until next time…
Golden Years Lyrics
(Song by David Bowie)
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere
Angel
Come get up, my baby
Look at that sky, life’s begun
Nights are warm and the days are young
Come get up, my baby
There’s my baby, lost that’s all
Once I’m begging you save her little soul
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Come get up, my baby
Last night they loved you
Opening doors and pulling some strings
Angel
Come get up, my baby
In walked luck and you looked in time
Never look back, walk tall, act fine
Come get up, my baby
I’ll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years
Nothing’s gonna touch you in these golden years
Gold
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Come get up, my baby
Some of these days, and it won’t be long
Gonna drive back down where you once belonged
In the back of a dream car twenty foot long
Don’t cry, my sweet, don’t break my heart
Doing all right, but you gotta get smart
Wish upon, wish upon, day upon day, I believe, oh Lord
I believe all the way
Come get up, my baby
Run for the shadows, run for the shadows
Run for the shadows in these golden years
There’s my baby, lost that’s all
Once I’m begging you save her little soul
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Come get up, my baby
Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere
Angel
Come get up, my baby
Run for the shadows, run for the shadows
Run for the shadows in these golden years
I’ll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years
Nothing’s gonna touch you in these golden years
Gold
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
Golden years, gold whop whop whop
What's It All About? 
Hi Alyson, very sorry to hear about your recent health issues, but happy that u are back blogging. I’ve been reminding myself that I need to rewatch “Man Who Fell to Earth.” I first saw it at a Leicester Sq. cinema when it first came out in 1976, when I went to London at age 18.
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Thanks Rick – yes I’ve been having a bit of a time of it with health issues, but feeling so much better now and got my life back on track again.
I watch The Man Who Fell to Earth every few years and get something new out of it every time. An unusual movie but Bowie was very good in it despite his drug addiction at the time. How cool is that for you – watching David Bowie in a cinema in Leicester Square when you were 18. Happy memories of that trip for you.
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Happy blogversary, Alyson. Glad the hair is growing back.
Golden Years and Young Americans are from my favourite Bowie era / albums.
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You went for the portmanteau – I tried it but thought it looked odd. Maybe not so bad after all. Thanks for the birthday wishes – still reeling from the fact I’m still doing this all these years on.
I think everyone has their favourite Bowie era as he had such a long career. Interesting that Golden Years is from your favourite era.
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Nice one, Alyson. Bowie fascinated me then and fascinates me still. This is the versh of Golden Years that floats my boat. Not sure if it was done in his lifetime, I suspect not.
Anyway, I trust you’ve been wearing your “I’m 8” badge all day! J x
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I have listened to more David Bowie since starting this blog than I did in the previous 55 years of my life I think. A lot of it down to the coincidence that I decided to start blogging the day we heard of his death which had been the previous day. Every year on my blog’s anniversary I tend to revisit his body of work.
Not sure about that other version of Golden Years – think I like the original best but thanks for sharing it.
I should have worn an “I am 8” badge shouldn’t I and shared something from when I was aged 8, ironically one of my favourite years to revisit around here, 1968.
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“68 was 68, no matter what they say.”
JM
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Had to look that lyric up but I should have guessed – Sweet. I don’t remember that song by them but just watched it on YouTube and liked it a lot. From their rockier post-glam years I suspect.
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Hi. Do you have a favorite DB album? Mine probably is Hunky Dory.
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That’s a tricky one Neil as it changes all the time. Before I started blogging I might have said Lets Dance but of late Hunky Dory is up there as my favourite too. This time next year it might be something else – so much to choose from!
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Hi Ali, have been involved as a cancer carer twice in my life. Bowie was the main artistic inspiration long before the big C. I’m crazy as he’ll that he has left us. I’m thrilled Up The Hill Backwards featured in his last musical turn on stage. Long live life!
Xoxox
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Hi Nicks – Yes, he must have been so many people’s artistic inspiration as he was just so creative and talented. It was so sad when he died.
Long live life indeed.
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Happy Blog Birthday Alyson
Not long now until double figures and then the terrible teens!
Bowie was just a multi-faceted genius wasn’t he?
A total one off
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Thanks CC. It seems if you can keep going for the first couple of years then you just keep on with it ad infinitum although it was touch and go there for a while last year when I thought my blogging days were behind me.
A multi-faceted genius – exactly. Wish I’d though of that myself as it sums him up totally.
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Happy belated birthday, WIAA! You are a credit to your parents.
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Thanks Ernie. Yes, WIAA is a credit to his parents especially as he has an absentee father. His Mum has had to pick up all the slack and as I said to CC, it was touch and go there for a while last year whether he would return but happy to report that he intends to keep on going!
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I’m so sorry, Alyson, I thought I’d left a comment earlier only to find I obviously didn’t! Belated blog birthday wishes to you and congrats. Always a poignant time of year where the memory of hearing the news about Bowie is still very vivid, and then less than a week later my friend Andy died. I took a very peculiar and hard to explain comfort from his death being so soon after David’s – as if A would be joining him somewhere, so it would be better for that – considering I don’t really believe in all that stuff it was unusual, but I thought it all the same!
I’m so glad your scalp op is all over and I’m sure no-one else would even know you’d had it done now, especially after what your hairdresser said. I was at mine a while back when an older lady got chatting, unexpectedly, about how much she hated having hair – her argument being that it’s more trouble than it’s worth and wouldn’t life be easier all round if nobody ever had it?! Kind of found myself agreeing…
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Thanks – can’t believe WIAA is now 8 years old. Where has the time gone? As well as the music it has documented my life over the last 8 years and as with everyone there have been ups and downs. Going through an Up cycle at the moment so long may it continue.
That’s interesting that you got comfort from the fact your friend died at around the same time. I can see how that could have happened. Still feel as if David Bowie died far too young and age-wise, the way the years are rollicking by it won’t be long before I’m in the same territory.
As far as the scalp op goes they might need to revisit it as the margin left was only 0.3 of a millimetre from the offending area so a bit too close for comfort the consultant said. I go back in around 3 months where it will be looked at again and a decision will be made. Good that the hair is growing back in again where it’s at its thinnest though. Still very fine and baby soft though and even more so in the cold winter weather so I think that lady you spoke to was right – a lot of trouble – but I just couldn’t rock the all over shaved look. Very few women can although more and more are appearing on television sporting that look.
Never worry about being late in commenting, but you know that already. It’s tough keeping on top of it all as well as working on tough assignments!
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I’m typically late, but belated blogging birthday! And from the amount of lovely comments, I’d say I’m not alone in being happy you’re back and well enough to carry on doing this. You’ve been missed. Also: please don’t let your hair grow back longer than I can manage, or I shall feel inadequate.
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Thanks Jez and yes, I’ve had loads of lovely comments since I’ve been back, so much appreciated.
As for hair, like the lady in C’s comment thinks, we’d be better off without it because of the amount of work and haircuts it needs. Luckily I got off lightly with my op and not much had to be removed at all.
Thanks for dropping by.
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