Song of the Day: 'Absolute Beginners' (Double Play)

I still don't know what I did to have grown up during such an exciting time in music history, but today's Double Play certainly doesn't disappoint. 

 

First we have The Jam's "Absolute Beginners," a stopgap single the band put out between its albums "Sound Affects" and "The Gift," the latter of which wound up being their surprise swan song. I don't think the Jam has a song or video that better captures their youthful exuberance -- running down the streets of London's Shepherd's Bush with Bat-fight-type words and silent-movie cards peppering the action. And what 22-year-old writes lyrics like this?!

In echoed steps I walked across an empty dream 

I looked across this world, there was no one to be seen 

This empty feeling turned and quietly walked away 

I saw no warmth in life, no love was in my eyes 

I stared a century thinking this will never change 

As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me 

Too scared to break the spell, too small to take a fall 

But the absolute luck is, love is in our hearts!

I lost some hours thinking of it

I need the strength to go and get what I want

I lost a lifetime thinking of it

An' I lost an era daydreaming like I do

The song hit No. 4 on the U.K. singles chart -- the fifth of their nine Top 10 hits -- and is an absolute classic. 

 

This one might get me in trouble. I'm a lifelong casual fan of David Bowie -- Paul Weller was my king, who I think runs circles around Ziggy Stardust et al. -- with "Changesbowie" being the only record of his I ever purchased. But perhaps more disrespectful to serious Bowie fans is that "Absolute Beginners" may very well be my favorite song of his, despite its perhaps being a bit of a throwaway composed for a Julien Temple film very few people saw. Not since "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" has a song built to such a memorable crescendo -- the album version is just shy of eight glorious minutes -- one that still gives me chills nearly 40 years later. "Absolute Beginners" reached No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 9 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart, and No. 2 on the U.K. singles chart, which has long put the U.S. record-buying public to shame. 

Song of the Day: 'Under Pressure' by David Bowie and Annie Lennox

 

Who could forget this classic moment from the tribute concert for Freddie Mercury in 1991, the same year the killer Queen died from complications of AIDS? 

And watch them rehearse HERE.

The Me Festival

Forget about the Us Festival, this time it's all about you: I'd go with Blondie, Bowie and Diana -- natch! What's your lineup? 

There's a Starman Waiting in the Station

I know what I need to do this weekend. My friend Jimmy just got back from checking out the David Bowie exhibit that has taken over the Broadway-Lafayette subway station, and provided these fun photos. He writes: "The impressive thing were the lines to buy MetroCards. There are four different Bowie cards AND all of the rats at that station have Aladdin Sane lightning bolts painted on their little faces!"

From April 18 to May 13, wall-sized images of the Starman and art inspired by him will color the walls inside the subway of his former neighborhood.

AM New York reports that each piece of art is paired with something Bowie once said about the city and its impact on his work.

“I have a great time here: we can go where we want, eat where we want, walk out with our child, go to the park, ride the subway, do the things that any family does,” one poster says, quoting Bowie.

You also can learn about places that influenced him with a “Bowie’s Neighborhood Map,” which features places like Electric Lady Studios, Washington Square Park, the subway station and other locales.

Bowie and his wife, Iman, liked to take walks to Washington Square Park, which he described as an “emotional history of New York in a quick walk.” 

Codes on each image are there for you to scan -- Spotify will pop up with Bowie’s music and themed media to accompany the exhibit. The company’s multimedia format, Spotlight, will offer insight into Bowie’s life with anecdotes, tall tales, origin stories and mini-essays that are paired with photos and videos.

You also can have a piece of the takeover by buying one of 250,000 MetroCards featuring five of Bowie’s personas, including Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane and Thin White Duke.

The underground takeover is inspired by the popular “David Bowie Is” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum and is a celebration of the icon’s life in New York City.

Remains of the Day (12/13)

Slate: The 40th anniversary of "The Joy of Gay Sex," a used copy of which I found at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Ariz., when I was in college and just getting warmed up

The Washington Post: Is it healthy to drink 12 Diet Cokes a day? (God I hope not)

Dlisted: Omarosa is toast, escorted from White House screaming vulgarities

JoeMyGod: White House yanks nomination of unqualified federal judiciary pick who has never tried a case

OMG Blog: Here's the trailer for HBO's new David Bowie documentary

Outsports: MLB umpire Dale Scott retires, says coming out unburdened him

Greg in Hollywood: If I update my hottest men's tennis players list, this 6-5 Slovakian will be the first one added

HuffPost Queer Voices: New queer-inclusive series aims to "pop political bubbles," says creator

Boy Culture: If liking this slab of beef makes me a "chubby chaser," then I'm a chubby chaser

Paper: Punk Hillary Clinton portrait sets off bomb at Art Miami

Gr8er Days: Ken Clark's not-so-small but pivotal part

The Film Experience: 2017 Screen Actors Guild nominations are out

USA Today: Trump is "not fit to clean the toilets" in Obama's library or shine W's shoes

Yahoo Canada: Hockey player's wife says Trump made "aggressive" advances in elevator

The WoW Report: "Accentuate the positives, medicate the negatives" -- Amy Sedaris

Alan Ilagan: For some reason his ass keeps popping up in his Instagram Top 9 ...

Towleroad: "Great British Bake Off" contestant Tom Hetherington responds to nude photo leak

Tennis Life: Not sure if her child-custody situation has improved, but Victoria Azarenka has been awarded a wild card into the Australian Open, a tournament she's won twice

Daily Intelligencer: Now that Roy Moore lost, I guess I'm OK with Tina Smith replacing Al Franken (she wants to run in 2018)

Gay Star News: Ghana's new president might decriminalize gay sex

The Randy Report: Donald Trump's approval rating hits all-time low

Variety: Go-Go’s musical -- "Head Over Heels," produced by Gwyneth Paltrow -- targets Broadway for 2018-19

BosGuy: You know what they say about left-handed guys

Back2Stonewall: Watch the 1954 Liberace Christmas special

Brooklyn Vegan: 52 of the best indie holiday songs

Matthew's Island of Misfit Toys: Russian model was born to wear high-cut Speedo

Hot Cat of the Day: Take a cat nap with John Halbach of "East Siders."

Song of the Day: 'Ashes to Ashes' by David Bowie

The world has truly never been the same since this one exited Planet Earth.

Baby U Left Us

Sweet to see comeback queen Marilyn paying respect to gender-bending forefather David Bowie in Brixton, South London, today.

Song of the Day: 'Absolute Beginners' by David Bowie

Thought a lot about David Bowie yesterday, on what would have been his 70th birthday. Here's my somewhat unlikely favorite song of his, from the little-seen film of the same name. 

Rebel Heartbreak

Rebel Rebel closed up shop Saturday after 28 years in the West Village, reportedly to make room for Scotch and Soda's retail expansion. This one feels like a double blow -- a continuation of the hijacking of NYC real estate along with a twisting of the knife about the death of book and record stores. Everything about 2016 has been awful so far -- I think Paul Bettany may be on to something here ...

Song of the Day: 'Starman' (live) by Debbie Harry

Debbie did "Starman" the first night of the David Bowie Tribute and then Blondie did "Heroes" the next -- a song they have done over the years and was famously on the b-side of the "Atomic" 12-inch single ("Special thanks to Mr. Robert Fripp -- hey, hey!). I couldn't make it, but my pal Lori Majewski has the full story HERE.

Justin Vivian Bond on David Bowie's Unique Place in LGBT History

Well done, miss, sir, ma'am -- oh fuck it: JVB eloquently describes what I alluded to when news of Bowie's death came in. (Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day!) Read HERE.

Song of the Day: 'Changes' by Bananarama

Homage courtesy of a hacker. Read about Bananarama's unreleased cover of the late superstar's "Changes" HERE.

NYC Remembers David Bowie

It's nice that it feels like the whole city is in mourning.

 

Whenever I start to get sad, I just watch this and a huge smile appears on my face ...

Song of the Day: 'Boys Keep Swinging' by Susanna Hoffs

With my upcoming pilgrimage to Los Angeles to see this wonderful artist, it seemed only fitting to play her gender-bending cover of this David Bowie favorite.

Page 1 Roundup (01/12)

Loving the outpouring of love for David Bowie, who certainly made life easier for LGBT people and other misfits. 

Posted without comment.

Huh? Started to wonder if I had actually grown up in Alabama and got it wrong.

David Bowie Dead at 69, After 18-Month Battle With Cancer

David Bowie has died after a battle with cancer, according to his official Twitter account:

"David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief," 

The legendary artist was set to be honored in March with a concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Cyndi Lauper, Ann Wilson, Jakob Dylan, the Roots and others. He also has a musical, “Lazarus,” running Off Broadway. Hard to imagine Bowie being gone, just three days after seeing hundreds of shout-outs on his birthday. His contribution to the arts -- and to queer people everywhere -- cannot be overstated.

RIP, Ziggy Stardust.

From his son:

and ...

 My favorite photo of David -- not just because he's with Deb, but because he looks so sweet and innocent.

This was Bowie's last public appearance, taken Dec. 7 when he attended the opening night of his stage show, "Lazarus," in New York City.

Song of the Day: 'Young Americans' by David Bowie

I don't know how to pick a favorite David Bowie song -- "Rebel Rebel," "Fame," "Heroes," "Fashion," "Absolute Beginners" -- but this is a good place to start. Do you have one? 

Birthday Gif

Happy 68th to the great David Bowie! From HERE.

Song of the Day: 'China Girl' by David Bowie

It was hard not to love David Bowie in the summer of '83 with this, "Let's Dance" and "Modern Love" dominating the airwaves.