“AMG” hailed it as “Not just merely one of David Bowie's best songs but easily one of the greatest album-opening songs ever, "Five Years" introduces Ziggy Stardust with a dramatic, powerful air, both musically and lyrically”. “Five Years” has been covered by many artists and bands including Anderson, Born Ruffians, Christian Beach, Dubious Ranger, The Enemy, Fish, Marian Gold, Golden Smog, Mo Kenney, Brian Molko, Camille O'Sullivan, Old 97's, The Outcasts, Deadly Sins, The Polyphonic Spree, The Postmarks, Techno Cowboy, Phish and even Frank Sidebottom to name but a few. It’s rumored that its origins came from a nightmare that David Bowie had one night in his 20’s, in the nightmare his then decease father told him “he must never fly again or he would die in five years”, this led him to write this very unusual piece of work and by retroactively displaying his forward thinking and how a head of his time Bowie was. On 15th November 1971 aged 30 David Bowie recorded his seminal composition at RCA Records with the aid of producer Ken Scott and performed with “Mick Ronson”, on guitar and piano, “Trevor Bolder” on the Bass and “Woody Woodmansey” on …show more content…
In the opening line "Rushing through the market square" in which our main character Ziggy Stardust starts to hear many rumors about a vague foretold disaster was actually referring to “Aylesbury Market Square” where David Bowie formed the “Ziggy Star Dust and the Spiders” band. As the story continues we hear the general populace’s apathetic view towards it. That is until a sobbing news reporter announces over the radio that “the world is ending in 5 years”. This then triggers mass panic including Ziggy Stardust himself. Which sends Ziggy into somewhat of a mental freefall as he starts listing off many random and miscellanies things. Eventually leading to explaining himself. Ziggy tells us that these things are not real but are his thoughts and memories that he now has to compartmentalize in his head before five years is up. With all this introspection leads him to realize he has taken many people for granted in his life, finally admitting to himself what is truly important. From here Ziggy talks of other people’s reactions to the news as he goes through many anecdotes during the mass panic including a girl brutally attacking small children until a man intervenes and restrains her, an injured soldier who has zoned out staring at the wheels of a Cadillac whist a policemen kissing the feet of