Tuesday, January 12, 2016

David Bowie: 1947-2016



Ziggy Stardust and the White Duke, rolled into one, have irrevocably gone where the white horses go. But their voice will keep on ringing in our ears. We are absolute beginners and we will always need our daydreams.

Donning Minotaure by Paloma Picasso, his favorite fragrance, according to his official website, in his honor today. (Bowie also allegedly wore Silver Mountain Water by Creed and fragrances from Floris, according to the two companies.)

16 comments:

  1. A surprise actally, I imagined some dirty musk was his favorite, but even here he was full of surprises.

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    Replies
    1. I put greater emphasis to Minotaure than what Creed says at any rate (they reserve the claim to say "so and so uses our stuff" when they send out their fragrances to celebrities)

      Delete
    2. I think you have a point.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11:40

    Nothing twice by Wislawa Szymborska (excerpt)

    Nothing can ever happen twice.

    In consequence, the sorry fact is

    that we arrive here improvised

    and leave without the chance to practice.

    Even if there is no one dumber,

    if you’re the planet’s biggest dunce,

    you can’t repeat the class in summer:

    this course is only offered once.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:06

      There is one even more heartbreaking:

      Cat in an Empty Apartment
      Wisława Szymborska, translated from the Polish by Stanisław Barańczak and Clare Cavanagh


      Die—you can’t do that to a cat.
      Since what can a cat do
      in an empty apartment?
      Climb the walls?
      Rub up against the furniture?
      Nothing seems different here
      but nothing is the same.
      Nothing’s been moved
      but there’s more space.
      And at nighttime no lamps are lit.

      Footsteps on the staircase,
      but they’re new ones.
      The hand that puts fish on the saucer
      has changed, too.

      Something doesn’t start
      at its usual time.
      Something doesn’t happen
      as it should.
      Someone was always, always here,
      then suddenly disappeared
      and stubbornly stays disappeared.

      Every closet’s been examined.
      Every shelf has been explored.
      Excavations under the carpet turned up nothing.
      A commandment was even broken:
      papers scattered everywhere.
      What remains to be done.
      Just sleep and wait.

      Just wait till he turns up,
      just let him show his face.
      Will he ever get a lesson
      on what not to do to a cat.
      Sidle toward him
      as if unwilling
      and ever so slow
      on visibly offended paws,
      and no leaps or squeals at least to start.

      Delete
  3. I've ordered a bottle of Minotaure today. Have no idea what it smells like, but surely Bowie could never be wrong?

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    Replies
    1. Smells masculine and great. I miss those 80s masculines.

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  4. Miss Heliotrope00:03

    One wonders what Jareth the Goblin King would wear...

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    Replies
    1. One does, doesn't one.

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    2. Miss Heliotrope09:05

      In quite some detail -

      Delete
  5. He was rather dapper and I could see him in a Creed or Floris. Bowie was one of a kind ... so very sad.

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    Replies
    1. Very dapper and elegant. He also had the figure for dressing very gracefully and made good use of it. Those polished, "short-form" fragrances seem to correspond well to someone who seems to give every bit of their appearance equal attention. Something far too rich would distract from the other aspects. Or so I think?

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. I wanted to add that you chose a beautiful song. I have never seen that video--it's wonderful. My favourite song of Bowie's was China Girl.

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    2. It's from the movie by Julian Temple by the same name: Absolute Beginners. Big during the 80s. The theme song was commissioned to Bowie and he made great use of it. This is the extended version video. ;)
      China Girl is a classic!

      Delete

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