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.)
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)
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.
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?
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!
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A surprise actally, I imagined some dirty musk was his favorite, but even here he was full of surprises.
ReplyDeleteI 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)
DeleteI think you have a point.
DeleteNothing twice by Wislawa Szymborska (excerpt)
ReplyDeleteNothing 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.
This is lovely!
DeleteThere is one even more heartbreaking:
DeleteCat 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.
I've ordered a bottle of Minotaure today. Have no idea what it smells like, but surely Bowie could never be wrong?
ReplyDeleteSmells masculine and great. I miss those 80s masculines.
DeleteOne wonders what Jareth the Goblin King would wear...
ReplyDeleteOne does, doesn't one.
DeleteIn quite some detail -
DeleteHe was rather dapper and I could see him in a Creed or Floris. Bowie was one of a kind ... so very sad.
ReplyDeleteVery 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?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
DeleteIt'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. ;)
DeleteChina Girl is a classic!