rue David Bowie, 13th Arr., Paris, France

Yesterday, on what would have David Bowie's 77th birthday, the city of Paris unveiled a renamed street in his honor. The newly christened rue David Bowie is in the 13th arrondissement, between the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens and the National Library, and between two modern office buildings that include the headquarters of news outlets Le Monde and L’Obs. If you want to visit, the nearest Metro station looks to be Gare d'Austerlitz.

AP Photo | Christophe Ena

AP Photo | Christophe Ena

"Five Years" by Duran Duran

I posted the audio video of this song (previously here), but now here is the official video for the David Bowie classic "Five Years" by Duran Duran. The band released the cover last month as part of "Just For One Day," pianist Mike Garson’s Bowie tribute that took place on what would have been the late legend’s 74th birthday.

"David Bowie’s apocalyptic vision in the song 'Five Years' was written almost half a century ago yet it seems ever more poignant today," Duran Duran keyboardist Nick Rhodes said. "Although it is five years since David left Planet Earth, his vast catalog of songs remain as significant and inspirational as they always have been. Mike Garson’s heartfelt celebration show was a testament to the breadth of influence that David had on other musicians. It was also a display of the deep affection and gratitude for what he gave to us all."

The import of the narrative of this song always made me cry, but the fact that David is gone, and apparently we do really only have about five good years left, makes me weep...

http://duranduran.warnereprise.com/
https://livemap.davidbowie.com/

"Five Years" by Duran Duran

For David Bowie's birthday today, Duran Duran have released a stunning cover of his song "Five Years" from the "Ziggy Stardust" album. It is a lovely, faithful cover (with one exception: DD thankfully changed a lyric to "queen"), Simon's voice sounds simply superb (maybe better than ever), and never have the lyrics been more relevant as it seems we really do only have about another good 10 years or so. Yeah, my brain hurts a lot.

Wave bye-bye!

http://duranduran.warnereprise.com/

https://livemap.davidbowie.com/

BEAUTY: Photography--Paulette Tavormina

Seeing as Thanksgiving is tomorrow, let's look at the glorious cornucopia photography of New York City-based artist Paulette Tavormina. She creates still lifes and tableaux that are in the style of seventeenth century Old Master painters. I love how she skillfully captures with lighting, composition, texture, and saturated color the exact feeling of such an old canvas.

Artist Statement:

"I have long been drawn to the seventeenth century Old Master Still Life painters Giovanna Garzoni, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Adriaen Coorte. I am particularly fascinated by Zurbarán's mysterious use of dramatic light, Garzoni's masterful compositions and color palette, and Coorte's unique placements of objects. 

Seventeenth century Europe witnessed an explosion of interest in the natural world. Botanical encyclopedias from the period are records of the discoveries made on extensive explorations during this 'Golden Age' of global trading. Still life painters incorporated shells, insects, exotic fruits, and flowers found abroad alongside Venetian glass and Chinese porcelain. Their vignettes served as a tribute to newly discovered corners of the world. Worldly in their composition, these paintings also speak to universal themes as relevant then as now: the fragility of life and love, fleeting beauty and tempus fugit, the swift passage of time."

http://paulettetavormina.com

"Satie I" by Thylacine

A wave of gentleness in an empty world of distance. Thylacine (previously here) has reworked Erik Satie's "Gymnopedie I" into a lovely track he calls simply "Satie I."

http://www.thylacinemusic.com/

BEAUTY: Photography--Aurelio Monge

Spanish photographer Aurelio Monge creates tableaux and scenes in homage to classical painters and images of Greek and Roman gods and philosophers. I just love how he manipulates light and texture to accurately recreate such masterpieces.

His Beata Anima series is in homage to the painter El Greco. Notice how he poses his models and gets them to contort their hands into the exact poses seen on canvases from the Renaissance:

And he dedicates his Dei Filosofi series to "the great thinkers" like Plato.

http://aureliomonge.prosite.com/

"Some Wonder" by Jimmy Sommerville

Jimmy Sommerville (ex-frontman for Bronski Beat and The Communards) has a new release called "Homage," a collection of songs meant to evoke the disco days of the 70s. His first single "Some Wonder" starts off with the ascending strings from "Love's Theme" by the Love Unlimited Orchestra released in 1973, and moves on to feature a bass line that is right from pretty much every song by the hit-making super-group Chic ("Le Freak," "Good Times," "Everybody Dance"). And of course front and center is Sommerville's angelic falsetto, meant to pay tribute to the late Sylvester. For those of us old enough to recall the disco era (ahem) this should be a fun little romp.

http://www.jimmysomerville.co.uk/