10 Greatest Album Intros In Rock History
4. Five Years - David Bowie
There was always a fair amount of theatrics to everything that David Bowie put out in the '70s. From the space journey in the middle of Space Oddity to the amazing finish to the Bewlay Brothers from Hunky Dory, Bowie knew that his music was about something much more than just notes on a page. This was about telling a story, and Five Years set the scene perfectly.
As Bowie's alter ego Ziggy Stardust reached his true form on this record, Five Years acts as a preamble for what's to come. Set to a slow waltz time, we get word that the Earth is dying and only has Five Years left to live, as Bowie talks about the decay of both the planet and the society he sees around them. While the actual sound may be wistful, you can tell that Bowie is lamenting the loss of the world he once loved, trying to cram as many fragments into his mind so he will remember it once it's gone.
However, the character of Ziggy may be able to help, descending upon the Earth and occasionally blowing minds with his signature brand of rock and roll. Complete with a mammoth vocal performance from Bowie, Five Years is one of the few openers that could be considered on par with the operatic overtures that it's so unashamedly influenced by.