2016 was a rough year on a number of fronts.

One moment that really took the air out of me?

David Bowie‘s death in January. He was 69 and passed away from liver cancer. Two days after his birthday and the release of his last album.

With a career that spanned five DECADES I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the impacts and influence Bowie had on music and culture.

In honour of his passing, here’s Thursday’s Child from his 1999 Album Hours:

[2018 Update: The initial link, with the described story below, went dead, this was the live version I found – you will have to trust me about the narrative below]

In the video above, Bowie explains the song was inspired by suddenly thinking of a book he’d loved as a 14-year-old: American singer and actress Eartha Kitt’s 1956 autobiography also entitled Thursday’s Child (1956).

In the spirit of the season, you might know Ms. Kitt for singing 1953’s Santa Baby. She also played Catwoman in the 1960s.

The title of course also harkens back to the old English nursery rhyme, which I remember my mother reciting to me as a child:

Monday’s child is fair of face.

Tuesday’s child is full of grace.

Wednesday’s child is full of woe.

Thursday’s child has far to go.

Friday’s child is loving and giving.

Saturday’s child works hard for a living,

But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day

Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

You can read a very interesting history and analysis of the whole Bowie song here. But for the purposes of today’s choice? It made me think of my mother and childhood, and gave me a reason to give a nod to Bowie before year’s end.

In that vein, given I have your attention, I’ll share one other Bowie video that I adore from one of my previous posts. Among other things? I love catching George Michael in the audience, just appreciating the whole experience.

Unlike Thursday’s Child, we are over half-way there. Not so far left to go! À demain.