My Gen X Playlist: Lust for Life – Iggy Pop

Bloganuary writing prompt

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

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My career has been in risk management. My role is to anticipate risks, quantify their financial impact and then work with clients to navigate forward. While this process is helpful for clients, this also leaked into my personal life.

Upside: I try to be prepared for all outcomes. Even worst case scenario.

Downside: I try to be prepared for all outcomes. Even worst case scenario.

My mind considers worst case scenario. It cuts both ways. I figure if I’m prepared for the worst, the rest is gravy. I don’t normally stay on worst case, but there are times I may linger there longer than I need or want to. It may lead to pausing instead of enjoying the moment. At these times, I wish I could just let go.

Is there something that I’m scared to do? Nothing comes to mind at the moment, but I’m sure something will emerge as I continue to risk evaluate my daily life. If I could just let life happen, I would. But this is who I am. This is me.

On the other end of the spectrum is Iggy Pop. Iggy Pop co-wrote Lust for Life with David Bowie. I remember Royal Caribbean Cruises using this song for their ad campaign, which I thought was an odd choice.

Because of its chorus that can be interpreted as a message to live life to its fullest, this song is often used in commercials, including one for Royal Caribbean Cruises where the advertisement jumps from the opening line “Here comes Johnny Yen again” straight to the chorus “Lust for life,” conveniently omitting all the interim references to liquor, drugs, “flesh machines,” and stripteases. The campaign began in 2001 and ran for nearly a decade, befuddling fans who marveled at the incongruity, but effectively marketing the product, as Royal Caribbean was reaching out to a younger demographic and positioning their cruises as more of an adventure and less about the shuffleboard and buffets.

– songfacts

Here is me on this side. There is Iggy Pop all the way over there, on the other side. He is so far, I can barely make out his shape. Admittedly, I think I can nudge a little more towards the middle. But when I’m able to make out Iggy Pop’s facial expressions, then I know I’ve gone too far.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
He's gonna do another strip tease

Hey man, where'd you get that lotion?
I've been hurting since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah, something called love
Well, that's like hypnotising chickens

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before
'Cause of a lust for life
'Cause of a lust for life

I'm worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
Wear a uniform
All on government loan

I'm worth a million in prizes
Yeah, I'm through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
'Cause, of a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause of a lust for life (lust for life, oooo)
I've got a lust for life (oooh)
Got a lust for life (oooh)
Oh, a lust for life (oooh)
Oh, a lust for life (oooh)
A lust for life (oooh)
I got a lust for life (oooh)
Got a lust for life

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in my ear before
'Cause I've a lust for life
'Cause I've a lust for life.

Well, here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
I know he's gonna do another strip tease

Hey man, where'd ya get that lotion?
Your skin starts itching once you buy the gimmick
About something called love
Oh Love, love, love
Well, that's like hypnotising chickens.

Well, I'm just a modern guy
Of course, I've had it in the ear before
And I've a lust for life (lust for life)
'Cause I've a lust for life (lust for life)
Got a lust for life
Yeah, a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Oh, a lust for life
Got a lust for life
Yeah a lust for life
I got a lust for life
Lust for life [repeat and fade]