David Bowie — Space Oddity
Album: Space OddityAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 5409
Length: 5:04
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Ground control to Major Tom
Ground control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground control to Major Tom (10, 9, 8, 7)
Commencing countdown, engines on (6, 5, 4, 3)
Check ignition, and may God's love be with you (2, 1, liftoff)
This is ground control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare
This is Major Tom to ground control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do
Though I'm past 100,000 miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much
She knows
Ground control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you
Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do
Ground control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground control to Major Tom (10, 9, 8, 7)
Commencing countdown, engines on (6, 5, 4, 3)
Check ignition, and may God's love be with you (2, 1, liftoff)
This is ground control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare
This is Major Tom to ground control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do
Though I'm past 100,000 miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much
She knows
Ground control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you
Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do
Comments (427)add comment
Bocephus wrote:
OmegaConcern wrote:
You do know that Major Tom is slang for heroin and the song is about addiction, right?
It’s clearly about space - there are so many clues. vinylbob wrote:
A strange thing to write, actually.
Very sad to lose Mr. Bowie. Much too young. Will schedule my lung X Ray today.
A strange thing to write, actually.
His knowledge of the subject of spaceflight is abysmal and I just can’t get past that. I generally like his stuff but this? It’s a buzz kill for me.
One of those songs that make me ask myself why I actually like it so much.
such a solid piece of music
I cry every time on this
I prefer Rocketman!
Saw a "band" of American GIs in Germany in about '73 that did a great job of this song. Unfortunately, it was the only song they knew all the way through. 
This will always remind me of the movie C.R.A.Z.Y by the late Jean-Marc Vallée.
Wonderful song, powerful scene!
Wonderful song, powerful scene!
This comes up 3 hours before William Shatner is launched into space! How cool and serendipitous!!
lovely copy of this song. The bass is strong and I'm hearing things I'm sure I've never heard before on this track. What an absolute God this man was. RIP.
vanillagorilla wrote:
I saw him do it in a concern @ Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts. First big concert for me ever. He opened with this... the music started... low... then raising in volume, curtains drawn over the staging... then BOOM THERE IS BOWIE singing. Very moving!
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
I saw him do it in a concern @ Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts. First big concert for me ever. He opened with this... the music started... low... then raising in volume, curtains drawn over the staging... then BOOM THERE IS BOWIE singing. Very moving!
Best segue ever from one verse to the next:
Can you hear me , Major Tom?
Can you
Here am I floating round my tin can
Genius!
Can you hear me , Major Tom?
Can you
Here am I floating round my tin can
Genius!
I once Met a Major Tom. I read he died when he managed to take off in a plane with a rudder lock still in place.
This needs to be followed by Elton John's Starman and Oy Va Voi's Yuri Gagarin for a near Earth orbit segue.
pxd wrote:
Are you sure it's not your head that's out of tune?
Great artist - crap version. Why play this when so many better versions are available? He's out of tune for half of it. pxd
Are you sure it's not your head that's out of tune?
BCarn wrote:
I was there too!
vanillagorilla wrote:
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
I was there too!
look after the king of R n R please
I was there too!
vanillagorilla wrote:
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
I was there too!
look after the king of R n R please
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing tra la la...
sajitjacob wrote:
I get your premise, but I don't get the joke.
This is a song from David Bowie during his 'still alive' period. Making jokes is how I cope.
I get your premise, but I don't get the joke.
Love The Mission: Unexplainable Stories into this song. Thanks RP.
This is a song from David Bowie during his 'still alive' period. Making jokes is how I cope.
DaidyBoy wrote:
Yeah, Apollo was a couple of years before my time, but as a space-nerd kid in the 80's, we were every bit as awestruck by the Space Shuttle program and of course devastated by the later tragedies. I was lucky to witness the maiden flight of Columbia. Next summer that would have been 40 years ago, omfg!
This is one of my ultimate Godlikes, taking me back to the time when this stuff was happening for real, and for the first time. It was fascinating and inspiring to us whippersnappers, not ignored like the jaded young 'uns view space travel these days. Strapping a convertible to a missile, indeed...
Yeah, Apollo was a couple of years before my time, but as a space-nerd kid in the 80's, we were every bit as awestruck by the Space Shuttle program and of course devastated by the later tragedies. I was lucky to witness the maiden flight of Columbia. Next summer that would have been 40 years ago, omfg!
This is one of my ultimate Godlikes, taking me back to the time when this stuff was happening for real, and for the first time. It was fascinating and inspiring to us whippersnappers, not ignored like the jaded young 'uns view space travel these days. Strapping a convertible to a missile, indeed...
Tamster wrote:
Can you say superficial ? You are kidding, right ?
Please tell me your'e kidding............. I'm betting you are still single.
If I had that talent I could look like, hmmmmmmmmm, let me think..........feckin' fuggly. And be happy with it.
He did fix his teeth, but that's not the first thing I think of where DB is concerned.
Can you say superficial ? You are kidding, right ?
Please tell me your'e kidding............. I'm betting you are still single.
If I had that talent I could look like, hmmmmmmmmm, let me think..........feckin' fuggly. And be happy with it.
He did fix his teeth, but that's not the first thing I think of where DB is concerned.
When I was a young cynic, I thought "your wife is already spending the insurance payoff with her new lad"; now in comparably bizarre times I am thinking...perhaps he found a better place?
vanillagorilla wrote:
I was there too!
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
I was there too!
BCarn wrote:
I was there too!
Seeing the Tubes and Peter Gabriel was pretty cool too.
That SO pissed me off! Vancouver got Gabriel and The Tubes and in Toronto we got Rough Trade. *boo hiss*
To add insult to injury, my gf and I managed to jump the barriers between the stands and the floor and managed to worm our way almost to the stage between Carol Poe's exit and Bowie's entrance. And then as the lights dimmed and the crowd went insane and crushed us towards the stage barrier, my gf had a panic attack - and we spent the entire concert back behind the stage in First Aid; missed the whole damned thing.
I was there too!
Seeing the Tubes and Peter Gabriel was pretty cool too.
That SO pissed me off! Vancouver got Gabriel and The Tubes and in Toronto we got Rough Trade. *boo hiss*
To add insult to injury, my gf and I managed to jump the barriers between the stands and the floor and managed to worm our way almost to the stage between Carol Poe's exit and Bowie's entrance. And then as the lights dimmed and the crowd went insane and crushed us towards the stage barrier, my gf had a panic attack - and we spent the entire concert back behind the stage in First Aid; missed the whole damned thing.
Insanely ahead of it's time
Possibly something to do with Commander Hadfield...
Hey_Porter wrote:
Hey_Porter wrote:
Years ago I was keeping tabs on a Best Songs of All-Time Countdown on a Toronto radio station. In the States, "Stairway to Heaven" or "Hey Jude" always seemed to take the cake, but in Toronto, it was Space Oddity at #1. Good for you, Canada.
One of my 64 10 ratings, I wish I could make this one an 11.
vanillagorilla wrote:
I was there too!
Seeing the Tubes and Peter Gabriel was pretty cool too.
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
I was there too!
Seeing the Tubes and Peter Gabriel was pretty cool too.
vanillagorilla wrote:
The Serious Moonlight Tour, supporting the Let's Dance album, was my first as a fan. So much to remember. Still in my top 3 concerts ever.
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
The Serious Moonlight Tour, supporting the Let's Dance album, was my first as a fan. So much to remember. Still in my top 3 concerts ever.
As many times as I've listened to this song, I have a nice set of headphones on, and it's the first time I really listened to the bass on this song. (Herbie Flowers?). Actually amazing-work!
this is one of the songs to calibrate a solid 10!
TerryS wrote:
Good import - whatever happened to David Bowman anyway?
Didn't he turn into a baby and float out into space towards Earth?
Good import - whatever happened to David Bowman anyway?
Didn't he turn into a baby and float out into space towards Earth?
обожаю эту песню! по настоящему фантастична
where is the 11 button!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo has another version shot in the space station great song
On_The_Beach wrote:
Good import - whatever happened to David Bowman anyway?
This is Major Tom to ground control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
Good import - whatever happened to David Bowman anyway?
a special place because this is the first song my son learned to play on the guitar when he was 7.
Of all the recent music biz deaths in the past year or so... I'm feeling this loss the most right now. What a unique talent.
vanillagorilla wrote:
Wow, I can only imagine !
Saw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
Wow, I can only imagine !
dsz wrote:
painful painful painful
Pfft
painful painful painfulPfft
painful painful painfulSaw him do it live in Vancouver during the Let's Dance tour and he sat on the edge of the stage and did it with only his acoustic guitar...will remember that forever
Years ago I was keeping tabs on a Best Songs of All-Time Countdown on a Toronto radio station. In the States, "Stairway to Heaven" or "Hey Jude" always seemed to take the cake, but in Toronto, it was Space Oddity at #1. Good for you, Canada.
It's the first time for me hearing three times a niner in a row after switching in - a great feeling 
coloradojohn wrote:
Yep, senior in high school, nothing but sports and females to focus on. FM was really coming into its own WBCN rocked!
Remember the first few times you heard this coming over the radiowaves as a kid? well, I still get chills when I think of EVERY TIME...
Yep, senior in high school, nothing but sports and females to focus on. FM was really coming into its own WBCN rocked!
This man gooder at music than me. Holy shit, the bass line... It's all so good.
a ten for sure....
Should I rate this highly because it's a very good tune — or downrate it because I heard it on FM at least 4,267 times, there is nothing new to hear here, and if I were never to f'ing hear it again I would not miss it?
This is Major Tom to ground control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
I'll see your 11 and raise you 14
Jota wrote:
11
There are songs that "10" doesn't describe: Penny Lane, Money, Satisfaction, Baba O'Reilly - and this one.
11
Convinced today that a 9 wasn't fair for this song. A 10 from now on.
xnavy: Good for you. Lucky dawg!
Most of the time I am glad that I do not live in the NE seaboard of the USA. But there are exceptions, times when I do wish I lived there. So much great art.....
(PS, don't tell my fellow Canadians I just said that.)
Most of the time I am glad that I do not live in the NE seaboard of the USA. But there are exceptions, times when I do wish I lived there. So much great art.....
(PS, don't tell my fellow Canadians I just said that.)
I SW do this at the Beacon in NYC - It was GREAT
westslope wrote:
Jota wrote:
...... at least
A ten.
...... at least
A ten.
Maybe the best of the best for David Bowie. It still draws me in even after hearing it hundreds of times.
I salute you Mr Bowie.
Proclivities wrote:
The moon is about 240,000 miles away, so that's about 42% of the distance. I assume this song was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, but "million" could have added more drama.
"we know major Tom's a junkie"
The moon is about 240,000 miles away, so that's about 42% of the distance. I assume this song was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, but "million" could have added more drama.
"we know major Tom's a junkie"
coloradojohn wrote:
Same here.
Always thought that this was about junk (heroin). Could be wrong.
Always happy that I do not like opiates. Bad enough with tobacco, coffee, weed,....
Remember the first few times you heard this coming over the radiowaves as a kid? well, I still get chills when I think of EVERY TIME...
Same here.
Always thought that this was about junk (heroin). Could be wrong.
Always happy that I do not like opiates. Bad enough with tobacco, coffee, weed,....
Remember the first few times you heard this coming over the radiowaves as a kid? well, I still get chills when I think of EVERY TIME...
Rotterdam wrote:
Rotterdam, hmmmmm, far too many d.........
Geez, how long can this last? Colour me muted. I still find this a stupid song. Hate it.
Rotterdam, hmmmmm, far too many d.........
Geez, how long can this last? Colour me muted. I still find this a stupid song. Hate it.
Forever !
Stich wrote:
Imagine how different it would be without DB
Such a great song, although it would be completely different without Wakeman's keyboard work.
Imagine how different it would be without DB
Such a great song, although it would be completely different without Wakeman's keyboard work.
Great artist - crap version. Why play this when so many better versions are available? He's out of tune for half of it. pxd
saw Lady Gaga's Bowie tribute on the Grammys last night
she seemed kind of corny
she did a dozen songs chopped into pieces
that's the norm for tributes
but just made for bad TV
Nile Rodgers sure looked cool
and sounded good
the best part was the beginning
when Gaga's face changed paintings for all the different Bowie characters
she seemed kind of corny
she did a dozen songs chopped into pieces
that's the norm for tributes
but just made for bad TV
Nile Rodgers sure looked cool
and sounded good
the best part was the beginning
when Gaga's face changed paintings for all the different Bowie characters
Steven Wilson performed this live as a tribute - go check it out.
Piel de gallina ! 10 !
This comes on, and you forget he's gone!! Totally surreal.....and still very sad....
so many people I've talked to liked him.... I don't think he will be matched again
SO F'N SAD. R.I.P. MASTER BOWIE!! Thank you for the timeless music. The body may departed but the soul remains.
Rest in Peace Mr. Bowie. Glad I was ale to see you in concert at the Exhibition Stadium, Toronot in summer 83 or so.
RIP, sir!
(Would you believe this was released in 1969?) Wow!
(Would you believe this was released in 1969?) Wow!
Ydesign wrote:
I thought the one-two punch of Heathen/Reality was pretty amazing so late in his career, long after most of his contemporaries were doing the nostalgia casino circuit, or worse. Bowie was the shit, from start to finish. We'll never see the likes of him again.
Sad loss...
always loved loved. the double vocals on this one.
I will no doubt get abused for my comment....
anything up to and including heroes is great, anything after is just a bit pants?
always loved loved. the double vocals on this one.
I will no doubt get abused for my comment....
anything up to and including heroes is great, anything after is just a bit pants?
I thought the one-two punch of Heathen/Reality was pretty amazing so late in his career, long after most of his contemporaries were doing the nostalgia casino circuit, or worse. Bowie was the shit, from start to finish. We'll never see the likes of him again.
Sad loss...
always loved loved. the double vocals on this one.
I will no doubt get abused for my comment....
anything up to and including heroes is great, anything after is just a bit pants?
always loved loved. the double vocals on this one.
I will no doubt get abused for my comment....
anything up to and including heroes is great, anything after is just a bit pants?
Very sad to lose Mr. Bowie. Much too young. Will schedule my lung X Ray today.
RIP, Mr. Bowie. You're immortal now.
This is why Natalie Merchant's cover is a zero.
Spent yesterday in mourning, sorry to see this artist leave this earth. Once again RIP Mr Bowie
Nothing other than godlike is appropriate I feel......
OH NOOOOOOOO!!
this was really cool:
A Taxonomy of David Bowie’s Many Personas and Their Many Imitators
New York Mag 12/31/15
A Taxonomy of David Bowie’s Many Personas and Their Many Imitators
New York Mag 12/31/15
scrubbrush wrote:
Then Rocket Man, by Sir Elton...or is that too obvious?
After the Gold Rush? By that Neil guy...
Then Rocket Man, by Sir Elton...or is that too obvious?
After the Gold Rush? By that Neil guy...
Somehow, I always have a time for this song, regardless, whenever and wherever, I stop and listen …
It is definitely my lifetime song…
Proclivities wrote:
The moon is about 240,000 miles away, so that's about 42% of the distance. I assume this song was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, but "million" could have added more drama.
Sometimes we need to put a piece of imagination when we listen good music . Imagine that you are 100 thousand miles far away from the earth. It's not a drama? Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do doesn't tell you something? If he can view the blue of the earth makes obvious that he isn't in the Andromeda galaxy. Think about it.
The moon is about 240,000 miles away, so that's about 42% of the distance. I assume this song was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, but "million" could have added more drama.
Sometimes we need to put a piece of imagination when we listen good music . Imagine that you are 100 thousand miles far away from the earth. It's not a drama? Planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do doesn't tell you something? If he can view the blue of the earth makes obvious that he isn't in the Andromeda galaxy. Think about it.
kingart wrote:
The moon is about 240,000 miles away, so that's about 42% of the distance. I assume this song was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, but "million" could have added more drama.
100 THOUSAND miles is not very far at all in space distance. That's about, or less than, 4 orbits. 100 MILLION would make more sense.
The moon is about 240,000 miles away, so that's about 42% of the distance. I assume this song was inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, but "million" could have added more drama.
Simply awesome....love to hear it everytime
Have a listen this earlier Bowie version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D67kmFzSh_o
This goes to show how differently an idea can be executed by the same artist. This older version is delivered with more of a casual lovey pop feel to it, and none of the punkish rockish edge in the recording we all know. It's not material for a great hit.
As for the video — I have to say all the literal-isms make me smile. From "put your helmet on", to Major Tom wearing "Major Tom" in large lettering, to the blue filter right on cue with the lyric "planet Earth is blue". Incredibly, we kept our appetite for the literal in our music videos well into the 80's.
This goes to show how differently an idea can be executed by the same artist. This older version is delivered with more of a casual lovey pop feel to it, and none of the punkish rockish edge in the recording we all know. It's not material for a great hit.
As for the video — I have to say all the literal-isms make me smile. From "put your helmet on", to Major Tom wearing "Major Tom" in large lettering, to the blue filter right on cue with the lyric "planet Earth is blue". Incredibly, we kept our appetite for the literal in our music videos well into the 80's.
Wikipedia:"On 12 May 2013, after handing over command of the International Space Station,but before returning home, Chris Hadfield released a music video recorded on the ISS of a modified rendition of "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. The video has over 25 million views on YouTube. The performance was the subject of a piece by Glenn Fleishman in The Economist on 22 May 2013 analyzing the legal implications of publicly performing a copyrighted work of music while in earth orbit."
I always thought that this was one of the most silly-*ssed song ever written and I still think so. So there you have it, a minority of 1.
11 Punkte
gruß an NANA
Outstanding.... whenever I hear it! :-)
100 THOUSAND miles is not very far at all in space distance. That's about, or less than, 4 orbits. 100 MILLION would make more sense.
Bowie - Space Oddity - his first hit, from 1969! I love it! This started it all for me.
one of my favorite song, perfect match with the movie also The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
I get that this is important, but that doesn't make it any less inessential. Don't mind hearing it on the radio, but there's a million tracks I would choose to play first (many of them by Bowie) if I was making the playlist
Genius song.
I just visited the only exhibition anywhere ( in the US) of 'David Bowie Is' at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art yesterday. Without any expectations, I was mightily impressed. To anyone who is within a reasonable distance of Chicago, I suggest you get there while it is still running. It was evident that other visitors were also positively affected. I confess to being rather unimpressed with him back in the Ziggy Stardust era, but over time his work has won me over. The show traces his career in artifacts, stage outfits, interviews, lots of video of performances, etc. (very like the R&R Hall). What might be a stilted presentation is absolutely not. They even have his coke spoon from the low point in his career, lovingly(?) displayed.
planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do...
still true today!
still true today!
........what was I thinking? I had only scored this as a 9 !! ....... its a masterpiece .....over-rated?? .....never!
skooba wrote:
Then Rocket Man, by Sir Elton...or is that too obvious?
How about Major Tom by Peter Schilling next? 
Then Rocket Man, by Sir Elton...or is that too obvious?
OMG,..so beautiful. Thanks for playing this one.
Right place at the right time!
Right place at the right time!
Boy, they just don't make 'm like that anymore, do they.
Edit:
I see that others have had this exact same sentiment! So much for independent thought.
Edit:
I see that others have had this exact same sentiment! So much for independent thought.
How about Major Tom by Peter Schilling next?
Thankful for Bowie and other ground breakers. They've made my life much better.
cmarcan wrote:
No we can't, sorry xx
CAN WE SAY OVER RATED! 
...and overplayed.
No we can't, sorry xx
I read somewhere where Rick Wakeman said this was one of his best and favorite performances. Every time I hear it now I listen to the synths.
iconic stuff
First song I heard on my first FM radio. Very pleassnt memories. Listen to and love a lot of Bowie, but this song is my sentimental favorite.