What I love about this song is the storytelling. In the first half, the astronaut has this wonderous feeling about being in space. Quoted line: "floating round my tin can, far above the world, planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do." Then in the second half, right after he says to tell his wife that he loves her, something goes wrong and ground control can't reach him. That same quoted line takes on a new meaning, because he cannot make it back home. He's inevitably floating in space until he dies.
Bowie is a musical icon. Ten yrs after this song's release, Bowie released the sequel to Space Oddity, called "Ashes to Ashes," which is a strange but terrific song that makes clear that both songs are about drug abuse. The video is still one of the most bizarre videos ever made. He has a bunch of great songs but I hope you react to Ashes to Ashes next, so you can get the full story.
I watched a video of John Oliver saying Ashes to Ashes was the song he’d pick if he only got to listen to one song for the rest of his life, because it has a little of everything you could want in a song.
The interesting thing is that the first song was actually not about drug abuse. Those were only rumors, and Ashes to Ashes is a play on it. This song was inspired by Space Odyssey and is purely about an astronaut. Major Tom was really just a character and not a metaphor. It's because of David's cocaine addiction in the mid-'70s that Ashes to Ashes has drug references at all.
Space Oddity was released on my eighth birthday in 1969 (the summer we landed on the moon). It charted again in '72 I believe. It was inspired by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Elton John's Rocket Man would be a proper follow up.
David Bowie wrote space oddity after seeing the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey in 1968 so it really was just a song about an astronaut. It chartered in the UK in 1969 and reached number 5 in the charts.
@@shanenolan8252 One of the few benefits to 'being older' is all the things you naturally remember. Helpful for quiz nights too. Cheers to you as well.
Bowie was iconic, he was different every time he dropped an album. Fantastic songwriter and singer. His catalog is well worth taking a long walk through. I have always really liked this song, thank you for reacting to it.
One of the most charismatic performers I have seen. He was so good with his audiences. I saw him on his last tour as Ziggy in the early 70s in San Francisco. Then I saw him with Nine Inch Nails, and then on his last tour, both in Portland. Watch him live on his last tour if you can find a clip. Any song will do.
Glad you enjoyed this Bowie song. Another interesting one, that is completely different but wonderful and shows his talent and creativity, is Lady Grinning Soul. Beautiful and different.
Bowie was ALWAYS reinventing himself. He became more and more the man, the myth, the legend. Please check the Christmas video of David Bowie with Bing Crosby doing Little Drummer Boy. The MOST unlikely pairing leaving one to wonder what the outcome might be. Thanks again for your reaction.
That's David on both lead and backup vocals. It's a metaphor. He'll go on to reference this song in future songs. Initial reaction people had to his early concerts was that he's a phenomenal vocalist. At least after Philadelphia area concerts,
Other great songs, Heroes, Fame, Dancing in the Streets, Modern Love, China Girl, Rebel Rebel, Black Star from his last album which was released 2 days after his death, is an amazing album, eery but amazing as he knew he was going to die. well worth checking out that whole album.
This song (and album) actually came out in in 1969 and yes impending first man on the moon came into play with either the writing or timing of release...or both. The video was made in ‘72 when he was in ziggy mode. Yes...Bowie was a great vocalist. For my money his best vocal performances are Lady Grinning Soul, Sweet thing/candidate/Sweet thing and Wild is the Wind
This was actually written in 1969 and was released around the time of the moon landing. The video was made in 1972 after he had introduced the character of Ziggy Stardust. It got to number 5 in 1969 and was re-released in 1975 when it got to No. 1
Yes Harri spot on as usual Try the next one with Msjor Tom on Ashes to ashes about 10 years later As Bowie sings " Sordid details following:: There is yet another sequel in Hello Spaceboy re mixed by the Pet Shop Boys . There is also the Fteddie Mercury and David Bowie song Under Pressure with the most sampled bass line of all time. Have fun. You will also like Fame ft a guesting John Lennon
David has had a huge influence on the music! I was happy to see him in concert for his Diamond Dog tour, which was his break from his Ziggy persona. At 66 I still crank up the Ziggy LP. In this song, his use of language and dialect is fantastic, which makes it even more appealing. Most important is the story! His story telling throughout his life made him a superstar. If you can't tell a good story then you won't go far in music. Hari, thanks so much for Oddity this morning.
If you want to hear Bowie at his absolute most tormented and beautiful, you've gotta react to The Drowned Girl. He was one of the greatest vocalists of all time. 😊
My name is Tom, and I can't speak for everyone with my name, but "Ground control to Major Tom" was a phrase I often heard whenever I did something offbeat or when I was daydreaming and someone wanted to get my attention. This song is one of the most recognized of all the songs David Bowie recorded. I believe it was recorded in 1969, the year Apollo 11 landed on the moon.
He had an amazing, 4 octave, range but it was the way that he could make every syllable drip with character and emotion, that really set him apart. 2 songs that really highlight his incredible vocals are, 'Wild is the Wind', just make sure it's the full, album version and 'Cat People (Putting out Fire). For the latter, make sure it's from the original movie soundtrack, with Giorgio Moroder. They're both amazing tracks and his voice sounds just incredible! :)
Harri, what a talent, and Bowie wasn't too shabby either hehe. One of the biggest songwriters on the planet, you've got to review "STARMAN ". Keep safe kid and cheerio from Glasgow.
The world's attention was consumed by the space program in the late '60s and early '70s. The first moon landing was in '69, and the Apollo 13 mission, which barely made it back to Earth, took place in 1970. Elton John's 1972 song "Rocket Man" was another song that centered on the astronaut. Bowie starred in a sci-fi movie called The Man Who Fell to Earth," also.
I just saw an interview, and this song was written with the idea of a Broadway musical in his mind. It was cast off, but Paul Anka re-wrote it, and it became "My Way", for Frank Sinatra!! How crazy is that?
Great song - such a mood and cool way to view it. My favorite Bowie song is a sad one - Heroe's! Another is with NIN on I'm afraid of Americans! Did you know about Bowie using SRV on his track "Let's dance" before anyone really knew him?? You can tell it's SRV on the solo.
p.s you should definitely check out "Rock n Roll Suicide" which has the lyric "don't let the milk float your mind" haha. Shows his voice really well AND is a great song; also "Look Back in Anger". I saw Bowie and he was truly amazing (Serious Moonlight Tour). I say it again, AMAZING.
I always figured it was about the spaceman (Major Tom) who when he was up there looked and saw what the planet was like ("Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do") and decided he didn't want to go back. So he just floated away.
For anyone who may be interested, I have a little DB story: Up in town from Devon, probably sometime around Christmas 1974, we were in a small gallery within the Tate Gallery specifically to see 'in the flesh' a very special painting called The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke. Freddie Mercury had written a song about it, and we'd been intrigued by it after seeing it reproduced on the Queen II album cover. We were looking forward to seeing more by the artist in a similar vein. But, disappointingly the only other paintings by him turned out to be quite different, and distinctly less interesting. Just as we were turning to leave, through the other door of this gallery rushed an extraordinary figure, who proceeded to follow our exact footsteps, making a beeline straight for Richard Dadd. He was emaciated, virtually eyebrow-less, gingery, and dressed in a bizarre combination of pale baggy tailored cloth suit and a huge brightly coloured ethnic shawl, with an air of extreme, hyper-intensity as if he hadn't a second to lose. Maybe he had a taxi or someone waiting outside for him. I had no idea who he was, but he looked kind of interesting! After peering intently at the painting for a few moments, just as we had, this Personage scanned the others by the same artist, and like us, appeared disappointed to find there were no FFM-S look-alikes. Looking about wildly, perhaps for someone who might be able to answer his questions, his gaze fell on us, the only other occupants of that gallery, in our bedraggled hippy clothes and muddy boots... just as my friend hissed in my ear "It's David Bowie!" Having been fully immersed in the Devon countryside for a while, I had no idea (or had completely forgotten) who that was, so just smiled at the Personage sympathetically, trying to think of something intelligent to say, either about the artist, or the sad lack of other comparable paintings. But the Personage simply looked us poor ragged creatures up and down in something akin to horror, and ignoring my encouraging smile, heaved a sigh, turned and dashed out of the gallery again, the way he'd come in, like a departing whirlwind... I seem to specialise in odd little chance encounters with famous rock stars (I'd bumped into Freddie himself only a year or so earlier, and had a nice chat) but Mr Bowie, in his off-kilter sartorial magnificence and coked-up intensity, was amongst the most memorable... :-)
Youi might try "Changes" or The Official "Life on Mars" video. Whoever else cared about "The Girl with The Mousey Hair"? "Heroes" written about the Berlin Wall, also, Lazarus , released in the week of Bowie's passing. In between, Google anything between 1972 and 2016 and you will not be disappointed. The man was a trail blazer for so many genres and images. A True Genius. ❤️❤️
Hey Harri! I hope you're doing well. Just wanted to say that I really enjoy your reactions, and I sincerely hope your subscribers go past the 100k mark soon. Peace and respect!
His last gift to us was Blackstar which was released two days after he died --- The song Blackstar video showcases the final installment to the Space Oddity saga --- It has many references of his past songs in the video and that strange instrumental piece is included --- I did some research and apparently Elvis did a song named Blackstar about when someone sees a Blackstar he knows his time has come -- another very interesting thing is if you listen to it played backwards ( there is a video on youtube) you can make out some odd sayings but it still sounds like a complete Bowie song --- Please save for your someday list because you must get a good amount of Bowie in your life but dont forget what Ive suggested and please react to it someday
Hello, My Friend. Great Reaction. though you cut thru' my heart as you paused at exactly the second my most favourite note I have heard since I first bought a record in 1960 in South East London. Rick Wakeman played the Mellotron on that note and it was so new that only he could "unlock" the method of continuously playing it. A secret he, jealousy, guarded so he got all the Session work until he became one of the 2 greatest organists in the World with Keith Emerson. I remember EXACTLY where I was when I first heard this. It was at Killyon Road, Clapham when 4 of my Grammar School friends spent the day in 1969 round our friend's house. 52 years ago...Those years have flashed by...
he wrote this in 1969 the video was made in 1972 when he reached success and they published this song again. he has so many songs where he showed to be a great vocalist more than in this song.
Love this - but mostly thought I would drop by and suggest another artist for you, Phil Ochs for his many songs but mostly for The Power and The Glory, which I would love to have as America's anthem.
It's about drugs, using space travel as a metaphor; the brilliant double meaning in the line "now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare", is a clue. In a 1984 song, ashes to ashes, Bowie actually says: "we know Major Tom's a junkie!"
Well interesting take on the meaning of this song but to me (and I'm listen to this song since it first came out), I simply think it's about an astronaut who goes into space for the first time and once he gets up there sees the beauty of what he's looking at and decides that he does not want to return to Earth!!!
This originally came out in 69 and was a hit in the UK but didn't become a hit in the US till 1973. Bowie has his ziggy stardust makeup on in the video so he must of recorded the video around 73. I think it was inspired by the 69 moon landing.
You should check out the second version, Bowie re-recorded this song in 1980 for the Kenny Everett show, in the style of John Lennon’s Mother. It’s Bowie’s tribute to Lennon, who died a few weeks earlier. The video is on CZcams and uses some of the sets from the Ashes to Ashes video. Well worth your time!
Btw, this was released in 1969, just before the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Not in 1972. This is a video made at the time of Ziggy, as there was renewed interest in his earlier work. :)
*Harri* So....... this was actually recorded and released in 1969, oddly timed closely with the landing on the moon, July 20th 1969.! You touched on this but Bowie was stoned and feeling very removed from the world around him when he wrote this.! Lastly *Major Tom* was something as Bowie said in several interviews throughout his life, *Some what of a touchstone he used and revisted over the following decades* Thought you would be interested in the behind it all look my friend... David ...
Harry. Here's a band no one has reacted to. Renaissance..check out Annie Haslam singing "ocean gypsy". She has a 4 octave range on her voice. Find 'live at Carnegie hall" and the song of sheherazade. Enjoy
Harry -- Late to this party (5/24), but -- Folks can interpret this imaginative song's meaning in many metaphorical ways. But FYI: At the time -- 1972 -- the title made most of us think of the famous 1968 sci-fi film "2001: A Space Odyssey." (HaHa: 2001 seemed so futuristic.) And people had a general fascination with astronauts & space travel (it was still pretty new and revolutionary) -- so I always took it as a story of a literal astronaut, Major Tom. Same with Elton John's "Rocketman." Maybe I've been TOO literal. Just a thought. Peace out!
Oh, Harri - "Space Oddity" was a take on "2001: a Space ODYSSEY" ( a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay was written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, and was inspired by Clarke's 1951 short story "The Sentinel" and other short stories by Clarke) - lol - pretty sure you have seen - or at least heard of it -- anyway... carry on...
Love watching your reactions, your facial expressions just crack me up sometimes, I love it! David Bowie's voice is so unique you can't help but listen to him sing, it just draws you in somehow. I don't mean to get off subject and I know you have a huge list of suggestions and requests to get to so I will be patient as long as necessary because I love watching all of your reactions but I just didn't want you to forget that you promised me you'd also do "Knockin on Heaven's Door" by Guns & Roses. I know that's off topic from this video but hopefully that's still ok lol. But don't think I'm rushing you or getting impatient, that's not at all the case, I enjoy every reaction you post, but I know how easy it could be with all the requests that you've probably got flooding in each time you post a new video, to forget one from awhile ago so I thought I'd just mention it so it would be fresh in your mind again lol. Thanks for another great post, keep em coming and I will keep watching!
This song coincided with the Apollo 11 launch, just to give a historical perspective--1969 actually. That video was made in 1972. There's another video of this song that was made when it was released: czcams.com/video/tRMZ_5WYmCg/video.html
Ok......David Bowie was the master of reinventing himself! Now.....weeks ago you said you were THEN going to do George Harrison " All Things Must Pass"..... which Still hasn't happened!!! Please.....also do "Beware of Darkness" & "Isn't it a Pity." Also.....on a different note, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Heart performing "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Led Zeppelin, & Adam Lambert performing "Believe" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Cher!!!! Two phenomenal performances that wond disappoint!!!
@@HarriBestReactions Here's a reminder...... George Harrison: "All Things Must Pass", "Beware of Darkness", "Isn't it a Pity".........along with Adam Lambert performing"Believe" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Cher, & Heart performing "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Led Zeppelin! You'll love them all!!
There are 2 different studio versions. They are the same song but slightly different. The original version is from July 1969. Then the remade single version from 1972. I love the 1972 version better than the 1969 LP version.
You basically can't go wrong with either Hunky Dory ("Queen Bitch" is quite possibly my favorite Bowie of them all) or Ziggy Stardust. They're both phenomenal albums.
How to make the sound louder Right click Speaker icon in task bar by the clock and go to OPEN SOUND SETTINGS (Windows 10) Click Sound Control Panel at the RIGHT Double Click (checked) SPEAKERS and open ENHANCEMENT TAB Check Loudness Equalization/Apply/OK It will be much louder but it will effect the studio overall feel on some songs I use it on most reactions but not needed so much on original videos. Hope it helps.
I think its safe to say he was inspired by the moon landings- the first was only about 2 years before he wrote this. His whole ziggy startdust persona and the space related songs surely came from how big a deal all the nasa stuff was at that time. p.s I think you mean astronomy- don't ever ask astrophysicist or astronaut about your star sign or what got them into astrology please lol.
Actually, the song was released 9 days before the 1st moon lading in '69. Bowie said he was inspired by Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey (thus Space Oddity). It was released again a few years later.
@@robertsaul234 Well, that was still in the middle of all the stuff nasa was doing leading up to the landing- so even if he said 2001 enspired it, im still gonna say the moonrace was a part of inspring ziggy and his songs.
@04:17 _Ground Control to Major Tom your circuit's dead. Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you.. Here I'm floating 'round my Tin Can. Far above the moon. Planet eatrh is *blue,* & there's nothing I can do._ Bowie wrote this song in the peak hype of 1st moon landing in 1969. Why so blue? & why did major Tom commit suicide? Bowie couldn't contemplate the astronomical cost of moon missions without picturing the *endless wars, pollution, poverty & hunger plaguing the blue earth* with no solution sought. When I visited Moscow in 1990 I saw the same sentiment in a cartoon in the Russian newspaper Pravda. A toon of 2 astronauts on an old horse cart, being driven to their huge shiny mission rocket.
THE STARS LOOK VERY DIFFERENT TODAY..R.I.P. DAVID..THANKS FOR ALL YOU GAVE US..GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
What I love about this song is the storytelling. In the first half, the astronaut has this wonderous feeling about being in space.
Quoted line: "floating round my tin can, far above the world, planet earth is blue and there's nothing I can do."
Then in the second half, right after he says to tell his wife that he loves her, something goes wrong and ground control can't reach him. That same quoted line takes on a new meaning, because he cannot make it back home. He's inevitably floating in space until he dies.
Bowie is a musical icon. Ten yrs after this song's release, Bowie released the sequel to Space Oddity, called "Ashes to Ashes," which is a strange but terrific song that makes clear that both songs are about drug abuse. The video is still one of the most bizarre videos ever made. He has a bunch of great songs but I hope you react to Ashes to Ashes next, so you can get the full story.
I watched a video of John Oliver saying Ashes to Ashes was the song he’d pick if he only got to listen to one song for the rest of his life, because it has a little of everything you could want in a song.
Absolutely. Ashes to Ashes next please pal.
The interesting thing is that the first song was actually not about drug abuse. Those were only rumors, and Ashes to Ashes is a play on it. This song was inspired by Space Odyssey and is purely about an astronaut. Major Tom was really just a character and not a metaphor. It's because of David's cocaine addiction in the mid-'70s that Ashes to Ashes has drug references at all.
Ashes to Ashes is my favorite Bowie song. Hope Harri reacts to it next
The "Ashes To Ashes" video also has the singer Steve Strange in it... he was the lead singer of "Visage"
Space Oddity was released on my eighth birthday in 1969 (the summer we landed on the moon). It charted again in '72 I believe. It was inspired by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Elton John's Rocket Man would be a proper follow up.
I was ten! Hello there!
@@BetterGreta13 👋✌
I was seven when it was released.
@@yohannbiimu 🎂✌
Even more of a "proper follow up" is Peter Schilling's 1983 hit song: "Major Tom."
David Bowie wrote space oddity after seeing the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey in 1968 so it really was just a song about an astronaut. It chartered in the UK in 1969 and reached number 5 in the charts.
I believe the BBC played it as part of the coverage of the moon landing
@@shanenolan8252 They did.
@@davidcopson5800 cheers David
@@shanenolan8252 One of the few benefits to 'being older' is all the things you naturally remember. Helpful for quiz nights too. Cheers to you as well.
@@davidcopson5800 i hear you , love a good quiz , my dad and i go regularly enjoy your Sunday David
Bowie has a unique phenomenal vocals. Heroes album and that song hooked me on Bowie. One of the most influential artists on earth. Thanks.
the rise and fall of ziggy stardust and the spiders from mars is one of the best albums of all time
@@duff0120 Yes that one is a good one. Out of them all, Heroes is still my favorite album.
Bowie was iconic, he was different every time he dropped an album. Fantastic songwriter and singer. His catalog is well worth taking a long walk through. I have always really liked this song, thank you for reacting to it.
Fame, Rebel Rebel etc loads of good stuff, his music was always around growing up.
I believe that Stanley Kubrick's *2001: A Space Odyssey* (1968) influenced Bowie to create this song.
One of the most charismatic performers I have seen. He was so good with his audiences. I saw him on his last tour as Ziggy in the early 70s in San Francisco. Then I saw him with Nine Inch Nails, and then on his last tour, both in Portland. Watch him live on his last tour if you can find a clip. Any song will do.
Glad you enjoyed this Bowie song. Another interesting one, that is completely different but wonderful and shows his talent and creativity, is Lady Grinning Soul. Beautiful and different.
Bowie was ALWAYS reinventing himself. He became more and more the man, the myth, the legend. Please check the Christmas video of David Bowie with Bing Crosby doing Little Drummer Boy. The MOST unlikely pairing leaving one to wonder what the outcome might be. Thanks again for your reaction.
Try Bowie's 'Wild is the Wind'. It is reputedly the song that convinced Bowie himself that he could really sing.
One of my favourites of his - Just beautiful
That's David on both lead and backup vocals. It's a metaphor. He'll go on to reference this song in future songs. Initial reaction people had to his early concerts was that he's a phenomenal vocalist. At least after Philadelphia area concerts,
check him out in the movie "The Man That Fell To Earth" This song, Space Oddity, was released in 1969
Those harmonies are himself with himself..dubbing in. He is one of the all time great artists.
❤R.I.P.. I love David Bowie.
I think this is one of the best David Bowie songs. Great! 🎸🎶🎤🎹🎧💕👍
Other great songs, Heroes, Fame, Dancing in the Streets, Modern Love, China Girl, Rebel Rebel, Black Star from his last album which was released 2 days after his death, is an amazing album, eery but amazing as he knew he was going to die. well worth checking out that whole album.
This song (and album) actually came out in in 1969 and yes impending first man on the moon came into play with either the writing or timing of release...or both. The video was made in ‘72 when he was in ziggy mode. Yes...Bowie was a great vocalist. For my money his best vocal performances are Lady Grinning Soul, Sweet thing/candidate/Sweet thing and Wild is the Wind
That song I played over and over at the local library record and headphones in late 70's.
This was actually written in 1969 and was released around the time of the moon landing. The video was made in 1972 after he had introduced the character of Ziggy Stardust. It got to number 5 in 1969 and was re-released in 1975 when it got to No. 1
Yes Harri spot on as usual
Try the next one with Msjor Tom on Ashes to ashes about 10 years later
As Bowie sings " Sordid details following:: There is yet another sequel in Hello Spaceboy re mixed by the Pet Shop Boys . There is also the Fteddie Mercury and David Bowie song Under Pressure with the most sampled bass line of all time. Have fun. You will also like Fame ft a guesting John Lennon
"Lazarus" from Bowie's last album before he died is phenomenal. Very rarely do you get to hear an artist lament on his own impending death.
David has had a huge influence on the music! I was happy to see him in concert for his Diamond Dog tour, which was his break from his Ziggy persona. At 66 I still crank up the Ziggy LP. In this song, his use of language and dialect is fantastic, which makes it even more appealing. Most important is the story! His story telling throughout his life made him a superstar. If you can't tell a good story then you won't go far in music. Hari, thanks so much for Oddity this morning.
Please react to David Bowie “Fame” background vocals by JOHN LENNON!! You will love it!
Space Exploration was new and fascinating, at this time. I read somewhere, that Bowie wanted to make the Astronaut's point of view, with this song.
If you want to hear Bowie at his absolute most tormented and beautiful, you've gotta react to The Drowned Girl. He was one of the greatest vocalists of all time. 😊
My name is Tom, and I can't speak for everyone with my name, but "Ground control to Major Tom" was a phrase I often heard whenever I did something offbeat or when I was daydreaming and someone wanted to get my attention. This song is one of the most recognized of all the songs David Bowie recorded. I believe it was recorded in 1969, the year Apollo 11 landed on the moon.
That's a cute story
He had an amazing, 4 octave, range but it was the way that he could make every syllable drip with character and emotion, that really set him apart. 2 songs that really highlight his incredible vocals are, 'Wild is the Wind', just make sure it's the full, album version and 'Cat People (Putting out Fire). For the latter, make sure it's from the original movie soundtrack, with Giorgio Moroder. They're both amazing tracks and his voice sounds just incredible! :)
Bowie is a legend. Around from 1960s and was making great new music up until he went back to Mars in 2019.
You became my favorite reactor, Bowie and Angelina Jordan..
Greetings from Belgrade
Harri, what a talent, and Bowie wasn't too shabby either hehe. One of the biggest songwriters on the planet, you've got to review "STARMAN ". Keep safe kid and cheerio from Glasgow.
The world's attention was consumed by the space program in the late '60s and early '70s. The first moon landing was in '69, and the Apollo 13 mission, which barely made it back to Earth, took place in 1970. Elton John's 1972 song "Rocket Man" was another song that centered on the astronaut. Bowie starred in a sci-fi movie called The Man Who Fell to Earth," also.
A real Astronaut sings this in space on acoustic guitar. Look for Col. Chris Hatfield singing Space Oddity, you’ll love it I’m sure! 😁
Bowie wrote a number of space themed songs. Check out Starman, Moonman, Ziggy Stardust, Life on Mars.
Bowie is without equal in my book!
I just saw an interview, and this song was written with the idea of a Broadway musical in his mind.
It was cast off, but Paul Anka re-wrote it, and it became "My Way", for Frank Sinatra!!
How crazy is that?
Great reaction Harri.I love this song. This is why David Bowie is a legend. Have you done David Bowie heroes?😀👍❤️✌️🌼
Great song - such a mood and cool way to view it. My favorite Bowie song is a sad one - Heroe's! Another is with NIN on I'm afraid of Americans! Did you know about Bowie using SRV on his track "Let's dance" before anyone really knew him?? You can tell it's SRV on the solo.
He looks soooo young in this video. Great song. Love your insights.
p.s you should definitely check out "Rock n Roll Suicide" which has the lyric "don't let the milk float your mind" haha. Shows his voice really well AND is a great song; also "Look Back in Anger".
I saw Bowie and he was truly amazing (Serious Moonlight Tour). I say it again, AMAZING.
You're finding this out now? Twenty-six albums later, it's a good thing he could sing.
You have a lot of songs to catch up on.
DAVID BOWIE "FAME"...SERIOUSLY FUNKY!!...TRUTH!!
I always figured it was about the spaceman (Major Tom) who when he was up there looked and saw what the planet was like ("Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do") and decided he didn't want to go back. So he just floated away.
MAJOR TOM!!not captain!!!!
@@evelynrossetto3143 - Oh shit. There's a brain fart. Fixed it.
Fave Bowie songs: "Young Americans" and "Let's Dance."
For anyone who may be interested, I have a little DB story:
Up in town from Devon, probably sometime around Christmas 1974, we were in a small gallery within the Tate Gallery specifically to see 'in the flesh' a very special painting called The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke. Freddie Mercury had written a song about it, and we'd been intrigued by it after seeing it reproduced on the Queen II album cover. We were looking forward to seeing more by the artist in a similar vein. But, disappointingly the only other paintings by him turned out to be quite different, and distinctly less interesting.
Just as we were turning to leave, through the other door of this gallery rushed an extraordinary figure, who proceeded to follow our exact footsteps, making a beeline straight for Richard Dadd. He was emaciated, virtually eyebrow-less, gingery, and dressed in a bizarre combination of pale baggy tailored cloth suit and a huge brightly coloured ethnic shawl, with an air of extreme, hyper-intensity as if he hadn't a second to lose. Maybe he had a taxi or someone waiting outside for him. I had no idea who he was, but he looked kind of interesting!
After peering intently at the painting for a few moments, just as we had, this Personage scanned the others by the same artist, and like us, appeared disappointed to find there were no FFM-S look-alikes. Looking about wildly, perhaps for someone who might be able to answer his questions, his gaze fell on us, the only other occupants of that gallery, in our bedraggled hippy clothes and muddy boots... just as my friend hissed in my ear "It's David Bowie!"
Having been fully immersed in the Devon countryside for a while, I had no idea (or had completely forgotten) who that was, so just smiled at the Personage sympathetically, trying to think of something intelligent to say, either about the artist, or the sad lack of other comparable paintings. But the Personage simply looked us poor ragged creatures up and down in something akin to horror, and ignoring my encouraging smile, heaved a sigh, turned and dashed out of the gallery again, the way he'd come in, like a departing whirlwind...
I seem to specialise in odd little chance encounters with famous rock stars (I'd bumped into Freddie himself only a year or so earlier, and had a nice chat) but Mr Bowie, in his off-kilter sartorial magnificence and coked-up intensity, was amongst the most memorable... :-)
Youi might try "Changes" or The Official "Life on Mars" video. Whoever else cared about "The Girl with The Mousey Hair"? "Heroes" written about the Berlin Wall, also, Lazarus , released in the week of Bowie's passing. In between, Google anything between 1972 and 2016 and you will not be disappointed. The man was a trail blazer for so many genres and images. A True Genius. ❤️❤️
Hey Harri! I hope you're doing well. Just wanted to say that I really enjoy your reactions, and I sincerely hope your subscribers go past the 100k mark soon. Peace and respect!
Greetings love! Bowie was that underdog that was in Your face, which made u believe he had NOTHING to offer musically. Until YOU HEARD HIM!!!
His last gift to us was Blackstar which was released two days after he died --- The song Blackstar video showcases the final installment to the Space Oddity saga --- It has many references of his past songs in the video and that strange instrumental piece is included --- I did some research and apparently Elvis did a song named Blackstar about when someone sees a Blackstar he knows his time has come -- another very interesting thing is if you listen to it played backwards ( there is a video on youtube) you can make out some odd sayings but it still sounds like a complete Bowie song --- Please save for your someday list because you must get a good amount of Bowie in your life but dont forget what Ive suggested and please react to it someday
New sub from Illinois! You are very respectful! Greetings from Illinois! Im a big prog fan too!
It’s about drug addiction, follow up song is Ashes to Ashes.
Hello, My Friend. Great Reaction. though you cut thru' my heart as you paused at exactly the second my most favourite note I have heard since I first bought a record in 1960 in South East London. Rick Wakeman played the Mellotron on that note and it was so new that only he could "unlock" the method of continuously playing it. A secret he, jealousy, guarded so he got all the Session work until he became one of the 2 greatest organists in the World with Keith Emerson. I remember EXACTLY where I was when I first heard this. It was at Killyon Road, Clapham when 4 of my Grammar School friends spent the day in 1969 round our friend's house. 52 years ago...Those years have flashed by...
🙈🙈🙈 Sorry bout that..i know how that feels 😀😀
Thanks M8.
Good Luck :)
he wrote this in 1969 the video was made in 1972 when he reached success and they published this song again. he has so many songs where he showed to be a great vocalist more than in this song.
❤R.I.P❤
Love this - but mostly thought I would drop by and suggest another artist for you, Phil Ochs for his many songs but mostly for The Power and The Glory, which I would love to have as America's anthem.
"I'm curious to see what happens to Captain (Major) Tom" - uh-oh! Try 'Ashes to Ashes' next for a ten year later update on Major Tom
Is it Capt Tom or Major? Im confused 😀
@@HarriBestReactions Major. He wasn't a Captain.
It's about drugs, using space travel as a metaphor; the brilliant double meaning in the line "now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare", is a clue. In a 1984 song, ashes to ashes, Bowie actually says: "we know Major Tom's a junkie!"
Not sure where you got 1972 from Harri. It was a UK number 5 in 1969 for Bowie but amazingly reached number 1 in 1975 on its re-release.
Well interesting take on the meaning of this song but to me (and I'm listen to this song since it first came out), I simply think it's about an astronaut who goes into space for the first time and once he gets up there sees the beauty of what he's looking at and decides that he does not want to return to Earth!!!
Wow Harri. It's almost like you are going through my music collection. The Beatles, Nightwish and David Bowie. What next lol. Stay safe 🤘✌
Im coming for Brian🤣😂🤣
This originally came out in 69 and was a hit in the UK but didn't become a hit in the US till 1973. Bowie has his ziggy stardust makeup on in the video so he must of recorded the video around 73. I think it was inspired by the 69 moon landing.
David Bowie - "Young Americans"
Harri You are so perceptive that little do you know it but you have set the stage beautifully for episode 2 of the saga Ashes to Ashes
You should check out the second version, Bowie re-recorded this song in 1980 for the Kenny Everett show, in the style of John Lennon’s Mother. It’s Bowie’s tribute to Lennon, who died a few weeks earlier. The video is on CZcams and uses some of the sets from the Ashes to Ashes video. Well worth your time!
David re-recorded that 2nd version in 1979, a year before John’s death. But I like your sentiment❤️
Or the 1st version, since this is technically the 2nd. The demo music video is very investing.
Spaced out, man.
Btw, this was released in 1969, just before the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Not in 1972. This is a video made at the time of Ziggy, as there was renewed interest in his earlier work. :)
*Harri* So....... this was actually recorded and released in 1969, oddly timed closely with the landing on the moon, July 20th 1969.! You touched on this but Bowie was stoned and feeling very removed from the world around him when he wrote this.! Lastly *Major Tom* was something as Bowie said in several interviews throughout his life, *Some what of a touchstone he used and revisted over the following decades* Thought you would be interested in the behind it all look my friend... David ...
Excellent. Have you heard astronaut Chris Hadfield sing it in outer space? Awesome.
Harry. Here's a band no one has reacted to. Renaissance..check out Annie Haslam singing "ocean gypsy". She has a 4 octave range on her voice. Find 'live at Carnegie hall" and the song of sheherazade.
Enjoy
David Bowie - Panic in Detroit
David Bowie/Let's Dance ALBUM VERSION
Harry -- Late to this party (5/24), but -- Folks can interpret this imaginative song's meaning in many metaphorical ways. But FYI: At the time -- 1972 -- the title made most of us think of the famous 1968 sci-fi film "2001: A Space Odyssey." (HaHa: 2001 seemed so futuristic.) And people had a general fascination with astronauts & space travel (it was still pretty new and revolutionary) -- so I always took it as a story of a literal astronaut, Major Tom. Same with Elton John's "Rocketman." Maybe I've been TOO literal. Just a thought. Peace out!
Oh, Harri - "Space Oddity" was a take on "2001: a Space ODYSSEY" ( a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The screenplay was written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, and was inspired by Clarke's 1951 short story "The Sentinel" and other short stories by Clarke) - lol - pretty sure you have seen - or at least heard of it -- anyway... carry on...
It was wa used in the BBC’s coverage of the 1st moon landing
Love watching your reactions, your facial expressions just crack me up sometimes, I love it! David Bowie's voice is so unique you can't help but listen to him sing, it just draws you in somehow. I don't mean to get off subject and I know you have a huge list of suggestions and requests to get to so I will be patient as long as necessary because I love watching all of your reactions but I just didn't want you to forget that you promised me you'd also do "Knockin on Heaven's Door" by Guns & Roses. I know that's off topic from this video but hopefully that's still ok lol. But don't think I'm rushing you or getting impatient, that's not at all the case, I enjoy every reaction you post, but I know how easy it could be with all the requests that you've probably got flooding in each time you post a new video, to forget one from awhile ago so I thought I'd just mention it so it would be fresh in your mind again lol. Thanks for another great post, keep em coming and I will keep watching!
Thanks for the kind words Kristy.I will definitely do your request in a day or two😍
It was released in 1969. The video you looked at was out of 1972.
This song coincided with the Apollo 11 launch, just to give a historical perspective--1969 actually. That video was made in 1972. There's another video of this song that was made when it was released: czcams.com/video/tRMZ_5WYmCg/video.html
Ok......David Bowie was the master of reinventing himself! Now.....weeks ago you said you were THEN going to do George Harrison " All Things Must Pass"..... which Still hasn't happened!!! Please.....also do "Beware of Darkness" & "Isn't it a Pity."
Also.....on a different note, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Heart performing "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Led Zeppelin, & Adam Lambert performing "Believe" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Cher!!!! Two phenomenal performances that wond disappoint!!!
SORRY bout that Karen..i will do that in the next few days ..Promise.Its so hard to remember everything🙈🙈
@@HarriBestReactions Here's a reminder...... George Harrison: "All Things Must Pass", "Beware of Darkness", "Isn't it a Pity".........along with Adam Lambert performing"Believe" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Cher, & Heart performing "Stairway to Heaven" at the Kennedy Center Honors for Led Zeppelin! You'll love them all!!
( ASHES TO ASHES ) IS THE SEQUEL TO THIS! :)
This was originally released in 1969 Harry but the video you watched was made in 1972
Thanx Barrie
THIS WAS IN 69 HARRI :) IT'S BASED OFF OF APOLLO 11, THE BIG LANDING !
Please check out where are we now by Bowie.
There are 2 different studio versions. They are the same song but slightly different. The original version is from July 1969. Then the remade single version from 1972. I love the 1972 version better than the 1969 LP version.
You basically can't go wrong with either Hunky Dory ("Queen Bitch" is quite possibly my favorite Bowie of them all) or Ziggy Stardust. They're both phenomenal albums.
Try Let’s Dance. I guarantee you’ll love it
How to make the sound louder
Right click Speaker icon in task bar by the clock and go to OPEN SOUND SETTINGS
(Windows 10) Click Sound Control Panel at the RIGHT
Double Click (checked) SPEAKERS and open ENHANCEMENT TAB
Check Loudness Equalization/Apply/OK
It will be much louder but it will effect the studio overall feel on some songs
I use it on most reactions but not needed so much on original videos.
Hope it helps.
Thanx...i know of that..The start was low but got better.I think the song was meant to start like that
I recommend star man next , but Bowie has so many great songs
I think its safe to say he was inspired by the moon landings- the first was only about 2 years before he wrote this. His whole ziggy startdust persona and the space related songs surely came from how big a deal all the nasa stuff was at that time.
p.s I think you mean astronomy- don't ever ask astrophysicist or astronaut about your star sign or what got them into astrology please lol.
Actually, the song was released 9 days before the 1st moon lading in '69. Bowie said he was inspired by Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey (thus Space Oddity). It was released again a few years later.
@@robertsaul234 Well, that was still in the middle of all the stuff nasa was doing leading up to the landing- so even if he said 2001 enspired it, im still gonna say the moonrace was a part of inspring ziggy and his songs.
I believe there are 4 songs that chronicle Major Toms journey.
2, really. Hallo Spaceboy references him extremely loosely, and Blackstar doesn't have him in the actual song, but the music video.
There's also a song by another artist called Major Tom, but it doesn't really count because Major Tom isn't that artist's character.
he wrote this in early 1969
@04:17 _Ground Control to Major Tom your circuit's dead. Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you..
Here I'm floating 'round my Tin Can. Far above the moon. Planet eatrh is *blue,* & there's nothing I can do._
Bowie wrote this song in the peak hype of 1st moon landing in 1969. Why so blue? & why did major Tom commit suicide? Bowie couldn't contemplate the astronomical cost of moon missions without picturing the *endless wars, pollution, poverty & hunger plaguing the blue earth* with no solution sought. When I visited Moscow in 1990 I saw the same sentiment in a cartoon in the Russian newspaper Pravda. A toon of 2 astronauts on an old horse cart, being driven to their huge shiny mission rocket.
Totally agree with this is not America, space oddity brought me Bowie 🙏💙😁
I'd love you to react to Bowie as Aurora did "life on mars". Here is a link
the lead cut out early in the video. what happened?
If you really want to see something interesting watch the duet of David Bowie and Bing Crosby. You will be quite surprised.
perhaps the greatest solo artist of all time, along with elton john in my opinion
I need to get more of him and then some Elton songs done
@@HarriBestReactions try, young americans and heroes from bowie. Elton john is undescrible aswell. they are both king of glam rock
Best Bowie album is Hunky Dory
Check out a "sequel" of sorts: "Major Tom", by Shiny Toy Guns: czcams.com/video/KyFe5m2MU9Q/video.html