On this day (May 12) in 2013, astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield released the music video of his version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” He recorded the song while aboard the International Space Station and released the clip before returning to Earth. Two years later, he would release an album of songs recorded aboard the ISS.
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Bowie released “Space Oddity” in 1969 as a single from his self-titled sophomore album. Inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey and his own feelings of alienation, the song dropped on July 11, just days before the Apollo 11 moon landing. The single gained popularity when the BBC used it in the background of its moon landing coverage. The classic became a bigger hit when Bowie re-released it in 1973. That year, it peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Commander Chris Hadfield Reflects on His Cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”
Commander Chris Hadfield reflected on recording his cover of “Space Oddity” and David Bowie’s reaction to it in an interview with Ars Technica.
“I’ve always been a musician. I fronted bands for 25 years in Houston,” Commander Hadfield revealed. However, his recording of “Space Oddity” was the first time he played one of Bowie’s songs. “I had never played a Bowie tune before in my life before I got to orbit,” he said. “To cover Bowie is arrogant. It’s like covering Bach or something,” he explained. “You just don’t do it.”
Covering “Space Oddity” wasn’t his idea. First, he released an original song he wrote with his brother. “When people heard there was someone recording up on the space station, there was a big internet demand to do a cover of ‘Oddity.’ So, I did, and it turned out nice,” Commander Hadfield explained.
In the interview, Commander Hadfield pointed out that Bowie “guessed what space flight would be like” when he wrote the song. So, he tweaked the lyrics to make them more accurate in his version. “He approved it. He loved this version of the song,” he said of Bowie’s reaction. “He described it as the most poignant version of the song ever done.”
Commander Hadfield also revealed that he was able to meet and spend some time with Bowie after returning to Earth. “The fact that Bowie loved this version of the song, for me, was the best part. It was his song, not mine, and it gave him a lot of pleasure in the last couple years of his life.”
Featured Image by Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
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