Space Oddity: Difference between revisions

"'''Space Oddity'''" is a song by the English singer-songwriter [[David Bowie]]. It was first released on 11 July 1969 by [[Philips Records|Philips]] and [[Mercury Records]] as a [[Single (music)|7-inch single]], then as the opening track of his second studio album, ''[[David Bowie (1969 album)|David Bowie]]''. Produced by [[Gus Dudgeon]] and recorded at [[Trident Studios]] in London, it is a tale about a fictional astronaut named [[Major Tom]]; its title and subject matter were partly inspired by ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' (1968) and Bowie's feelings of [[Social alienation|alienation]] at that point in his career. OneIts of the most musically complexsound songs he had written up to that point, it represented a changedeparted from the [[music hall]]-influenced sound of his debut[[David toBowie a(1967 soundalbum)|debut akinalbum]] to [[psychedelic folk]] and inspired by the [[Bee Gees]]; it was one of the most musically complex compositions he had written up to that point.

Rush-released as a single to capitalise on the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landing, it received critical praise and was used by the [[BBC]] as background music during its coverage of the event. It initially sold poorly but soon reached number five in the UK, becoming Bowie's first and only chart hit for another three years. A 1972 reissueReissues by [[RCA Records]] wasbecame Bowie's first US hit andin was1972, promotedand withhis afirst newUK [[musicnumber-one video]]in filmed1975. byHe [[Mickre-recorded Rock]].an Anotheracoustic 1975version reissuein as1979. part of aSeveral [[maxi-singleMusic video|promotional video]]s becamewere Bowie'sproduced firstfor UKthe number-onesong, single.including Bowiea re-recorded1972 anone acousticfilmed versionby in[[Mick 1979Rock]]. AIt was a mainstay during Bowie's concerts until effectively1990, beingafter retiredwhich onit hiswas 1990played [[Sound+Visionsporadically Tour]],until 2002. Bowie revisited the Major Tom character in his later singles, notably the sequel song "[[Ashes to Ashes (David Bowie song)|Ashes to Ashes]]" (1980).

A range of artists have covered "Space Oddity" and others have released songs that reference Major Tom. A 2013 cover by the astronaut [[Chris Hadfield]] gained widespread attention; its music video was the first filmed in space. The song has appeared in numerous films and television series, and has a pivotal role in the 2013 filmincluding ''[[The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013 film)|The Secret Life of Walter Mitty]]'' (2013). In 2019, [[Tony Visconti]] remixed Bowie's original recording to mark theits 50th anniversary of its first release, with a new music video directed by [[Tim Pope]]. InitiallyIn viewedlater as a novelty trackdecades, "Space Oddity" is now considered one of Bowie's finest recordings and remains one of his most popular songs. It has appeared in numerous "best-of" lists, including the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]'s [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame#The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll|"500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"]].

AfterFollowing a string of unsuccessful [[Single (music)|singles]], [[David Bowie]] released his [[music hall]]-influenced [[David Bowie (1967 album)|self-titled debut studio album]] through [[Deram Records]] in 1967. The album was a commercial failure and did little to gain Bowie notice, leading to his departure from Deram in May 1968 and becoming his last release for two years.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=106–107}}{{sfn|Sandford|1997|pp=41–42}} Around this time, Bowie acquired a new manager, [[Kenneth Pitt]].{{sfn|Sandford|1997|pp=38–39}} In 1968, Bowie began a romantic relationship with dancer Hermione Farthingale,{{sfn|Sandford|1997|p=46}} which lasted until February 1969.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|ppp=334328–333}} WithAfter Farthingaleits andcommercial guitarist John Hutchinsonfailure, Bowie's formednew a group called Feathers. With Bowie on acoustic guitar, the trio performed a small number of concerts between September 1968 and early 1969, combining folk,manager [[MerseybeatKenneth Pitt]], poetry and mime.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|pp=49–52}} After the commercial failure of ''David Bowie'', Pitt authorised the production of a promotional film in an attempt to introduce Bowie to a larger audience. The film, ''[[Love You till Tuesday (film)|Love You till Tuesday]]'', whichwent unreleased until 1984; it marked the end of Pitt's mentorship of Bowie, went unreleased until 1984.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=636–638}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=334}}

By the end of 1968, Bowie had begun to feel alienation from his career. Knowing ''Love You till Tuesday'' did not have a guaranteed audience and would not feature any new material, Pitt asked Bowie to write something new; to "a very special piece of material that would dramatically demonstrate David's remarkable inventiveness and would probably be the high spot of the production".{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=60}}{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} With this in mind, Bowie wrote "Space Oddity", a tale about a fictional astronaut named [[Major Tom]],.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=255}} the first of Bowie's famous characters.{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=11}} Its title and subject matter were influenced by [[Stanley Kubrick]]'s film ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'',{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=59}}<ref name="mtv-rosenfield">{{cite web |last1last=Rosenfield |first1first=Kat |title=David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' Was The Perfect Soundtrack Song |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2727071/hollywood-moments-space-oddity/ |website=[[MTV News]] |access-date=1 May 2020 |date=23 September 2018 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704113546/http://www.mtv.com/news/2727071/hollywood-moments-space-oddity/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> which premiered in May 1968.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} Bowie said, "I went stoned out of my mind to see the movie and it really freaked me out, especially the trip passage".{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=104}} BiographerOther [[Marcevents Spitz]]in statedBowie's thelife song was likely inspired byinfluenced the scenewriting in which an astronaut communicates with his daughter on her birthday, sayingof "TellSpace mama that I telephoned" before ingesting a "stress pillOddity", ratherincluding thanseeing the film's[[Apollo opening or ending.{{sfn|Spitz|2009|pp=105–106}} Malcolm Thompson, who directed8]] ''Love You till Tuesday[[Earthrise]]'', laterphotograph saidin heJanuary and his girlfriend Susie Mercer contributed to the songwriting process.1969{{sfn|DoggettClerc|20122021|p=6080}} Bowie'sand his break-up with the dancer Hermione Farthingale deeplythe affectedfollowing Bowiemonth.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=255}} He later said, "It was Hermione who got me writing for and on a specific person".{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=104}} The biographer [[Marc Spitz]] stated Bowie's feelings of loneliness and heartache following the break-up inspired "Space Oddity".{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=104}}

One of the first people to hear "Space Oddity" was Calvin Mark Lee, the head of [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] at [[Mercury Records]] in London,.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=334}} whoLee considered the song "otherworldly" and knew it was Bowie's ticket to be signed by the label. According to Mercury associate Simon Hayes, "Lee was really on the case with 'Space Oddity', a total convert. He wanted to sign David – and I said 'Fantastic idea'."{{sfn|Trynka|2011|pp=110–111}} AtThe thehead timeof Mercury, Bowie's future wife [[AngieLou Bowie|Angela BarnettReizner]], whomwas heunimpressed metwith inBowie's lateoutput 1968,and was datingunwilling [[Louto Reizner]],sign the head of Mercury,him.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=334}} who was unimpressed with Bowie's output.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|pp=111–112}} Eager to sign Bowie, Lee, without Reizner's knowledge, financed a demo session for "Space Oddity". Lee later told Spitz: "We had to do it all behind Lou's back. But it was such a good record."{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=106}}

"Space Oddity" tells the story of an astronaut named Major Tom, whothe first of Bowie's famous characters.{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=11}} Major Tom is informed by Ground Control that a malfunction has occurred in his spacecraft; but Majorthe Tomastronaut does not get the message, because he either misses it or is in such awe of outer space that he does not hear it.{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=11}} He remains in space "sitting in a tin can, far above the world",<ref>{{cite news |last=Bahrampour |first=Tara |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/singer-david-bowie-dies-at-69-mesmerizing-performer-of-many-alter-egos/2016/01/11/e133f63c-b859-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_story.html |title=David Bowie dies at 69; mesmerizing performer and restless innovator |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=14 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214055218/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/singer-david-bowie-dies-at-69-mesmerizing-performer-of-many-alter-egos/2016/01/11/e133f63c-b859-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_story.html |archive-date=14 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> preparing for his lonely death.<ref name="mtv-rosenfield" /> In 1969, Bowie compared Major Tom's fate to the ending of ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', saying: "At the end of the song Major Tom is completely emotionless and expresses no view at all about where he's at. He's fragmenting&nbsp;... at the end of the song his mind is completely blown&nbsp;– he's everything then."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=255}} AuthorsThe authors David Buckley and [[Peter Doggett]] comment on the unusual vocabulary in the lyrics, such as "Ground Control" rather than "Mission Control", "space ship" rather than "rocket", "engines on" rather than "ignition", and the "unmilitary combination" of rank and first name for the character.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=61}}{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=61}}

Bowie's biographers have provided different interpretations of the lyrics. According to Doggett, the lyrics authentically reflect Bowie's mind and thoughts at the time. He writes that Bowie shone a light on the way advertisers and the media seek to own a stake in a lonely man in space while he himself is exiled from Earth.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=61}} Chris O'Leary said the song is a "moonshot-year prophecy" that humans are not fit for space evolution and the sky is the limit.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} Similarly, James E. Perone views Major Tom acting as a "literal character" and a "metaphor" for individuals who are unaware of, or do not make an effort to learn, what the world is.{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=11}} In 2004, the American feminist critic [[Camille Paglia]] identified the lyrics as representing the [[counterculture of the 1960s]], stating, "As his psychedelic astronaut, Major Tom, floats helplessly into outer space, we sense that the '60s counterculture has transmuted into a hopelessness about political reform ('Planet Earth is blue / And there's nothing I can do')".{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=61}}

"Space Oddity" has been characterised as a [[psychedelic folk]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/david-bowie-the-early-years-763372 |title=Life Before Ziggy – Remembering David Bowie's Early Years |website=[[NME]] |first=Mark |last=Beaumont |date=12 January 2016|access-date=9 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509125125/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/david-bowie-the-early-years-763372|archive-date=9 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[folk rock]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heller |first1=Jason |title=The Secret Literary History of David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' |url=https://electricliterature.com/the-secret-literary-history-of-david-bowies-space-oddity/ |website=Electric Literature |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602082343/https://electricliterature.com/the-secret-literary-history-of-david-bowies-space-oddity/ |archive-date=2 June 2023 |date=8 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ballad.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2014/11/04/with-david-bowies-blessing-astronaut-chris-hadfields-space-oddity-is-back-on-youtube/ |title=With David Bowie's blessing. astronaut Chris Hadfield's 'Space Oddity' is back on YouTube |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Abby |last=Phillip |date=4 November 2014|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref> It represented Bowie's new interest in acoustic music since joining Feathers.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=60}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}} [[Nicholas Pegg]] and Doggett compare the song's style, structure, lyrics and arrangement to those of the [[Bee Gees]]' 1967 single "[[New York Mining Disaster 1941]]", which has similar minor chords and chorus. Hutchinson later stated: "'Space Oddity' was a Bee Gees type song. David knew it, and he said so at the time&nbsp;... the way he sang it, it's a Bee Gees thing."{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=60}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}}

Although primarily in the key of [[C major]],<ref>{{Cite web |first=David |last=Bowie |date=31 August 2010 |title=Space Oddity |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0086062|access-date=2 June 2021 |website=Musicnotes.com|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916204204/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0086062|url-status=live}}</ref> the song has a variety of chord changes and resonances that aid in telling the story. The intro has a pairing of [[F major]]7/[[E (musical note)|E]] and [[E minor]], while the first verse alternates between C major and E minor. Wayne'sThe guitar harmonises E and [[B (musical note)|B]] while on Stylophone, Bowie "drones" [[C (musical note)|C]] and B.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} A [[D major]] chord plays on the line "God's love be with you" during the pre-liftoff countdown sequence. In the second verse, an E7 chord on the line "really made the grade" counteracts the overall key of C major. O'Leary said this change "brightens" the song.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} The bridge's "planet Earth is blue" has a standard folk-style descending progression; ([[B-flat major|B{{flat}} major]] 9th/[[A minor]] add9/[[G major]] add9/[[F (musical note)|F]]). According to O'Leary, the B{{flat}} major9 chord "ratifies Major Tom's choice (or doom) to stay out in space". The acoustic-guitar break has a C–F–G–A–A note sequence with the two A notes emphasised.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}}

===EarlyInitial demos and first studio version===

One of the earlyfirst [[Demo (music)|demos]] of "Space Oddity", recorded in January 1969, differs greatly from the album version, including unused vocal harmonies and different lyrics. Rather than the softly spoken "lift-off", an American-accented "blast-off!" is present. "I'm floating in a most peculiar way" is replaced with "Can I please get back inside now, if I may?"{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}} The demo also includes the later-revised lines:{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}}

The demo's instrumentation uses only acoustic guitar and Stylophone, which were played by Hutchinson and Bowie, respectively.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} Bowie had used the [[Stylophone]], a recently released electronic instrument that was mainly marketed to children, to compose the song's melody.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=60}} Both Bowie and Hutchinson sang vocals. onThey therecorded recording;further theyacoustic recordeddemos anotherin demoMarch<ref versionname="2019 inConversation approximatelyPiece mid-Aprilliner 1969.notes">{{Cite AV media notes |title=''Conversation Piece'' |others=David Bowie |year=2019 |publisher=[[Parlophone]] |location=Worldwide |type=Album liner notes |id=DBCP 6869|p=41}}</ref> or April{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=334}} 1969.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}}

The first full studio version of "Space Oddity", which was for ''Love You till Tuesday'', was recorded on 2 &nbsp;February 1969 at [[Morgan Studios]], London. At this point, the lyrics were finalised. The session was produced by Jonathan Weston; Bowie and Hutchinson were joined by [[Colin Wood]] on [[Hammond organ]], Mellotron and flute; Dave Clague on bass and Tat Meager on drums.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=145, 147}} As in the early demos, Bowie and Hutchinson shared lead vocals, with Bowie voicing Major Tom's dialogue and Hutchinson singing Ground Control's lines. Bowie also played an [[ocarina]] solo for this recording, which Hutchinson later called "just silly". AccordingPegg to Pegg,calls this version is significantly inferior to the ''David Bowie'' recording.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}}{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}}

In June 1969, after Bowie left Deram, Pitt negotiated a one-album deal, with options for a further one or two albums, with [[Mercury Records]] and its UK subsidiary [[Philips Records|Philips]].{{sfn|Gillman|Gillman|1987|p=172}} Mercury executives had heard anone audition tape that includedof the demo of "Space Oddity" Bowiedemos and Hutchinson recordedearlier in early 1969. The search for a producer began. After [[The Beatles|Beatles]]' producer [[George Martin]] turned down the project,{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=113}} Pitt hired [[Tony Visconti]], who produced Bowie's later Deram sessions, to produce the album. Before recording for the album began, "Space Oddity" had been selected as the [[lead single]] in advance.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=335}} Visconti, however, saw it as a "novelty record"; in 2016, he told [[Yahoo! Music]] he found it derivative of works by the Beatles and [[Simon & Garfunkel]], calling it "a cheap shot&nbsp;– a gimmick to cash in on the moonshot". ViscontiHe produceddeclined theto rest ofproduced the album butsong, passedpassing production responsibility for "Space Oddity" to Bowie's former engineer [[Gus Dudgeon]]; Visconti produced the rest of the album.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=335}}<ref name="Yahoo Wiederhorn">{{cite web |last1last=Wiederhorn |first1first=Jon |title=David Bowie Producer Tony Visconti Recalls 'Holy' Career Highlights |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/david-bowie-producer-tony-visconti-223242335.html |website=Yahoo! |access-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916204213/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/david-bowie-producer-tony-visconti-223242335.html |archive-date=16 September 2021 |date=20 April 2016}}</ref> Dudgeon had worked as an engineer with Bowie on his Deram recordings.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=104–107}} On hearing Bowie's demo, Dudgeon said it was "unbelievable"; he and Bowie then planned "every detail" of the recording.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=114}}

Work on the album version of "Space Oddity" and its [[A-side and B-side|B-side]], "[[Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud]]", began at [[Trident Studios]] in London on 20 &nbsp;June 1969.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=335}} Bowie fell ill with [[conjunctivitis]] and [[overdub]]s were completed a few days later. Mercury insisted the single was released the following month, ahead of the [[Apollo 11]] Moon landing.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=153–154}} GuitaristThe guitarist [[Mick Wayne]] of the British band [[Junior's Eyes]] and the keyboardist [[Rick Wakeman]] were brought on at Visconti's suggestion, while the composer [[Paul Buckmaster]] was hired to arrange the orchestra,{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=114}} which consisted of eight violins, two violas, two cellos, two [[arco bass]]es, two flutes and an organ.{{Sfn|Cann|2010|p=153}} Buckmaster became an integral part in Bowie's songwriting; he advised Bowie to focus on creating the overall sound rather than the narrative.{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=153}} Dudgeon hired the bassist [[Herbie Flowers]] and the drummer [[Terry Cox]] of the folk band [[Pentangle (band)|Pentangle]],{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=57}} andwhile Bowie onplayed acoustic guitar and Stylophone completed the lineup.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=335}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=153}} Bowie later said he added the Stylophone at [[Marc Bolan]]'s suggestion; "[Bolan] said, you like this kind of stuff, do something with it. And I put it on 'Space Oddity', so it served me well."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=256–257}} Bowie fell ill with [[conjunctivitis]] and [[overdub]]s were completed a few days later.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=153–154}}

Dudgeon outlined a plan for the Stylophone and Mellotron parts by scribbling notes on paper; he, later toldtelling the biographer [[Paul Trynka]];: "When we hit that studio we knew exactly what we wanted&nbsp;– no other sound would do."{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=114}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=57}} At one point in the session, Wayne thought he had finished his guitar take early so he began retuning one of the strings. Dudgeon liked the warped effect of the retuning and asked Wayne to repeat it on the next take. According to Trynka, towards the end of the session, the musicians knew they were a part of something special.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=114}} Wakeman recorded his part in two takes after hearing the demo once;{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=153}} he later said; "it was one of half a dozen occasions where it made the hair stand up on your neck and you know you're involved in something special. 'Space Oddity' was the first time it ever happened to me". Cox also felt a sense of excitement after the session finished.{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=114}}

The session cost £500.<ref name="Classic Rock" /> Dudgeon was paid £100 for his work on the two songs;{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=154}} in June 2002, he instigated a lawsuit against Bowie claiming he did not receive the agreed two per cent of royalties for "Space Oddity". Dudgeon intended to sue for a settlement of £1 million; the suit, however, was halted after Dudgeon's death in a car accident the following month.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=256}} Dudgeon had told biographer David Buckley he felt "Space Oddity" was among the finest work of Bowie's career.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=59}}

"Space Oddity" was [[Audio mixing|mixed]] in both [[Monaural|mono]] and [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] formats,{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=155}} a rarity for radio singles at the time.<ref name="Classic Rock" /> Wakeman later said it was Bowie's idea to mix it in both formats, according to him: "To the best of my knowledge nobody released stereo singles at that time, and they pointed that out to David&nbsp;... and I can remember David saying, 'That's why this one will be stereo!' And he just stood his ground&nbsp;... he wasn't being awkward, but he had a vision of how things should be."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=257}} BiographerThe biographer Kevin Cann statedsaid stereo copies were given to the media and radio stations while mono copies were given to retailers.{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=155}} According to [[Nicholas Pegg]], the stereo single was sold only in specific territories, including Italy and the Netherlands; the mono single appeared in both Britain and America.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=257}}

Philips Records released "Space Oddity" was released as a {{Convert|7|inch|cm|abbr=out|adj=on}} single on 11 &nbsp;July 1969, with the catalogue number Philips BF 1801 and "Wild Eyed Boy from Freecloud" as the B-side.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=Partial, Discography}}by Philips in the UK and Mercury handledin itsthe US release.<ref name="1969 US single liner notes" />{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=Partial DespiteDiscography}} being a rarity for singles at the time, inIn some territories, the single's sleeve included a photograph of Bowie playing an acoustic guitar, a rarity for singles at the time.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=257}} The label rush-released the single to capitalise on the Apollo &nbsp;11 Moon mission,{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=257}}<ref name="Yahoo! Parker" /> which was launched five days later.<ref name="mtv-rosenfield" /> According to Bowie: "It was picked up by British television and used as the background music for the landing itself in Britain&nbsp;... Though I'm sure they really weren't listening to the lyric at all; it wasn't a pleasant thing to juxtapose against a moon landing. Of course, I was overjoyed that they did."<ref name="Classic Rock" /> Upon realising the dark lyrics, the [[BBC]] ceased playing it until the Apollo 11 crew safely returned home.<ref name="Yahoo! Parker" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/highlights/010108_bowie.shtml |title=Bowie @ The Beeb |website=BBC World Service |publisher=BBC |date=8 January 2001 |access-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109131843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/highlights/010108_bowie.shtml |archive-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly after its release, "Space Oddity" received some glowing reviews. [[Penny Valentine]] of ''[[Disc (magazine)|Disc and Music Echo]]'' predicted the record was "going to knock back everyone senseless",{{sfn|Trynka|2011|p=115}} and later named "Space Oddity" as the magazine's record of the year.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=337}} In ''[[Melody Maker]]'', [[Chris Welch]] wrote: "This Bee Geeian piece of music and poetry is beautifully written, sung and performed. Strangely, it could be a hit and escalate Bowie to the top."{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=155}} ''[[Record World]]'' said it's "a blastoff set to music, and it's haunting and eerie and right on the dot."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Record World|date=26 July 26, 1969|page=6|accessdateaccess-date=5 May 2023-05-05|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/RW-1969-07-26.pdf|via=worldradiohistory.com}}</ref> Despite the positive reviews and Pitt's attempts at chart rigging, the single initially failed to sell.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=62}} In September 1969, the singleit debuted at number 48 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number 48.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=62}} Mercury's publicist Ron Oberman wrote a letter to American journalists describing "Space Oddity" as "one of the greatest recordings I've ever heard. If this already controversial single gets the airplay, it's going to be a huge hit.".<ref name="Yahoo! Parker" /> Despite this,In the singleUS, failedit topeaked sellat in124 on the US,[[Billboard peakingHot at100|''Billboard'' 124,Hot 100]].<ref name="Yahoo! Parker" /> which Pitt attributed its poor performance to Oberman's use of the word "controversial" in his statement, causingwhich caused it to be banned by multiple US radio stations.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=257–258}}

The single's successchart placement in the UK earned Bowie a number of television appearances in the latter half of 1969, starting with a performance on Dutch television show ''Doebidoe'' on 25 &nbsp;August 1969 that was (broadcast fiveon days later30&nbsp;August). This was followed byFor his first appearance on the BBC's ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' on 2 &nbsp;October,{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}} for which Bowie was filmed in a separate studio so his image could be interspersed with [[NASA]] space footage. He played Stylophone and guitar over backing tracks prepared by Dudgeon, who was in charge of synchronising the [[BBC Orchestra]] to the backing track. According to Dudgeon said in 1991, that it was a "nightmare":, theyhaving wereonly been given enough time for only two takes, the second of which had a tighter orchestra but sloppy cohesion between the space footage and Bowie. Dudgeon stated, "If we had had the chance of a third take it would have been brilliant".{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=162}} The performance was, broadcast on 9 &nbsp;October and repeated on 16 October; it, helped "Space Oddity" peakreach ata new chart placement of number five by early November.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}} TheBowie ''Topgave of the Pops'' performance was followed byadditional performances on Germany's ''4-3-2-1 Musik Für Junge Leute'' on 22 &nbsp;October (broadcast on 22 &nbsp;November) and on Switzerland's ''Hits A-Go-Go'' on 3 &nbsp;November.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}} Bowie was named 1969's Best Newcomer in a readers' poll for ''Music Now!''{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=337}} On 10 &nbsp;May 1970, Bowie performed "Space Oddity" at the [[Ivor Novello Awards]], where he was awarded with Most Original Song.{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=193}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1970/ |title=The 15th Ivor Novello Awards |work=The Ivors | access-date= 19 August 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170307082550/http://theivors.com/archive/1970-1979/the-ivors-1970/ | archive-date= 7 March 2017 | url-status= dead}}</ref>

Philips released ''David Bowie'' in the UK on 14&nbsp;November 1969, with "Space Oddity" as the opening track on 14 November 1969.{{sfn|Cann|2010|pp=167–168}} According to the biographer [[Christopher Sandford (biographer)|Christopher Sandford]], despite the commercial success of "Space Oddity", the remainder of the album bears little resemblance to it, resulting in its commercial failure on its initial release.,{{sfn|Sandford|1997|p=60}} Although Bowie was named 1969's Best Newcomer in a readers' poll for ''Music Now!'', ''David Bowie'' soldselling just over 5,000 copies by March 1970.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=337}} In mid-December 1969, Philips requested a new version of "Space Oddity" with Italian lyrics after learning that one had already been recorded in Italy. Pitt thought the idea was "ridiculous" and said, "it was explained to us that 'Space Oddity' could not be translated into Italian in a way that the Italians could understand".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=257–258}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=174}} The Italian version was recorded on 20 &nbsp;December at Morgan Studios with the [[Dialect coach|accent coach]] and producer [[Claudio Fabi]] producing and lyrics being translated by the Italian lyricist [[Mogol (lyricist)|Mogol]]. This version, titled "Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola" ({{trans|"Lonely Boy, Lonely Girl"}}),{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=62}} was released as a single in Italy in 1970 and failed to chart.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=257–258}}{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=174}}<ref name="Thompson AllMusic" />

When asked about the single's success, Visconti said: "[I was surprised] and years later [Bowie] and I joked about it so much. But the one thing I predicted was that he would not have a hit after that."<ref name="Yahoo Wiederhorn" /> Bowie did not have another hit after "Space Oddity" for three years until the release of "[[Starman (song)|Starman]]" in 1972.<ref name="Yahoo! Parker">{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Lyndsey |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/the-odd-story-of-space-oddity-how-a-novelty-record-launched-david-bowie-into-the-stratosphere-50-years-ago-170000604.html |title=The odd story of 'Space Oddity': How a 'cheap shot' 'novelty record' launched David Bowie into the stratosphere 50 years ago |website=[[Yahoo!]] |date=10 July 2019|access-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711182011/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/the-odd-story-of-space-oddity-how-a-novelty-record-launched-david-bowie-into-the-stratosphere-50-years-ago-170000604.html|archive-date=11 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> AccordingIn tohis Peggbook ''The Complete David Bowie'', inPegg opines that "Space Oddity" was destined to be remembered only as a novelty hit, as the year of1969 noveltywas hitsfull thatof begansimilar tunes, withfrom [[the Scaffold]]'s "[[Lily the Pink (song)|Lily the Pink]]" and ended withto [[Rolf Harris]]'s "[[Two Little Boys]]", "Space Oddity" was destined for the same fate; nothing more than a novelty hit. He also noted that by 1969Additionally, numerous space-themed songs had already charted by 1969, including [[Zager and Evans]]'s "[[In the Year 2525]]", which was a UK number one in the three weeks immediately before "Space Oddity"{{'s}} entry into the top 40. OnlyPegg argues that only later did Bowie's song "transcend" the novelty hit to be regarded as a "genuine classic".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}}

| quote = ["Space Oddity" was] a very good song that possibly I wrote a bit too early because I hadn't anything else substantial [to follow it] at the {{no wrap|time.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}}}}

AfterFollowing the commercial breakthrough of Bowie's fifth studio album ''[[The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars]]'' in 1972, Bowie's then-label [[RCA Records]] undertook a reissue campaign for his Mercury albums that included repackaging ''David Bowie'' with the title ''Space Oddity''.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=338}} To promote this release, in the North America on 13 December 1972, RCA rereleased "Space Oddity" as a single, backed bywith "[[The Man Who Sold the World (song)|The Man Who Sold the World]]" as the B-side, on 13&nbsp;December 1972 in North America only.{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=277}} with the catalogue number 74-0876.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes sfn|title=''"Space Oddity"'' Clerc|others=David Bowie 2021|yearp=1973 |publisher=RCA Records |location=US |type=liner notes |id=74-087680}}</ref> The single reached number 15 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart, becoming Bowie's first hit single in the country.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}} In Canada, it reached number 16 and was his third single on the charts there.<ref name="Canadianchart" /> ''Record World'' said of the reissued single that "this disc is a winner from liftoff to fade".<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|access-date=24 March 2023|title=Hits of the Week|date=20 January 1973|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-01-20.pdf|via=worldradiohistory.com}}</ref> RCA again reissued the song in the UK on 26 &nbsp;September 1975 as a [[maxi single]], with two B-sides:{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} in which it was backed by1971's "[[Changes (David Bowie song)|Changes]]" and the then-unreleased 1972 [[outtake]] "[[Velvet Goldmine (song)|Velvet Goldmine]]";.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=298}} its catalogue number is RCA 2593.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=Partial Discography}} The UK reissue wasbecame Bowie's first number-one single in the country, replacing "[[I Only Have Eyes for You]]" by [[Art Garfunkel]] at number one in November.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}} ''[[Record World]]'' said of the reissued single that "this disc is a winner from liftoff to fade."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=January 20, 1973|accessdate=2023-03-24|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-01-20.pdf}}</ref>

{{blockquote|I agreed as long as I could do it again without all its trappings and do it strictly with three instruments. Having played it with just an acoustic guitar on stage early on, I was always surprised at how powerful it was just as a song, without all the strings and synthesisers. I really wanted to do it as a three-piece song.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=258–259}}{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=365–366}}}}

Visconti produced this new version;, hewhich strippedsolely the original recording tofeatured acoustic guitar, bass, drums and piano.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=258–259}} Doggett said this instrumentation mirrors [[John Lennon]]'s 1970 album ''[[John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band|Plastic Ono Band]]'', which had influenced Bowie's vocal performance on his 1977 album ''[["Heroes" (David Bowie album)|"Heroes"]]''.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|pp=365–366}} The new recording has a number of differences from the original; replacing the liftoff sequence iswas replaced with 12 seconds of silence and a snare drum fade-out ends the song. O'Leary said while the original "Space Oddity" ends "unresolved", the 1979 version leaves empty space.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}} This version was issued inon 15&nbsp;February 1980 as the B-side of Bowie'sthe single "[[Alabama Song]]",{{sfn|Clerc|2021|p=300}} which Visconti later said was "never meant" to occur.{{sfn|O'Leary|2015|loc=chap. 3}}{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=258–259}} The 1979 recording was released in a remixed form in 1992 on the [[Rykodisc]] reissue of ''Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)'',{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=258–259}}{{sfn|Clerc|2021|p=300}} and in 2017 it was rereleased on ''Re:Call 3'', part of the compilation ''[[A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982)]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davidbowie.com/news/new-career-new-town-1977-1982-57146 |title=''A New Career In a New Town (1977–1982)'' – David Bowie Latest News |website=David Bowie Official Website |date=22 July 2016 |access-date=29 September 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729155132/http://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases |archive-date=29 July 2014}}</ref>

In July 2009, [[EMI]] issued the digital-only [[extended play]] (EP) "Space Oddity 40th Anniversary EP" to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original single. The EP includes the original UK and US mono single edits, the 1979 re-recording and eight [[Stem mixing and mastering|stem]] tracks that isolate the lead vocal, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, string, bass and drums, flute and cellos, Mellotron and Stylophone. These stem tracks are accompanied with a [[mobile app]] that allows users to create their own remixes. Pegg said the EP "provid[es] a fascinating insight into the component sounds of a classic recording".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=260}} In 2015, the original UK mono single edit was included on ''Re:Call 1'', as part of the box set ''[[Five Years (1969–1973)]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davidbowie.com/news/five-years-1969-1973-box-set-due-september-54571 |title=Five Years 1969 – 1973 box set due September|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218235114/http://www.davidbowie.com/news/five-years-1969-1973-box-set-due-september-54571 |archive-date=18 February 2016 |website=David Bowie Official Website |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1last=Spanos |first1first=Brittany |author-link=Brittany Spanos |title=David Bowie to Release Massive Box Set 'Five Years 1969–1973' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-to-release-massive-box-set-five-years-1969-1973-63033/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816041141/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-to-release-massive-box-set-five-years-1969-1973-63033/ |archive-date=16 August 2020 |date=23 June 2015}}</ref> The song's 50th anniversary was marked on 12 &nbsp;July 2019 by the release of [[Digital single|digital]] and [[Gramaphone record|vinyl]] singles of a new remix of the song by Tony Visconti. The vinyl version was issued in a box set that also includes the original UK mono single edit.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/5/8/space-oddity-50th-anniversary-2-x-7-vinyl-box-with-tv-remixes |title=Space Oddity 50th anniversary 2 x 7" vinyl box with TV remixes |website=David Bowie Official Website |date=8 May 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=13 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511045141/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/5/8/space-oddity-50th-anniversary-2-x-7-vinyl-box-with-tv-remixes|archive-date=11 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/7/13/space-oddity-goes-gold-on-day-of-box-release |title=Space Oddity goes gold on day of box release |website=David Bowie Official Website |date=12 July 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715232335/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/7/13/space-oddity-goes-gold-on-day-of-box-release|archive-date=15 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Several demo versions of "Space Oddity" have been commercially released.<ref name="Yahoo! Parker" /> Two early demos, including a fragment that may be the first-recorded demo of the song, were released for the first time in April 2019 on the box set ''[[Spying Through a Keyhole]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rhino.com/article/out-now-david-bowie-spying-through-a-keyhole |title=Out Now: David Bowie, Spying Through a Keyhole |website=Rhino Entertainment |date=5 April 2019 | access-date=5 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905121653/https://www.rhino.com/article/out-now-david-bowie-spying-through-a-keyhole | archive-date=5 September 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> TheAnother January 1969early demo remained officially unreleased for more than 40 years until it appeared on the 2009 two-CD special edition of ''David Bowie'',{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=256, 333}} and was debuted on vinyl in May 2019 in the box set ''[[Clareville Grove Demos]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/2/12/clareville-grove-demos-box-due |title=Clareville Grove Demos box due |website=David Bowie Official Website | access-date=5 September 2019 |date=12 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915041114/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/2/12/clareville-grove-demos-box-due | archive-date=15 September 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> An edited version of the March/April 1969 demo originally appeared as the opening track on the 1989 box set ''[[Sound + Vision (box set)|Sound + Vision]]''.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=256, 502–503}} The unedited recording was released in June 2019 on the album ''[[The 'Mercury' Demos]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/4/25/the-mercury-demos-lp-box-due-in-june |title=The 'Mercury' Demos LP box due in June |website=David Bowie Official Website | access-date=5 September 2019 |date=25 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905122105/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/4/25/the-mercury-demos-lp-box-due-in-june | archive-date=5 September 2019 | url-status=live}}</ref> All the abovementioned demos and another previously unreleased one were compiled for the 5-CD box set ''[[Conversation Piece (box set)|Conversation Piece]]'', which was released in November 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/9/4/david-bowie-conversation-piece-5cd-box-due-november |title=David Bowie Conversation Piece 5CD box due November |website=David Bowie Official Website | access-date=3 January 2020 |date=4 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103121536/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/9/4/david-bowie-conversation-piece-5cd-box-due-november | archive-date=3 January 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RS Conversation Piece">{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=David Bowie Box Set Collects Early Home Demos, 'Space Oddity' 2019 Mix |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-conversation-piece-space-oddity-2019-box-set-880355/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905171440/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-bowie-conversation-piece-space-oddity-2019-box-set-880355/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The February 1969 studio recording became commercially available in 1984 on a [[VHS]] release of the film ''Love You till Tuesday'' and its accompanying [[Love You till Tuesday (soundtrack)|soundtrack album]].<ref name="Thompson AllMusic">{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Dave |title="Space Oddity" – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/space-oddity-mt0002625521 |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108042713/https://www.allmusic.com/song/space-oddity-mt0002625521 |archive-date=8 November 2020}}</ref> A shorter edit appeared on the 1997 compilation album ''[[The Deram Anthology 1966–1968]]''{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=256, 505}} and an alternative take was released for the first time on ''Conversation Piece''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/9/4/david-bowie-conversation-piece-5cd-box-due-november |title=David Bowie Conversation Piece 5CD box due November |website=David Bowie Official Website | access-date=14 January 2023 |date=4 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103121536/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/9/4/david-bowie-conversation-piece-5cd-box-due-november | archive-date=3 January 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref>

"Space Oddity" remained a concert staple and a live favourite throughout Bowie's career.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} On 22 May 1972, Bowie played the song for [[BBC Radio 1]]'s ''[[Johnnie Walker (DJ)#BBC Radio 1|Johnny Walker Lunchtime Show]]'' on 22&nbsp;May 1972 but the recording was not broadcast.;{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=633}} Itit was eventually released on the 1996 compilationcompilations ''[[BBC Sessions 1969–1972 (Sampler)]]'' (1996) and ''[[Bowie at the Beeb]]'' (2000).{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=633}}<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Erlewine |first1first=Stephen Thomas |title=''Bowie at the Beeb: The Best of the BBC Radio Sessions 68–72'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bowie-at-the-beeb-the-best-of-the-bbc-radio-sessions-bonus-disc-mw0000619751 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122107/https://www.allmusic.com/album/bowie-at-the-beeb-the-best-of-the-bbc-radio-sessions-bonus-disc-mw0000619751 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> For the BBC session, Bowie inserted "I'm just a rocket man!" between verses;{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}} [[Elton John]] had recently released "[[Rocket Man (song)|Rocket Man]]", whicha issong also about an astronaut and was also produced by Gus Dudgeon.{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=223}}

A versionlive rendition of the"Space song that wasOddity", recorded at [[Santa Monica Civic Auditorium]] on 20 &nbsp;October 1972 during the [[Ziggy Stardust Tour]], was first released on the bootleg ''[[Santa Monica '72]]'' (1994) before becoming officially available in 2008 on ''[[Live Santa Monica '72]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Thornton |first1first=Anthony |title=David Bowie – 'Live: Santa Monica '72' review |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-david-bowie-9770-308284 |website=NME |access-date=10 March 2020 |date=1 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004181122/http://www.nme.com/reviews/david-bowie/9770 |archive-date=4 October 2012}}</ref> A liveAnother performance that was, recorded at the [[Hammersmith Odeon]], London, on 3 &nbsp;July 1973,{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=548–555}} was released on ''[[Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture]]'' (1983).<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Viglione |first1first=Joe |title=''Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture'' |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/ziggy-stardust-and-the-spiders-from-mars-the-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000691870 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424115511/https://www.allmusic.com/album/ziggy-stardust-and-the-spiders-from-mars-the-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000691870 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the 1974 [[Diamond Dogs Tour]], Bowie sang "Space Oddity" while being raised and lowered above the stage by a [[cherry picker|cherry picker crane]] and used a radio microphone that was disguised as a telephone.<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Easlea |first1first=Darryl |title=David Bowie ''David Live / Stage'' Review |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/dngb/ |website=[[BBC Music]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316154738/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/dngb/ |archive-date=16 March 2021 |date=2002}}</ref> A July 1974 performance of the song was released on the 2005 reissue of ''[[David Live]]'' while a September performance from the same tour was released in 2017 on ''[[Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles '74)]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Erlewine |first1first=Stephen Thomas |title=''David Live'' – David Bowie |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/david-live-mw0000033632 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=10 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424115457/https://www.allmusic.com/album/david-live-mw0000033632 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Randle |first1=Chris |title=David Bowie: ''Cracked Actor (Live Los Angeles '74)'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/david-bowie-cracked-actor-live-los-angeles-74/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=10 March 2020 |date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117144718/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/david-bowie-cracked-actor-live-los-angeles-74/ |archive-date=17 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A concert performance that was recorded on 12 &nbsp;September 1983 was included on the live album ''[[Serious Moonlight (1983 film)|Serious Moonlight (Live '83)]]'', whichreleased wasas includedpart inof the 2018 box set ''[[Loving the Alien (1983–1988)]]'' and released separately the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/1/7/loving-the-alien-break-outs-due-february |title=Loving the Alien breaks out due February |website=David Bowie Official Website |date=7 January 2019 |access-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115182033/https://www.davidbowie.com/blog/2019/1/7/loving-the-alien-break-outs-due-february |archive-date=15 January 2019 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The same performance appears on the concert video ''Serious Moonlight'' (1984).{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=640–641}} Bowie effectively retired the song from live performances during his 1990 [[Sound+Vision Tour]], after which he sang it on a few occasions, most notably closing his [[Earthling Tour#Background and history|50th birthday party concert]] in January 1997 with a solo performance on acoustic guitar; this version was released on a limited edition [[CD-ROM]] that was issued with ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' magazine in March 1999.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=259–260}} He then performed it at the [[Tibet House US]] benefit concert at [[Carnegie Hall]] in February 2002; this new version includes an orchestra conducted by Visconti, with string arrangements played by Scorchio and [[Kronos Quartet]]. Bowie's final performance of "Space Oddity" was at Denmark's Horsens Festival during the 2002 [[Heathen Tour]].{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=260}}

OnMultiple 6[[music Februaryvideo]]s 1969, a clip of the first version offor "Space Oddity" exist. The first, for the ''Love You till Tuesday'' version of the song, was filmed at Clarence Studios from 6–7&nbsp;February 1969. In it, Bowie plays both the tee-shirt-wearing Ground Control character and Major Tom;, hewho wears a silver suit, a blue visor and a breast plate. Final touches were made the following day.{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=146}} RCA used this clip to promote the September 1975 UK single reissue.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=258}}

[[File:David Bowie Space Oddity 1972.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|alt=A red-haired man with a guitar against a red backdrop|Bowie in the 1972 music video for the song. His performance reflected his disinterest in the video reflected in his performance.]]

To promote RCA'sthe December 1972 US reissue of "Space Oddity", a new promotional video was created at RCA's New York studios by the photographer [[Mick Rock]];. Bowie,In whothis wasvideo, tired and wore little makeup,Bowie mimes to the song with a guitar.{{sfn|Cann|2010|p=277}} Bowie later said:

Bowie revisitedcontinued the characterstory of the Major Tom character in the 1980 single "[[Ashes to Ashes (David Bowie song)|Ashes to Ashes]]", from ''[[Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)]]'' (1980).{{sfn|Spitz|2009|p=310}}{{sfn|Buckley|2005|p=322}} In the song, Major Tom is described as a "junkie" who is "strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all time low"{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=81}} but Ground Control still believes Major Tomhe is doing as well as he was ten years prior. The song has been interpreted as Bowie's confrontation of his past; after years of drug addiction in the 1970s, he used those struggles as a metaphor for Major Tom becoming a drug addict.{{sfn|Doggett|2012|p=372–373}} The song's music video reuses visual elements from the December 1979 television performance of "Space Oddity".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mojo4music.com/3344/david-bowie-and-kenny-everetts-space-oddity |title=David Bowie And Kenny Everett's Space Oddity |website=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |access-date=28 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109130114/http://www.mojo4music.com/3344/david-bowie-and-kenny-everetts-space-oddity/ |archive-date=9 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

TheMajor Tom was revisited again in the 1996 [[Pet Shop Boys]] remix of the single "[[Hallo Spaceboy]]", from ''[[Outside (David Bowie album)|Outside]]'' (1995),.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beaumont |first1=Mark |title=Pet Shop Boys: Exclusive interview with VO5 NME Awards 2017 Godlike Geniuses |url=https://www.nme.com/features/pet-shop-boys-exclusive-interview-vo5-nme-awards-2017-1976701 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=30 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917213732/https://www.nme.com/features/pet-shop-boys-exclusive-interview-vo5-nme-awards-2017-1976701 |archive-date=17 September 2018 |date=17 February 2017}}</ref> also revisits Major Tom. The idea for the song came from Pet Shop Boys member [[Neil Tennant]], who informed Bowie he would be adding "Space Oddity"-related lines to the remix. Although Bowie was hesitant at first, he accepted. Tennant sang the "Space Oddity"-relatedThe lines in the remix read: "Ground to Major, bye-bye Tom / Dead the circuit, countdown's wrong".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|pp=103–104}}

Major Tom may have influenced the music video for Bowie's 2015 single "[[Blackstar (song)|Blackstar]]", the title track from his final album ''[[Blackstar (album)|Blackstar]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Micolson |first1=Barry |title='Blackstar' Reappraised: The Clues About Bowie's Impending Death That Most Of Us Missed |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/bowies-blackstar-reappraised-the-clues-most-of-us-missed-763356 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=30 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618092138/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/bowies-blackstar-reappraised-the-clues-most-of-us-missed-763356 |archive-date=18 June 2018 |date=12 January 2016}}</ref> The video, a surreal, ten-minute short film that was directed by [[Johan Renck]], depicts a woman with a tail ([[Elisa Lasowski]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-fashion-style-actress-elisa-lasowski-20160930-snap-story.html |title=Elisa Lasowski, queen of 'Versailles', talks about history, television and fashion |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Marcie |last=Medina |date=30 September 2016 |access-date=30 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807164926/https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-fashion-style-actress-elisa-lasowski-20160930-snap-story.html |archive-date=7 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> who discovers a dead astronaut and takes his jewel-encrusted skull to an ancient, otherworldly town. TheWhile the astronaut's bones float towards a [[solar eclipse while in the town's centre]], a circle of women perform a ritual with the skull in the town's centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/david-bowie-blackstar-video-johan-renck-director-interview |title=Behind "Blackstar": An Interview with Johan Renck, The Director of David Bowie's Ten-minute Short Film |website=[[Noisey]] |last=Joffe |first=Justin |date=19 November 2015|access-date=24 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124073555/http://noisey.vice.com/blog/david-bowie-blackstar-video-johan-renck-director-interview|archive-date=24 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Renck initially refused to confirm or deny that the astronaut in the video is Major Tom but he later said on a BBC documentary: "to me, it was "100% Major Tom" to him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=10 January 2017 |title=David Bowie: Ten things we've learned since his death |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38533901 |newspaper=[[BBC]]|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=17 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217071136/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-38533901|url-status=live}} That cites an interview which was only available in the UK on the date of access. {{cite news|editor1-last=Whately|editor1-first=Francis |date=7 January 2017 |title=Bowie: The Last Five Years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b088ktm6/david-bowie-the-last-five-years |newspaper=BBC2|access-date=10 January 2017|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617162309/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b088ktm6/david-bowie-the-last-five-years|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Retrospective appraisalacclaim===

"Space Oddity" remains one of Bowie's most-popular songs{{sfn|Perone|2007|p=11}}<ref name="Thompson AllMusic" /> and has frequently been listed by publications as one of his greatest songs.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Staff |title=David Bowie's 20 greatest songs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-20-greatest-songs/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203131725/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-20-greatest-songs/ |archive-date=3 February 2021 |location=London |date=10 January 2021}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' magazine rated it Bowie's 23rd-best track in a list of his 100 greatest songs.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=David Bowie – The 100 Greatest Songs |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=255 |date=February 2015 |page=76}}</ref> Following [[Death of David Bowie|Bowie's death in 2016]], ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named "Space Oddity" one of the 30 most-essential songs of Bowie'shis catalogue.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-30-essential-songs-33438/space-oddity-1969-2-154735/ |title=David Bowie: 30 Essential Songs |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 January 2016 | access-date=23 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923235704/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/david-bowie-30-essential-songs-33438/space-oddity-1969-2-154735/ | archive-date=23 September 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref> A year later, the staff of ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' voted it Bowie's tenth -best track.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Bowie's Top 70 Songs |url=https://consequence.net/2017/01/david-bowies-top-70-songs/ |website=[[Consequence of Sound]] |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=8 January 2017 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212659/https://consequence.net/2017/01/david-bowies-top-70-songs/ |url-status=live|last1=Melis |first1=Matt }}</ref> In 2017, the readers of ''[[NME]]'' readers voted "Space Oddity" Bowie's seventh-best track<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Sarah |title=20 best David Bowie tracks – as voted by you |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-david-bowie-tracks-as-voted-by-you-1436856 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030194230/https://www.nme.com/photos/20-best-david-bowie-tracks-as-voted-by-you-1436856 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |date=8 January 2018}}</ref> while the publication's staff placed it at number 18 in a list of Bowie's 40 best songs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barker |first1=Emily |title=David Bowie's 40 greatest songs – as decided by ''NME'' and friends |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/david-bowie-s-40-greatest-songs-as-decided-by-nme-and-friends-1418012 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=16 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103063248/https://www.nme.com/photos/david-bowie-s-40-greatest-songs-as-decided-by-nme-and-friends-1418012 |archive-date=3 November 2019 |date=8 January 2018}}</ref>

''[[The Guardian]]''{{'s}} [[Alexis Petridis]] voted "Space Oddity" number 25 in his list of Bowie's 50 greatest songs, writing: "Bowie perfectly inhabits its mood of blank-eyed, space-age alienation".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |title=David Bowie's 50 greatest songs – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/19/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-ranked |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=23 March 2020 |date=19 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322224635/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/19/david-bowie-50-greatest-songs-ranked |archive-date=22 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, Tom Eames of [[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] listed "Space Oddity" as Bowie's fifth-greatest song.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=David Bowie's 20 greatest ever songs, ranked |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/best-songs-ranked/ |publisher=[[Smooth Radio (2014)|Smooth Radio]] |access-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122191214/https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/david-bowie/best-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=22 January 2021 |date=26 June 2020}}</ref> ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' listed it as Bowie's greatest song in 2016. Spencer Kaufman wrote: "The song was revolutionary for its time, musically and lyrically, and helped introduce the masses to one of the most dynamic and creative music acts we will ever know."<ref name="UCR bestof">{{cite web |last1=Kaufman |first1=Spencer |title=Top 10 David Bowie Songs |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-david-bowie-songs/ |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231194433/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/top-david-bowie-songs/ |archive-date=31 December 2019 |date=11 January 2016}}</ref> In a list ranking every Bowie single from worst to best, ''Ultimatethe Classic Rock''publication placed "Space Oddity" at number four.<ref>{{cite web |title=Every David Bowie Single Ranked |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-singles-ranked/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=14 January 2016 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724234336/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-singles-ranked/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

"Space Oddity" has appeared on numerous best-of lists. In a 2000 list compiling the 100 greatest rock songs, [[VH1]] placed "Space Oddity" at number 60.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/vh1rocksongs.htm |title=100 Greatest Rock Songs |website=[[VH1]]|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626232455/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/vh1rocksongs.htm|archive-date=26 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' included it in their list of the 100 greatest top songs of all time, ranking it number 43.<ref>{{cite web |title=100 Greatest Songs of All Time: 50–1 |url=https://consequence.net/2012/09/top-100-songs-ever-50-1/ |website=Consequence of Sound |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=21 September 2012 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502211814/https://consequence.net/2012/09/top-100-songs-ever-50-1/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In lists ranking the greatest songs of the 1960s, ''NME'' ranked "Space Oddity" at number 20,<ref>{{cite web |title=100 Best Songs of the 1960s |url=https://www.nme.com/list/100-best-songs-of-the-1960s-1159 |website=NME |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=26 March 2012 |archive-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429082758/https://www.nme.com/list/100-best-songs-of-the-1960s-1159 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' placed it at number 48,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/6405-the-200-greatest-songs-of-the-1960s/?page=8 |title=The 200 Best Songs of the 1960s |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=18 August 2006 |access-date=18 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701190817/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/6405-the-200-greatest-songs-of-the-1960s/?page=8 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' magazine ranked itat number three<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Hilary |title=The 100 Best Songs of the 1960s |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-100-best-songs-of-the-1960s/ |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=29 July 2016 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108094349/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/the-100-best-songs-of-the-1960s/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Treble'' magazine placed it at number two.<ref>{{cite web |title=Counter-Culture: The Top 100 Songs of the 1960s |url=https://www.treblezine.com/31122-100-best-songs-of-the-60s-counter-culture/ |website=Treble |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=9 August 2016 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602224626/https://www.treblezine.com/31122-100-best-songs-of-the-60s-counter-culture/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' rankedplaced "Space Oddity" at number 189 in their list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]". The magazine stated that as Bowie's first hit, it "offer[ed] just a glimpse of the ever-evolving star he would become".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: David Bowie, 'Space Oddity' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/david-bowie-space-oddity-1225149/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=16 September 2021 |date=15 September 2021 |archive-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916200050/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/david-bowie-space-oddity-1225149/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Several publications, including ''Mojo'' (39),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 100 Greatest Singles of All Time |magazine=Mojo |issue=45 |date=August 1997 |url=https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p2.htm#singles |via=rocklist.net|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825232539/https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo_p2.htm#singles|url-status=live}}</ref> ''NME'' (67),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=NME Writers All Time Top 150 Singles 1987 |magazine=NME |date=28 February 1987 |url=https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_singles.htm#150_1987 |via=rocklist.net|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918204542/https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_singles.htm#150_1987|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' (41),<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Sounds All Time Top 100 Singles |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |date=1985 |url=https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_singles.htm#150_1987 |via=rocklist.net|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918204542/https://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_singles.htm#150_1987|url-status=live}}</ref> have also listed "Space Oddity" as one of the greatest singles of all time. ''[[Channel 4]]'' and ''[[The Guardian]]'' similarly ranked it the 27th-greatest British number-one single in 1997<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/channel4.htm#Number |title=Rocklist.net{{nbsp}}... Channel 4/HMV best music of this millennium |website=www.rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=18 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222821/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/channel4.htm#Number|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> while ''NME'' ranked it number 26 in their 2012 list of the greatest number-one singles in history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_singles.htm#NoOnes |title=Rocklist.net NME Greatest Singles Lists |website=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328121637/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_singles.htm#NoOnes |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

* [[Junior's Eyes|Mick Wayne]]{{snd}} leadelectric guitar

"Space Oddity" has been covered by numerous artists., Performers on the original recordingincluding Rick Wakeman and Terry Cox, specifically the latter's band [[Pentangle (band)|Pentangle]],; haveboth coveredmen were performers on the songoriginal recording.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} One of Bowie's favourite versions was a recording by [[the Langley Schools Music Project]], a 60-voice choir of Canadian children who were, recorded in the late 1970s and reissued on CD in 2002. Bowie said: "The backing arrangement is astounding. Coupled with the earnest if lugubrious vocal performance, you have a piece of art that I couldn't have conceived of, even with half of Colombia's finest export products in me."{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} ManyOther artists have written songs that reference or develop the story of "Space Oddity";{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} these include German singer [[Peter Schilling]]'s 1983 song "[[Major Tom (Coming Home)]]" (1983),<ref name="Thompson AllMusic" /><ref name="Yahoo! Parker" /> Panic on the Titanic's "Major Tom",{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} and [[Def Leppard]]'s 1987 single "[[Rocket (Def Leppard song)|Rocket]]" (1987), and Panic on the Titanic's "Major Tom" (1993).{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} In 1984, the English singer-songwriter [[Jonathan King]] released a mashup of "Space Oddity" together with Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)" titled "Space Oddity / Major Tom (Coming Home)"., This releasewhich reached No.number 77 on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in May 1984.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/space-oddity_slash_major-tom-(coming-home)/ | title=Space oddity/Major tom (Coming home) &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company | website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] }}</ref>

"Space Oddity" has been heard and referenced in numerous films and television series, including the American sitcom ''[[Friends]]'', the British series ''[[EastEnders]]'' and ''[[Shooting Stars (British TV series)|Shooting Stars]]'', and the films ''[[Mr. Deeds]]'' (2002), ''[[The Mother (2003 film)|The Mother]]'' (2003) and ''[[C.R.A.Z.Y.]]'' (2005).{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} The original single version is heard on the soundtrack of the 2004 film ''[[The Life and Death of Peter Sellers]]'' and a 2015 episode of the American drama series ''[[Mad Men]]''. It was also featured in a 2011 [[Renault Clio]] commercial and played on the radio of [[Elon Musk]]'s [[Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster|Tesla Roadster]] during its launch aboard the [[Falcon Heavy test flight|Falcon Heavy's maiden flight]] in February 2018.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/42337-spacex-tesla-roadster-starman-beyond-mars.html|title=SpaceX's 'Starman' and Its Tesla Roadster Are Now Beyond Mars|last=Wall|first=Mike|website=Space.com|date=3 November 2018 |language=en|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701180936/https://www.space.com/42337-spacex-tesla-roadster-starman-beyond-mars.html|archive-date=1 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

The"Space songOddity" plays a pivotal role in the 2013 film ''[[The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013 film)|The Secret Life of Walter Mitty]]'', in which Walter Mitty ([[Ben Stiller]]) is frequently referred to as "Major Tom" for daydreaming while at work.<ref>{{cite web |last=Eisenberg |first=Eric |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ben-Stiller-Secret-Life-Walter-Mitty-Takes-Our-Breath-Away-CinemaCon-37053.html |title=Ben Stiller's The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty Takes Our Breath Away At CinemaCon |website=[[CinemaBlend]] |date=18 April 2013|access-date=19 September 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921005511/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ben-Stiller-Secret-Life-Walter-Mitty-Takes-Our-Breath-Away-CinemaCon-37053.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "SpaceThe Oddity"song is featured in a scene in which Mitty decides to leap onto a helicopter after imagining his coworker Cheryl ([[Kristen Wiig]]) singing the song. For the scene, Wiig's vocal was mixed into Bowie's original track.{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=259}} Stiller said about the importance of "Space Oddity" in the scene:

<blockquote>I felt like the way it fits into the story, we got to this point and this scene which was sort of how the fantasy and reality come together for Walter, and that was what that came out of. That song, and what he mentioned in his head, and what he imagines and what he does, it all just seemed to come together over that song.<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Weintraub |first1first=Steven |title=Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig Talk 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' |url=https://collider.com/secret-life-of-walter-mitty-ben-stiller-kristen-wiig-interview/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=21 April 2013 |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212331/https://collider.com/secret-life-of-walter-mitty-ben-stiller-kristen-wiig-interview/ |url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

"Space Oddity" was played throughout the entire opening montage for the 2017 film ''[[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets]]'', which showed humans making contact with extraterrestrial life. DirectorThe director [[Luc Besson]] timed the sequences of the scene to the song's guitar chords of "Space Oddity", and itwhich took many hours for the shots from the film to be synched with the song, and the bass riff was used to signify humanity's first contact with aliens. The opening sequence had originally been storyboarded with the intention of 'Space Oddity' being played in the background, with Besson saying "It's almost a music video; I matched the song to the image." Besson previously worked with Bowie on ''[[Arthur and the Invisibles]]'' (2006), and the singer agreed to allow Besson to use "Space Oddity" in ''Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets'', although Bowie died before the film was released.<ref>{{cite web |last=Alter|first=Ethan|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/valerian-luc-besson-secured-david-bowies-space-oddity-big-sequence-205339309.html|title='Valerian': How Luc Besson Secured David Bowie's 'Space Oddity' for a Big Sequence|publisher=[[Yahoo.com]]|date=20 July 2017|access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref>

In May 2013, the Canadian astronaut and artist [[Chris Hadfield]], commander of [[Expedition 35]] to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS), recorded a video of "Space Oddity" while stationed on the ISS that went [[Viral video|viral]] and generated a great deal of media exposurecoverage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Knapp |first=Alex |title=Astronaut Chris Hadfield Sings David Bowie As He Departs The International Space Station |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2013/05/13/astronaut-chris-hadfield-sings-david-bowie-as-he-departs-the-international-space-station/ |newspaper=[[Forbes]] |date=13 May 2013|access-date=29 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607182958/http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2013/05/13/astronaut-chris-hadfield-sings-david-bowie-as-he-departs-the-international-space-station/|archive-date=7 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the first music video to be recorded in space.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://io9.com/chris-hadfield-sings-space-oddity-in-the-first-music-503764317 |last=Davis |first=Lauren |title=Chris Hadfield sings "Space Oddity" in the first music video in space |date=12 May 2013 |publisher=[[Gawker Media]]|access-date=29 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525075049/http://io9.com/chris-hadfield-sings-space-oddity-in-the-first-music-503764317|archive-date=25 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In the video, which was filmed attowards the end of Hadfield's time aton the ISS, Hadfield sang and played guitar while floating around the space station. On Earth, Joe Corcoran produced and mixed the backing track with a piano arrangement by the multi-instrumentalist [[Emm Gryner]], who worked with Bowie during his 1999–2000 concert tours. Gryner said she was "so proud to be a part of it".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=260}}

The lyrics were somewhat altered; rather than losing communication with Ground Control and being lost in space as a result, Major Tom receives his orders to land and does so safely, reflecting Hadfield's imminent return from his final mission to the ISS. Hadfield announced the video on his [[Twitter]] account, writing: "With deference to the genius of David Bowie, here's Space Oddity, recorded on Station. A last glimpse of the World."<ref name="Tweet" /> Bowie's social media team responded to the video, tweeting back to Hadfield, "Hallo Spaceboy&nbsp;...",<ref name="Tweet">{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/davidbowiereal/status/333717231236173824 |title=David Bowie Official on Twitter: "Chris Hadfield Sings Space Oddity in Space! "Hallo Spaceboy{{nbsp}}..." Commander Chris Hadfield, currently on{{nbsp}}..." |publisher=[[Twitter]] |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209011007/https://twitter.com/DavidBowieReal/status/333717231236173824 |archive-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and later called the cover "possibly the most poignant version of the song ever created".<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Griffin |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/david-bowie-how-chris-hadfield-space-oddity-cover-from-orbit-was-helped-by-the-real-starman-a6805586.html |title=David Bowie: How Chris Hadfield's 'Space Oddity' cover from orbit was helped by the 'Starman' |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008121710/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/david-bowie-how-chris-hadfield-space-oddity-cover-from-orbit-was-helped-by-the-real-starman-a6805586.html |archive-date=8 October 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Hadfield's performance was the subject of a piece by Glenn Fleishman in ''[[The Economist]]'' on 22 &nbsp;May 2013 analyzing the legal implications of publicly performing a copyrighted work of music while in Earth orbit.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fleishman |first=Glenn |title=How does copyright work in space? |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/05/economist-explains-12 |date=22 May 2013 |newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=29 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529040242/http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/05/economist-explains-12|archive-date=29 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The"Space songOddity" is the only onesong of Bowie's for which he did not own the copyright.; Bowie'shis publisher granted Hadfield a one-year licence to the song.<ref name="ottawa_citizen_apology">{{cite news |title=Apology to David Bowie |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/apology-to-david-bowie |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=20 June 2014| access-date=24 June 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625061833/http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/apology-to-david-bowie| archive-date=25 June 2014| url-status=live}}</ref> On 13 May 2014, whenWhen the one-year licence expired on 13&nbsp;May 2014, the official video was taken offline<ref>{{cite web |url=https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/110249294902151128989/wm/4/+ChrisHadfield/posts/SN4M7fU9uLW|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140513164700/https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/110249294902151128989/wm/4/+ChrisHadfield/posts/SN4M7fU9uLW|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2014 |title=Bowie's last day – we had permission for a year, so our Space Oddity video comes down today. One last look|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> despite Bowie's explicit wishes for the publisher to grant Hadfield a licence at no charge to record the song and produce the video.<ref name="ottawa_citizen_apology" /> Following negotiations, the video was restored to YouTube on 2 &nbsp;November 2014 with a two-year licence agreement in place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Space Oddity |url=http://chrishadfield.ca/space-oddity/ |website=chrishadfield.ca|access-date=4 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103234848/http://chrishadfield.ca/space-oddity/|archive-date=3 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> AccordingPegg to Pegg,calls Hadfield's video is "Breathtakingly beautiful and extraordinarily moving, [and] offers a rare opportunity to deploy that overused adjective 'awesome' with complete justification".{{sfn|Pegg|2016|p=260}}

[[Category:UK Singlessingles Chartchart number-one singles]]