Space Oddity

When you listen to Space Oddity, you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a story. It's the tale of a fictional astronaut, Major Tom, who launches into space and, somehow, becomes disconnected from everything. The song, written by David Bowie, was born from a feeling of distance, almost dehumanization, that he perceived in the space race. Bowie sought to connect science with human emotions, and this piece served as a kind of antidote to the "space fever" that was prevalent at the time.

The recording of Space Oddity took place at Trident Studios in London on June 20, 1969, under the production of Gus Dudgeon. The sound moved away from the lounge music style of his first album, leaning towards a psychedelic folk with influences from the Bee Gees. It was one of the most complex compositions Bowie had tackled up to that point. The single's release, handled by Philips and Mercury Records on July 11, 1969, was rushed to capitalize on the context of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Although it didn't initially have a major commercial impact, it soon climbed to number five in the UK, marking Bowie's first major success there. The song became a staple in his concerts until 1990, and Bowie revisited the figure of Major Tom in other later songs, such as Ashes to Ashes in 1980.