David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity‘ was one of the songs played on the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny movie soundtrack this month.
It was one of several older classic songs played on the film, including The Beatles’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour‘.
Songs that made the actually-surprisingly-good film even better. (And I say “surprisingly good” as so many so-called film critics trashed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny without any good cause — Go see it. It’s a little long, but very entertaining).
When was David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity‘ released?
‘Space Oddity‘ was released first as a single in July 1969, and then later on as the opening track of the singer’s self-titled second studio album.
Bowie wrote the song after being influenced by the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
And what is interesting about the psychedelic folk track is that, although the BBC used the song as background music to the channel’s coverage of the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing, for some reason, this incredibly cool song didn’t immediately grab music lovers’ attention.
That happened several months later, when ‘Space Oddity‘ finally hit #5 on the UK Singles chart, and #124 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
It was then re-released four years later and hit #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, #17 on the Cash Box Top 100 chart, and #16 on the Canadian Singles chart.
Since then, David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity‘ has become not only one of the late singer’s most popular songs with fans, but also one that has been the most critically-acclaimed.
In the last couple of decades, it has also been placed on many critics’ ‘Best of’ lists. Deservedly so.
Listen to David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity‘ on the song’s official music video.
The video was the second music video released for the song, and was shot with a Bowie who had no idea why the record company was insisting a second video needed to be created.
Hence, why he looks bored and tired throughout.
You can also hear the song on his self-titled second studio album via Spotify below.