An interesting thing about the Major Tom storyline - he shows up at 4 different times throughout Bowie's catalog. Notably in Ashes to Ashes (a must), and on Bowie's last album, released 2 days before his death - Blackstar. The imagery on the video for that song shows a skeleton inside a spacesuit having been marooned on a planet, laying in a sand dune - apparently that's what happened to Major Tom.

Stay in space with his classic song LIFE ON MARS

This dude has as uncanny ability to break a song down and get to what the artist meant. No other reactor comes even close

Oh wow, it's Bowie time! This is going to be fun :)

One of my faves from Bowie. Look at the date 1969, and hardly no one knew him, and wasn’t famous. It sold poorly for months, but after an appearance on TOTP’s the single climbed to No 5 in October. He didn’t have another single hit for 3 years. The drugs thing is just an interpretation in your mind, as it was more about alienation, and was inspired by the 1968 film 2001 A Space Oddity.

Moonage Daydream is my personal favorite by him. Five Years off the same album being my second.

I find it remarkable how little music you've heard from the 60s/70s/80s, especially for one with such a good ear, as well as a clear and obvious passion for music in general

"Ashes to Ashes" and "Blackstar" also tell the story of Major Tom.

My friend, if this was Bowie's only hit he'd be known for one of the best novelty songs. I'm jealous of the journey you have ahead of you. I suggest "Ashes to Ashes" next, which is a sort of sequel to this song.

I recommend checking out the cover of this song by Chris Hadfield. He's an astronaut who recorded the music video for his version on the International Space Station, it's really great.

Cocaine. Never heroin. Bowie is unique in so many ways. The day he died I saw a message in a shop window saying “The stars look very different today” and it hit me like a ton of bricks. He seemed immortal somehow.

Wow @SyedRewinds, I never thought about looking at the lyrics as a tale of an addict. I'm a recovering addict 2 n a half yrs clean from a nasty street drug that made meth feel like decaf. I can totally see how you could look at the lyrics from that pov. As a lover of good story telling I know you loved this. Me too, also I love how Bowie experimented with sounds trying to get the song to sound just like it did in his head. I love space, it's a fascinating topic to me. Artemis Is orbiting around the moon as we speak . It's due to return 2 days after Christmas. I pray to Odd there are no issues and it returns safely. It would be a great gift for all of humanity, the whole world... every flat, square inch of it. (Waka, Waka. LoL)

I think you were spot on with your interpretation. In another song of David's named 'ashes to ashes' he actually says "we know major Tom's a junkie." Definitely react to that song.

Very good read on the song. If you want to see how right you are, then check out the sequel which came out 11 years later - Ashes to Ashes. The Bowie rabbithole is very, very deep.

There is a part two to this song where he revisits Major Tom later in his career. Song is called "Ashes to Ashes" from the Scary Monsters album. Definitely worth a listen. He revisits Major Tom again in his last album Darkstar which came out a day before his untimely death. In the video Major Tom is shown dead, an obvious reference to Bowie having just passed away.

The use of Mellotron in this song is brilliant -- I mean, it was pretty current in 1969 but it just gives the feel and atmosphere exactly as should be in this song. And that was the "buzzing" thing you heard early on. In the rest of the songs it's the keyboard/strings sound that carries the chords along with the acoustic guitar.

I HIGHLY recommend you check out Bowie's concept album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars". He had created an entire alter ego named Ziggy Stardust and he WAS Ziggy for a couple of years while they toured the album.

Great study of this Bowie classic Syed. I'm jealous... you're getting to hear all this stuff for the first time. At the time I don't think we really appreciated it enough.

Bowie is a true artist. I say this despite not personally being a fan of a lot of his music. That's sort of irrelevant, though because every Bowie song is radically, radically different from every other song. The man is absolutely impossible to put into any sort of genre, box or category. I will say, of the songs of his I like, I REALLY REALLY like them. This is probably my favorite. Edit: a few things to check out: David Bowie + Queen = Pressure. David Bowie + Trent Reznor = I'm Afraid of Americans. Iconic Bowie = Heroes. Also, check out "The Man Who Sold the World" and then check out the Nirvana's unplugged cover of the same. Brilliant.

That countdown in the verse just seems so obvious now but what genius, really. The timing and interspersing with the lyric just sets up the “launch” perfectly.

Another must on this topic: Elton John: Rocket Man, stunning song.

Legend 👌

Space was a big topic at the time. Did not have to have a double meaning

I miss Bowie so much!!! Loved him since I'm 10 years old- please do Moonage Daydream! My favorite of all time!

Totally 💯 love Bowie. You have to remember the time 69 we were all excited about space. Next one about major Tom is Ashes to Ashes, Bowie the early years had was shy so he made up different persona’s, Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Zane, Thin White Duke. Suggest Star 💫 Man, Life on Mars, Blue Jean, Fame, Changes, Jean Genie. To many to list, he played in some movies (The Man who fell to earth.) labyrinth my favorite. He even played on Broadway 🎭 as The Elephant Man. Accomplish artist and on the Internet he was one of the pioneers ranked up with Microsoft its called “Bowie net “. He had 2 different color eyes. He got hit in the eye over a girl. It was pretty serious. thought he was gonna lose his eye he was still in school at the time. I could go on extremely witty should check out a few of his interviews or just funny moments 💯💫

I'm impressed with how cognizant your take, is

I remember first hearing this on the radio as a little kid and of course by the time I got into high school and really for the next many years I bought so many David Bowie albums just like all of my friends. It was fascinating to see the journey he evolved through. Moonage Daydream is another one that just mesmerizes people when they hear it for the first time. And it's so catchy. Another monumental iconic hit from him around the same time which I believe either Nirvana or the Foo Fighters covered, is The Man Who Saved the World. It is so fantastic and textural it is just astounding. He also pallled around with John Lennon for a while, and I think Lennon helped him with his big hit Fame and either played guitar on it with him or helped sing some backing vocals or something. David Bowie was also very supportive of Iggy Pop, one of the superstars of the post-punk scene in America. I love Iggy Pop so much. My favorite traditional rocker from him and a huge fan favorite which just blazes and it's got this false cadence at the end which just kills and the lyrics are hilarious is called, Suffragette City. It rocks so hard.

A nice companion to this song would be Elton John's "Rocket Man." You can't appreciate how space-obsessed everyone was in the 1960s. Astronauts were the hottest celebrity heroes, which is why shirt companies would want them to wear their shirts!

This song features the great Rick Wakeman on Mellotron.

If you want an excellent rocker try Sufferagette City. Nice to see you checking out Bowie.

Being on psychedelics then felt very tuned in to what the world was going through … so yes, spot on. All the meanings in one. We felt a need to lift off. To take us off the road to here, maybe. Enjoy the ride with David Bowie. One song I loved from about 8 long years later I haven’t seen anyone react to ~ Sound & Vision. He was in Berlin living a stone’s through from the Wall, twelve years before that came down. I’m sure plenty of people here can steer you to plenty more stuff.

I believe the "... whose shirts you wear." line is a nod to "Satisfaction". Jagger was a close buddy.

My favorit track from Bowie ❤❤❤

Best music reaction channel ever. Bowie, Dylan & Pink Floyd have been my all time fav artists. Bowie admired Dylan - he recorded a song about him called *Song For Bob Dylan*. Saw Bowie 6 times, only one wasn't great.

You are spot on about the double meaning of the song, infect there were 4 songs in the Major Tom opus developed over the years and they can all be taken as straight up spaceman tales or describe heroin trips and addiction, worth listening to them all they are of course Space Oddity, then Ashes to Ashes followed by Hallo Sapceboy and finally Blackstar.

I sometimes wonder how one can escape popular music even when not introduced formally. I grew up first hearing hits involuntarily through radios, specially in cars, busses and other public spaces

I don't think it's about drugs; don't think he did heroin but know that he had a coke problem for awhile later on. This song was early in his career.

R.I.P. David Bowie you are missed…

We were still excited about going to the moon, and other things related to space travel at the time Bowie recorded this great song. In the song, something goes wrong with his capsule, and he realizes he is not going home to his family, and will die alone in that space capsule. I have heard, that NASA, gives every member of their space launches, a poison cyanide capsule for just that reason. It would be horrible, floating around in space for weeks, if not longer, just waiting to die of dehydration or something.

Great reaction. I would say, go through the classics (avoid the Let's Dance album) such as Starman, Ziggy Stardust, Changes, Jonn I'm only Dancing, and eventually get to Aladdin Sane and Time.

Peter schilling does a song that is inspired by this called major Tom. This is from the 80s so a different vibe but still a good song

YEAH SYED SO ELTON AND BERNIE LOVED THIS SONG SO MUCH THAT THEY THEMSELVES WROTE THEIR OWN MASTERPIECE 😊 ( ROCKET MAN ) ON ELTON'S 72 MULTI PLATINUM ALBUM ( HONKY CHATEAU ) 😊 TAKE CARE AND GREAT ANALYSIS

David Bowie was an accomplished actor too. His performance in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence is stellar. He made other movies too, always good performances. The Man Who Fell to Earth is a trip. Still not sure what it's about, but worth watching.

I don’t recall Bowie having issues with heroin. He had a massive cocaine addiction in the mid-70’s. Alienation was always one of his themes. Oddity kicks off this musical journey, I think. So much more Bowie to explore! You always have amazing and thoughtful takes.

Bowie never disappoints.

Using the Stylophone, which was essentially a toy, was a stroke of genius.

My grandfather used to call in to the radio station every day and request this song. He’d sign in calling himself Major Bob (his name).

You've gotta listen to Peter Schillings - Major Tom Coming Home, a great follow up to this song

The buzzing ... Bowie loved distortion.

I never thought about the lyrics being a metaphor for drug use but it works. Especially the feelings of isolation and distance from other people that some drugs, like heroin, can foster.

Apparently although Bowie wrote the song in the mid 1960's he never released it until the Apollo space mission to the moon in 1969. I find it interesting that you relate it to a drug trip. Whereas I understood it as a tribute to that mission myself. Silly me. 😊 This song is one of my favorite Bowie tracks. Along with "Young Americans", "Fame" and "Changes". All three are quintessential Bowie tunes. Please find time to give them a listen. You will not be disappointed. I promise. Thank you Syed. ✌️

check out the song Lazuras from his final album

I believe( ashes to ashes) is part 2 of this song.

Yet again, you're missing SO much with these classic songs by not watching the video along with hearing the music... especially when viewing the different personalities of Bowie. It's fun watching someone react (let alone try to understand) what a generation was grooving to. It makes me feel very old too! An adult discovering Bowie, The Beatles, Dylan et al? ...an adult! Say it ain't so! Lol

Okay, Syed! have you actually heard the follow-up song... "ashes to ashes"... (lyrics: funk to funky, we know major Tom's a junky)...you nailed it!

👍👍👍👍👍

Fun fact: The line “and the papers want to know whose shirts you wear” is a reference to which futbol team he is a fan of.

You should check out Major Hatfield covering this from aboard the International Space Station, he recorded footage very well and sang while playing guitar to make a music video Hearing an actual astronaut play it is pretty cool

Arcade Fire- keep the car running or the well and the lighthouse

You should check out his song - Starman

Listen to the LP “ Diamond Dogs” but anything from David Bowie, will take you to another dimension ✨.

Great analysis! Perhaps a bad, bad trip (drugs)? I hear stories about that happening.

That electronic buzzing is a Stylophone, which used to be advertised on the telly by Rolf Harris 😱

Let 's listen to the Music Dude !

The buzzing is a Melotron.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield sang the song in outer space. It’s on KZfaq if you’d like to see it.

Ok your interpretation is spot on. You have to listen to Ashes to Ashes now. You'll see why when you listen to it, but it's basically a sequel to this song

Great song, and for me that era, culminating with his musical pinnacle, the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album, was his best run of music and established himself as a rock ikon and his own genre. You should check out his stuff with his legendary band, the Spiders from Mars, will all time guitar master Mick Ronson leading the way for that stunning band. Try Ziggy Stardust, Moonage Daydream and his epic Width of a Circle. Studio masterpieces but live they take it to another level. Look for those songs live in the early 70s, you won't regret it, incredible performances by Bowie's and incendiary guitar on display. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶

Bowie is iconic, but my favorite version of this song is sung by Chris Hadfield on the International Space Station, like holy crap, how do you even beat that?

Ashes to Ashes is kind of the companion piece to this song, bookend songs to the 70s decade. Quicksand and The Bewlay Brothers are two absolute gems.

You got it ...... the real metaphore about drugs!

I agree with Pablo. This is one of the most incisive reactions I've ever seen. Subscribe. Done ✓

Now, jump almost 50 years, to "Blackstar." If you dare. Detour: "Ashes to Ashes".

William Shatner went into space at age 90. he was blown away by the experience.

if you check out Ashes to Ashes, it does connect this character to drugs

Major Tom is referenced again in "Ashes to Ashes," so maybe that should be your next stop. "Hallo Spaceboy" and "Blackstar" are arguably spiritual cousins and they're both worth a listen too.

Well I think this is kinda literal really; it was fairly soon after the moon landing and folks were kinda space giddy. But there’s definitely a parallel to stardom and the hype machine, but the reality of which is a separated kind of loneliness. One of the most atmospherically bang-on instrumentations in rock.

Relax. Sometimes a song is just a song.

He has a huge catalog, every song is completely different from his last hit. This was from his Ziggy Stardust personna

You really should experience Aurora covering David Bowie life on Mars. It's different enough from the original that it won't spoil the original for you

He released this in the same year as the first moon landing, so I think the song was really mostly about that actual event, rather than drugs or whatever.

1972 me and Alex and Richard obliterated on acid listening to this track - those were the days.

A lot of people have thought this song is about heroin, and although Bowie was never a big smackhead (his main drug of choice, as others have said, was cocaine), he did have a brief period when he was doing heroin, and it was in the late 60s, so it does check out. That electronic buzzing you hear throughout the song is a stylophone, a tiny - I mean *tiny* as in not that much bigger than a large smartphone - and cheap early synthesiser that was played with a stylus. Probably one of very few hit records to use it!

On your point in another song he says (ASHES TO ASHES FUN TO FUNKY YOU KNOW MAJOR TOMS A JUNKY)

Sequel, "Ashes To Ashes"

I think you should really listen to Muse‘s Exogenesis Symphony: Part 1 to 3!

David Bowie - Man who sold the world, Aladdin Sane, Let's Dance, China Girl, This is not America, Blackstar, Lazarus.

I’ve never perceived the possible drug metaphor. My take is that it follows his signature theme of being the outsider, feeling alone in a crowd. No doubt it’s written where one can insert their own perception. Bowie never fails to impress me. It’s fun to share with you.

I think you ve read some stuff on the internet concerning the drugs ans song meaning.yes he had an addiction to ....cocaine much later on in his career.....and it is more about ashes to ashes which have the same caractère major tom.but no for me space oddity is a photo of 69 and Bowie later on seeing the double meaning opportunity

First 7" vinyl I ever bought with my own money age 8

Listen to ashes to ashes He talks about Major Tom.

you're supposed to listen to this with a big chunk of opiated black hash, at least that is how we used to do it, lol!

I'm Ziggy because of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, in case anyone missed that, LOL. The line about "the paper's want to know what shirts you wear" really brought the banality of the the popular press home. Commercialism at its best. "Young Americans" is one I'd like to see you react too. He did this one in his 'Soul Man' persona.

JOE WALSH - TURN TO STONE (barnstorm album) please listen to it for your own sake 🙏🏾

Bowie was never into Heroin - He liked Fast Drugs that stimulate- "At first it was the lighter drugs, pills maybe, during the London period in the Sixties. Then it was cocaine in a very serious manner around 1974. The Sixties didn’t have the hostility and violence - spiritual violence, emotional violence - that was part and parcel of the Seventies. David Bowie Arena, May/June 1993

By all means dive into David Bowie! p.s. still waiting on Tool.

First song ever with a dubstep drop???

syed dude listen. please listen to Bowie song - this is not america. so smooth. thanks be safe johnny

He had no significant drug addictions at this point in his career.... it's a space man song.

"And the papers want to know whose shirt you wear" refers to the newspapers indicating whether the astronaut was from the United States versus Russia. Remember there was a "space race" between the U.S. and Russia to be the first country to reach the moon.