I was watching TV, and I saw a pretty good commercial. I was not, and am not interested in the product, but the music playing moved me deeply and I have been trying to understand why there was such an emotional connection. The song is called Major Tom (Coming Home) as performed by the band the Shiny Toy Guns. I had never heard the song before, but Major Tom is a familiar name.
Way back in 1969, David Bowie wrote a song called “Space Oddity” about a fictional astronaut named Major Tom. The events in the song describe Major Tom being killed in space and his final radio transmission during which he calmly states “Tell my wife I love her very much.” This inspired the German musician Peter Schilling to write the 1983 song Major Tom (Coming Home ) which describes the irony of the scientist’s certainty and confidence before liftoff, and Major Tom’s lonely final moments without radio contact. Peter Schilling’s song was written in German, but along came the Shiny Toy Guns and recorded an English language version, which is what I heard.
These two songs were written in 1969 and 1983. Although the particulars of the story they tell are fictional, they described a drama that would occur in the sky over our heads twice in the years to come. I would like to propose that David Bowie is psychic, because these real life Major Toms wouldn’t give their lives until fourteen years after the story was first told.
On January 28th in 1986, the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all 7 crew members when a leak in the booster ignited the rocket fuel. On February 1, 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entry when the atmosphere tore off a wing that had been damaged during the launch. There have been dozens of other tragedies I don’t have room to mention.
David Bowie and Peter Schilling had a vision of brave astronauts sacrificing themselves so that the human race could leave the planet and explore the universe. Then fourteen years later it came true. Any large primate can use a tool. What truly sets us apart as humans is the ability to envision something, to dream and then bring that dream to life.
I extend the most sincere appreciation to the brave crews of the Challenger and the Columbia. Major Tom in real life.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I am going to go out on a limb and say it had something to do with the psychoactive drugs.
Drugs or no, they are both great songs.
And I thought that Major Tom Coming Home had an English version by Peter Schilling, I’d never heard of Shiny Toy Guns. Guess I’d better look it up
Don’t forget the astronauts of the Apollo 1 mission, who died January 27, 1967.
Gus Grissom
Ed White
Roger Chaffee
They also gave their lives in order for man to explore space.
http://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/
OH SNAP!
Jarin C – 0
ooh_child – 1
Originally, I had decided not to include the names of the Apollo 1 Astronauts in the post because the nature of their disaster was different from the ones I wanted to focus on, and because of length concerns. However I was remiss in omitting their names, and would like to thank ooh_child for adding them to the thread. They were also great American Heroes.
Great article Jarin! I love that you paid a tribute to all of those that have dreamed of traveling in space.
I think it’ll be interesting to see how the repair goes on the Hubble telescope and if the second shuttle will be needed.