Chris Hadfield's 'Space Oddity' Is Back On YouTube (Thanks To David Bowie)

Astronaut's 'Space Oddity' Is Back On YouTube!

Of all the amazing things that Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield did during his time as commander of the International Space Station - such as, for instance, being on the space station - it was his musical 'interpretation' of David Bowie's classic 'Space Oddity' that made him truly internet famous.

Unfortunately his version of the track, recorded in space with an accompanying music video, was only licensed for a short time, due to the realities of copyright back on Earth.

But now, thanks to an agreement between him, Bowie's publishers and the Canadian Space Agency, the video is back for another two years.

In a blog post Hadfield said there was "no rancour" between him and Bowie - the pop star already described the song as "possibly the most poignant version" he had ever heard.

Hadfield said:

"The reasons we originally made the video were multifold. It was in response to repeated widespread requests via social media. It was a fun Saturday project with my son, Evan. It was a continuation of the other music that I was playing and recording while on ISS. But maybe most importantly, it was a chance to let people see where we truly are in space exploration. We’re not just probing what lies beyond Earth – we inhabit it.

"For the past 14 years, humans have lived and worked aboard a research vessel orbiting our planet. It is science fiction come to life. Like at all initial outposts, we’ve brought our traditions and sensibilities and are applying and appreciating them in a new place.

"Sometimes, as in the case of Oddity, it has let us see our ideas and creations, ourselves, in a new light. I had hoped to be able to capture the feeling of this one small step for humanity, and share it with you all."

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