Space-Inspired Songs by David Bowie

by Liz Publika

David Bowie (1947 -2016)

"Before any earthling ever set foot on the moon, David Bowie was deep in outer space, standing at his own version of the crossroads and transfixing generations of fans too too weird for this world." — Jody Rosen, Billboard

"Space Oddity" (1969)

Space Oddity

Space Oddity (1969) tells the story of Major Tom, an astronaut launched into space under the watchful direction of Ground Control. The song closely mirrors the structure and language of real space missions, from the countdown to liftoff to the moment he exits the capsule and observes Earth from orbit. As the mission continues, communication with Ground Control fails, leaving Major Tom drifting alone in space.

Released just days before the Apollo 11 moon landing, the song was deeply tied to the public fascination with space exploration at the end of the 1960s. It captures the era’s mix of technological optimism and quiet unease, pairing the spectacle of spaceflight with a sense of distance, stillness, and unresolved separation as Major Tom floats beyond reach, watching a blue Earth from afar.

"Starman" (1972)

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Starman (1972), from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, marks the point where Bowie’s Ziggy persona fully enters the public narrative. The song is framed as a late-night interruption via radio and television, with a strange signal cutting through everyday media. This reflects the early 1970s, when shared broadcasts played a central role in shaping youth culture.

Released amid widespread interest in science fiction and space imagery, the song presents an imagined visitor reaching Earth through pop culture rather than real space travel. Its focus on young listeners aligns with Bowie’s emphasis on youth as drivers of change. Historically, Starman was crucial to Bowie’s breakthrough, especially following his 1972 Top of the Pops performance, and captures a moment when pop music felt like a message from somewhere just beyond the ordinary.

"Moonage Daydream" (1972)

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

In Moonage Daydream (1972), the outer-space language functions primarily as stylized imagery drawn from pulp sci-fi, comic books, and pop fantasy, not as a coherent mythological system. The lyrics assemble exaggerated space references—space invaders, ray guns, electric eyes, cosmic encounters—as metaphors for intensity, attention, and desire rather than as literal narrative elements.

Historically, this aligns with early-1970s glam rock’s embrace of flamboyant, exaggerated language and visual excess. The lyrics use outer-space vocabulary because it sounded futuristic, transgressive, and theatrical to contemporary audiences. The substance of the song lies in texture, attitude, and atmosphere, with space imagery serving as a vivid stylistic tool rather than a symbolic system to decode.

Note* All summaries are intended to provide historical and social content in terms of space and astronomy reference. Image is in the public domain.