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We're still up in space... but before we visit any more planets, here's a few songs about the men and women who might be making the journey alongside us.
10. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman
If you remember the 30 second jeans ad that made this song a hit, you might remember being rather confused on hearing the full-length version. The rest of the song sounds very different to the bit everybody knows. Watching the video again, I can't help but conclude that Jas Mann was a bit of a git: and his lyrics are pretentious drivel (please stop listening before you get to the "intergalactic Christ" bit). Still, it was a moment in time.
9. Drugstore - Spacegirl
See, I was about to type, "ah, Drugstore... whatever happened...?" until a little birdie told me the band recently got back together and released their first album in almost a decade. Further investigation is required...
8. Belle & Sebastian - A Space Boy Dream
I dreamt I had to go to Mars.
I'm always kidding on about going to Mars for the day
But faced with the reality of it, in a dream, I was terrified.
And it wasn't going to be like a moon trip
There was three of us going, but we couldn't all go on the same ship
We had to go one at a time with a day between us.
The other two astronauts were going to be my dad and my sister
And my dad would come first after me
So I decided when I landed I would just stay in my seat until he got there
And then we could get out together and have a look around
And see what sort of things were there.
7. The Killers - Spaceman
Whatever else you might think about Brandon Flowers, you've got to give him some credit for wearing the outfit he wears in this video. He looks kinda like Mister Sinister from The X-Men. If I were his dad...
"You're not going out wearing that in public, are you, lad?"
6. The Byrds - Mr. Spaceman
As the man who uploaded this to youtube remarks: "good song". Fair enough.
5. Patti Smith - Space Monkey
Of course, it wasn't men or women who went into space first - it was the animals. (We'll have more of them in my Top Ten Astronaut Song list next week.)
I have come to the conclusion that the best Patti Smith songs (with the exception of the one co-written by Bruce) are the ones where she sounds like the kind of insane, rambling lunatic you might meet in the street and give all your change to just to make her go away. This is a prime example.
4. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - I'm The Urban Spaceman
Ah, those wacky 60s. Prepare yourself for the twist ending!
And, just for Dave... The Cud cover version. Which is better than I remembered.
3. Harry Nilsson - Spaceman
Now that I am a spaceman, nobody cares about me.
In many ways, that's the tragic story of Harry Nilsson's life right there. Maybe that's why I'm such a fan...
2. The All-Seeing I featuring Phil Oakey - First Man In Space
Not only has it got Phil Oakey on vocals - it's got Jarvis Cocker on lyrics! Sheffield's finest musical sons (well, two of them), together at last.
Darling, come quick - I can see our house from here!
1. Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentleman, We Are Floating In Space
Perhaps not an obvious choice for Number One on this particular Top Ten (though it was inevitable it'd turn up somewhere on my trip)... until you remember that the man behind Spiritualized is called J. Spaceman. After that: it's perfect.
As I said, next week is Astronaut Songs. But first - which musical Spaceman would you want to be trapped in a capsule with?
