"Starman" is a song by English musician David Bowie. It was released on 28 April 1972 by RCA Records as the lead single of his fifth studio album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Co-produced by Ken Scott, Bowie recorded the song on 4 February 1972 at Trident Studios in London with his backing band known as the Spiders from Mars – comprising guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick Woodmansey.
The song was a late addition to the album, written as a direct response to RCA's request for a single; it replaced the Chuck Berry cover "Round and Round" on the album. The lyrics describe Ziggy Stardust bringing a message of hope to Earth's youth through the radio, salvation by an alien 'Starman'. The chorus is inspired by "Over the Rainbow", sung by Judy Garland, while other influences include T. Rex and the Supremes.
Upon release, "Starman" sold favorably and earned positive reviews. Following Bowie's performance of the song on the BBC television programme Top of the Pops, the song launched to number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and helped propel the album to number five.
It was his first major hit since "Space Oddity" three years earlier. The performance made Bowie a star and was watched by a large audience, including many future musicians, who were all impacted by it; these included Boy George, Bono, Robert Smith and Ian McCulloch. Retrospectively, the song is considered by music critics as one of Bowie's finest.
Lyrics
Hey now, now Oh, oh, oh Didn't know what time it was, the lights were low I leaned back on my radio Some cat was laying down some rock 'n' roll "Lotta soul," he said Then the loud sound did seem to fade Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase That weren't no DJ, that was hazy cosmic jive There's a starman waiting in the sky He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds There's a starman waiting in the sky He's told us not to blow it 'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile He told me Let the children lose it Let the children use it Let all the children boogie I had to phone someone so I picked on you Hey, that's far out, so you heard him too Switch on the TV, we may pick him up on channel two Look out your window, I can see his light If we can sparkle he may land tonight Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright There's a starman waiting in the sky He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds There's a starman waiting in the sky He's told us not to blow it 'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile He told me Let the children lose it Let the children use it Let all the children boogie Starman waiting in the sky He'd like to come and meet us But he thinks he'd blow our minds There's a starman waiting in the sky He's told us not to blow it 'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile He told me Let the children lose it Let the children use it Let all the children boogie La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la La, la, la, la-la, la, la, la
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