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Natalie Merchant — Space Oddity
Album: Live In Concert
Avg rating:
5.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1976









Released: 1999
Length: 4:34
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Space Oddity
Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God's love be with you

(spoken)
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare
"This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows"
Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you....
"Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do."
Comments (358)add comment
 Proclivities wrote:

Is there really a "good way" to have one's ears bleeding?


😂
Posted 2 years ago by SeriousLee    [ Reply ]
 Joanna91540 wrote:
not my peace of cake 


But is it your piece of cake?
Posted 2 years ago by 25demayo    [ Reply ]
I started out not wanting to like this. Natalie changed my mind. 8
Posted 2 years ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
 mach-hog wrote:

Cool segue from Schilling to Merchant



That's what I was about to post too! 
Posted 2 years ago by rob311    [ Reply ]
This is a nice performance, but seems a little subdued. The original had quite a range of emotions: anxiety, joy, wonder, fear, and disconnectedness.
Posted 2 years ago by talexb    [ Reply ]
 blackjellybean wrote:

Ok to listen to, but I don't think it adds much to the original song.



It does the song justice, but just barely.
Posted 2 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
It strikes me that, although this is pretty good, she's so influenced and absorbed by the version we all know that she can't really get away. A tribute to Bowie I guess, but she doesn't own it. Of course, but it just struck me in this last hearing.
Posted 2 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
not my peace of cake 
Posted 3 years ago by Joanna91540    [ Reply ]
Posted 3 years ago by steve1542    [ Reply ]
Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
Cool segue from Schilling to Merchant
Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
Lots of Natalie haters out there.  I'm not sure I get it.  I was DELIGHTED by this re-make.   I liked her in 10,000 maniacs.  Punky.
Posted 3 years ago by squawpeapot    [ Reply ]
I wonder this song...... She does not make a difference to anybody who can sing.
Posted 3 years ago by Thunderbolt    [ Reply ]
 apsteinmetz wrote:

Not one of NM’s stronger covers. OTOH, “because the night’” is hurricane force.



Hurricanes, like Natalie, do a lot of damage to our best works...
Posted 3 years ago by jayhamiljr    [ Reply ]
 Henkjan wrote:
she should be jailed for this, absolute rubbish. a solid 1
 
"Lock her up!" - Refrain or what?
It's okay if you don't like it and it's okay to tell others that you don't, but please - don't make such stupid comments...
Posted 3 years ago by Lemmes    [ Reply ]
Played right after Völlig Losgelöst's Major Tom 
Posted 3 years ago by PinkSo    [ Reply ]
I think Chandler Bing's is better  .

It can be done (Nirvana), but this one missed the mark for me. 
Posted 3 years ago by glowworm    [ Reply ]
Umm... no, no NO! 
Posted 3 years ago by cinzia1026    [ Reply ]
No good.  Lifeless version.
Posted 3 years ago by aonley    [ Reply ]
Was fully hoping for David Bowie after the Peter Schilling tune. It's cool that I was surprised by a left hook...(one of the many reasons I love RP)...but this left hook had no glove! The solo and instrumentation on this is awesome. Natalie's voice is such a drag though...She's faithful, but it's just not great to me. 
Posted 3 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
as bad as it can get
Posted 3 years ago by Felix_The_Cat    [ Reply ]
Some people on RP can't stand Dengue Fever and the Khmer singing style. 
Well, I for one can't stand Natalie Merchant's voice. I want to, I've tried to but... nope. 
Posted 4 years ago by Mannick    [ Reply ]
 Punkysoup wrote:
Yikes. This doesn't need to exist AT ALL.
 
Nor do you, but I would never wish for that.
Posted 4 years ago by whaleboneman    [ Reply ]
I want to hate her for this.
Even though it was well performed, she didn't make it her own.
Posted 4 years ago by Blasserman    [ Reply ]
I was surprised how much I like this version. I'm not normally a Natalie Merchant fan, but this one adds some soulfulness and groove the original lacks. I like how much slower it is than Bowie's studio recording.
Posted 4 years ago by ToddBradley    [ Reply ]
Stopping just short of murder, probably at the point when the guitarist sticks to the first bars of the solo.
Posted 4 years ago by MattRudely    [ Reply ]
nope. 
very bold to cover such an iconic song - better make sure you bring something to the table.
Posted 5 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
Generally do not like cover version of anything but this is actually very good IMHO and does the original justice.
Posted 5 years ago by cob427uk1    [ Reply ]
Yikes. This doesn't need to exist AT ALL.
Posted 5 years ago by Punkysoup    [ Reply ]
Not one of NM’s stronger covers. OTOH, “because the night’” is hurricane force.
Posted 5 years ago by apsteinmetz    [ Reply ]
essential Natalie . . . 9 for me
Posted 5 years ago by DChas    [ Reply ]
Y?
Posted 5 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
alright. it's unanimous then. we all really like this version! her bio is quite interesting!
Posted 5 years ago by jumbo    [ Reply ]
Ok to listen to, but I don't think it adds much to the original song.
Posted 5 years ago by blackjellybean    [ Reply ]
Why should i listen to this crap, when there's a perfect original version. For all i am concerned she can sing in the shower i like to do so myselve, but don't bother anybody else with your "art" and leave the real stuff for Bowie to perform.
Posted 5 years ago by Roy_Batty    [ Reply ]
 brollo wrote:
She shouldn't have.
 

Why; that's a great version!
Posted 5 years ago by 123heyaho!    [ Reply ]
She shouldn't have.
Posted 5 years ago by brollo    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:


Your theory is completely baseless.  Low ratings are derived from people disliking songs and voting accordingly, not by an imaginary "statistical bubble" derived from the first "lurker" commenting and then other "follower lurkers rushing to claim to have been that one single lurker".  That's not even possible.  A lot of people don't care for Natalie Merchant's voice, therefore some of her songs receive low ratings here, but many of her songs do not.  Anyhow, it has nothing to do with these "social media" goblins that you have dreamed up - there is no conspiracy against Natalie and her fans.  Musically, this isn't a bad version, but her singing just sounds lifeless and disinterested.
 
What's more, I gave this one a 4 and I generally like NM. This rendition of the song just rubs me the wrong way. Doesn't do much differently than the original, but what I feel it does differently is syncopate the vocal rhythms in a few places in a way that I just don't care for. Doesn't seem "lifeless" to me, but certainly disjointed.
Posted 5 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
 old_shep wrote:
The reason for the low score on this, and other NM songs, is that all the "social" media lurkers hiding behind their monitors out there offer their opinions only after one braver lurker takes a big chance and press their mouse button first.  So one low score generates a stastical bubble due basically to all the follower lurkers rushing to claim to have been that one single lurker with a twichy index finger.


 

Your theory doesn't seem very well-founded.  Low ratings are derived from people disliking songs and voting accordingly, not by an imaginary "statistical bubble" derived from the first "lurker" commenting and then other "follower lurkers rushing to claim to have been that one single lurker".  That's not even possible.  A lot of people don't care for Natalie Merchant's voice, therefore some of her songs receive low ratings here, but many of her songs do not.  Anyhow, it has nothing to do with these "social media" goblins that you have dreamed up - there is no conspiracy against Natalie and her fans.  Musically, this isn't a bad version, but her singing just sounds lifeless and disinterested to me.
Posted 5 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
she should be jailed for this, absolute rubbish. a solid 1
Posted 6 years ago by Henkjan    [ Reply ]
Went to see her last night in Brighton and she was amazing. Such a powerful and soulfull voice. Just her and guitar for the most part. Her on her own at times. Great stuff if you are a fan like me.

I am afraid that this is a rubbish cover though.
Posted 6 years ago by Lyndont    [ Reply ]
Spot on and live to boot !
Posted 6 years ago by Richard_Gold    [ Reply ]
You are the King of the Segues, Mr. Goldsmith.
Posted 6 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
Aside from the awesome eclectic mix of music, I love these little juxtapositions of tracks connected by artist or title...... Peter Schilling's Major Tom, Natalie Merchant's cover of Space Oddity, and David Bowie's Cat People - nice !.  Keep up the good work RP {#Notworthy}
Posted 6 years ago by redart    [ Reply ]

    Major Tom hates this cover{#Fire}
Posted 6 years ago by kosta_n190    [ Reply ]
If I were the David Bowie estate, I'd sue.
Posted 6 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]
Made on Earth by humans
Posted 6 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
!Y?
Posted 6 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
 SeriousLee wrote:
I love this cover. And I'm not even a Merchant fan. {#Cheers}

 
I'm the opposite, like Merchant, not this cover.
Posted 6 years ago by wolverine    [ Reply ]
oh my god -  lift off forever
Posted 6 years ago by slandering    [ Reply ]
Terrific cover!
Posted 7 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
No covers, RP!
Posted 7 years ago by Mita    [ Reply ]
Pretty amazing live.
Posted 7 years ago by meatmike    [ Reply ]
 meinthecorner wrote:
Well...we all make mistakes from time to time. Funny how she's managed to make a career out of it, though!

 
i love this comment so much.
Posted 7 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
omg. the worst.
Posted 7 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Normaly I don't like covers, but this one I like. {#Dancingbanana}
Posted 7 years ago by Eric_Gustafsson    [ Reply ]
i mean if you gonna cover it at least make it your own and dont sound like some shitty band you book for your shitty cousins wedding you dont really care about. 
Posted 7 years ago by leechi    [ Reply ]
Pretty decent cover.
Posted 7 years ago by nutrod42    [ Reply ]
I love this cover. And I'm not even a Merchant fan. {#Cheers}
Posted 7 years ago by SeriousLee    [ Reply ]
Not a good cover.
Posted 7 years ago by Springbok84    [ Reply ]
why...?

...did she do this to that song?
...does it get played here at all?
Posted 7 years ago by nickshortie    [ Reply ]
 VH1 wrote:
She should be beaten, tarred and feathered for the crime she committed to this song!
 
"Beaten, tarred and feathered"?
Wow.
Maybe save up your pennies and buy a clue.
Posted 7 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
Well...we all make mistakes from time to time. Funny how she's managed to make a career out of it, though!
Posted 7 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
She should be beaten, tarred and feathered for the crime she committed to this song! {#Stop}{#Frustrated}{#Fight}{#Beat}{#Ass}{#Whipit}
Posted 7 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
This is horrendous. She's sharp on every note. Please staaaaaaahp.
Posted 7 years ago by CDextrous    [ Reply ]
crap-o-la...
 
 

Hey Bill there is a reason it's rated in the '5" range!
Posted 7 years ago by VV    [ Reply ]
{#No}
Posted 7 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
 Shotoverplain wrote:
Please play the real thing not these shallow, weak, naboroeous cover versions 

 
"naboroeous"; congrats, you've invented a new word.
Posted 7 years ago by Duc1098    [ Reply ]
Nice to hear an homage to Bowie recorded before his demise. Any Bowie songs covered in 2016 just seem like the trendy thing to do,
Posted 7 years ago by DeemerDave    [ Reply ]
Good gawd, WHY?
Posted 7 years ago by ExpatLarry    [ Reply ]
 BlueHeronDruid wrote:
Ponderous drivel.

 
Or just plain crap!
Posted 7 years ago by ddog    [ Reply ]
Ponderous drivel.
Posted 7 years ago by BlueHeronDruid    [ Reply ]
 Schmoogsley wrote:
Ugh! Can't stand her. Sorry. {#Moon}

 
horrible...
Posted 7 years ago by nickshortie    [ Reply ]
lame
Posted 8 years ago by jannet    [ Reply ]
Average Rating: 5.2

I believe the people have spoken. 
Posted 8 years ago by rhw    [ Reply ]
Nothing compares to the original.
But this is a great tribute, performed by Steven Wilson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGNRaUOg6JE
Posted 8 years ago by Stylist    [ Reply ]
Please play the real thing not these shallow, weak, naboroeous cover versions 
Posted 8 years ago by Shotoverplain    [ Reply ]
What a prediction of the song order tonight...
Posted 8 years ago by terryd    [ Reply ]
Ugh! Can't stand her. Sorry. {#Moon}
Posted 8 years ago by Schmoogsley    [ Reply ]
 RiverOfLife wrote:
This is brave ...  A cover is also an homage - think of it as showing another take.

True - maybe this one doesn't really need a different take {#Smile}

Also, guys - the programming here is awesome ...{#Notworthy}

    Peter Schilling Major Tom (Coming home)  =>  Natalie Merchant - Space Oddity  =>  David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes (LIve)

 
Brave indeed, but it's not terrible. I like the fact that she doesn't try the do anything radically different, because any attempt to do so would fail given the perfection of the original.
Posted 8 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
 IrieTom wrote:
Frank Zappa, to David Bowie, in regards to Adrian Belew.

Details:  https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-frank-zappa-adrian-belew/

Skydog wrote:
who said
"f**k you Captain Tom"
to whom and why?
.
.
(yes, he said captain instead of major)

 

 
{#Yell}WE HAVE A WINNER!!
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
I like it.  Nice interpretation of a classic, IMHO. 
Posted 8 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
What is the need for this cover?
Posted 8 years ago by OHMish    [ Reply ]
I think we could have lived without this version.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Gloriastacholy    [ Reply ]
 RiverOfLife wrote:
This is brave ...  A cover is also an homage - think of it as showing another take.

True - maybe this one doesn't really need a different take {#Smile}

Also, guys - the programming here is awesome ...{#Notworthy}

    Peter Schilling Major Tom (Coming home)  =>  Natalie Merchant - Space Oddity  =>  David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes (LIve)

 
+1
Posted 8 years ago by Ulises    [ Reply ]
This is brave ...  A cover is also an homage - think of it as showing another take.

True - maybe this one doesn't really need a different take {#Smile}

Also, guys - the programming here is awesome ...{#Notworthy}

    Peter Schilling Major Tom (Coming home)  =>  Natalie Merchant - Space Oddity  =>  David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes (LIve)
Posted 8 years ago by RiverOfLife    [ Reply ]
Frank Zappa, to David Bowie, in regards to Adrian Belew.

Details:  https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-frank-zappa-adrian-belew/

Skydog wrote:
who said
"f**k you Captain Tom"
to whom and why?
.
.
(yes, he said captain instead of major)

 


Posted 8 years ago by IrieTom    [ Reply ]
Too much vibrato. Too much bathos. Bowie's song was brilliant because of the dispassionate delivery.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Algis    [ Reply ]
Is she singing w/o "gusto"? {#Whisper}
Posted 8 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
 treatment_bound wrote:
Natalie, 

May God's love be with you, but please stay away from Bowie covers.

 

 
Agreed, sounds like she is drifting off to sleep...{#Sleep}
Posted 8 years ago by ShaunJ    [ Reply ]
Too soon.  Maybe another couple hundred years.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Xeric    [ Reply ]
Waste of 4 minutes
Posted 8 years ago by pcc    [ Reply ]
who said
"f**k you Captain Tom"
to whom and why?
.
.
(yes, he said captain instead of major)
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Argh no no no no you're ruining something beautiful...stop!!!  {#Frustrated}
Posted 8 years ago by Larrygrrl    [ Reply ]
Nice cover! Cool Bowie set this afternoon:

David Bowie - Lady Grinning Soul
Nirvana -  The Man Who Sold the World
Natalie Merchant - Space Oddity 
Posted 8 years ago by Phlegmaticman    [ Reply ]
Natalie, 

May God's love be with you, but please stay away from Bowie covers.

 
Posted 8 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
Bill is working overtime today
before this Nirvana doing "The Man Who etc"
before that Bowie's "Lady Grinning Soul"
i wonder what's next
"An Occasional Dream"  from Bowie's 2nd album would fit
 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
19% give it a 1.

19% give it a 7.

I love Natalie Merchant - "Tigerlily" is a classic - but I will pass on this one. Maybe it's just that the original is so damn good. 
Posted 8 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Hard to cover Bowie. Good effort.
Posted 8 years ago by Lodomojo    [ Reply ]
Great voice. Really nice feeling to this version.
Posted 8 years ago by boontonite    [ Reply ]

What a pleasant surprise: One of my favorite artists covering another of my favorite artists. Hadn't heard it before. Timely or untimely, it's a real jewel, and I lean strongly to the latter. It could only have been better if he had performed it with her, as with Michael Stipe and "Candy Everybody Wants". Hey, I can dream.

P.S. I just read some of the negative comments below. Wow. Well, like all of Natalie's work she had excellent musicians, who provided a faithful rendition, and I obviously really enjoyed her vocals. As I always do. So there's another perspective. Peace.


Posted 8 years ago by sktillman    [ Reply ]
I like her voice very much, really.
Tastes are different. RP serves many of them.
Thanks for that.
Posted 8 years ago by KalleB    [ Reply ]
Anything from Natalie Merchant.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]
 George_Tirebiter wrote:
{#Stop}

Worst. Version. Ever.

If this is supposed to be a tribute of some sort, it's a bad one.



 
Totally agree! 👍
Posted 8 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Haunting voice, sounds a bit like Tom's Diner to me.
Posted 8 years ago by korolevx    [ Reply ]
I kinda like this cover.  Must be something wrong with me I guess....
Posted 8 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
1 - Awful - Terrible rendition - Even Shameful - Hope it's never played again!
Posted 8 years ago by Foot    [ Reply ]
Nope.
Posted 8 years ago by HoneyBearKelly    [ Reply ]
 leafmold wrote:

Because it sucks.

 
So because you don't like it.  Which is fine, but you can tell (just by looking) that your opinion isn't universal.
Posted 8 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
 dwhayslett wrote:

Just because you don't like it?

 
Because it sucks.
Posted 8 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
{#Stop}

Worst. Version. Ever.

If this is supposed to be a tribute of some sort, it's a bad one.


Posted 8 years ago by George_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
90s Coffee House Crap
 
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
If there's anything on this earth that could make me miss Bowie MORE today, it is being subjected to this horrible cover.
Posted 8 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
Not a big fan of this version. Here's a link to another one... voice isn't any better than Natalies unfortunately, but wow the scenery...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo 
Posted 8 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
Yuck.
Posted 8 years ago by NicJohn    [ Reply ]
Not sure if this was played in tribute; I heard this and just flipped to a headline announcing David Bowie's death. Sad to lose another GREAT musician. Long live Ziggy Stardust! {#Cry}
Posted 8 years ago by robotbass    [ Reply ]
 Kaw wrote:
No not this version...

 
Just because you don't like it?
Posted 8 years ago by dwhayslett    [ Reply ]
I like it.  Certainly not the same as the original, but lovely nonetheless.
 
Posted 8 years ago by jrlpking    [ Reply ]
Bowie Released a new album Black Star like 3 days ago. how bout some of that?
Posted 8 years ago by max_p    [ Reply ]
Decent, but only because there is so much margin to mess things up when starting out from something utterly brilliant.
Posted 8 years ago by DrLex    [ Reply ]