Ever have one of those songs that you’ve always liked but never knew who it was by or what it was called? That’s the story behind this week’s Saturday throwback, “Major Tom” by Peter Schilling. I was able to finally discover the origins of this song after a cover version by Shiny Toy Guns was used so well in a Lincoln MKZ commercial over the past few years. While that version is great, I’m still a little partial to the original. When I found out the name of the song was “Major Tom”, I of course immediately thought of Bowie, and then learned that this song is a retelling of the Space Oddity story. Which is kind of weird, but since it’s such a great song with a catchy as all get out chorus with its memorable 4-3-2-1 countdown lead-in, I’m able to give Mr. Schilling the benefit of the doubt. It was recorded in both German and English, and the English version became an international hit back in the day.
