Monday Mood: 15th July 2019 by Eliza

Happy Monday!

The theme for Monday Mood this week, is Space!

This week sees the 50th anniversary of the first landing on the moon. The Apollo 11 spaceflight saw the landing of the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on the 20th July 1969. Commander Neil Armstrong became the first person to step onto the lunar surface 6 hours after landing, with lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin joining him 19 minutes later.

Another milestone anniversary was David Bowie’s, ‘Space Oddity’ also reaching 50 years old, last week, and was released as a single on the 11th July 1969, which I have included in this week’s list of space related tunes. Many assumed ‘Space Oddity’ was written about the Apollo 11 moon landing, but it was actually inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s film, ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, which was released a year earlier. Bowie said, “It was the sense of isolation I related to.”

The track was also partly inspired by a more universal experience of heartbreak. Bowie wrote the song after ending his relationship with his actress girlfriend and his sense of loneliness and melancholy within the song is apparent. His experience had also inspired him to write ‘Life on Mars’.

Music has been inspired by Space for decades. There are numerous tunes about the universe; stars, moons and planets and I was somewhat spoilt for choice. So, apart from Bowie, my Space related tunes include music from Echo & the Bunnymen, R.E.M., Frank Sinatra and The B-52s, to listen to at your leisure. I hope you find them out of this world! *pardon the pun* … I better go before I cause an atmosphere! *gets coat*

Until next week!

Enjoy!
Eliza x

R.E.M. – Man on the Moon (1992)

Echo & the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon (1984)

The B-52s – There’s a Moon in the Sky (1979)

David Bowie – Space Oddity (1969)