Spaceman (The Killers song)

"Spaceman"
Single by the Killers
from the album Day & Age
B-side
ReleasedNovember 4, 2008
Genre
Length4:44 (album version)
4:13 (radio edit)
LabelIsland, Vertigo
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Killers singles chronology
"Human"
(2008) 		"Spaceman"
(2008) 		"Joseph, Better You than Me"
(2008)

"Spaceman" is a song by the Killers. The song was released as the second single from the band's third studio album Day & Age on November 4, 2008, as a digital download on iTunes, and as 7" and promo CD in the US, Canada and the UK. It has been released to radio in Australia and has gone into regular rotation on Triple J. This song was number 17 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.[3] The song has been used regularly as the opening song during the band's tour.

Live performances

The group began performing the song at shows during their summer 2008 tour and played it as part of a two-song set on the October 4, 2008, episode of Saturday Night Live. On November 4, 2008, they also performed the song on BBC2's Later... with Jools Holland.

Popular culture

The song was featured in the Fringe episode "The No-Brainer", as well as on the trailer of the animated film Planet 51 starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The song was also released as a downloadable track for the music video game series Rock Band on November 25, 2008.[4]

Radio performance

In the Los Angeles market, "Spaceman" was a big radio hit, with radio-airplay longevity into 2010. On KYSR 98.7 FM, it was their #1 most-played song in June 2010,[5] while KROQ 106.7 FM added the song back into regular rotation in May 2010[6] due to its regional popularity.

Music video

The music video was directed by American director Ray Tintori, and shows Brandon Flowers walking around a party in progress, happening on a unique tiered structure adorned with long white vertical lights. Many humanoid creatures (all dressed up in very colourful, carnival-like costumes) are dancing, occasionally as a group, but usually individually. The other three band members can also be seen at the party throughout the video. As more of the structure is revealed, it can be seen that it is in the middle of a wide open space, surrounded by the camera crew filming the video.

Track list

Promo CD

  1. "Spaceman" (radio edit) – 4:13
  2. "Spaceman" (album version) – 4:44

UK 7" Picture Disc

  1. "Spaceman" – 4:44
  2. "Tidal Wave" – 4:14

Limited Edition 12" Picture Disc

  1. "Spaceman" – 4:44
  2. "Four Winds" (Conor Oberst) – 3:56

German CD/German iTunes EP

  1. "Spaceman" - 4:44
  2. "Four Winds" (Conor Oberst) - 3:56
  3. "Tidal Wave" - 4:14

Promo Remix CD

  1. "Spaceman" (Bimbo Jones vocal mix) – 8:04
  2. "Spaceman" (Bimbo Jones dub) – 8:03
  3. "Spaceman" (Bimbo Jones radio edit) – 4:33

Promo Remix CD 2

  1. "Spaceman" (Bimbo Jones Radio Mix) – 04:33
  2. "Spaceman" (Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix) – 08:05
  3. "Spaceman" (Lee Dagger Club Mix) – 09:03
  4. "Spaceman" (Max Jackson Dub) – 06:26
  5. "Spaceman" (Sander van Doorn Remix Part 1) – 06:38
  6. "Spacemen" (Sander van Doorn Remix Part 2) – 07:39
  7. "Spaceman" (Tiësto Remix) - 7:07

Chart performance

"Spaceman" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 67 on November 22, 2008. The song fell off the chart the following week. On Sunday 16 February 2009, "Spaceman" finally broke into the UK Top 40 at number 40.

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[26] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
North America November 4, 2008 Digital download Island Records
Worldwide November 23, 2008 Digital download
United Kingdom February 9, 2009 7 inch vinyl
Europe March 27, 2009 CD and digital EP
North America April 12, 2009 12 inch vinyl

References

  1. ^ "25 Huge Alt-Rock Songs You Loved In 2009". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  2. ^ "The Killers Keep Dancing On New Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2015. ..."Spaceman" is a full-throttle new wave rocker
  3. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2008". Rolling Stone (December 25, 2008). Retrieved 2008-12-25
  4. ^ "Rockband songs". Retrieved 2009-1-17.
  5. ^ "Login to All Access - Breaking Radio News and Free New Music - AllAccess.com". All Access. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Login to All Access - Breaking Radio News and Free New Music - AllAccess.com". All Access. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ "The Killers – Spaceman" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  9. ^ "The Killers – Spaceman" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "The Killers – Spaceman" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Killers". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  14. ^ "Media Forest Week 7, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  15. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Killers" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  16. ^ "The Killers – Spaceman" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200918 into search. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  18. ^ "The Killers – Spaceman". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  19. ^ "The Killers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  20. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  21. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  22. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  23. ^ "The Killers Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  24. ^ "Dance Club Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  25. ^ "Singles Accreditations Report - Nov 2023" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  26. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Killers – Spaceman". Music Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  27. ^ "British single certifications – Killers – Spaceman". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2020.

External links