| Spaceman | |
| Cover: | Spaceman_4_Non_Blondes_cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | 4 Non Blondes |
| Album: | Bigger, Better, Faster, More! |
| B-Side: | Pleasantly Blue |
| Released: | September 1993 |
| Studio: | Groove Masters (Santa Monica, California) |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Length: | 3:40 |
| Label: |
|
| Producer: | David Tickle |
| Prev Title: | What's Up? |
| Prev Year: | 1993 |
| Next Title: | Mary's House |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
"Spaceman" is a song by American alternative rock band 4 Non Blondes. It is the sixth track on their only studio album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More! (1992),[1] and was released as the album's third single in September 1993 by Interscope and Atlantic Records. The song is written by lead singer Linda Perry with guitarist Shaunna Hall, and was produced by David Tickle. While the album's lead single, "What's Up?", became a worldwide hit, "Spaceman" reached the top 20 only in Austria, Iceland, Italy and Switzerland and missed the US Billboard Hot 100. The music video for the song was directed by Scott Kalvert.
"Spaceman" is composed in the key of G major and is set in common time with a slow tempo of 69 beats per minute.[2] The song is three minutes and forty seconds long.[3]
Tom Demalon from AllMusic stated that the song's "yearning lyrics are delivered over a quiet, martial drum rhythm."[4] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Follow-up to the gold-selling "What's Up?" is fueled by a similar wall-shattering vocal performance. The tune itself is a strumming, guitar-anchored rock ballad, deriving much of its motion from a rolling, militaristic beat. While it is not immediately catchy, slowly ingratiating track will likely meet with warm approval at top 40 and album-rock levels."[5] Dave Jennings from Melody Maker said, "More histrionics, this time at a slower pace and with tacky "military" drumming."[6] Alan Jones from Music Week gave "Spaceman" three out of five, adding that the song "offers pretty much the same mix [as its predecessor], with the same unrestrained vocals and loosely fitting instrumentation. But it's a less heady brew that won't fare quite so well."[7]
The song's accompanying music video was directed by American film director Scott Kalvert and filmed in Los Angeles.[8] It features the band performing the song in several locations, including inside a house with colorful lights, in a sunny park, and under a full moon. The video was added to the playlists of MTV and The Box on the week ending September 26, 1993.[9]
All songs were written by Linda Perry, with co-writing from Shaunna Hall on "Spaceman" and Roger Rocha on "Strange".
A. "Spaceman" – 3:30
B. "Pleasantly Blue" – 2:27
A1. "Spaceman" – 3:40
A2. "Strange" – 4:04
B1. "What's Up?" (remix) – 4:51
B2. "What's Up?" (piano version) – 4:09
Credits are lifted from the Bigger, Better, Faster, More! album booklet.[15]
Studios
Personnel
| Chart (1993–1994) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[16] | 85 | |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] | 45 | |
| Europe (European Hit Radio)[18] | 21 | |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[19] | 2 | |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[20] | 11 | |
| UK Airplay (ERA)[21] | 52 | |
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[22] | 17 | |
| US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[23] | 39 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | September 1993 | Cassette | Interscope | |
| United Kingdom | October 4, 1993 | [25] |