Spaceman (The Killers song)

2008 single by the Killers

"Spaceman"

Single by the Killers
from the album  Day & Age
B-side|

* "Tidal Wave"
* "Four Winds"

Released| November 4, 2008
Genre|

* Alternative rock[1]
* new wave[2]

Length| 4:44 (album version)
4:13 (radio edit)
Label| Island, Vertigo
Songwriter(s)|

* Brandon Flowers
* Dave Keuning
* Mark Stoermer
* Ronnie Vannucci Jr.

Producer(s)|

* Stuart Price
* The Killers

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

"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

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2008–2009)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[7] | 62
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[8] | 44
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[9] | 6
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 47
Canada Rock (Billboard)[11] | 30
Germany (GfK)[12] | 29
Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 33
Israel (Media Forest)[14] | 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] | 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 57
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[17] | 49
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] | 89
UK Singles (OCC)[19] | 40
US Billboard Hot 100[20] | 67
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] | 17
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[22] | 8
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[23] | 2

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2009)  | Position

|

US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[24] | 18

## Certifications

[edit]

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‡
United States (RIAA)[28] | Gold  | 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
26. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Killers – Spaceman". Music Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
27. ^ "British single certifications – Killers – Spaceman". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
28. ^ "American single certifications – The Killers – Spaceman". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 8, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Music video at youtube.com

* v
* t
* e

The Killers

* Brandon Flowers
* Dave Keuning
* Ronnie Vannucci Jr.
* Mark Stoermer

List of the Killers band members

Studio albums|

* Hot Fuss
* Sam's Town
* Day & Age
* Battle Born
* Wonderful Wonderful
* Imploding the Mirage
* Pressure Machine

Compilation albums|

* Sawdust
* Direct Hits
* Don't Waste Your Wishes
* Rebel Diamonds

Live albums|

* Live from the Royal Albert Hall

Extended plays|

* (Red) Christmas EP

Singles|

* "Mr. Brightside"
* "Somebody Told Me"
* "All These Things That I've Done"
* "Smile Like You Mean It"
* "When You Were Young"
* "Bones"
* "Read My Mind"
* "For Reasons Unknown"
* "Shadowplay"
* "Tranquilize"
* "Human"
* "Spaceman"
* "The World We Live In"
* "A Dustland Fairytale"
* "Runaways"
* "Miss Atomic Bomb"
* "Here with Me"
* "Shot at the Night"
* "Just Another Girl"
* "The Man"
* "Run for Cover"
* "Rut"
* "Caution"
* "My Own Soul's Warning"
* "Dustland"

Other songs|

* "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine"
* "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll"
* "Wonderful Wonderful"
* "Some Kind of Love"

Christmas songs|

* "A Great Big Sled"
* "Don't Shoot Me Santa"
* "Joseph, Better You than Me"
* "¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe!"
* "Boots"
* "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball"
* "I Feel It in My Bones"
* "Christmas in L.A."
* "Joel the Lump of Coal"
* "Dirt Sledding"

Concert tours|

* Hot Fuss Tour
* Battle Born World Tour
* Wonderful Wonderful World Tour
* Imploding the Mirage Tour
* Rebel Diamonds Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* The Heavy Entertainment Show
* Ray Suen
* Tommy Marth
* Ted Sablay
* Ryan Pardey
* Big Talk
* Big Talk
* Straight In No Kissin'
* Izabella Miko
* Flamingo
* Another Life
* The Desired Effect
* Dark Arts
* Prismism

Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

|

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