Space Cowboy (Jamiroquai song)

"Space Cowboy" is the international lead single from British funk/acid jazz band Jamiroquai's second studio album, The Return of the Space Cowboy. The single peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number six in Italy and number three in Iceland. In the United States it gave the band their first number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In June 2006 in re-entered the UK Dance Chart at number one.

"Space Cowboy"
Single by Jamiroquai
from the album The Return of the Space Cowboy
B-side
  • "The Kids"
  • "Journey to Arnhemland"
Released26 September 1994
Format
Recorded1994
Genre
Length6:23 (album version)
3:39 (radio edit)
6:32 (Stoned Again/Alternative version)
LabelSony Soho Square
Songwriter(s)Jay Kay
Producer(s)Jay Kay
Jamiroquai singles chronology
"The Kids"
(1994)		 "Space Cowboy"
(1994)		 "Half the Man"
(1994)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

Background

Two very distinct versions of the song exist. One was recorded with Stuart Zender on bass, has a greater tempo, and uses a 'bass slap' technique during the chorus. This version is commonly known as the "Stoned Again Mix", even though it is the original version of the track. The second version, the version that appears on the album, is considerably different, with a lower tempo, and a completely dissimilar bassline. The bass on the album version was not played by Zender, but by an unknown artist only credited as "Mr. X" in the booklet (Only recently Zender himself on Twitter has revealed that the bass player who played on the song is Paul Powell[1]). It was this song that earned lead singer Jay Kay the "space cowboy" nickname in the press.

The American version of the single contains a number remixes by David Morales. Most live versions of the song are as long as twelve minutes, adding additional verses, and instrumental parts. While the album version utilizes no wind instruments, some live versions, such as the ones from the Travelling Without Moving era, or the High Times: Singles 1992-2006 era, do. The version of the song played live is the "Stoned Again Mix". "Space Cowboy" is a frequently covered song, with two notable cover versions; one by Jazzamor, and one by the band Jacarandaa.

David Guetta's song Stay (Don't Go Away) featuring Raye samples David Morales' remix of Space Cowboy.

Cowboy Bebop scriptwriter Keiko Nobumoto said in an interview that the song Space Cowboy was one of the inspirations for Cowboy Bebop.[2]

Music video

A music video was filmed for "Space Cowboy", using the "Stoned Again" Mix of the song. It was directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton, and mainly featured Jay Kay dancing around a blue room with multiple versions of him and the other band members appearing and disappearing. Occasional breaks show the band members against a blacklight with marijuana-leaf motifs. The video makes use of motion control photography to allow a seemingly-continuous shot as the camera pans around the room. In America, another version of the video replaced the leaves with daisies, without Jay's consent. A video of the remix by David Morales also exists.

Track listings

Remixes

David Morales Mixes

  • "Space Cowboy (Classic Club Remix)" – 7:52
  • "Space Cowboy (Babinstrumental)" – 6:45
  • "Space Cowboy (Classic Radio Remix)" – 4:01

Musaphia & Mayhem Mixes

  • "Space Cowboy (Mayhem & Musaphia Reconstruction Mix)" – 8:50
  • "Space Cowboy (Mayhem & Musaphia Deep Dub)" – 7:18

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1994–1995) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 49
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4] 72
France (SNEP)[5] 22
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[6] 3
Italy (Musica e dischi)[7] 6
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[8] 21
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 28
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] 17
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[11] 11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 1
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[13] 27
Chart (2006) Peak
position
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[14] 1

Year-end charts
Chart (1995) Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 51

References
  1. "Jamiro-Mistery Solved!".
  2. "Interview: The Crew of Cowboy Bebop, 20 Years Later". Anime News Network. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  4. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 43. 22 October 1994. p. 20. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. "Lescharts.com – Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  6. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.11. '95 – 24.11. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 18 November 1995. p. 50. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  7. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12 no. 28. 15 July 1995. p. 7. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  9. "Swisscharts.com – Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  11. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  12. "Jamiroquai Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  13. "Jamiroquai Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  14. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  15. "Árslistinn 1995". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1996. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
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