Expert: Bong Santos - 7/11/2006

Question
This is definetly an 80's song and all I can remember that the corrus goes someting like "four,three,two, one...everybody" I can't describe any more but I have great dancing memories with it and if you could help me I would appreciate it. Thanks alot.

Answer
Dear RICKY,

Sounds like a song about NASA with its countdown. Hmm.. I think I know the song. It could be MAJOR TOM (Coming Home) by PETER SCHILLING. He was born in Stuttgart, Germany on January 28, 1956. As a teen, SCHILLING couldn't decide on whether to be a soccer player or a singer. He chose the latter and his debut album, ERROR IN THE SYSTEM, appeared in 1983. THe single MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME), written by SCHILLING and DAVID LODGE is a techno-pop update of the astronaut character made famous in two DAVID BOWIE hits, SPACE ODDITY and ASHES TO ASHES, wasn't just popular in the U.S., it was a worldwide hit. It peaked at #14 on the Hot 100 on December 24, 1983. Although he was widely considered a one-hit wonder, he actually was not. In 1989, he released THE DIFFERENT STORY (WORLD OF LUST AND CRIME) a compilation of his "best" 8 tracks from 2 previous albums, ERROR IN THE SYSTEM (1983) and THINGS TO COME (1985) with one new song, the title track, produced by ENIGMA's MICHAEL CRETU. It was a minor U.S. hit peaking at #61 on the Hot 100 on April 29, 1989. He continues to release new materials, the latest being the 2003 CD RAUMNOT 6 VS 6.
Here is MAJOR TOM's lyrics:

MAJOR TOM (Coming Home) / PETER SCHILLING

Standing there alone
the ship is waiting
all systems are go
are you sure?

control is not convinced
but the computer
has the evidence
"no need to abort"

the countdown starts
watching in a trance
the crew is certain

nothing left to chance
all is working
trying to relax
up in the capsule
"send me up a drink"
jokes Major Tom
the count goes on

4 3 2 1
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...

second stage is cut
we're now in orbit
stabilizers up
running perfect
starting to collect
requested data
what will it effect
when all is done
thinks Major Tom

back at ground control
there is a problem
go to rockets full
not responding
"hello Major Tom
are you receiving
turn the thrusters on
we're standing by"
there's no reply

4 3 2 1
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
calling calling home...

across the stratosphere
a final message
"give my wife my love"
then nothing more

far beneath the ship
the world is mourning
they don't realize
he's alive
no one understands
but Major Tom sees
now the life commands
this is my home
I'm coming home

Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
coming home...
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
coming home...
Earth below us
drifting falling
floating weightless
coming coming home...
home.....

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines