"Space Cowboy" is a song by the
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
band
JamiroquaiJamiroquai are an English Alternative/acid jazz/funk/soul/disco band. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, the Brand New Heavies, Galliano, and Corduroy...
, and the lead-off from their second album
The Return of the Space CowboyThe Return Of The Space Cowboy is the second album by the band Jamiroquai. Released in 1994, it is usually classified under the acid-jazz and funk genre.-Album information:...
. The single reached number 17 in the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
.
Two very distinct versions of the song exist: One was recorded with
Stuart ZenderStuart Patrick Jude Zender is an English bassist. Raised in Philadelphia, he attended Leighton Park School in Reading, Berkshire known for its strength in music. He is a bass guitarist, songwriter and music producer...
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.
"Space Cowboy" is a song by the
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
band
JamiroquaiJamiroquai are an English Alternative/acid jazz/funk/soul/disco band. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, the Brand New Heavies, Galliano, and Corduroy...
, and the lead-off from their second album
The Return of the Space CowboyThe Return Of The Space Cowboy is the second album by the band Jamiroquai. Released in 1994, it is usually classified under the acid-jazz and funk genre.-Album information:...
. The single reached number 17 in the
UK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record industry. The full chart contains the top 200 singles based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 of this list...
.
Two very distinct versions of the song exist: One was recorded with
Stuart ZenderStuart Patrick Jude Zender is an English bassist. Raised in Philadelphia, he attended Leighton Park School in Reading, Berkshire known for its strength in music. He is a bass guitarist, songwriter and music producer...
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. The second version, the one that appears on the album is considerably different, with its 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.
It was this song that earned
JasonJason Kay, known by his stage name Jay Kay is an English musician. He is the principal member, songwriter, and lead singer of the band Jamiroquai...
the "
Space cowboy" nickname in the British press.
The U.S. version of the single contains remixes by David Morales, and the single was re-released in 2006 on vinyl as part of Jamiroquai's "Classic Club Anthems" series.
Live versions
Most live versions of the song are very long, about 10–12 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 MovingTravelling Without Moving is the third album by Jamiroquai. Released in 1996, the album features the international hit single "Virtual Insanity"....
era, or the
High Times: Singles 1992-2006High Times: Singles 1992–2006 is a collection of Jamiroquai's past hits, and includes two new songs: "Runaway," and "Radio." Most of the band's best known songs are included, with two notable exceptions: "King for a Day" and "You Give Me Something", although a remix of the latter appears on CD 2 of...
era) do. The version of the song played live is the "Stoned Again" mix.
Mixes
- Space Cowboy (Album Version);
- Space Cowboy ("Stoned Again" Mix);
- Space Cowboy (Radio Edit) (Shortened version of the "Stoned Again" Mix, not the album version. It appears on High Times: The Singles 1992-2006. The US release blanks out the word "cheeba")
- Space Cowboy (Classic Club mix);
- Space Cowboy (Classic radio edit);
- Space Cowboy (Babinstrumental);
- Space Cowboy (Mayhem & Musaphia reconstruction remix);
- Space Cowboy (Demo);
- Space Cowboy (Music video version, same as the radio edit, except that the word "cheeba" isn't censored).
Music video
A music video was shot for "Space Cowboy", using the "Stoned Again mix" of the song. It was directed by
Vaughan ArnellVaughan Arnell is British a music videos and television commercials director. Although having done films for high profile clients in the tv commercial field, including Nestlé and Levi's, he is mostly known for his music video works. He is a frequent collaborator of music artist Robbie Williams...
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 photographyMotion control photography is a technique used in still and motion photography that enables precise control of, and optionally also allows repetition of, camera movements. It can be used to facilitate special effects photography. The process can involve filming several elements using the same...
to allow a seemingly-continuous shot as the camera pans around the room. The US video replaced the leaves with
daisiesBellis perennis is a common European species of Daisy, often considered the archetypal species of that name. Many related plants also share the name "Daisy", so to distinguish this species from other daisies it is sometimes qualified as Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy or occasionally English daisy. It is...
(without Jay's consent).
A video of the remix by David Morales also exists.
Cover versions
Space Cowboy is a frequently covered song, with two notable cover versions, one by
JazzamorJazzamor is a German musical duo which consists of Bettina Mischke and Roland Grosch. Their music combines elements of lounge music, jazz and bossa nova.-Albums:*Lazy Sunday Afternoon...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gzQZMoRaMY, and one by the band Jacarandaa.
http://funkin.com/news/?id=3487