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Quiz about Anatomy of a Song Space Oddity
Quiz about Anatomy of a Song Space Oddity

Anatomy of a Song: "Space Oddity" Quiz

Just how much do you know about David Bowie's classic "Space Oddity"? Pit yourself against 10 questions about the song and/or associated facts. Song #10 in the 'Anatomy' series.

A multiple-choice quiz by FussBudget. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
FussBudget
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
205,955
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
5834
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 186 (10/10), Guest 185 (8/10), Guest 118 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. First up, what is the Major's name? Hint


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Question 2 of 10
2. What is it that "ground control" urges the Major to do in the following line?:

"Take your protein pills and ______" Hint


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Question 3 of 10
3. Complete this lyric:

"Check ignition and ______" Hint


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Question 4 of 10
4. The Major strikes fame and fortune! Suddenly he is a celebrity and the papers want to know all about him, and his private life. In the song, what do the papers want to know about? Hint


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Question 5 of 10
5. What two words does the Major use to describe his space capsule?

Answer: (Think broadly of a famous painting by Andy Warhol)

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Question 6 of 10
6. "This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door"

What happens to Tom "in a most peculiar way"? Hint


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Question 7 of 10
7. What colour does the Major describe Earth as? Hint


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Question 8 of 10
8. At least how far is the Major from earth? Hint


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Question 9 of 10
9. What does the Major request that Ground Control "tell (his) wife"? Hint


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Question 10 of 10
10. Apart from Earth, what other well known celestial thing(s) gets mentioned in the song? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
May 08 2024 : Guest 186: 10/10
May 07 2024 : Guest 185: 8/10
May 02 2024 : Guest 118: 10/10
Apr 30 2024 : Buttrey: 10/10
Apr 21 2024 : Guest 58: 10/10
Apr 19 2024 : Guest 58: 9/10
Apr 17 2024 : discmann262: 8/10
Apr 16 2024 : Guest 136: 8/10
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 161: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. First up, what is the Major's name?

Answer: Tom

 The song 'launches' in with:

"Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom..."

According to www.songfacts.com: "In 1983, Peter Schilling released a sequel to this called "Major Tom (I'm Coming Home)". Set to a techno beat, it tells the story of Major Tom in space".
2. What is it that "ground control" urges the Major to do in the following line?: "Take your protein pills and ______"

Answer: Put your helmet on

 "Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on"

Good idea, having that helmet on. I am sure if I was being blasted into space it would make me feel more secure!
3. Complete this lyric: "Check ignition and ______"

Answer: May God's love be with you

 "Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God's love be with you"

According to www.songfacts.com: "In 1980, Bowie released a follow-up to this called "Ashes To Ashes," where Major Tom once again makes contact with Earth. He says he is happy in space, but Ground Control comes to the conclusion that he is a junkie".
4. The Major strikes fame and fortune! Suddenly he is a celebrity and the papers want to know all about him, and his private life. In the song, what do the papers want to know about?

Answer: Shirt

 "This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear"

According to www.songfacts.com: "In the line, "And the papers want to know whose shirt you wear", 'whose shirt you wear' is English slang for 'what football team are you a fan of?'. The thinking here being that if you can make it into space then your opinions on football matter".
5. What two words does the Major use to describe his space capsule?

Answer: Tin can

 "For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world"

That line has always made me feel like Major Tom was really sad...
6. "This is Major Tom to Ground Control I'm stepping through the door" What happens to Tom "in a most peculiar way"?

Answer: He floats

 The verse continues:

"This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today"
7. What colour does the Major describe Earth as?

Answer: Blue

 "For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do"

According to www.songfacts.com: "Bowie wrote this after seeing the 1968 Stanley Kubrick movie "2001: A Space Odyssey". "Space Oddity" is a play on "Space Odyssey".
8. At least how far is the Major from earth?

Answer: One hundred thousand miles

 "Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go"

Well, I hope so! Because there's big trouble if it doesn't!
9. What does the Major request that Ground Control "tell (his) wife"?

Answer: I love her very much.

 And the song continues, leading up to the last verse:

"And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows"
10. Apart from Earth, what other well known celestial thing(s) gets mentioned in the song?

Answer: Moon and stars

 "For here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do"

According to www.songfacts.com: "The BBC used this during coverage of the moon landing. There was a great fear that if the missions in space didn't go well, this song would suddenly become inappropriate."
Source: Author FussBudget

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ralzzz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series Anatomy of a Song - Part 4:

This is part 4 of a collection of all of my "Anatomy of a Song" quizzes. They were the originals, much imitated since. I guess I should take that as a compliment!

  1. Anatomy of a Song: "Sweet Home Alabama" Average
  2. Anatomy of a Song: "California Dreamin'" Average
  3. Anatomy of a Song: "A Horse With No Name" Average
  4. Anatomy of a Song: "Stairway To Heaven" Average
  5. Anatomy of a Song: "Space Oddity" Easier

Referenced Topics
Music   Movies   World   English   Vocabulary   Names   Moons   David Bowie   Blue   Blues   1980s Country Music  

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