Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield is famous for his viral, modified cover of David Bowie‘s “Space Oddity,” which he performed and filmed on the International Space Station (ISS). Released on May 12, 2013, the video has garnered over 55 million views (as of February 2025) and is considered one of the coolest covers ever.
Beyond the viral hit, Hadfield‘s time during Expedition 35 made him an important figure in music history.
In October 2015, Hadfield released “Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can,” an album consisting of songs he had recorded aboard the ISS using a Larrivée Parlor guitar. This became the first album ever recorded in space.
During his free time, he recorded several other notable songs:
“Jewel in the Night,” the first song recorded in space, was released on YouTube on Christmas Eve, 2012.
He collaborated with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies for “Is Somebody Singing?” (I.S.S.), which premiered on CBC Radio in February 2013.
In addition to his musical feats, Hadfield is recognized as the first Canadian to walk in space.