Peter Schilling - Major Tom (Coming Home) | The Story Behind The Song (🇩🇪with English subs)

This is a German interview, but we have correct English subtitles in KZbin!
The German musician Peter Schilling tells about his world hit 'Major Tom (Coming Home)'. A short documentary by Top 2000 a gogo from 2019 (Dutch Public Television)."

[@room2180]

This song will go on forever. I'm glad Peter has come to terms with its price.

[@Poekoe1975]

In a 100 years from now this song will still be played. There are actually very VERY few songs that accomplish this.. It's a true masterpiece.. Peter's story about finding himself again makes it even better. For me the song is about being detached from reallity and the pure search for peace and quiet.. No words could ever discribe what this song means to me ( as for millions across the world). Thank you Peter for creating this..

[@MarcelNL]

I wonder how many songs of current-day artists will in the future be seen as equally legendary as this. I'm pretty sure they won't be a lot!

[@MrKyledane]

30 plus years later and this song is still on my all-time favorites list.

[@xTheFly]

A timeless masterpiece written and performed by a man who understands the value of his mind and had the awareness to take a step back to take care of himself. What an amazing story.

[@gabe9767]

I love that he gave it all up to keep sane and take care of himself. I think even when you have all the possibilities sometimes what you need to do is just make sure YOU are happy with the choices you are making.

[@patrickbeintema9184]

Een prachtnummer! Verstandige man, die Peter Schilling.

[@eduardo_corrochio]

There's something extraordinary inside this song; not the music or the lyrics (which of course are both fantastic), but it's in the emotions that the song conjures within the listener, odd as that may sound. I would have liked to have learned more in this video about what inspired the idea, the whole _space flight goes awry_ notion. Major Tom remains a marvelous and iconic piece of 80s music. As long as there are people to listen, it will stay beloved.

[@edwardkirkland2022]

Wonderful story. I'm glad you weren't swallowed by the "business" and were able to take control of your life. That said, I am also thankful for the wonderful music you released when I was a DJ in Charlotte, NC! Your songs constantly packed my dancefloor!

[@arno-luyendijk4798]

Now THAT is interesting what he tells about the background of the recorded guitar part. I happen to live in such a neighborhood house, and whether I like it or not , it has influenced to play my own electric gutiar parts for my own recordings. Soft volume doesn't have to mean that the expression in a song is less...in fact, it can enhance it. Nice to see confirmation of this by this story.

[@DailyDiscountNL]

Das Lied ist einfach der Hammer! Ich höre das heute noch gerne zu! 🧡

[@eugeniusbear2297]

This song didn't even need lyrics to be one of the best of all time.

[@QZSS]

Einer der besten baden-württembergischen Musiker und Songwriter 💪

[@Lee.Higginbotham]

Great song! I was stationed in Germany when this was out. I still have my maxi single! Anybody remember maxi singles??

[@soepil]

Yup. :) I have that maxisingle, too. Great song - even though the story had been told before. :)

[@paintedtorso]

I was stationed in Germany at that time too! Hahn afb😁

[@veerchasm1]

I remember Maxi-Pads

[@ratscoot]

My frist maxi single was "the theme from Miami Vice" by Jan Hammer.

[@AC3handle]

oh man... yeah. I tried to find that back in the day, never could. I had to settle for the album. I take it they never put out an english maxi single. Also being an import likely would have cost 20 some odd bucks or more back in the day. (back when 20 bucks could buy two full records with change for some single. Although CDs at the time were about that expensive as well)

When I first saw Deutschland 83's introduction, I cried a lot, this song was perfectly chosen.

[@b61_jaydeepsutar20]

True!

[@devinpetersen2387]

He was instrumental in being a major factor of the new German wave sound. I have always love the song and watching these interviews really gives you an insight into the artists like never before.

[@billdirlam744]

There was a longer version of this song that was very popular in the nightclubs around 1983-84. At the time I hadn't recognized its potential as music to dance to. I just thought it was a great song to listen to, especially wearing headphones.

[@johnricci7264]

Fantastic song - because it is so well composed. Love it!

[@johnj28]

This song is AWESOME! Thanks for uploading this interview. I always wondered why we never heard more from him! Success takes a toll on so many of our favorites. Glad to hear he is doing well!

[@WonHakWoon]

Waarschijnlijk ben ik te Europees, want ik vind de Duitse versie gewoon veel mooier en veel angstaanjagender dan de Engelse versie. Ik heb ook de Duitse versie van het album Fehler Im System op CD en niet in het Engels ;)

[@betsabe1909]

Peter is a really nice person ❤

[@DrWhom]

he is, really sweet

[@johnfraraccio99]

The subtitles make me want to learn Dutch. And I find nothing at least on-line that indicates whether David Bowie had anything to say about Schilling's work. This said, all credit to Schilling for his coming up with something that we still remember if not instantly recognize Stateside, and all credit to Bowie's memory for his even tacitly going along and not raising a fuss. "Good artists borrow and great artists steal," indeed...

[@fakshen1973]

I think Schilling's version humanizes the events better than Bowie's. In the English version "give my wife my love... (then nothing more)" sung in a ghostly manner drifting into nothing. Even as a kid, I really felt that.

[@1963Victory]

German?

[@johnfraraccio99]

@@1963Victory Wow, sure fooled me. It wasn't German when I first viewed this, no kidding.

[@TheNixie1972]

@@johnfraraccio99 The subtitles are in Dutch, while Peter is speaking in German.

[@johnfraraccio99]

@@TheNixie1972 I'm among the apparent few who don't feel distracted by subtitles. This said I need decide which language to know better.

[@da5idnz]

Here in NZ they played this song on the radio all the time. My friend loved it, too, and played it on cassette all the time.

[@mariatrafiantrunci3739]

Eres un genio Peter esta cancion es fenomenal el idioma aleman lo hace mas hermosa bella voz fantasticooo😯☺😊😄🎸👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@GhostOfMrPickles]

this song is perfection.

[@karina-tv5sy]

Nunca va a pasar de moda esta canción siempre va a estar vigente mil gracias x todo siempre la voy a escuchar me encanta

[@EdWood110]

Great video and very interesting, I never knew he took a 12 year break. Glad to see him happy. :)

[@LizzyTexBorden]

This song is so beautiful.

[@sivedan]

Very nostalgic song for 80's lovers, too bad he didn't produce more big hits, he seems to have a creative mind....and good voice also.

[@charlessomerset9754]

Actually he did. A Different Story (World of Lust and Crime) did very well, and in many respects is a better track. Find the long version.

[@David-Field.Stuff01]

An absolutely fantastic song.

[@Lazyeyewitness]

I always liked this song a lot, and now even more! I'm so glad he survived the fame.

[@mmitchum3826]

Neat to see the English closed caption translation of the German lyrics, and how they compare to the lyrics in the English version of the song.

[@luissadra9026]

Peter Schilling, un músico e interprete verdaderamente grandioso, pero el ser humano detrás del músico es realmente sorprendente. Lo admiro en todas sus facetas. Genio total.

[@mariatrafiantrunci3739]

Siii es un genio total con una bellisima voz y esta cancion es fenomenal espectacular una de mis favoritas.😉☺😊😀👍✌👏🎸.

[@littlefox02]

I love the drum!

[@atymaross4600]

Fantastic !!!! Que emoção passa essa música Linda mesmo!

[@hans_normal]

Was für eine schöne Geschichte! Hab das Lied immer gemocht und kann mir jetzt auch den gitarrensound erklären. Danke!

[@christapfisterer7256]

Ich liebe diesen Song so sehr ! 👍❤️😊

[@Tjoppy]

Dit was één van m'n allereerste single'tjes en ik heb 'm nog steeds!

[@deeesher]

Thank you KZbin for the English generated subtitles! They may not be 100% accurate but good enough for me to understand and truly appreciate the background of his musical career and this amazing song 👏👏👏

[@fazole]

I never knew the original was in German!

[@eizeoosting843]

fazole and I never knew there was an English version. It sounds so odd when you are used to the original one. Just like 99 Luftballons from Nena 🎈

[@gmansgnarlyscienceshow2820]

@@eizeoosting843 Just like 99 luftballons.

[@WonHakWoon]

If you only hear the English version, then heck you don't know about other versions. I didn't know about the English version actually until I heard it a few years back

[@chrisridenhour]

1:20 Love stories about how limitations can create innovation. That’s how Peter Hook came up with his signature bass style because his bass could only be heard in the higher registers in Joy Division’s noisy rehearsal space.

[@jannuar2009]

80s Music is the best!

[@68404]

Alternative 80s music is the best!

[@jannuar2009]

@@68404 Help Bill Gates will Kill us all with his Poison vaccine

[@StockholmNightlife]

Great song!! Thanks!!

[@JaimeSchilling]

Good video! Peter has always been a Good Singer and a Good Musician. He always knows where, how and at what moment to exploit his songs. Greetings from Mexico

[@lawrencelubbers2316]

Machtige mooie plaat, mooie tijd

[@marionow6227]

Wish to have heard more about the origin of the character of Major Tom, who was invented by David Bowie.

[@415s30]

drugs

[@leoguerra4516]

You'd better not mess with Major Tom ...

[@josefinenagy4136]

Well, David Bowie invented Major Tom and in "Space Oddity" you get to know that Major Tom committed suicide and in "Ashes to Ashes" he tells you that Major Tom was a drug addict.

[@eizeoosting843]

Indeed, was he inspired by Space Oddity or why else did he use the same character?

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

@@eizeoosting843 Did he use the same character? Did he even know of David Bowie? Great questions. I wish we had answers.

[@masculineguy37]

Mooi nummer nog steeds. de echo sound in het refrein past er perfect bij

[@teddynash]

Schöne Story mit der Gitarre !

[@jdbdg6208]

Heerlijk nummer!

[@flashback1123]

Fantastic!

[@kbilisoly9355]

Love this song ❤️

[@verkennenchannel2894]

Im a millenial guy but this song to me is like been released just this week! I feel the power when I sing this😊😊!

[@christiankoch5646]

I was born in 1981 and the first thing I remember in my life is this song! I felt the power then, and I still feel it today!

[@Burstify]

I'm a Gen Z guy and I was born in the wrong decade

[@WonHakWoon]

@@Burstify Me too

[@mosca900rr]

Lo adorooooo,geniooooo😚😚😚

[@KevinBingham]

Twelve years to recover. That's lovely and terrifying.

[@nownzengifts3802]

Thank you 😊💝💋

[@verfed]

While hearing this song many times growing up I only now learned of it and learned who Peter is. Great song, timeless!

[@tedkay_music]

great!

[@staytoobrenner3982]

Wow I haven't heard this in ages...

[@tajuk2278]

super job

[@tippiestkar9585]

This is my favorite song

[@user-uq2rb4sh2i]

Eita menino lindo ❤

[@80smusicremixes]

The 12" mixes by John Luongo are awesome :)

[@johnnyangel3441]

Mooi nummer jeugd sentiment

[@yvonnegoedhart2450]

nice music ik ken hem vanafmijn 18 jaar uitgebracht die plaat ik ben nu 55

[@Rabkla]

Für mich der Welthit überhaupt - seit meinem 11 Lebensjahr Peter Schilling Fan

[@radiocrash]

Interesting to see them still using older consoles like the 02r Timeless console

[@curbowman]

I had a Betamax tape with Major Tom in it, followed by Alcatrazz (with Yngwie Malmsteen). Good times!

[@maikelschuler5140]

just that⭐⭐⭐☝🏻⭐⭐⭐that title 👌🏻

[@Lottprein]

I loved his songs „Die Wüste lebt“ and „A different story“ even more.

[@terrygiles9969]

I never leave home at night without looking up into the sky at the stars.I AM SAT ON THE MOON many nights this song means so much to me.

[@kjohnson9306]

Is it wrong that I keep jumping back and forth between English and Deutsch when I listen to this song and feel the need to raise my drink in the air during the chorus? And no, we will not talk about Oktoberfest 2003 in Munchen...er...Munich.

[@ArnoldVeeman]

Awesome piece of music, I really hope he still gets enough revenue from the streams.

[@oddballsok]

2:15 this concept is an essential part of the movie First Man with Ryan Gosling...

[@cassandramirandaborges5875]

Entendo nada do que você fala... mas adorooooooo! Kkkkk kkkkk 😘💖💖💖💖

[@jokokok275]

held

[@b61_jaydeepsutar20]

It's interesting, I find the Andy summers signature guitar sound and major Tom's guitar quite similar.

[@simonvanderheijden432]

Good point.

[@PeaceLoveJoyWorld]

🤩❤️🎖

[@chadergeist]

I consider this song as the third song in a trilogy that started with Space Oddity and second with Ashes To Ashes.

[@Wielie0305]

Really great song. Best in Deutsch and not English. Luckily in Netherlands the German version. One of my favorite 80’s song and even my 17 year old daughter has this song in her playlist...

[@Vpmatt]

4:24 I wonder if he realised his English lyrics translated to Dutch contained an insult. "Bellend".

[@newdimension4731]

4...3...2...1... EARTH below us dreafting falling... callliinnggg home .... Man did we JAM at the Charlie Brown on this.. (Punk electro ERA) early 1980's

[@larsvanbekkum78]

Hij heeft het er over dat hij 12 jaar niets meer heeft gedaan, maar in 1987 had hij met 'different story' toch ook een geweldig liedje met een mooie video clip...of heb ik iets verkeerd begrepen aan zijn interview?

[@68404]

A great song, sadly unplayed in Australia. So much alternative stuff was around in the 1980s, whilst sadly 'hits and memories' stations jut have high rotations of boring overplayed stuff, like INXS, Fleetwood Mac, Cold Chisel etc.

[@WickedKingLycoan]

68404: It is a great song, but the bands you listed have great songs of their own.

[@paulmajor8865]

Despite being successful in many countries around the planet it made a disappointing number 42 in the British chart it was number 57 in the Australian chart. Still a great song though.

[@faxx63]

sempre bonazzo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@aristotlekumpis7095]

Ummmm....I don't see English subtitles here.

[@johnj28]

You can click on settings and turn them on.

[@martinusgroninger1875]

Would this song ever have existed if David Bowie had not created "Space Oddity" first ?

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

Does this song have anything to do with David Bowie's "A Space Oddity" and his Major Tom?

[@WonHakWoon]

It's Schilling's own retelling of Major Tom's story

[@Don19762]

This was my very first single I bought. I was 6 years old. I absolutely loved it in German. Many years later I heard the English version which I find terrible. But it has a special place in my heart.

[@charlessomerset9754]

I know it's not electronic, but it has so many elements of EDM production, including what I believe is the first riser ever used in a pop song. Also check out his track A Different Story (World of Lust and Crime), which in some ways is a better track. Definitely find the long version.

[@pickzkickz]

It was ok....catchy.

[@WonHakWoon]

It was ok? Bro has been listening to BS I guess

[@denvathecat]

Wish I could speak German.

[@michaelcruz1434]

Wish not, do... Yoda

[@Joschi_-iy4jo]

0:26 Uhhhh 10ter Oktober...wow..mein Geburtstag XDXD

[@newdimension4731]

99 luft balloons..... also was great

[@pinkrose5796]

I agree! Love both the German and English version for both songs:)

[@WonHakWoon]

I guess you only like the English ones

[@heikegutsmuths8167]

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀❤🌟passt gut auf euch auf gruß aus der Ferne

[@glougloups1181]

Thomas Pesquet Song ;) French astronaut

[@Tamjam2011]

Wish this were translated in English. Great song, would love to understand the origins of this classic 80’s German band and song. 🚀

[@thehannahouse]

If you mean the interview, click the CC button to see an English translation of the story behind the song!

[@Tamjam2011]

LOL! I know there is an English version of the song. I meant I wish I could understand this interview with lead singer “behind the music.” Or, even better, maybe I need to learn German 👍🏼😄

[@da5idnz]

@@Tamjam2011 As said above, click the caption button, and then change the language to English under the cog wheel.

[@Tamjam2011]

Thank you 🙏

[@WonHakWoon]

@@Tamjam2011 Really? We have to change everything into English? Can't we just have something in non-English too? :(

[@debbiecooper1677]

never heard of it.

[@WonHakWoon]

Glad we never heard about you

[@debbiecooper1677]

@@WonHakWoon I feel the same about you

[@Madfattdeeb]

The subs are not in English 😔

[@WonHakWoon]

You guys never turned on CC?

[@horrortackleharry]

4:24 Unfortunate translation....

[@Max-uv3eg]

what exactly do you mean?

[@veerchasm1]

Who’s here because of Gale from Breaking Bad? 😆 🎤

[@veerchasm1]

Danny and your mother