Space Cowboy

"Space Cowboy"
Single by Jamiroquai from the album The Return Of The Space Cowboy
B-Side	Journey To Arnhemland The Kids Space Cowboy (Demo Version)
Released	26 September 1994
Played Live	325 times
Genre	Funk
Length	6:24 (album version) 3:36 (radio edit) 6:32 (Stoned Again Mix/Original version)
Label	Sony Soho Square
Writer	Jay Kay
Producer	Jay Kay

"Space Cowboy" is the lead single to Jamiroquai's second album, Return Of The Space Cowboy. Released September 26th 1994, by Sony Soho Square, the single peaked at 17 on the UK Single Chart and number one on the US Dance Charts, being the first song to do so. It as well entered the UK Dance Chart at number one. The track was further pushed into popularity with David Morales' remix of the song, being ranked in Defected Records' list for 17 Best Remixes Ever.

Background

Prior to the making of the song, Kay was delving into heavy drug abuse and writers block. Having been able to get his life back together and no longer homeless, he would struggle writing with songs relating to a now closed chapter in his life. Because of such burn-out, many songs would be either re-purposed for other albums, rewritten, or scrapped entirely. It would not be until the halfway point of the album where Kay would find his turning point writing the lyrics to "Space Cowboy", during a time period where his drug usage was out of control. He later said in 2013 that quote, "Everyone thinks it's a nice song about getting stoned... but for me it went much deeper... Is it about me or someone else? Is it about marijuana or cocaine? What it was about was someone who was very lost, trying to hang on and come back before he drifted off into a blackhole never to be seen again ... ['Space Cowboy' gave us] the momentum to push on and finish what I still think is one of our most creative and accomplished albums."

The song delve's into the freedom and good-feelings that come with getting stoned, as Kay stated in an interview.

What is a "space cowboy"? Well, space cowboy is an, analogy for feeling good, feeling high. [..] The space cowboy is y'know it's part, inside you and when you feel really good and you.. [imitating swooshing noises], that's the space cowboy, absolutely. - Jay Kay

The track has 3 distinct variants, with the studio album version being the standard release. The track is a much stripped back, spacey tune with bass played by someone named "Mr. X" in the album inner notes. Years later it would be revealed on Zender's Instagram that Paul Powell played bass on the album version of "Space Cowboy"; however he affirmed that Zender himself wrote the bass to the "Stoned Again" mix.

Stoned Again Mix

The "Stoned Again" mix was the version most played on radio and most utilized by the band. The track is more filled with instruments including a slap-bass played by Stuart Zender. Not only does this version have a music video, the shortened single is on High Times: Singles 1992–2006 and is most commonly played live by the band, with certain performances extending the song to 12 minutes with wind instruments. The most noticeable change is within the refrain and bridge, with a much more grotesque bass synth. The track is much more on the nose with it's weed metaphor with the "Stoned Again" title and Kay repeating the phrase "cheeba cheeba!", which is slang for marijuana.

Demo

"Space Cowboy" is one of the few tracks that has an officially released demo on streaming services. The demo has plenty of missing elements when compared to the final release.

• The keyboard intro is not included, instead replaced by Kay counting down.
• The track is slightly off-tune by roughly 20-30 cents.
• Chorus is sung much differently.
• Different synth-bass is played after the chorus.
• There is no real second verse, with the first verse repeated for the second verse.
• Around 1:33, the keyboardist noticeably messes up playing a diminished chord.
• Past the second chorus, Kay begins to harmonize, scat-sing, and imitate the bass-line.

Music Video

The music video for "Space Cowboy" utilizes the shortened version of the "Stoned Again" mix and was directed by Vaughen Anrell and Anthea Benton. The video mainly involves Kay dancing around a blue room while multiples versions of him and his fellow bandmates appear in the background fading in and out. Several motifs to marijuana leaves are shown throughout the video and in the chorus. The video utilizes motion capture technology to have a 360 continuous shot of the room panning. US broadcasting stations premiered the video with daisies replacing marijuana-leaf motifs with Kay pointing out these changes were done without his permission. A David Morales remix video exists as well.

Tracklist

• Standard UK CD single

1. Space Cowboy
2. Journey to Arnhemland
3. The Kids
4. Space Cowboy (demo version)

• European 12-inch single

1. Space Cowboy
2. Journey to Arnhemland
3. Space Cowboy (Stoned Again Mix)

• Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone) single

1. Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone - Edit)
2. Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone - Extended)
3. Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone Dub)

• US repress 12-inch single

1. Space Cowboy (album version)
2. Space Cowboy (instrumental)
3. Space Cowboy (radio edit)
4. Space Cowboy (Classic Club Remix)
5. Space Cowboy (Babinstrumental)
6. Space Cowboy (Classic Radio Remix)

Gallery

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  Back cover

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  Center label for side A

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  Center label for side B

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  Cassette cover

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  Promotional CD cover 1

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  Promotional CD cover 2

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  Vinyl reissue cover

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  Vinyl reissue back cover

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  CDr cover

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  Streaming cover

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  Cover for Space Cowboy (Michael Grey's Good Vibe Zone)

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  Back cover for Space Cowboy (Michael Grey's Good Vibe Zone)