Monday 13th October
question sur le texte :
Who are Ground Control and Major Tom? What happened to Major Tom?
Explain "the papers want to know whose shirts you wear" (l.11-12)
Journalists wanted to know little details/gossip instead of the scientific work done by Major Tom. In fact, what he was wearing was not that important, but the press didn't care about the technological aspect.
Why are they both "floating in the most peculiar way" (l.17)
Because in both songs, Major Tom is spacewalking after his spacecraft accident, amazed by the beauty of space. The term 'peculiar' refers to the absence of gravity in space.
What is the difference between the two songs at this stage? Why?
In the first song, David Bowie tells us a story where the ending is bad, and where the astronaut drifts infinitely in space. The song's tone is truly tragic and melancholic. On the other hand, in Chris Hadfield's song, the astronaut has a better ending because his mission is complete and well-executed. There's nothing left for him to do (in the sense that he has no tasks left), so the tone of the second song is calm and contemplative as he prepares to return to Earth.