Which 1983 song made German singer Peter Schilling a US one-hit wonder?

Peter Schilling’s 1983 song “Major Tom (Coming Home)” made the German singer a US one-hit wonder.

The English-language track is connected to Major Tom, the fictional astronaut from David Bowie’s songs “Space Oddity” and “Ashes to Ashes.” Schilling’s recording presents the character in a new space-themed narrative, using electronic production and a strong synth-pop rhythm. It was released as an English adaptation of Schilling’s German hit “Major Tom (völlig losgelöst).”

The song reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. It also charted in several other countries, while the German version became a major success in German-speaking Europe. Because the two versions share the Major Tom character and a similar musical identity, they are often treated as the same song in casual discussion.

The parenthetical English subtitle is important: “Major Tom (Coming Home)” identifies the English version, whereas “Major Tom (völlig losgelöst)” is the German-language original.