Space Song

For the 1959 studio album, see Space Songs.

"Space Song"
Promotional single by Beach House
from the album Depression Cherry
ReleasedAugust 28, 2015
StudioStudio in the Country
(Bogalusa, Louisiana)
GenreDream pop
Length5:20
LabelSub Pop
Songwriter(s)
Lyric video
"Space Song" on YouTube

"Space Song" is a song by American dream pop duo Beach House, released in 2015 as a promotional single from their fifth studio album, Depression Cherry.[1] In 2024, the song was certified platinum in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Critical reception

Pitchfork labeled "Space Song" a "sweeping mid-album highlight".[2] Heather Phares of AllMusic described "Space Song" as a moment where Beach House "conjures a feeling of intimacy surrounded by vastness", with "arpeggiated keyboards suggesting stars shooting through an endless sky".[3]

"Space Song" became a sleeper hit after going viral on TikTok in early 2021.[4][5] According to Spotify for Artists, it is used "as a way to show dramatic irony – emphasis on the dramatic."[4]

In early 2021, the song began to be paired with an internet meme of Pedro Pascal laughing then crying. As of September 2022, the song has been used in over 200,000 videos on the platform.[6][7] In an interview with Pitchfork, Beach House member Victoria Legrand said of the success of "Space Song" on TikTok:[8]

I don't need to analyze it because I'm grateful for it. I don’t think it's just that song, but if that is the gateway, then I'm happy about it. We both feel lucky that younger people keep discovering us and we're able to keep making records.

In December 2022, the song saw a 41% increase in streams after being featured in the third episode of the Netflix original series Wednesday.[9] The song is featured in the movie Nadia, Butterfly as part of its soundtrack.[10]

Charts

Chart performance for "Space Song"
Chart (2022–2023) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 81
Global 200 (Billboard)[12] 184
Lithuania (AGATA)[13] 72
UK Indie (OCC)[14] 32
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[15] 13

Certifications

Certifications for "Space Song"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[16] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[17] Gold 50,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[18] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Sub Pop (2015). Space Song (CD liner notes). Beach House. Sub Pop. PROCD233.
  2. ^ "Beach House: Depression Cherry". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Beach House - Depression Cherry Album Reviews, Songs & More, AllMusic, retrieved September 23, 2022
  4. ^ a b "How Beach House Used a Viral Hit to Drive Momentum for Their New Release – Spotify for Artists". artists.spotify.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Jackson, Adlan (March 11, 2022). "Beach House on Making Music People Love to Cry To". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Pedro Pascal Crying Meme". TikTok. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ^ "Why the Internet is Still Obsessed With Pedro Pascal Memes". What's Trending. March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Beach House Are Still Surprising Each Other". Pitchfork. February 16, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (December 7, 2022). "'Wednesday' Synchs Drive Streams & Sales for The Cramps, Beach House & More". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  10. ^ Béliveau, Jason (September 17, 2020). "Nadia, Butterfly". Séquences – La revue de cinéma. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "Beach House Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Beach House Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 3-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "Beach House Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "Danish single certifications – Beach House – Space Song". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Italian single certifications – Beach House – Space Song" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Beach House – Space Song". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "British single certifications – Beach House – Space Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "American single certifications – Beach House – Space Song". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 15, 2023.