Hitting number one on the UK singles chart (a feat repeated and sustained in over twenty five other national markets) on this day in 1986, the song by the Swedish rock group Europe was inspired by Space Oddity and with a keyboard riff that lead singer Joey Tempest had had experimented with for six years (and surely carried in his head the whole time though we are glad he does not have to endure that earworm alone any longer), it was originally conceived as a concert-opener before being expanded and limned as a complete tune.
one year ago: the Irish Free State (1922), Finnish independence, assorted links to revisit, stock price charting plus seasonally obscure terminology
two years ago: a reconstructed fable
three years ago: passive immunity, the bust of Nefertiti, the Encyclopedia Britannica plus the Villon Song
four years ago: greatest hits by decade—all the way back to prehistory plus the Washington Post waltz
five years ago: more links to enjoy
