Fly Me to the Moon
Encyclopedia
"Fly Me to the Moon" is a popular standard song written by Bart Howard
in 1954. It was originally titled "In Other Words", and was introduced by Felicia Sanders
in cabaret
s. The song became known popularly as "Fly Me to the Moon" from its first line, and after a few years the publishers changed the title to that officially.
Bart Howard
Bart Howard was the composer and writer of the famous jazz standard "Fly Me To The Moon", which has been performed by singers Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Della Reese, Diana Krall, June Christy and Astrud Gilberto...
in 1954. It was originally titled "In Other Words", and was introduced by Felicia Sanders
Felicia Sanders
Felicia Sanders was a singer of traditional pop music.Born Felice Schwartz in Mount Vernon, New York. She sang in the 1940s, with big bands and on the radio, based in Los Angeles....
in cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
s. The song became known popularly as "Fly Me to the Moon" from its first line, and after a few years the publishers changed the title to that officially.
History of notable recordings
- The song was first recorded in 1954 by Kaye BallardKaye BallardKaye Ballard is an American musical theatre and television actress, comedienne, and singer.-Life and career:Ballard was born as Catherine Gloria Balotta in Cleveland, Ohio, to an Italian American family, the daughter of Lena and Vincent James Balotta.Ballard established herself as a musical...
, and vended by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single recordsThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
29114. - Portia NelsonPortia NelsonPortia Nelson was an American popular singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She was best known for her appearances in the most prestigious 1950s cabarets, where she sang an elegant repertoire in a soprano noted for its silvery tone, perfect diction, intimacy, and meticulous attention to words...
recorded it for her album Let Me Love You (1956) - Johnny MathisJohnny MathisJohn Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
also recorded it in 1956, which was the first time the title "Fly Me to the Moon" appeared on a record label. - Eydie GorméEydie GorméEydie Gormé is an American singer, specializing, with her husband, Steve Lawrence, in traditional pop music, in the form of ballads and breezy swing. She has earned numerous awards, including the Grammy and the Emmy...
recorded the song in 1958 for her Grammy nominated album 'Eydie in Love' (released by ABC Paramount in September 1958 catalogue number ABC/ABCS 246). - Felicia Sanders recorded the song in 1959. (Released by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, catalog number 30937.) - April Stevens recorded the song in 1960 on her album Teach Me Tiger. (Imperial 12055).
- Nancy Wilson featured the song on her 1960 album Like in LoveLike in LoveLike in Love! is the debut album by the American vocalist Nancy Wilson, it was released in April of 1960 by Capitol Records, and arranged by Billy May.-Track listing:# "On the Street Where You Live"...
(Capitol St 1319). - Peggy LeePeggy LeePeggy Lee was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and...
recorded the song for her 1960 album Pretty EyesPretty EyesThe Allmusic review by Dave Nathan awarded the album three stars and commented that "There's no brass in the orchestra, just flutes, woodwinds, and strings. The result is that the arrangements are tame compared to charts May turned out when he had trumpets and trombones to work with...
released by Capitol Records in 1960. - Nat King ColeNat King ColeNathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
recorded the song for the album Nat King Cole Sings/George Shearing PlaysNat King Cole Sings/George Shearing PlaysNat King Cole Sings/George Shearing Plays is a 1962 studio album by Nat King Cole, featuring the pianist George Shearing. - Track listing :# "September Song" – 2:59...
(1961). (Released on Capitol Records, catalog #1675) - Sarah VaughanSarah VaughanSarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
recorded the song for her 1962 album You're Mine YouYou're Mine YouYou're Mine You is a 1962 studio album by the American jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, orchestrated and conducted by Quincy Jones.-Reception:...
. This album was orchestrated and conducted by Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
. - Mel TorméMel TorméMelvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
recorded the song in 1962 at live performance released by Atlantic on the album 'Mel Tormé at the Red HillMel Tormé at the Red HillMel Tormé at the Red Hill is a 1962 live album by Mel Tormé, recorded at the Red Hill Club in Pennsauken, New Jersey. This was Tormé's first album for Atlantic Records.- Track listing :# "Shaking the Blues Away" – 2:08...
'. - Joe HarnellJoe HarnellJoe Harnell was an American easy listening composer and arranger....
recorded an instrumental version in 1962, as "Fly Me to the Moon – Bossa Nova". This version became the biggest chart hit, reaching #14 (#4 easy listening) on the U.S. pop singles chartsBillboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. - Jazz drummer Roy HaynesRoy HaynesRoy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
, accompanied by Rahsaan Roland KirkRahsaan Roland KirkRahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute and many other instruments...
, Tommy FlanaganTommy FlanaganThomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
on piano, and Henry GrimesHenry GrimesHenry Grimes is a jazz double bassist, violinist, and poet.After more than a decade of activity and performance, notably as a leading bassist in free jazz, Grimes completely disappeared from the music scene by 1970...
on double bass recorded the song as a brisk instrumental waltz for the album Out of the AfternoonOut of the AfternoonOut of the Afternoon is an album by jazz drummer Roy Haynes, released in 1962 on Impulse! Records.- Tracklisting :# "Moon Ray" - 6:41# "Fly Me to the Moon " - 6:40# "Raoul" - 6:01# "Snap Crackle" - 4:11...
(1962). (Released by Impulse! Records, AS-23). - The song also became an international best seller after Connie FrancisConnie FrancisConnie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
had recorded it on September 28, 1962 in Italian and on February 25, 1963 in Neapolitan (both versions were released under the title Portami con te). - Dinah WashingtonDinah WashingtonDinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
recorded it for her album In Love (1962) - Brenda LeeBrenda LeeBrenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
performed this song on her album All Alone Am IAll Alone Am I (album)All Alone Am I is the eighth studio album by American pop and country artist Brenda Lee. The album was released February 18, 1963 on Decca Records and was produced by Owen Bradley...
released in February 1963. - Jack JonesJack Jones (singer)John Allan "Jack" Jones is an American jazz and pop singer. He was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1960s.-Overview:...
recorded the song for his 1962 album 'Gift of Love' (Kapp RecordsKapp RecordsKapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
KS 3292). - A Spanish version was recorded on February 21, 1963 under the title Llévame a la luna, although this recording was also released under the title Mandame a la luna.
- Shirley BasseyShirley BasseyDame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
recorded the song in 1963 for her EP "In Other Words...". - An original arrangement by Ernie FreemanErnie FreemanErnie Freeman was an American pianist, organist and arranger.In 1935 he began playing in local Cleveland area nightclubs, and also formed a classical music trio for local social functions with his father and his sister Evelyn...
is found in Julie LondonJulie LondonJulie London was an American singer and actress. She was best known for her smoky, sensual voice. London was at her singing career's peak in the 1950s. Her acting career lasted more than 35 years...
's album The End of the WorldThe End of the World (Julie London album)The End of the World was an LP album by Julie London, released by Liberty Records under catalog number LRP-3300 as a monophonic recording and catalog number LST-7300 in stereo in June 1963...
(1963). This version has a different intro than usual: a jazz pizzicato instrumental sequence and piano accompaniment. - Anita O'DayAnita O'DayAnita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"...
featured the song on her LP Anita O'Day & The Three Sounds released by Verve RecordsVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
in June 1963. - Patti PagePatti PageClara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
featured the song on her debut LP for Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Say Wonderful ThingsSay Wonderful Things (album)Say Wonderful Things was a 1963 LP album by Patti Page, released by Columbia Records as catalog numbers CL 2049 and CS 8849 . The album was Page's first LP for Columbia after her long and successful tenure on Mercury Records...
(1963). - Perry ComoPerry ComoPierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
included the song on his 1963 album The Songs I Love (Perry Como album)The Songs I Love (Perry Como album)The Songs I Love was Perry Como's 11th RCA Victor 12" long-play album, the ninth recorded in full "living" stereophonic sound and the first featuring Dynagroove technology....
. - Earl GrantEarl GrantEarl Grant was an American easy listening pianist, Hammond organist, and vocalist popular in the 1950s and 1960s.-Career:...
recorded his instrumental version on the album Fly Me To The Moon (1964).
- Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
recorded the best known version on the album It Might as Well Be SwingIt Might as Well Be SwingIt Might as Well Be Swing is a 1964 studio album by Frank Sinatra, accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra. It was Sinatra's first studio recording with Quincy Jones.This was Sinatra and Basie's second collaboration after 1963's Sinatra-Basie....
(1964), accompanied by Count BasieCount BasieWilliam "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
. This version was arranged by Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
who changed the time signature from 3/4 waltz-time to 4/4 and gave it a looser, swing feel. Sinatra also performed the song with Basie on Sinatra at the SandsSinatra at the SandsSinatra at the Sands is a 1966 live album by Frank Sinatra, accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones, recorded live at the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas....
(1966), and with bossa nova great Antonio Carlos JobimAntônio Carlos JobimAntônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim , also known as Tom Jobim , was a Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist. He was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists within...
on Duets IIDuets IIDuets II is the 58th and last studio album by American singer Frank Sinatra. It was released in 1994, and was the sequel to the previous year's Duets....
(1994). - Neil SedakaNeil SedakaNeil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
recorded a cover version of the song in 1964, but it wasn't released until 2003 when Bear Family RecordsBear Family RecordsBear Family Records is a Germany-based independent record label that specializes in reissues of archival material ranging from country music to 1950s rock and roll to old German movie soundtracks.-History:...
issued its exhaustive Neil Sedaka anthology. - Astrud GilbertoAstrud GilbertoAstrud Gilberto is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She is well known for the Grammy Award-winning song "The Girl from Ipanema".-Biography:...
recorded the song for her album The Shadow of Your Smile released in 1965 by Verve. - Doris DayDoris DayDoris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
recorded the song for her highly acclaimed album Latin for LoversLatin for LoversLatin for Lovers was a Doris Day album, mostly composed of songs originating in Latin America, released by Columbia Records on March 22, 1965 as a monophonic LP and a stereophonic album ....
(released in 1965) - Tony BennettTony BennettTony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
recorded the song in 1965, with minor success. Bennett also sang it through the 2000s in concert without any amplification or sound system. - In 1965, the song was recorded by Heidi BrühlHeidi BrühlHeidi Rosemarie Brühl was a German singer and actress who came to prominence as a young teenager and had a prolific career in film and television...
, a German singer/actress who later went to host her own Las Vegas Shows in the U.S. and appear on television shows, such as Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D.Marcus Welby, M.D. is an American medical drama television program that aired on ABC from September 23, 1969, to July 29, 1976. It starred Robert Young as a family practitioner with a kind bedside manner, and was produced by David Victor and David J. O'Connell...
, and Columbo. - The SandpipersThe SandpipersThe Sandpipers were an American easy listening trio/quartet, who carved a niche in 1960s folk rock. They are best remembered for their cover version of "Guantanamera", which became a transatlantic Top 10 hit in 1966, and their Top 20 hit "Come Saturday Morning" from the soundtrack of the film The...
also recorded the Spanish version for their album Misty Roses (1967). - Oscar PetersonOscar PetersonOscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, "O.P." by his friends. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honours over the course of his career...
recorded the song on his album Tristeza on PianoTristeza on PianoTristeza on Piano is a 1970 album by Oscar Peterson .-Track listing:# "Tristeza" – 3:13# "Nightingale" – 6:42# "I Loves You, Porgy" – 6:12...
(1970). However, the track was deleted on the Three Originals compilation due to lack of space. - Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
featured the song on his 1985 album Romantically YoursRomantically YoursRomantically Yours was the second posthumous release for American soul music legend Marvin Gaye, also released by Columbia Records in 1985.... - In 2000, Utada HikaruUtada Hikaru, known by her stage name Utada in America and Europe, is a Japanese-American singer, song writer, arranger, and producer. Since the release of her Japanese debut album First Love, which went on to become the best-selling album in Oricon history, Utada has had three of her Japanese studio albums...
released a cover of this song on her single "Wait & See: Risk" and included four remixes on the single "Remix: Fly Me to the MoonREMIX: Fly Me to the Moon- Charts :"Remix: Fly Me to the Moon" - Oricon Sales Chart -References:* — Oricon Japan disc profile...
". A new remix was released in 2007 on the single of "Beautiful World/Kiss & CryBeautiful World/Kiss & Cry"Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry" is Utada Hikaru's 19th Japanese single . The single was released on August 29, 2007 as her second single for 2007. "Beautiful World" was re-released in 2009 as "Beautiful World " for the release of the movie Evangelion: 2.0 You Can Advance.Beautiful World / Kiss & Cry...
". - The song is popular in Germany and has been recorded by Tom GaebelTom GaebelTom Gaebel is a German singer and leader of a big band named after himself. He changed the spelling of his last name, avoiding the umlaut to give it an international sheen. In addition to singing and arranging music, Gaebel writes lyrics in English....
on his album The Unknown (2003) and by Roger CiceroRoger CiceroRoger Marcel Cicero Ciceu is a German jazz musician and the son of the Romanian pianist Eugen Cicero.- Biography :...
as "Schiess mich doch zum Mond" on his album Männersachen (2006). - In 2004, the song was recorded by WestlifeWestlifeWestlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
on their Allow Us to Be FrankAllow Us to Be Frank-Singles:"Smile" was released as the album's first single on 4 November 2004. The physical single features the video, and B-sides "White Christmas" and "When I Fall In Love". "Fly Me To The Moon" was released as the album's second single on 20 December 2004...
. - In 2004, former ABBAABBAABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
singer Agnetha FältskogAgnetha FältskogAgnetha Åse Fältskog is a Swedish recording artist. She achieved success in Sweden after the release of her début album Agnetha Fältskog in 1968, and reached international stardom as a member of the pop group ABBA, which to date has sold over 375 million records worldwide, making it the fourth...
included it on her cover album My Colouring BookMy Colouring BookMy Colouring Book is the name of a 2004 album by Swedish singer Agnetha Fältskog. It was her first album release for 17 years and was well received by ABBA fans, as well as the general music press, with renditions of songs which she had listened to during her teenage years in the 1960s.Hit singles...
. - In 2005, Olivia OngOlivia OngOlivia Ong is a Singaporean singer. She sings mostly in English but developed her career singing in English and Japanese. In addition, she has released rare tracks, recorded in Mandarin, and Cantonese which can be found on limited edition albums.-Biography:...
released on her debut album, A Girl Meets Bossanova, her own cover. - In 2006, saxophonist Jimmy Sommers covered the song for his release Time Stands Still.
- In 2009, the song was recorded by Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
on his album American ClassicAmerican Classic (Willie Nelson album)American Classic is an album from American country music artist Willie Nelson, released on August 25, 2009. It focuses on the American popular songbook and standard jazz classics, and includes guest appearances by Norah Jones and Diana Krall...
. - Diana KrallDiana KrallDiana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
recorded it on her album Live in Paris (2002). - The song has also been covered by Hong Kong artist Linda ChungLinda ChungLinda Chung Ka-yan is a Canadian TVB actress and singer based in Hong Kong. She entered the industry in 2004 when she won the 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant. She is now an actress under TVB and a singer under the Star Entertainment label...
in the 2009 album My Love StoryMy Love StoryMy Love Story is the second album by Linda Chung and was released on November 12, 2009. It consists of 12 tracks, of which 2 are Mandarin while the rest are Cantonese. It also contains an adaptation of Bart Howard's famous song, Fly me to the moon...
. - In 2010, Rod StewartRod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
recorded the song for his Fly Me to the Moon... The Great American Songbook Volume V cover album. - In 2011, Grace Potter recorded the song for use in the upcoming TV series "Pan Am"
Association with space travel
- Frank Sinatra's 1964 recording was played by the astronauts of Apollo 10Apollo 10Apollo 10 was the fourth manned mission in the American Apollo space program. It was an F type mission—its purpose was to be a "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself. The mission included the...
on their lunar-orbital mission and again on the moon itself by the astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the Apollo 11Apollo 11In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
landing. - Yi So-YeonYi So-yeonYi So-yeon is a South Korean scientist and Ph.D. graduate of KAIST . On April 8, 2008, she became the first Korean and the second Asian woman to fly in space, after Chiaki Mukai.-Biography:Yi So-yeon was born to father Yi Gil-soo...
, a spaceflight participantSpaceflight participantSpaceflight participant is the term used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Russian Federal Space Agency for people who travel aboard space missions coordinated by those agencies who are not part of the crew...
from South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
who flew aboard Soyuz TMA-12Soyuz TMA-12Soyuz TMA-12 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station which was launched by a Soyuz FG rocket at 11:16 UTC on 8 April 2008. It docked to the Pirs module of the station on 10 April 2008. Landing occurred at 03:37 on 24 October...
reported in a post-mission news conference that she had sung "Fly Me to the Moon" for the other crew members while in space. - On July 20, 2009, Diana KrallDiana KrallDiana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
performed the song at the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11Apollo 11In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
commemoration ceremony held at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The three astronauts from the Apollo 11 mission were in the audience.
Appearance in film, television and other media
- Frank Sinatra performed the song on the TV show Sinatra (1969), where he dedicated it to the Apollo astronauts "who made the impossible possible".
- Tony Bennett performed a parody of the song on Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
for an action sequence in which the show's character Slimey the WormSlimey the WormSlimey the Worm is a light and dark orange striped worm that is the pet and friend of Oscar the Grouch on Jim Henson's Muppet show Sesame Street. Introduced in Season 13 , he is played by Martin P. Robinson and is the smallest of all characters on Sesame Street, being only 7 cm...
took a trip to the moon. - The song was used during the opening titles of Oliver StoneOliver StoneWilliam Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
's film Wall Street (1987). - Thomas AndersThomas AndersThomas Anders is a German singer, composer and record producer. Anders was the lead singer of Germany's popular pop-duo Modern Talking in 1984–1987 and in 1998–2003.-Early years:...
recorded the song in 1996 at live performance released by Panteon Records on the album 'Live ConcertLive Concert (album)Live Concert is the title of the seventh album by singer-songwriter & producer Thomas Anders. It is his first solo album to be recorded live....
'. - The song appears in the closing moments and over the end titles of Clint EastwoodClint EastwoodClinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
's film Space CowboysSpace CowboysSpace Cowboys is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood also stars in the film alongside Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and James Garner as four older "ex-test pilots" who are sent into space to repair an old Soviet satellite...
(2000). - The song was performed by Elvis Costello in the 2001 final episode of the American sitcom, '3rd Rock From The Sun'.
- The song has been covered by many artists for the ending theme of the Japanese animeAnimeis the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Neon Genesis Evangelion and the feature films based on the series, for more than 31 versions. - In October 2009, a fragment of the song appeared as a sample in DJ Lord Vampirick's album Straight Shotgun at the Edge of the Universe.
- Stylized versions of the song appear at key moments in the storyline of the videogame Bayonetta.
- The song appeared in the South Korean drama You're BeautifulYou're Beautiful (TV series)He's Beautiful is a South Korean drama about a fictional boy band A.N.Jell and the relationship between its members when a female, posing as her twin brother, joins the group...
, sung by protagonist Tae Kyung (portrayed by Jang Geun Suk). - The song was also sung on the 3rd live show by Lloyd Daniels on The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
2009. - In the 10th seriesDancing with the Stars (U.S. season 10)Dancing with the Stars returned for a tenth season on March 22, 2010. There was not an elimination the first week of competition. The first elimination took place on March 30....
of the U.S. version of Dancing with the StarsDancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
, Buzz Aldrin and his partner Ashly Costa danced the foxtrot to the song. - The song was also remixed in an action form in various scenes of the 2010 video game BayonettaBayonettais a hack and slash action game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 developed by Platinum Games in cooperation with publisher Sega. Set in a fictional city in Europe, the game centers on its title character, Bayonetta, who uses pistols and magical attacks to defeat enemies...
for the PlayStation 3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, where it is sung by Helena NoguerraHelena NoguerraHelena Noguerra is a Belgian actress, singer and television presenter of Portuguese descent. She is the sister of singer Lio....
. The end credits of the game features a 1963 version of the song by Brenda LeeBrenda LeeBrenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
. - The song was also sung on the Australian version of the show The X Factor by Andrew Lawson.
- In 2011, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. performed this song on the sixth seasonAmerica's Got Talent (season 6)The sixth season of America's Got Talent, a reality television series, premiered on May 31, 2011 on NBC. On September 14, 2011, Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr...
of America's Got TalentAmerica's Got TalentAmerica's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
, in the top 48. - On the September 6, 2011 episode of American late-night show Jimmy Kimmel LiveJimmy Kimmel LiveJimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.The nightly hour-long show made its debut on January 26, 2003, following Super Bowl XXXVII. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by Jackhole Productions in association with ABC Studios...
, "Fly Me to the Moon" was performed by house band Cleto and the CletonesCleto and the CletonesCleto and the Cletones is the moniker of the "house band" on the ABC-TV late-night television program, Jimmy Kimmel Live .Cleto Escobedo III is the leader of the sextet, and plays the alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones on the show, as well as occasionally singing both on camera and off...
as a tribute to Kimmel's Uncle FrankFrank PotenzaFrank Potenza was an American retired police officer for the New York City Police Department and former security guard. He later became a television actor and comic relief for the late night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!...
, a Frank Sinatra fan and show regular who had passed away two weeks before the episode aired.