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"Spirit In The Sky" is a song written by Norman Greenbaum which was released in 1969. The single sold 2 million copies between 1969 and 1970 alone and peaked at number 1 on the UK charts in 1970. The song was featured on the 1969 album of the same name.

'Spirit In The Sky' typified psychedelic rock music and featured elements of hard rock - drums and severely distorted electric guitar, as well as elements of traditional folk music - clapping hands, tambourines, gospel song-like lyrics, and an all-female chorus.

The song contains lyrics about Jesus and the afterlife, making several references to Jesus and Christianity.

However, it is said that Norman Greenbaum was Jewish, not Christian, and that the song was never intended to proselytize for Christianity (or indeed for Judaism or any other religious group), but was instead a social commentary on popular religious belief.

Cultural Impact

During John Lennon's famously scathing 1970 Rolling Stone "Beatles break-up" interview (Jann S. Wenner), while critical of the recent work of many of his peers, which included Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney, Lennon professed to liking the then-current radio single, 'Spirit In The Sky', stating that he "always liked simple rock and nothing else".

The song has been featured in many movies, including Apollo 13, Ocean's Eleven, and The Longest Yard

Recently, Nike, Inc. has used the song in a commercial, featuring NFL players and sports celebrities, including Michael Vick, LaDanian Tomlinson, Brian Urlacher, Deion Sanders, Matt Leinart, Troy Polamalu, Jimmy Johnson, Don Shula, Urban Meyer, Jill Arrington, Jillian Barberie, Steve Young and Lee Corso.

Other versions of 'Spirit In The Sky'

Many artists have released cover versions of the song. Some of the recordings have went on to repeat the same feat as the original, by reaching the number one spot in the UK, as well as other countries.

• In 1986, Doctor and the Medics released a version which went to number 1 in 32 countries, including the UK.
• In 1994, the song was released by the Kentucky Headhunters on their album Still Pickin’.
• In 1998, a succesful recording of the song was released by Travis Allen White.
• In 2000, the song was covered by the Christian Rock group dc Talk for the CBS Mini-series entitled 'JESUS: THE EPIC MINISERIES'.
• In 2003, a cover version was released by pop-singer Gareth Gates and The Kumars, for a comic relief single and reached number 1 in the UK charts for 2 weeks.
• In 2005, song was released on the album Atom Bomb by the Blind Boys of Alabama.
• In 2005, the song's repetitive bassline was appropriated by British electronic artist Goldfrapp in their 2005 single "Ooh La La".
• The song was also covered by German artist Nina Hagen, and covered by Bauhaus

Rolling Stone ranked 'Spirit In The Sky' # 333 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Norman Greenbaum has a web site: http://www.spiritinthesky.com/

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