Why David Bowie's "Starman" Is Perfect For the "Lightyear" Trailer

The official trailer for “Lightyear” dropped on Feb. 8, and viewers everywhere instantly became curious about the song that perfectly accompanies Buzz Lightyear’s space travels. While fans did not know specific details about the movie’s plot at this point, lyrics like, “There’s a starman waiting in the sky” seemed to perfectly fit the film’s theme. Now that we know the movie is actually the movie that the Buzz Lightyear toy was based on in the “Toy Story” films (yes, you read that right – it’sa real movie inspired by the fake movie that inspired the fake Buzz Lightyear toy in “Toy Story” … all of which are now real).

Now, the question is, is the song in the “Lightyear” real trailer, or just another made up thing for the sake of the “Toy Story” universe? The answer is that the song is real. Here’s everything to know about it.

What Song Is in the “Lightyear” Trailer?

In the second half of the trailer, as Buzz Lightyear is launched into space on the spacecraft, David Bowie’s “Starman” plays in the background. “Starman” was the first single off of David Bowie’s 1972 album, “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.” The song tells a story from the perspective of Bowie’s alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, whom Bowie himself once described in a “Rolling Stone” interview as “this amazing spaceman who will be coming down to save the Earth.”

“Starman” is not the only intergalactic-themed song from Bowie, with “Space Oddity” and “Life on Mars” among other fan favorites.

“Starman” Lyrics

Bowie’s “Starman” has lyrics that paint a picture of a heroic man in space who is destined to bring hope and peace to the world. The lyrics included in the trailer go as follows:

There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’d like to come and meet us
But he thinks he’d blow our minds
There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’s told us not to blow it
‘Cause he knows it’s all worthwhile
He told me
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

How Do the “Starman” Lyrics Connect to the “Lightyear” Movie?

“Lightyear” is a spinoff of the Toy Story franchise that centers on the human character who inspired the beloved Buzz Lightyear toy. Yes, you heard that right. Buzz Lightyear is a toy version of a human character in the film franchise – who knew! In the film, Buzz Lightyear (Evans) is an esteemed space ranger who ventures into space with the help of a group of space rangers and a robot cat companion named Sox (Peter Sohn). Amid his space adventure, Buzz encounters robots and intergalactic creatures, which makes his journey a wild one.

Considering Bowie’s “Spaceman” is about a heroic man destined to bring hope and peace to the world, the character of Buzz seems to fit the bill.

“Lightyear” is set to release in theaters on June 22. Until then, watch the trailer below!