It was a big hit in (continental) Europe circa 1981. I first heard it in Germany around then. It certainly wasn't sung in English, although about four years afterwards I heard Annie Nightingale play an English-language version of it on Radio 1 on her (then) request show.
Uptempo, synth-pop with a catchy chorus, but still a bit teutonic for all that. I can recall how the first two bars of the chorus went. Since on-line humming is tricky, here's a graphic representation of the rhythm:
D:\My Documents\My Pictures\stave1.gifAnd I think the associated pitches are, respectively: B, D, D, C-B A
The next two bars of the chorus are similar, but a bit higher in pitch, I think.
― Jeff, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
― Kodanshi, Wednesday, 31 October 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)
In the meantime, one more clue: the singer (male) almost sounds like he's yodelling the chorus.
― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 29 October 2002 01:51 (twenty-three years ago)
― Jeff W, Tuesday, 29 October 2002 09:12 (twenty-three years ago)
It's "Major Tom (I'm Coming Home)" by Peter Schilling. Now you can all tell me how crap my descriptions above were.
Incidentally, I found it because an mp3 of a grebt cover version by The Space Lady has been posted (until end of today only, I think) here:http://www.otisfodder.com/365days.html
― Jeff W, Sunday, 5 January 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)
I remember trying to figure this out when you first posted it. It was that whole sung in German part that threw me off, because I've only ever heard the english version - but it's a great song! No wonder you were looking for it.
― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 5 January 2003 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)