Frank Sinatra's iconic recording of Fly Me to the Moon didn't start out as a space anthem, nor did it even carry that famous title when it was written in 1954. Originally penned by songwriter Bart Howard under the title "In Other Words", the tune spent a decade as a slow, cabaret-style waltz before a high-stakes makeover turned it into a cultural touchstone. Its journey from a New York piano bar to the surface of the moon is a masterclass in how arrangement, timing, and a bit of cosmic coincidence can cement a standard in history.
The Origins and Bart Howard's 20-Minute Masterpiece
Songwriter Bart Howard was working as an accompanist at the Blue Angel cabaret in New York City when he sat down at the piano in 1954 with a goal to write something that sounded like it came from the catalog of his idol, Cole Porter. According to Howard, the song took him roughly twenty minutes to write.
He constructed it as a slow, three-quarter time waltz. Cabaret performer Felicia Sanders first introduced it publicly, and comedian and singer Kaye Ballard recorded the very first commercial version later that same year on Decca Records, using the original title In Other Words.
Early resistance to the song's signature line came from publishers. When Howard pitched the tune, a publisher balked at the opening lyric of the chorus—"Fly me to the moon"—arguing that "fly" is an intransitive verb that doesn't take a direct object and suggesting "take me to the moon" instead. Howard flatly refused to change it. To read more about the history here, Associated Press offers an excellent summary.
From Cabaret Waltz to Pop Standard
For several years, the song floated through the New York cabaret circuit, recorded by jazz vocalists like Chris Connor, Johnny Mathis, and Portia Nelson. A major turning point arrived in 1960 when Peggy Lee performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Lee realized that audiences naturally referred to the song by its standout opening line rather than its official title. She convinced Bart Howard to officially rename the track Fly Me to the Moon, giving it a punchier identity that resonated with radio programmers.
Shortly after, in 1962, jazz arranger and pianist Joe Harnell suffered a serious traffic accident. While recovering at home, he decided to re-imagine the tune as an upbeat, bossa nova instrumental. Harnell's version caught fire, climbing to number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and winning a Grammy Award. That rhythmic shift paved the way for the definitive version that would soon follow.
The Sinatra, Jones, and Basie Transformation
In 1964, Frank Sinatra teamed up with arranger Quincy Jones to record an album titled It Might as Well Be Swing. Jones decided to completely overhaul Howard's delicate waltz, shifting it from a 3/4 time signature into a swinging 4/4 groove backed by Count Basie and his orchestra.
Sinatra's vocal delivery brought an effortless swagger to the track. Howard later remarked that by the time Sinatra recorded his version, more than 100 other renditions existed, but the Sinatra-Jones-Basie collaboration instantly overshadowed all of them. It transformed a wistful cabaret ballad into a finger-snapping anthem of pure confidence.
How the Song Actually Reached the Moon
The song's title made its literal translation to outer space a reality during the space race. Astronaut Wally Schirra, a massive fan of big band music, played a cassette tape of Sinatra's recording aboard the Apollo 10 spacecraft in May 1969, broadcasting it through the capsule's audio system.
A couple of months later, during the historic Apollo 11 mission, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed on the lunar surface. Aldrin carried a portable cassette player and played Sinatra's version on the surface of the moon, making it one of the first musical tracks ever played in space.
This cosmic tie-in became permanent folklore. When the Apollo 11 crew returned to Earth, Sinatra hosted their welcome-home celebration and performed the song live for the astronauts and engineers who made the mission possible. Decades later, Diana Krall performed the song at the 40th-anniversary commemoration of the Apollo landing, and it was played again at Neil Armstrong's memorial service in 2012.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
- It was written for the space program: A widespread myth claims Bart Howard wrote the song to celebrate NASA. In reality, NASA was not founded until 1958, four years after Howard wrote the tune in 1954.
- Frank Sinatra was the first to sing it: While Sinatra's version defines the song for millions of listeners, it existed for a decade and was recorded dozens of times by artists like Kaye Ballard, Nat King Cole, and Johnny Mathis before Sinatra touched it.
- The lyrics describe outer space exploration: Lyrically, the song is a standard romantic profession. Planets like Jupiter and Mars are used merely as metaphors for the dizzying, euphoric heights of falling in love.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the original title of Fly Me to the Moon?
The song was originally titled "In Other Words" when Bart Howard wrote it in 1954. It was officially renamed after Peggy Lee popularized that moniker on television.
Did Buzz Aldrin really play the song on the moon?
Yes. Buzz Aldrin packed a personal cassette tape featuring Sinatra's recording and played it on a portable player after stepping onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission.
Who wrote the famous swing arrangement used by Frank Sinatra?
Quincy Jones wrote the upbeat, swinging 4/4 arrangement, while Count Basie and his orchestra provided the instrumental backing for Sinatra's 1964 recording.
How many versions of the song have been recorded?
Music historians estimate that hundreds of artists have recorded the track. By the time Sinatra recorded his version in 1964, over 100 covers already existed. Today, the Songwriters Hall of Fame recognizes it as a towering standard of American music.
