Space Oddity astronaut Chris Hadfield returns to singing with ‘most Canadian music video ever’

The former International Space Station commander uploaded song in tribute to Canada Day

Canada Day tribute 'In Canada' starring Chris and Dave Hadfield was posted to the former astronauts Facebook page yesterday (YouTube)

Just when you thought Chris Hadfield couldn’t become any more or a Canadian national treasure, the retired astronaut has produced what he claims is “the most Canadian music video ever” to celebrate his country’s birthday.

Canada was 147 yesterday, and the national holiday was marked with a host of festivities expressing people’s pride at being part of one of the greatest countries in the world.

Hadfield first gained recognition on Twitter after an exchange with Captain Kirk (William Shatner), and later shot to fame with an extra-terrestrial tribute to David Bowie’s Space Oddity.

That’s quite a precedent to set for yourself – but his latest offering for Canada Day does not disappointment.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Hadfield said: “For fun this Canada Day, my brother and I set out to make the most Canadian music video ever.”

Even the YouTube description is magnificently Canadian in tone, promising: “A polite song from two brothers who are just hoping your day is going okay.”

Hadfield said the song was written by his brother Dave Hadfield, who describes himself on his website as a pilot, musician and wilderness traveller (not dissimilar from Chris himself, then).

Performing the acoustic guitar and lead vocal sections together, the brothers can be seen in the video enjoying a summer’s day in Canada together playing hockey, having a barbecue and eating maple syrup.

But it’s the lyrics that really conjure up a sense of national pride – called “In Canada”, the song describes how the country has “big cities but a lot of trees and rocks”, “cold winters”, pronounces “the letter R like we’re pirates” and has a “golden rule” of politeness at all times.

The lyrics and chords to the song have also been posted on Dave Hadfield's website, so fellow Canadians can have a go at emulating the adventurous brothers.

Chris Hadfield, a former ISS commander, performs 'Space Oddity' (EPA)

CTV News reported that it has been a big week for Chris Hadfield, who flew with the Snowbirds (the Canadian equivalent of the Red Arrows) during Canada Day festivities in Ottawa the day after it was announced he will become an officer of the Order of Canada.

The former commander of the International Space Station now has more than 1.1 million Twitter followers, and his Space Oddity video was viewed more than 22.4 million times before his one-year licensing agreement for the song expired.