5th Dimension – "Up, Up and Away" (1967)

We can sing a song

And sail along the silver sky

For we can fly! 

When Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the surface of the moon, he described his feat as “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

By contrast, the recent flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft might be described as one small step backwards for feminism and one giant ego trip for the six women – including pop megastar Katy Perry – who were aboard that rocket for the ten-minute round trip to “outer space.”

“Space is going to finally be glam,” Perry told Elle magazine before the flight.  “We are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut!” 

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One of Perry’s fellow passengers on the New Shepard was CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, who is notoriously afraid of flying but who overcame her fears through meditation and prayer.  “I’m so proud of me,” she crowed after returning to terra firma.   

King’s bestie Oprah Winfrey travelled to Texas to witness the New Shepard’s flight.  “We've been friends [for almost] 50 years . . .  and I've never been more proud of my friend than today,” Oprah said.  “This is bigger than just going to space. I mean, I think for her, who, anytime we're on a flight, she's in anybody's lap if there's the slightest bit of turbulence, as like real-world anxiety flying.  And this is overcoming a wall of fear, a barrier.  I think it's going to be cathartic in so many ways for her.”

BFFs Oprah and Gayle

After conquering her fear of flying, King is ready to tackle another of her phobias.  “I might now get my ears pierced,” she said after the flight.  “I’ve always been afraid.”

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Glamour magazine broke some really important news about the New Shepard mission:

All six women had blow-outs for the flight and were dressed in matching Blue Origin-branded jumpsuits that were cinched at the waist and included the option for a slight flare leg thanks to a slim zipper.  The skintight suits were made for the voyage by the fashion brand Monse, which took a 3D scan of each passenger’s body for the perfect fit.

“Simplicity was important, and comfort, and fit,” said one of designers of jumpsuits. “But we also wanted something that was a little dangerous, like a motocross outfit.  Or a ski suit.  Flattering and sexy.”

Lauren Sanchez – who is best known for being Jeff Bezos’s side piece before becoming his fiancée – told Glamour that she was would be wearing Skims under her jumpsuit.  Skims is the underwear line owned by Sanchez’s friend Kim Kardashian.  (Kim was unable to attend the launch, but Kris Jenner and Kim’s sister Khloe were there.)

We at 2 or 3 lines have been unable to confirm a report that Sanchez was chosen for the mission so that the effects of weightlessness on plastic surgery could be tested:

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It’s no surprise that “Up, Up and Away” won a record five Grammy awards in 1968 (including the big one – Record of the Year).

After all, it was written by Jimmy Webb, who gave us “Wichita Lineman” (which Bob Dylan famously said was the greatest song ever written) and “MacArthur Park” (which 2 or 3 lines famously said was the greatest song ever written).  

And it was recorded by the 5th Dimension – who were the ne plus ultra of pop vocal groups – backed up by drummer Hal Blaine, keyboardist Larry Knechtel, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, and other members of the legendary group of session musicians who became known as the “Wrecking Crew.”

Click here to listen to “Up, Up and Away.”

Click here if you want to buy that recording from Amazon.  But before you do, ask yourself if Jeff Bezos already has too much money.