I was listening to the Dave Matthews Band’s new album “Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King” recently and noticed that one of the songs is called “Spaceman.” Hey, that’s the title of a song on The Killers’ “Day & Age,” I thought.
As these sorts of things are wont to do, pretty soon this observation led to the idea of imagining a space-themed album. I started jotting down the space-themed songs I was aware of, coming up with seven.
I talked to my brother a few minutes ago. He hosts a radio show on a college radio station and tends to like to theme his shows. I asked him if he knew any space-themed songs and got him hooked on finding songs for me. He rattled off a bunch, including many I hadn’t heard of, and one that should have been totally obvious to me.
He suggested I do some research on allmusic.com, which I did, plus I googled “songs about space.” Turns out there’s been quite a bit of work done on listing space-themed songs. An especially good list is at HobbySpace.com.
Here’s my list for an album I’d call “Out of This World”:
1. “Space Oddity” by David Bowie
2. “Major Tom (Coming Home)” by Peter Schilling
3. “Spaceman” by The Killers
4. “Spaceman” by Dave Matthews Band (the Spaceman only gets a mention)
5. “Satellite” by Dave Matthews Band
6. “Astronaut Dreams” by Peter Mayer
7. “Camping by the Sun” by Peter Mayer
8. “One More Circle” by Peter Mayer
9. “Planet Earth” by Duran Duran (This is the song that should have been obvious to me ’cause I was a Duranie in my youth.)
10. “Rocket Man” by Elton John
11. “Interplanet Janet” by Lynn Ahrens (Schoolhouse Rock rocks!)
12. “Rapture” by Blondie
Got any favorite space-themed songs you’d add to this album? (It could be a multiple disc set, you know.)
9 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 8, 2009 at 10:23 pm
TheDeeZone
P.O.D has a an entire CD entitled Satellite. Also heard a song on the radio today with the line “I want a green alien for Christmas” or something like that.
November 8, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Joanne
Oooooooo, my favorite musician in the whole world is Matt Hales (aka Aqualung). He’s got song called “Pressure Suit”. It’s space theme (and sounds spacey) but it’s really a love song. Does that count?
Here’s a link if you’ve never heard it – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h8Xp2gZXk4
Oh and Radiohead’s “Subterranean Homesick Alien”
November 9, 2009 at 2:20 am
LK
Rush has a song called Cygnus X-1. It’s about a black hole in space.
Oh, and Guns & Roses has a song where he says he’s feeling like a spacebrain again, but I don’t know if that counts.
November 9, 2009 at 12:33 pm
woowooteacup
Thanks for all the additions to my list, Dee, Joanne & LK. And, yes, I think love songs with a space theme count. Dave Matthews Band’s “Spaceman” is a love song with only one mention of a spaceman.
So, then, LK, is feeling like a spacebrain the same as having a black hole in your head?
November 9, 2009 at 11:48 pm
TheDeeZone
There is actually a hymn entitled “God of Earth and Outer Space”. When I googled it to double check the name. Discovered it has made the several worst hymns ever lists. It was in the 1970’s edition of the Baptist Hymnal.
November 11, 2009 at 9:02 am
lovin' spouseful
Steve Vai’s “Little Green Men”.
November 11, 2009 at 12:42 pm
caknuckles
O.K., loving sis, I’ve still got the disease….here are a few more suggestions:
Louis Philippe – Yuri Gagarin (Yuri was the first man in outer space)
Monty Python – The Galaxy Song
Monty Python – Eclipse Of The Sun
David Bowie – Gemini Spacecraft (I know you have a bunch of Bowie, just thought I’d throw this one in the mix)
Nova Mob – Space Jazz
Luscious Jackson – Space Diva
Spacehog – Jupiter’s Moon
Steve Miller Band – Space Cowboy (dunno if this one exactly works, but you know how my mind rolls with themes)
Gorillaz – Every Planet We Reach Is Dead
Sinatra – Swinging On A Star
The Police – Walking On The Moon
Charley Patton – Circle Around The Moon
Battle Of Verdun – Sun Rises
Bob Mould – Sunspots
Southern Culture On The Skids – The Corn Rocket
The Breeders – Rocketship
The Misfits – Astro Zombies
This is just a handful of songs I found in my iTunes collection. I’m sure I could find more, but I’m going to drive myself mad if I continue. Any chance you could post all of the songs you’ve found thusfar?
November 11, 2009 at 12:52 pm
caknuckles
Oh yes, one more I forgot to mention that was suggested to me last night:
The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 (it’s not so much about outer space, the music has a very spacey feel & makes you think Yoshimi is actually battling robots from outer space)
And really, if you can post a list of the songs you’ve found I’d appreciate it…I believe a space-themed radio show will occur in the near future.
Auuuuggggghhhhh!!!!! I love, yet curse, you loving sister for planting this bug in my head! You are truly a master at summoning the muse! Talk to you soon!
November 11, 2009 at 10:26 pm
woowooteacup
Hey, Brother Nick, sorry to drive you crazy with this. (Well, not THAT sorry!)
Everything you see on the post is what I and my commenters have come up with. You have the longest list here. Be sure to check out the HobbySpace.com link I placed in my post. That has a really long list of space-themed songs.
Oh, and I have one more, this one from Duran Duran: New Moon on Monday.
I think you now have more than enough songs for a space-themed show.
Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.