By Sean T. Collins in
Daily Lists, Miscellaneous
Wednesday, Feb. 17 2010 @ 7:57AM
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Below you'll find 15 all-time-great entrants into pop music's science fiction tradition, from virtually every corner of the rock landscape. Some are silly, some are sinister, some poetic, some prophetic. The only rules we followed in rounding them up and ranking them were 1) no songs from soundtracks, since we've got that pretty much covered, and 2) one song per artist, or we'd be here (on the edge of) forever. Grab your headphones and boldly go!
[Ed's note: Last week, a PR guy emailed about David Bowie's new "A Reality Tour" live album. Me, being a huge Bowie freak, told him I'd do/say/pimp anything just to get in good with Bowie's PR people. He asked me to mention the CD -- which includes Bowie staples from his entire career, recorded during his 2003-04 tour -- and suggested I do this during some kind of "Greatest Sci-Fi Rock Songs" list. Well, selling out aside, this was a great idea for a TR list, and I asked music meister and fellow Bowie lover Sean Collins [seriously, check out his Bowie sketchbook] to handle it. So here it is, and by the way, go check out the album -- it's two CDs of Bowie hits for only $13, and it's more or less a greatest sci-fi songs of Bowie album. And Mr. Bowie, I love you! Xoxoxo --Rob] 15) Sheb Wooley - "Purple People Eater"
The most misunderstood pop-song protagonist this side of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, the Purple People Eater is a perfect example of how Earthlings rush to judgment about our extraterrestrial neighbors. If you listen to the lyrics, you'll notice this one-eyed one-horned flying xenomorph is not a purple-colored eater of people, but an eater of purple-colored people. Phew -- we're in the clear! In all seriousness, this 1958 chart-topper represents the fusion of two cultural trends in '50s America: The novelty song -- see also "Witch Doctor" and "The Chipmunk Song" from that same year - -and the bug-eyed monster space-invader science-fiction craze. (I'd say nothing this knowingly silly could get on the radio today, but have you heard Young Money's "Bedrock"?) Chances are you first heard it courtesy of a record played to you by your parents; it's how I and generations' worth of other kids learned that songs didn't just have to be about everyday things, they could be about totally awesome stuff like monsters and aliens. It's a lesson a lot of musicians took to heart.
14) Pink Floyd - "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"
The title of this darkly psychedelic 1968 opus by the Pink Floyd (they still used the "the" occasionally back then, kinda like Batman in the '90s) contains the key for unlocking its whole message. It's not called "Flying to the Heart of the Sun" or any other such soaring, heroic-sounding phrase. No, the voyager in question is issuing instructions to his fellow travelers to set a course, flip a switch, push a button, sit back, and take the ride. Once the controls are set, you're heading to your destination whether you like it or not. It's a perfect metaphor for what befalls you once you take that hit of acid, which the Floyd did with some frequency: You have no control over whether you're about to go on a good trip or a bad one. You control only on whether you set out on that voyage in the first place. And while the nature-worship lyrics, apparently swiped from a book of ancient Chinese poetry, mostly promise a positive experience, the subdued drone of the guitar, keyboard, and timpani drum suggests otherwise. For good reason, perhaps: By the time "Set the Controls" was being recorded, initial Floyd frontman Syd Barrett was phasing out of the band in no small part because of his over-frequent psychedelic experimentation, marking this composition by emerging bandleader Roger Waters (the only song all five members of Pink Floyd played on) as as much of a self-reflexive cautionary tale as Kurt Cobain's repeated promise "I don't have a gun" in "Come as You Are" would be years later. Pretty much all of prog rock's subsequent explorers of the dark fantastic, from King Crimson to Rush all the way up to Tool, had their controls set by this song.
13) Chairlift - "Planet Health"
This one may be a bit off the beaten path for most folks, but give the song's video a spin and stick with me here. Fronted by singer Caroline Polachek, Chairlift are best known for "Bruises," one of those whimsical little indie ditties that graced an iPod nano commercial. But I much prefer the sex-drenched dystopia they conjure up here. The world of "Planet Health" is like a middle-school filmstrip mash-up: Combine the sex-ed videos they showed you in health class with the vintage PBS sci-fi short films your cool English teacher screened with the lights down and there you have it. In places with names like the Garden of Puberty, the State of Being Well, the Desert of Vitamins, and a literal Food Pyramid, a newcomer to the planet explores a militantly healthy hedonism among its beautiful, fit, diverse young population. "Our intercourse was well-protected," Polachek (who directed the orgiastic video above) sings -- "We made love with each other's eyes." She's feeling great tonight, she repeats in the chorus, until she learns of the fate of Planet Health's sick and elderly: They're ejected into space. It's a Twilight Zone/Ray Bradbury fable in the form of an homage to the exotic, wealthy-sounding pop of '80s outfits like Roxy Music and Prefab Sprout. And the song's so convincingly sensual that even though you know better by the end, Planet Health still sounds like a place you wouldn't mind visiting.
12) The Edgar Winter Group - "Frankenstein"
Using an instrumental is cheating, you say? Bullroar, sez I. In its four minutes and forty-four seconds -- frequently ballooned out to twice that length or more when performed live--multi-instrumentalist Edgar Winter unleashes a blast of pure Famous Monsters of Filmland joy in musical form. The song pays homage to Mary Shelley's creation and Boris Karloff's immortal role with a monstrous joint guitar-and-synth stomp, and features Winter killing it on guitar, keys, sax, and percussion. Karloff's flattop and platform boots are equaled in their outlandishness by Winter's own appearance: A shock of white hair, glittery glam-rock togs, and a synthesizer strapped around his neck. Wordless? Yes, but it says as much about the raw fun of sci-fi's monster-run-amok template as any essay could.
11) Dr. Octagon - "Blue Flowers"
There's really nothing I can say to explain the concept behind Dr. Octagonecologyst--the 1996 collaboration between MC and actual former mental patient Kool Keith, future Gorillaz and Handsome Boy Modeling School superproducer the Automator, frequent Keith kollaborator KutMasta Kurt, and turntablist extraordinaire DJ Qbert--that could do it any better than Wikipedia: "Dr. Octagonecologyst introduces the character of Dr. Octagon, an extraterrestrial time traveling gynecologist and surgeon." Alllllrighty then. Spaced-out SF-tinged pscyhedelic pornographic horrorcore hip-hop weird enough to make the Wu-Tang Clan come across like Will Smith, Dr. Octagon launched its assault on the ears of listeners hungry for a hip-hop underground with the single "Blue Flowers." With an eerie, repeating string sample that sonically connects the song to the trip-hop then flowing out of the U.K. in great torrents, it's a Burroughsian barrage of threatening verbal snippets, suggesting images of medical experimentation and doomsday devices. "I'm from the Church of the Operating Room," the good Doctor proclaims, before dropping complex rhymes about cybernetic microscopes, supersonic waves, and patients with blood pouring down their mouths. Part Dr. Frankenstein, part Dr. Frank-N-Furter, part Professor Brian O'Blivion, Dr. Octagon is one of music's most memorable science-fiction characters, and one of the most rewarding explorations of the genre that the frequently SF-obsessed world of hip-hop has produced.
10) Elton John - "Rocket Man"
I'll be honest: This would probably rank higher if I weren't such a Bowie acolyte. I'm not alone in thinking that Elton John and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin's tale of a lonely space traveler who misses his wife is a bit, shall we say, indebted to good ol' Major Tom and "Space Oddity." (The two songs even shared the same producer, Gus Dudgeon.) But reluctant though I am to admit it, "Rocket Man" is a major rock achievement all on its own. Opening quietly, with an insistent vocal melody from John that hints at big things to come, it hits that "and I think it's gonna be a long time" lyric hard and repeatedly -- a one-line encapsulation of the daunting vision of his future that this hardworking family man has while "burning out his fuse up there alone." Works from Makoto Yukimura's Planetes to David Bowie's son Duncan Jones's Moon would take a similar blue-collar approach to subverting the popular image of space travel. The song's cult-culture afterlife is legendary, thanks to Star Trek's William Shatner and his inimitably insane performance of it at a '70s sci-fi award show. It may have taken a long, long time, but thanks to shoutouts from the likes of The Family Guy and Beck's video for "Where It's At," Shatner's version is almost as much of a standard as Sir Elton's. (Okay, I did say "almost.")
9) Styx - "Mr. Roboto"
Stadium-rock bands had been creating elaborate concept albums about the sort of sinister science-fiction scenarios bored highschoolers imagine themselves a part of every time they get yelled at in study hall for over a decade by the time Styx got around to it. (To be fair, they'd dabbled in the genre with the hit "Come Sail Away.") Kilroy Was Here was no The Wall -- hell, it was no Tarkus. But what Dennis DeYoung lacks in taste or talent, he makes up for in obliviously camp lyrics and vocals (and hairstyle). That's what elevated the signature track of his hostile-takeover reimagining of this workaday AOR band as dystopian freedom fighters from beyond schlock into a period pop classic. With high-pitched backing vocals that sound a bit like Queen and an undeniable vocoder hook that can sit comfortably alongside Afrika Bambaataa or Roger Troutman, "Mr. Roboto" springboards off America's growing fascination with technology in general and Japan's ability to produce it specifically to land the phrase "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto" in our cultural vernacular for good.
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193 comments
Comments
JayJay P. said:
Rawr I wish 'Flash' by Queen made it on the list, too bad its from a soundtrack.
"Flash! aaaaAAAAAAaaahh!"
Old Nasty said:
Great list,but I was kinda surprised nothing from Electric Light Orchestra's 1981 album "Time" was on there.For those who have never heard the album,it's a concept album about a man who travels into the future,then longs to go home again to see his beloved.One of my all time favorite albums.
Julius Gryphon replied to Old Nasty:
Have to concur with ELO's Time. How can it be excluded from this list with lyrics like:
'I met someone who looks a lot like you. She does the things you do. But, she is an IBM.'
Doc Rotwang! replied to Old Nasty:
I.
LOVE.
THAT.
ALBUM.
MC Leahy replied to Old Nasty:
I've recently been listening to "Time" non-stop over and over again. It's the first thing I ever bought off of iTunes, because I just HAD to have it. So yeah, I think this is a pretty serious snub.
Mount_Prion replied to Old Nasty:
Rob once linked a video from an 80s animecon opening that featured the title song of the album. Maybe he didn't want to repeat.
Sir Binky replied to Mount_Prion:
By Sean T. Collins in Daily Lists, Miscellaneous
Dude rob doesn't write every article! They have other ppl doing these features normally, robs more comment on the news and fan fic and competitions!
passive aggressive replied to Old Nasty:
The weather is fine, but there may be a meteor shower..
blockhead replied to Old Nasty:
Time is amazing.
First vinyl album I ever owned (brother's suggestion). Awesomely done, great imagery, simple lyrics.
P said:
No Big Eyed Beans From Venus
DarK Rémi oF DooM said:
Maybe it's more "metal" but now Hawkwind!? This band is THE ancestor of "space metal" and influenced great sci-fi-oriented bands like Ayreon and Star One (metal project with every song based on classic sci-fi movie).
Black Kristos replied to DarK Rémi oF DooM:
Hawkwind! Good call, sir!
ZADL replied to Black Kristos:
And Blue Öyster Cult - Veteran of the Psychic Wars or ETI -Extra Terrestrial Intelligence, or Black Blade, or Godzilla for frak's sake.
Especially since there's some member crossover with Hawkwind (if I recall correctly), I think it's kind of unforgivable that neither of these bands made the cut.
Holden Carver replied to ZADL:
No member crossover as such, but there is a connection; Michael Moorcock. Hawkwind collaborated with him, and the lyrics to the Blue Oyster Cult songs "Black Blade" and "Veteran of a Thousand Psychic Wars" were written by Moorcock, based on his Elric stories.
Black Kristos said:
I am glad to see you've included Dr. Octagon Sean, but I have to drop three groups that should REALLY be on this list.
Deltron 3030 - A futuristic concept album by Del tha Funkee Homosapien's alter ego Deltron Zero. Also includes other future Gorillaz Dan the Automater, Kid Koala and Damon Albarn. Filled with sci-fi samples and themes from start to finish.
Man or Astroman? - The PREMIER sci-fi/surf/punk band. I mean, shit! They covered the Love theme from MST3K back when most people had no idea what MST3K was.
Coheed & Cambria - This bands entire catalogue is a sci-fi opera concept. Every album is another chapter in a continuing space saga. There are metal nerds that map out and argue story points learned from the lyrics that puts any "Han/Greedo shot first" argument to shame.
Danzibar Island replied to Black Kristos:
Seconding the Coheed and Deltron...
Aeon replied to Danzibar Island:
Thirding Deltron.
Aaron Riveteran replied to Aeon:
fourthing Deltron 3030
T-MACK! replied to Aaron Riveteran:
lol, I was going to bring up Deltron 3030. You can't beat the interlude about two modern day Renaissance men (Hosers) in "Strange Brew".
TheMangoKid replied to Hauntlink:
Del>CoCa any day. although, the singer of Coheed shatters glass..
Psudonym replied to TheMangoKid:
I think you mean Del
Slamhammer replied to kevin n.:
I was kind of shocked to see Del didn't make the list.
Preeeemo replied to Slamhammer:
also agreeing on deltron.
keepoffthegrass said:
What? no "39" by Queen?
Its about a group of spacemen traveling to find another habitable planet...they come back with news that they did but, turns out...they didnt age and the main character missed out on his daughters childhood and his wifes dead.
Tragic.
tredlow replied to keepoffthegrass:
Whoa, is that really what the song's about? Nice!
nick said:
I agree completely with your number 1, but I would have rated 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun' higher, simply for being such a brilliant song.
Thank you for this great list.
Anonymous said:
There was probably something better than "Frankenstein" to fill this list. Granted, it's an awesome song, but the reason it was called Frankenstein was just because the put a calibration of riffs and such together to make a song. They didn't really have Frankenstein in mind while making it.
I would of liked to have seen "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" by Blue Oyster Cult on here. Or something by Pixies, there sci-fi feel is great.
Casey replied to Anonymous:
Anonymous--
You're close. The original live version of Frankenstein was around 10 minutes long. When they put it on an album, they ended up chopping out a lot of stretches in order to cut it down to single length. This piecing-together of bits of the song was what led to it being called "Frankentstein".
Which means that this song has no place on the list, as it has absolutely nothing to do with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
David replied to Anonymous:
Iron-Man isn't about Iron-Man, but there are a lot of songs that are actually about Superman. Such as AC/DC's What's Next to the Moon.
"Heavenly body flying across the sky
Superman was out of town
Come on honey, gotta change your tune
Cause it's a long way down
Clark Kent looking for a free ride
Thinking about Lois Lane
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's - a suicide
And that'd be a shame"
GalvaTRION said:
The lack of Queen on this list almost immediately condemns it to the land of fail. That said, the addition of Pink Floyd and Parliament Funkadelic almost make up for it.
But yes, Man or Astro-Man? Should have been on this list. Mentioned somewhere, at least.
Black Kristos replied to GalvaTRION:
I know, right? Coco the Electronic Monkey Wizard would not approve.
Sithinious said:
How about 2000 light years from home, by the Stones (and later covered by Monster Magnet)?
And if you decide to do "15 greatest FANTASY songs", Black Blade by Blue Oyster Cult needs to be on the list.
The Man With Two Brains said:
There are too many for a single list. I'm not going to argue with this list, but rather suggest some songs for a follow-up: "Pure and Easy" by the Who, "Clones (We're All)" as performed by Alice Cooper (actually a cover), "Third Stone from the Sun" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, tons of other Pink Floyd songs, a lot of Misfits songs could fit as well...
The only song I really wish had made this list that was forgotten: "Ants Invasion" by Adam and the Ants. It literally borrows the concept of giant ants wandering around and destroying stuff from the movie "Them!" and has a haunting, epic, and catchy as hell riff!
The Man With Two Brains replied to The Man With Two Brains:
Oh, and another for your follow-up "I Think I'm a Clone Now" by Weird Al. Yes, I know it's a parody, but that doesn't make it any less fun/awesome.
The Man With Two Brains replied to The Man With Two Brains:
Oh, and it may be a bit immature in its subject matter, but "Sample and Hold" by Neil Young kicks ass. Basically it's about ordering a "pleasure" model android. Not his usual style, but a damn fine song nonetheless!
Seriously, I'll probably be adding stuff down here all day...
Marcus said:
Incredible list, great work!
SlyDante said:
No songs by Daft Punk? They did an entire album/movie about aliens being kidnapped & made themselves into robots...I guess you could argue none of the lyrics really have a sci-fi theme (though I would've argued for "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"), but there's still songs like "Robot Rock" & "Technologic". Or is it because electronica & techno didn't qualify as pop/rock?
Nonetheless, still a great list. Liked the Chairlift & Dr. Octagon shoutouts. ;)
Bunche said:
What? No "In The Year 2525" by Zager & Evans? And what about that Star Wars disco tune?
Kolschey said:
Other notables that would work:
"Starship Trooper" by Yes,
As referenced previously "Tarkus" by Emerson Lake and Palmer.
Simon Perrins said:
Good list. Can't argue with Bowie http://www.hftf.co.uk/?p=135
I would have put "Watcher Of The Skies" by Genesis on there - alien (personified onstage by Peter Gabriel in crazy making and with bat wings on his head) comes to Earth to find the human race has wiped itself out, and muses philosophically "Maybe the lizard's shed it's tail..."
Actually it's a lot better than I'm making it sound
F said:
OK, this post should be called ode to Bowie. But I really, really love him too. Didn´t know TRAFOZS referred to a guy who became the rockstar, always got it the other way. He´s such a huge influence to me as well.
Anyway, I´m surprised not to see any Misfits song.
They were the founders of Horror Punk and most of their lyrics are about aliens, vampires, monsters, fiends, zombies, or alien-vampire-monster-fiend-zombies.
Here are some suggestions of sci-fi inspired songs I really like:
Cymbaline by Pink Floyd (mentions Dr. Strange)
Mambo Sun by T Rex (mentions Dr. Strange as well)
Rollins Band - Ghostrider (badass version of a classic)
Black Kristos replied to F:
Agreed about the Misfits. Walk Among Us is classic sci-fi/horror punk. The whole reason I started listening to the Misfits in the 80's was because of the creature double feature aspect.
boredatwork replied to Black Kristos:
I don't really dispute the lists much, they're light reading to get me through the day.
But yeah, Misfits. Since damn near every one of their songs was horror movie/B sci-fi movie inspired.
Amanda said:
Omg! Kraftwerk is amazing! They are like the heart of modern electronic music!
Sean T. Collins said:
Hey all--Thanks for your suggestions, many of which were indeed considered. I think The Man With Two Brains put it best above: There are too many songs for one list. As you might have noticed, I tried to make reference to as many artists and songs as I could within the write-ups for the songs I included. But even since I handed this in I've thought of more sci-fi songs I love. Provided Rob's up for it, I wouldn't be hugely surprised to see a second list somewhere down the line, a la the "geek-movie soundtrack" lists I linked to in the intro...
Verythrax said:
I always thought that Iron Man was about Hitler. Even if I'm wrong, I really don't think the music had anything to do with the comic, anyway.
And Into the Void would be a more interesting SciFi music by them.
PS: Iron Man 2 NEEDS to have "War Machine", by Kiss.
Danzibar Island said:
I agree that a list like this really should have included artists like Blue Oyster Cult and The Who (look at songs like "Take Me Away" and "905" respectively).
However, how this list missed mentioning Rush, I'll never figure out. I don't think you'd be able to find a single album without at least one SF themed song... I mean seriously, no 2112?!
Haz replied to Danzibar Island:
Where IS 2112?!?
JOE said:
One of my favorite things about The Venture Brothers is their many odes to Mr. Bowie.
bort said:
Bowie's in Spaaaaace. Bowie's in Spaaaaaaaaaaaace. What you doing out there man? Do they smoke grass out in space Bowie? Or do the smoke Astro-Turf?
peppernator said:
Hey, why "Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots" by Flaming Milk didn't make the list? That's one helluva song.
Black Kristos replied to peppernator:
I hope that "milk" was some kind of auto-complete error. :|
Yakko replied to Black Kristos:
Although you have to admit that Flaming Milk is also a great band name.
Paul said:
Kudos to the people who've mentioned Coheed and Cambria, Deltron 3030, and Daft Punk. I feel the need to add another few bands / songs however:
The Protomen - Mega Man rock-opera. And I think Mega Man qualifies as science fiction.
Iron Savior - German metal band whose albums are about a sentient spaceship.
Gorillaz - Every Planet We Reach is Dead
A. Biro replied to Paul:
Dude, yes! Scour this list of Ben Gibbard and his teeny tiny voice, and replace it with any song by The Protomen. Act II was one of the best albums of last year
Mecha-Shiva said:
I'd include The Flaming Lips for Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots or One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21.
LadySheeana said:
Holy shit, this guy is loquacious.
RobP said:
Being a David Bowie fanatic myself, I approve of this list.
Though, I must concur that the lack of The Flaming LIPS (not Milk, sir) is questionable.
peppernator replied to RobP:
...shit, I actually wrote "Milk", what the fuck was I thinking about?
D. D. Tannenbaum said:
If you are talking SF great music, how can you forget Mike and The Mechanics' "Silent Running", about a boy that travels to a parallel universe in search of his father.
It was written for the movie "Choke Canyon", about a scientist who uses a comet to combat an evil energy corporation. Incredible melody, lyrics and video!
demoncat said:
figuring knowing the purpose for this list that David bowie would be number one. though would have had pink floyde a little higher on the list like in the top five. and nice that shaters performance of rocket man got used for the entry. purple people eater that song sounds more like it should be on a parody song list. other wise the list is worthy one.all good choices
Psycow said:
No Fear Factory? All their albums up to Digimortal and especially the Obsolete album had some very Sci-Fi themes.
The concept of this record is that man is obsolete. The idea is still man versus machine - man versus the system machine... man versus the government machine. Demanufacture told a story, Remanufacture was another chapter in the story and Obsolete is another part of the Fear Factory concept. We're up to the point in the story where man is obsolete. Man has created these machines to make his life easier but in the long run it made him obsolete. The machines he created are now destroying him. Man is not the primary citizen on Earth.
Freddie replied to Psycow:
Have to agree with the Fear Factory point. Their first 3 major releases were about nothing but a Terminator-esque distopian future where machines have risen up and taken over, while the last survivors of the human race cling to what little they have left. Sounds pretty "perfect for this list" to me.
Another second on the Misfits as well. Songs like "Vampira", "I Turned into a Martian", "Astro Zombies", "Return of the Fly", "Mars Attacks", "Forbidden Zone", "Lost in Space", and MANY others would be perfect for (and IMO are better than most of the songs on) this list.
Not one mention of any psychobilly either, which I found to be sad.
HangON! said:
Nerd (Metal) Music.... 2 words.... Blind Guardian. A song about Dune. A Song about The Eternal Champion by M. Moorcock.. Several songs about LOTR.. even a song named "Lord of the Rings" songs inspired by Blade Runner, E.T., The Dark Tower,.... list goes on and on.
jason bergman said:
Good list.
Now you just need a LOTR-esque fantasy list, featuring Zeppelin and a dozen or so hair bands.
Nick said:
Really Rob?
No Orgy--"Dreaming in Digital"?
seasix replied to Nick:
Fiction (DREAMS in Digital) is just about cybersex on the interwebs, not some rad digital future where all men will wear vinyl Lip Service clothes, frosted hair, and lipstick. Ah Orgy, how I miss thee. At least Julien-K helps pick up some slack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WrggmiybyI&feature=related
Taffy said:
This is a very good list and yes, David Bowie could command this list all on his own but if I made this list, I would have included Harry Nilsson's "Spaceman". I love that song!
RGC said:
My list would have definitely included a lot of Blue Oyster Cult, as well as 2112 by Rush, the whole Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds, and The Saga Begins by "Weird Al" Yankovic.
But that's my list.
biggs33 said:
Good list but missing the Beastie Boys "Intergalactic" (bonus: video shows them piloting a giant robot to fight a giant octopus headed alien in Tokyo).
I also would include Planet P Project (named for one of the planets in Heinelin's "Starship Troopers") especially their biggest hit "Why Me."
Definitely Bowie at #1, but can't leave out his "Oh, You Pretty Things." With lines like "gotta make way for the Homo Superior" it must be about the X-Men. I HOPE it's about the X-Men...
Cobra Commander replied to biggs33:
I was going to throw out "Why Me" akso. One of my favorites. It was also kind of another take on Bowie's Major Tom character. Also gotta mention Peter Schilling's "Major Tom Coming Home" and "The Noah Plan" as 2 great sci fi inspired songs. Iron Maiden and Rush both have huge amounts of Sci fi related songs as well.
Iron Maiden - To Tame a Land
Still Life
Stranger in a Stange Land
Rush - 2112, the entire fucking album
ChickenSoap replied to biggs33:
Totally second Intergalactic Planetary.
Also, I would appreciate some Beck. I think he has a very strong crazy sci-fi touch. Man, he even made into a Futurama episode!
Peter Payne said:
I name this post Win in My Sight.
The Mutt said:
The first one that came to my mind was Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft by The Carpenters.
My list would also have Godzilla by The Blue Oyster Cult, and Flying Saucer Rock n Roll by Billy Lee Riley.
I wonder what kind of images the song Frankenstein would put in your mind if you heard it without knowing the title.
Doc Rotwang! replied to The Mutt:
"Calling All Occupants" was by Klaatu.
Casey replied to Doc Rotwang!:
Yes, but it was the Carpenters' version which most people are aware of (if aware of it at all).
Motivational Smart Ass said:
Wow, no Rush??? 2112? Xanadu? Red Barchetta? Red Sector A? Fountain of Lamneth? Travesty!
To top it off, Rush music and nerddom go hand in hand. They belong on this list.
I never thought I would see a non "one-hit wonders of the 80's" best songs ever list that features Gary Numan but not Rush.
DoctorSmashy said:
Awesome list.
The beginning of an early Venture Bros episode lifts almost all of its dialogue from 'Space Oddity'. I almost exploded.
Robyn Robotron replied to DoctorSmashy :
I paid little attention to Venture Brothers (I was not into the Hardy Boys or Johnny Quest so I thought it had nothing to offer me) until I saw the opening to "Ghosts of the Sargasso". Thank the stars for David Bowie, otherwise I might have missed out on one of the best shows of all time (and been deprived of crushworthy boys as well).
sykishi said:
EPIC FAIL LIST.
The Wizard by Uriah Heep is amazing and better than more than half these songs.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x55atf_uriah-heep-the-wizard_music
enjoy.
tvtastegood said:
I agree List-Coheed=Fail
The entire 'In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth part II' was all sci-fi inspired. They put out a comic to go with the albums I only saw it once I think they were selling them aT shows.
The lost skeleton said:
If another list ever comes, Deltron 3030 is a must. Aside from songs detailing life in the year 3030, its one of the most realized and well conceived concept albums ever. Also it features the line "fuck dying, i hijack a mech" which is awesome
sal said:
We love to funk you, Dr Funkenstein
Your funk is the best
Take my body, give it the mind
To funk with the rest
Hit me with the one and then
If you like, hit me again
We love to Funk-a-stein
Epic...
Doc Rotwang! said:
I also lament the exclusion of Rush and Blue Oyster Cult. I would also add that The Jonzun Crew's "Space Cowboy" album deserves mention, as does -if only for laughs- "Rubberband Lazer" by Klaus Nomi.
By the way -- Thomas Dolby? Gary Numan? Totally appropriate.
Vinnie Bartilucci said:
The entire work of ELO, Servotron, Man...or Astroman?, aquabats, Devo, Alan Parsons and so many more ignored?
wow, sorry, no.
Neural Khan said:
Thank you for putting "Down in the Park" on this list. One of the best songs ever written I may add. But nothing by Iron Maiden? I could go through their sci-fi influenced songs, but thats a list of it's own ("To Tame A Land", "Brave New World", "Caught Somewhere in Time", etc.)
RubyRoses said:
I don't think she's needs to be on the list.
But Lights has a song pretty much all about WoW, and makes plenty of references to nerdy things...all the damn time..
Paulo Torres said:
The B-52's should be somewhere on the list. A whloe lotta sci-fi themed songs, like Planet Claire, Song for a Future Genaration, Cosmic Thing, Love in the Year 3000, maybe even Rock Lobster.
rosina rubylips replied to Paulo Torres:
Yes!
BobJ said:
Yeah, having no E.L.O., Rush, Hawkwind or B.O.C. on the list is almost criminal. And some early Genesis: "Watcher of the Skies", "Return of the Giant Hogweed", even the epic "Supper's Ready" -- which is more Biblical than SF maybe, but come on:
"Dragons coming out of the sea,
Shimmering silver head of wisdom looking at me.
He brings down the fire from the skies,
You can tell he's doing well by the look in human eyes.
Better not compromise.
It won't be easy."
Nothing says SF like some apocalypse in 9/8!
Sean said:
I have to agree with all the mentions of E.L.O. and Man or Astro-Man?. I expected both of these bands to be on the list. Not just because of their Science Fiction influences, but also because I thought a basic rule of making lists about bands was "If you think you have too many bands with excessive punctuation in their names on your list, add more."
Aaron said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lp_e4wUnz4
Might as well take this opportunity to look at one of the strangest, sci-fi-type acts in history.
Jobriath.
Count Spatula said:
I would also vote for anything off of ELO's 'Time', my absolute favorite album.
I would also strongly suggest 'Knights of Cydonia' by Muse
Keith said:
I can't believe Queen's Seven Seas of Rhye isn't on this list...or Peter Schilling's Major Tom.
SvenRedbeard said:
I love this list as it. Although it could easily be expanded to 30 perhaps, Bowie's place is indelible. After all, he is a living manifestation of Valis, and drove Phillip K. Dick crazy.
Seriously, the guy is as much a part of sci-fi as he is a musician. his turn as Tesla in the Prestige was unbelieveably creepy and cool.
Hermit said:
So, reading through the list I wasn't all that surprised that Powerman 5000 had been left out. After all, there are way too many examples for one list. But for no one to bring it up in the comments? For shame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv_f-8pt9wE
Now THERE'S some sci-fi wackiness. :P
Disappointed said:
It was mentioned earlier, but not having Coheed and Cambria on this list is a FAIL. The singer created a story and each record serves as a chapter. They even release comics based purely on that story!
Also, no mention of Operation Mindcrime from Queensryche?
How is "She Blinded Me With Science" more Sci Fi than mind control or stories about different universes? Because it has "science" in the name?
Zoinq said:
Noting from Klattu? A true shame.
Gimli's Chainsaw said:
Sir,
Glad you neglected Mr.Roboto. Fuck Styx anyway.
Man, you were really spoiled for choice making that list...I forgot how much crazy science fiction rock there was until I started reading the comments.
Nice work! Happy you chose that Pink Floyd song...when I was a kid, we used to 'trip out' on 'pot' back in the '1980s' while we were playing 'Gamma World' or 'Dungeons and Dragons' and we'd always have that sort of shit playing in the background. Most of it was terrible though, honestly. "Children of the Sun?" Pssssh. I piss derisively on that song. Very little of it is good except for nostalgia, and man, you got a good chunk of it represented there.
Kudos, kudos, I say!
Gimli's Chainsaw replied to Gimli's Chainsaw:
Oh, you DID use Mr.Roboto. I read the list too fast.
Well fuck Styx still; but otherwise I stand by my previous adulatory comments.
Das Shagz said:
Since it hasn't been brought up yet, I feel it's my civic metal/geek duty to introduce the rest of you to Ziltoid The Omniscient, by Devin Townsend. It's a concept album that tells the story of Ziltoid, an inter-dimensional being who comes to Earth in search of our finest cup of coffee, and the ensuing adventure relating to said quest. There's even a Ziltoid puppet. Seriously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viaRKlgQo3E
He's even given some interviews in-character, and they're absolutely awesome.
If you're not into metal, don't let that stop you from checking it out -- I introduced a non-metal-liking geek co-worker to it not long ago, and he actually enjoyed it quite a bit.
Gimli's Chainsaw said:
this list needs a sequel for sure.
"most undeservedly obscure SF rock?"
"most deservedly obscure SF rock?"
"least noticed comic book references in otherwise well known songs?"
Lots of gold in this here vein...well done Sean T.
Gimli's Chainsaw replied to Gimli's Chainsaw:
And I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming your T. stands for Tiberius, otherwise, you know, why bother?
Hugo said:
I know it's reeaaaly cheesy, but that Europe song "Final Countdown" is sci-fi too, astronauts in love and all.
Div replied to Hugo:
Seconded. What an awful song, but I love it so.
Eponymous said:
I'm not familiar with many on this list, but reading the descriptions... I'd say you did very well here.
I am a bit disappointed you didn't at least mention that "Space Oddity" was SO big a deal that it spawned a 'sequel' in Peter Schilling's "Major Tom"...
Flatulent Wookie said:
Where's the DEVO, man? Mr.DNA must get a nod.
Pete said:
Here's a sci-fi related tid-bit; the guy who sang the purple people eater song was the voice in the famous "Wilhelm Scream" that's used in every star wars movie and tons of other movies and shows. You know the one I mean.
Div replied to Pete:
Heh. Beat me to it.
Hawkman said:
Geraldine Fibbers "Folks Like Me"
http://popup.lala.com/popup/576742261899046051
Alt-country song about an alien scientist who must leave her human lover. All sorts of awesome!
Black Kristos replied to Hawkman:
Hawkman, I love you.
BPAkira replied to Black Kristos:
I have to ask, what is alt-country? I feel like the song you showed is just an old-timie 1940's country song, ala Waylon Jennings or Slim Whitman. Wouldn't alt-country be rockabilly, or hell some of that crazy country/rap crap that's out there, not just first generation country?
black kristos replied to BPAkira:
Well, the fibbers in my mind take an alt-country label because they tend to span a gap between punk, alternative and twang. A lot of their stuff can get pretty noisy and chaotic (in the best possible way).
rosina rubylips said:
Yay for this list!
Peter Schilling's "Space Oddity" retelling, "Major Tom", has been in my brain for days. It's pretty great in German too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r6E4RyCk4g
Triprotic said:
Amazing to see The Post Service on there, awesome song, that needs more recognition :)
Paolo Mongon said:
I just saw the video of Shatner's Rocket Man for the first time today....
Wow....his performance really captured the melancholy feel of the lyrics and the beatnik mood of the times. The loneliness truly shines thru..
Ethan Kaye said:
I know how hard it is to distill an entire genre (there are entirely sci-fi bands, I wouldn't have chosen either of the Frankenstein songs myself), so I'm not going to criticize Sean for his list.
Still, if anyone's looking to make a mix tape, I will point out that all 3 of Spacehog's albums are sci-fi and the last one is based on 2001.
[tlr] said:
Great article... I actually play bass in a sci-fi electro band called RoMak & the Space Pirates, we have a free album called:
"Attack of the Has-Been Androids"
download it here:
www.romakandthespacepirates.com
I suspect most people reading this article would enjoy it. Its a concept album about a squid who psychically senses human civilization, and beaches himself on the shore. He is then re-born as squid-boy, has crazy adventures with speak easys and booze runners in a alternative 1920's and becomes a pop cultural icon in the film "Attack of the Has-Been Androids" (*story within story: AotHBA is about discarded and outdated house-robots rebelling against their callous owners). However, fame is fleeting; he becomes a party clown, and eventually tries to return to the sea, where he drowns, but with his dying words says:
"I will return, I always do."
the end.
[tlr]
[tlr] said:
Great article... I actually play bass in a sci-fi electro band called RoMak & the Space Pirates, we have a free album called:
"Attack of the Has-Been Androids"
download it here:
www.romakandthespacepirates.com
I suspect most people reading this article would enjoy it. Its a concept album about a squid who psychically senses human civilization, and beaches himself on the shore. He is then re-born as squid-boy, has crazy adventures with speak easys and booze runners in a alternative 1920's and becomes a pop cultural icon in the film "Attack of the Has-Been Androids" (*story within story: AotHBA is about discarded and outdated house-robots rebelling against their callous owners). However, fame is fleeting; he becomes a party clown, and eventually tries to return to the sea, where he drowns, but with his dying words says:
"I will return, I always do."
the end.
[tlr]
CheeseGimp said:
No love for Flight Of The Conchords? Really?
Danzibar Island said:
I was going to mention Queensryche also, but someone got there first. Operation Mindcrime is insanely awesome.
And someone mentioned WoW above, which reminded me of the Basshunter song "DOTA." I mean, on a list like this, you have to give a song about Warcraft props, especially with the mainstream appeal that song enjoyed.
Graham said:
There's also Manticora, who has whole albums of Science Fiction music in Hyperion and 8 Deadly Sins, and Keldian, who's whole catalog is all Science Fiction based music.
Cobra Commander said:
Also "Planet Earth" by Duran Duran
mescatraz33 said:
Rob shouldn't have made this list. We all knew he was gonna make a Bowie song number 1. He's biased on the subject.
mescatraz33 replied to mescatraz33:
Sorry, didn't realiz that Rob DIDN'T make this list.
Sean T. Collins said:
Thanks for the kind words, those of you who had kind words to give. :)
There are a lot of contenders for Greatest Comment in this thread, but so far my favorite is the dude who called this list an "EPIC FAIL" for its failure to include Uriah Heep.
Meepington said:
What about Blue Oyster Cult and Veteran of the Psychic Wars? Of the incredibly sci-fi/fantasy themed Fire of Unknown Origin album?
SomeGuy said:
@Biggs33: The Homo Superior line in "Oh You Pretty Things" is not an X-men reference. Bowie was bi-sexual at the time and doing his damnedest to piss people off. One of the many reasons Bowie is Official King Badass for Life.
Good list, I enjoyed it. I'm not going to nitpick it, but since this thread has basically turned into a big name-drop-a-thon for sci-fi themed music, I might as well chime in: has anyone mentioned Chrome yet? Pretty much all of their albums had an overt sci-fi flavor, and industrial music probably wouldn't exist without them. For lovers of punk, tape music, and dark psychedelia, get a few Chrome albums. You won't be disappointed.
Popette replied to SomeGuy:
No, no. You're all wrong. This is a reference to a signature phrase in the works of Nietzsche. Philosophy was a very prominent theme among his works at that time.
Bmanda said:
I'm going to go ahead and be that person.
Postal Service covered The Shins song We Will Become Silhouettes.
Rich said:
You forgot "TO TAME A LAND" by Iron Maiden. They had actually named the song "DUNE", but Frank Herbert didn't like that type of music and told the group they couldn't use the name.
Jake the Fifth replied to Rich:
/second
this was the first song i thought of when i say the topic, how can you NOT include this 10 minute homage to the greatest science fiction novel ever written by one of the arguably greatest heavy metal acts to ever grace the stage.
who responsible this!
Yakub Shabazz said:
I'm not quite sure how Dr. Octagon fits the "pop/rock" category, but at any rate you should have used the vastly superior Prince Paul remix. Or another song, for that matter - Halfsharkalligator Halfman, anyone?
Lt. said:
No "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots"? It's about a girl who battles pink robots. C'mon.
Cambro said:
What the hell? Where's Rush? No love for 2112? That's literally a 20 minute song about sci-fi!
Rich replied to Cambro:
oooo. good one. forgot Rush.
Xenos said:
Wait.. the lyric in Down in the Park was "rape machine"? Ha. I always kept thinking it was "red machine". I remember first hearing it as the Foo Fighters cover on the X-Files soundtrack. Maybe because they also had the song Red Right Hand from Nick Cave. I wans't too young to know the word.
Also... dammit.. now I'm playing Styx again..
Craig M said:
A lot of people have mentioned Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime, but they also had an earlier song called "Screaming in Digital" about artificial sentience that I think is an even better fit than any single entry off the Mindcrime album.
Prmal said:
Yeah, of course i agree with Bowie leading this chart. But you need to revisit NIN's year Zero. that concept album is a great form of music and science fiction.
thelordofhell said:
"The Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture show
"Children Of The Sun" by Billy Thorpe
StrangeLad said:
Stunned by the lack of...
Blue Oyster Cult - "Veteran of the Psychic Wars"
Aquabats - "Giant Robot Bird Head"
Yes - "Starship Trooper"
Monster Magnet - "Tarzan King of Mars"
Asat replied to StrangeLad:
And since Frankenstein is recognized as the SF it is, how about his partner in classic mayhem, Mr. Hyde, referenced in Men At Works' "Doctor Heckyll and Mister Jive"? Makes a nice b-side to "Blinded Me With Science" (which, technically, isn't SF at all, just tech-geeky).
Unoriginal Neil said:
While I do agree with your number one, some omissions are puzzling. No Queen (39 off a Night at the Opera)? No Muse (Supermassive Black Hole or anything else off Black Holes and Revelations)? No Pixies (Allison off Bossanova, an album which had quite a spacy feel anyway)? Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero was a concept album set in the future.
Ah well.
Adam VM said:
Where's Blue Oyster Cult in all this?
Juancho said:
This list needs more Muse. Either Exo-Politics (a song about fucking aliens coming to Earth and how our politicians are actually aliens) or Knights of Cydonia (a Space Western song with a music video that references about 30 Sci-Fi and Western films)
Boredlizzie said:
An excellent, detailed, well-written list. I never thought of the Postal Service song as sci-fi before, but of course, it makes perfect sense now! So many of these songs send chills down my spine. I still feel sad about Syd Barret.
Sean T. Collins replied to Boredlizzie:
Thanks!
Sean T. Collins said:
Regarding a few popular points being made:
I just much prefer Dr. Octagon to Deltron 3030.
The songs I really like by Rush and Yes aren't their explicitly SF ones, and the explicitly SF ones I don't like all that much.
Songs about Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, Lord of the Rings and so on would be fantasy, not SF. I went back and forth about Lovecraft-based songs since that mythos is a little bit of both but ultimately decided against it. It was a judgement call, to be sure.
I'm just not that into Coheed & Cambria.
Things like Rocky Horror or Flight of the Conchords would fall under the no-soundtrack rule.
Rob added the pop/rock tag not to rule out other genres but just to differentiate it from soundtrack-based songs. I mentioned hip-hop in the first sentence of the intro, though.
Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero is a favorite of mine but I couldn't settle on one stand-out song as opposed to the general vibe of the whole album. I was leaning toward "In This Twilight," for whatever that's worth...
Regarding Muse and Queen, again, their standout tracks to me aren't the sci-fi ones. (Y'know, besides "Flash," but that's a soundtrack song.) That said, I'd include Queen first, because Muse sounds to me like Radiohead rebooted as a Queen cover band.
A few specific points:
Bmanda: Nope, the Shins covered the Postal Service, not the other way around
Gimli's Chainsaw: If it makes you feel any better, I made fun of Styx when I included them. And the T is for Unique.
Div: Oh my god, I KNEW that name sounded familiar!
Thank you everyone for your feedback! Especially the nice feedback. :)
Jimmy Zappa said:
I have the DVD for the Reality Tour anyway. Had it for years now. I had no idea they barely put out the CD of the concert and there's already a greatest hits.
I'm waiting for Bowie to release a new CD.
Super King said:
The Buggles should have got more than a passing mention, at least one song from 'The Age of Plastic' should've be on the list.
NorthSteve said:
I have "Space Odyssey" set just before "Major Tom Coming Home" in my playlists.
The first is so melancholy and calm, while the ShinyToyGuns cover of the next song turns the story around into one of redemption joy and salvation from a cold, unfeeling death.
Great list. Gonna have to check out Floyd some more...
rosina rubylips replied to NorthSteve:
Me too! I love the Shiny Toy Guns cover!
Asat said:
And for those compiling lists of leads for SF music, forget not Frank Black - the man's career has been steeped in it.
Nekusagi said:
How could you leave Oingo Boingo's "Weird Science" off the list?
Pretty awesome jam.
LinkageAX said:
Really nice list, watched all the vids, haha... was here forever. :D
Also I would have included a few MUSE songs. All their albums have sci-fi themed music, and their latest album "The Resistance" is basically a story about earth being invaded with some kind of love-story side plot (this is my understanding of the album... I could be completely wrong though as I tend to put sci-fi into nearly everything I can imagine). Personally I'd have put up "Unnatural Selection" from this album, but I'm certain it doesn't have a music video.
dddddd said:
i think he put bowie at number 1 so he could get his free cd so was about a junkie and did have have much of a sc-fi theam to it
Macrossmaster said:
No ELO? No ALAN PARSONS PROJECT?
For SHAME!
Sequel now.
ConcernedCitizen said:
Where's "Weapon of Choice" by Fatboy Slim? Not only is the entire song about Dune, but the video has Christopher Goddamn Motherfucking Walken, Esq. dancing to the music.
Mount_Prion said:
This is an incredibly satisfying list. Incredibly happy to see Dr. Funkenstien and Kraftwerk on here.
I'd also like to also suggest something from some of the "space rock" bands of the 70s like Captain Beyond (even their name qualifies them) or Hawkwind.
DeeGee said:
There is no space rock without David Bowie. He's the Elvis Presley of Planet X.
ZeroCorpse said:
I would nominate Klaus Nomi's version of "The Twist", because although the original wasn't scifi themed, Klaus himself was, and he injected that into his music. His version of "The Twist" demonstrates this by giving us the lyric:
-
"Come on humans.... Let's do the twist."
-
It all sung in a weird, spacey tone, too. Klaus was awesome and otherworldly. Bowie played an alien, but Klaus had you believing he WAS one.
-
Of course, Bowie still rocked harder and better, but Klaus was pretty amazing.
Jking said:
Whew!
I agree this list could be longer!!!
NO Frank Black??? Yikes!
I wanted to add the song by The Church
"Song in Space"
Even the video is really "out there"!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4MZ7twFPhM
Check it out!
Farglesnarf said:
Yes! Iron Man, one of the greatest metal songs of all time!
NerdyThirties said:
No Rush??? Not even a little bit? For shame.
recluserecluse said:
After the Gold Rush - Neil Young
Wooden Ships - CSNY
Earth Girls Are Easy - Julie Brown
Coyote said:
NO NO NO! How could you forget the best one of all classic "The Highwayman" By Johnny Cash? It's got immortals, pirates, space travel, time travel, and has the voices of 4 separate legends!
Vlad said:
It'll be cool if Rocket Man was basead on Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. At a certain point of the book, Lt Tyrone Slothrop becames a super hero called Rocketman.
Imon Fyre said:
Personal Favourite video that I remember from the early 90s is Billy Idols "Shock to the System" -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grBLbiyJTDk
mirror_shield said:
only did a quick glance at the comments, but here's another if nobody mentioned it: 'jed the humanoid' by grandaddy. it's about a robot that drinks itself to death. really.
kingbiscuitpants.wordpress,com said:
How can you forget Iron Maiden's "to tame a land" which was directly about the novel Dune
Or Iron Maiden's "Prisoner" from the great patrick McGoohan series?
kingbiscuitpants.wordpress,com said:
Also Queen's "39" is all about relatavistic time dilation (really) and isn't mentioned
Anthrax did "I am the law" about judge Dredd
and that's far more worthy than shatner's rocketman I also agree that Coheed & Cambria has been ridiculously snubbed for their 4 ALBUM EPIC SCI FI STORY!!!
also iron maiden's "revalations" which is based on the old testament which is one of the most successful sci fi stories of all timee
KingJtheAwesome said:
Where's "The Body Electric" by Rush? The chorus is in binary for Odinsake.
cashnetusa said:
The Man Who Sold the World?
Zortt1 said:
There should be a list of top 10-15 post apocalyptic songs.
That could be fun. :)
kirkslashspock said:
What? No BOC's Godzilla? Lame.
ice cream man said:
others that belong on the list i put a spell on you. by screamin jay hawkins. love potion no.9. by the coasters. monster mash. by bobby "boris" pickett. they're coming to take me away. by napoleon xiv. werewolves of london. by zevon. even i hate to say it michael jacksons thriller. and to be honest i can think of hundreds of others. but i have to say the omission that surprised me the most was in the year 2525. by zager and evans.
Security stooge said:
The author knows a fair bit about music, but has a hipster's disdain for broadly loved classics. No BOC. No Queen. No Boston. And acres of electronica and underground acts. But placing ANY act over the completely-missing kings of science fiction Rock, Rush? Well, Yes. You ARE a Bowie acolyte. He blinded you with shoulder pads.
Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control.
Patrick said:
G-R-A-N-D-A-D-D-Y.
Pretty much any of thier songs.
Sean T. Collins said:
Security stooge: Hipster's disdain? My two favorite bands are the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. Meanwhile, check the links for those lists I did of great songs from geek-movie soundtracks: LOUSY with Queen. Like I said earlier, the Queen songs I really love (soundtrack fodder like Princes of the Universe and Flash excepted) aren't their overtly sci-fi ones. Unless you view "Fat Bottomed Girls" as a tale of some sort of race of Amazons, which is a valid interpretation i suppose.
Anonymous replied to Sean T. Collins:
Okay, Queen explanation heard, but check how many besides me were astonished at the lack of B.O.C. That's one of those forehead slappers, but the omission of Rush is tantamount to placing John Mayer on a top guitarists list and leaving Page and Clapton off the list completely. From the long-as-hell comments field here, it can't just be me.
Brandonio said:
Man Or Astro-man? is the greatest science fiction band of all time!To omit them is a joke right?Everyone else seems like 6th grade science class compared to Man oR Astro-Man ? You have got to remake this list,and just flat out say it "Man Or Astro-Man? is the greatest Sci-Fi band of all time"period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve said:
As commented above, Boston was left off the list. The Third Stage concept album is a sci-fi novel in itself.
X said:
Without The Rolling Stones "2000 Man" or Yes' "Starship Trooper" this list is laughably incomplete.
X said:
......or Rush's "Red Barchetta" or ANYTHING from "2112"
Who put this together has ZERO or even negative nerd cred for omitting RUSH. C'mon that's like omitting Star Trek from greatest Sci-fi franchise.
Doron Deutsch said:
If you want a really great sci-fi album
Then check out this link:
http://www.archive.org/details/WM054
It's an album full of colorful and spacey sounds, both melodic and emotive.
And one song "escape velocity" where I did my best Elvis impersonation.
Elvis didn't quite sing about it, but himself was very "science fiction", wasn't he?
