Songs About The Planets
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This is another requested column, dating back to December 2021. Um… oops?
So, planets. Simply put, a planet is a major body orbiting a star, often with satellites of their own. What actually constitutes a planet, a dwarf planet, an asteroid, or a hunk of rock is something that is really confusing, so what this list is a list of songs with the names of the nine planets (yes, I am including Pluto) appearing predominantly within them.
Now, some were easy because there were only a couple of songs. Some were difficult because there were many songs. And some were stupidly hard because I had no songs with the planet's name in the title, so had to remember what could be what and listen to a lot of music. But, after a couple of weeks, I have a list of songs.
And I've thrown in a bonus track at the end to make it a round 10 songs list.
Very simple and straight-forward. And the normal rules apply – one song per artist, I need to like the song. And here, it is one song per planet as well. Except the last one.
Anyway, here are songs about the planets in our solar system.
**MERCURY
'
Going Backwards' by Richard Fleeshman (2007)**
This was not an easy one. Every song I have with "Mercury" in the title is either about temperature or about the make of car. So it was a lot of remembering and listening, and in this song the phrase "
Mercury in retrograde" stood out to me. Using the astrological term to highlight the fact everything in his life is going backwards, this is a surprisingly decent little song.
**VENUS
'
53 Miles West Of Venus' by The B-52's (1980)**
This is just a bit of The B-52's weirdness. The only lyrics are those of the title, and the music is that strange mix of new wave, pop-punk, neo-surf music and glorious female voices. I have read a few opinions as to what this is actually about, but there is no consensus and if the members of the band have said, I have not been able to find it. This one was surprisingly easy; most of the songs with "Venus" in the title are about
the Roman goddess of love .
**EARTH
'
Planet Earth' by Duran Duran (1981)**
This was a challenge – so many songs! But I chose this one because it clearly mentions it is about the planet. This was Duran Duran's debut single and in Australia it broke the top ten. We heard it a lot. I liked Duran Duran, but they had to be a guilty pleasure, hidden from everyone else… until a few years later when I bought one of their albums because it was so amazing. And this song shows where it all started.
**MARS
'
Life On Mars?' by David Bowie (1971)**
Okay, this one was easy. I have a lot of songs about Mars in the collection, but could there have been any other song?
David Bowie was such a great composer, and even if I don't understand what the song is about, this is one of his best tracks. So very good.
**JUPITER
'
Drops Of Jupiter' by Train (2001)**
I have three songs with "Jupiter" mentioned, and this is the only one I don't mind. It's not a favourite, but it is a decent bit of pop music. Apparently, it's about the singer's mother dying of cancer, but it has also been interpreted about the break-up of a long-term relationship. And the "
drops of Jupiter"? Just something meant to depict the ethereality of everything. Apparently.
**SATURN
'
Messages (From The Rings Of Saturn)' by A Flock Of Seagulls (1982)**
This might seem a strange song from the band that is only known for '
I Ran', but if you look at their first few albums, not really. They had a lot of weird songs about outer space, and this is just one of many. The band re-recorded and re-released this track early in 2022, but they cut the line about "
from the rings of Saturn" for some reason. Decent bit of New Wave pop here.
**URANUS
'
Anus Of Uranus' by Klaatu (1976)**
The band known for recording the original version of '
Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft', later made wonderful by The Carpenters, released a bizarre debut album filled with sci-fi prog rock. I love the album (
3:47 EST, though I believe it as called
Klaatu in the USA) and this track is a strange deep cut. Very strange. But that fuzz-tone guitar is amazing.
**NEPTUNE
'
Neptune' by Ian Brown (1999)**
After his work with The Stone Roses, I guess this was a logical progression for Ian Brown to go as a solo artiste. This track has a dreamy feel to it, with lush instrumentation and weird lyrics like a travel guide on an interplanetary bus tour. There is a not a real lot to say about this track – it is just a pleasant trip.
**PLUTO
'
Breakfast On Pluto' by Don Partridge (1969)**
1960s hippy music, a song I have on 45 (the B-side is a track called '
Stealin'' which has a totally different sound), which is, I think, about a drug trip. I think. Still, I like a lot of the music of this era, and this is a track that I enjoy. I can't explain it – it's just a trippy track.
**SOLAR SYSTEM
'
Solar System' by The Beach Boys (1977)**
Standard wisdom is that after 1970, The Beach Boys were only a shadow of their former selves (a statement which you will agree with depending on where you stand on '
Kokomo'). But even though they had some misses and their albums tended towards the formulaic, they could still come up with some decent tunes, and this one from 1977's
The Beach Boys Love You is a track that I have enjoyed since I first heard it. Simplistic, almost stream of consciousness, it is a fine way to finish this list.
And there we are – 10 songs about the planets of out solar system. A good spread of years, some strange music, and I hope you found something to enjoy.
via GIPHY
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83239 - 2023-06-11 06:39:38