Aug 262012
I read that Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, died on Saturday. In celebration of his feat, an event I remember watching in the middle of the night with my family in some hotel room in Ocean City, New Jersey and then falling out of the top bunk in my sleep later that night, let’s have a Last Man Standing for songs specifically about travel to the moon (or at least into space, where the traveler will at least pass the moon). The song can’t simply be about the moon; someone’s got to be going there, living there, what have you.
Let’s start things off with Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.”
“Walking on the Moon” by the Police. Since that was a bit of a gimme…here’s a bonus – a little space travel treat from Mr. William Shatner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hARDXYz2io&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“Everyone’s Gone To The Moon” by Jonathan “Pop Svengali” King.
Radiohead’s “Sail To The Moon”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goROlLKTFLs
The Dukes of Stratosphear’s “Bike Ride to the Moon.”
I’m breaking the rules here at bit (the travel is implicit) but posting this song anyways due to it’s clear reference to Neil Armstrong.
The Mekons “Ghosts of American Astronauts”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DMlxrGIi8U
I’ll see your Shatner and raise you this excellent image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dixonbaxi/3221580734/lightbox/
Whoa – that’s scary…Chekov looks like he’s doing a Jim Morrison impersonation.
If anyone should play a pointy guitar it is Spock.
I know it’s Last Man Standing but doesn’t putting forth The Byrds’ Armstrong, Aldrin, & Collins – whether first, middle, or last – trump all competition?
That entry is accepted!
In a Battle Royale that may only be topped by Dion’s Armstrong, Aldrin, Abraham, and Collins.
Lucia Pamela’s “Walking On The Moon.”
Wow! That should inspire a thread: Shatner’s best worst moments.
Well…guess I am not getting any work done today…a recent re-make of Mr. Shatner’s famous rendition of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds:
http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/29841/detail/
And for Mr. Mod, a little something from Mr. Spock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6uTmdhLK8k&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The police have a song called Walking on the Moon as well.
John Coltrane- “Giant Steps”
????
Ricky Nelson “Cradle of Love”
“The cow jumped over the moon”
For Michael Collins, Jeffrey, and Me – Jethro Tull
Collins being the guy who was left behind in orbit while Armstrong and Aldrin walked.
“Neil Armstrong was a catchy minor indie hit from a band from Niagara Falls Ont. called Starkicker.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1du7T9cU0PM
Spectrum (Sonic Boom, formerly of Spacemen 3) has a song called “(I Love You) To The Moon and Back”.
The B-52s “There’s a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)”
Wow, that Lucy rendition and video was…amazing.
One of my favorite pieces of music – – EVER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ifS2nP53Zs
This is really charming: made for kids but adults will like it too:
Raymond Scott’s “By Rocket to the Moon”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nDk_EQQnS8
AWESOME! I am huge fan of Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation…remember the Thunderbirds? Each of the five sons was named after a Mercury astronaut…Scott, Virgil, Gordon, Alan, and John.
F-A-B!
Yeah – it’s the kind of vocal artistry we jusy don’t see much of anymore (and for good reason).
Which brings to mind this; possibly the greatest “music video” ever conceived: http://youtu.be/Y5zVq0wTNfM
Wreckless Eric – “Walking on the Surface of the Moon”
http://youtu.be/fUszNYtJaNQ
Daughter of Ohmstead thanks you.
“I’ll meet you on the dark side of the moon” Pink Floyd. Maybe some of you have heard of that one?
OMG Bobby. That must be the winning entry. Best music video and it does double duty as a “space odyssey.”
Destination Moon – They Might Be Giants
Jack Bruce – Rope Ladder to the Moon
Joe Simon — “Moon Walk (Pt. 1)”
The Cramps – “Rock On The Moon”
I’m really surprised that, as far as I know, no other band swiped that idea and built a video around it…
Yes…which is why I didn’t use it.
See entry #2.
Dogs count. “The Day that Lassie Went to the Moon” CVB.
Scruffy the Cat “Moons of Jupiter”
If we’re going to bring cats into it…”Moonshadow” by Cats Steve (I know, I know…but the shadow of the moon projects from the moon…it originates on the moon…no moon – no moon shadow).
Stranglers – Rok it to the Moon
Bo Diddley – ‘Moonman’
ELO, “Ticket To The Moon”
Big Dipper – Lunar Module
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcarsVeViJk