Music

Skyrockets In Flight: A Playlist of Spacey/Flying Tunes

by Ciaran Thompson

Inspired by some really really late night pizza eating and airplane conversation, the idea of escaping whether it be flying somewhere or being whisked away on some mystical journey might seem like the appropriate thing to do at the moment. The playlist below has songs regarding both as some contain anecdotes about flying or being too scared to in some instances and others revolve around space journeys and aliens. Whichever concept you prefer, the tracks are all wonderful, enjoy [ed note: not really sure what you’re getting at here, but true…good songs].

Tom Petty – Learning To Fly

Written by Petty and his writing partner Jeff Lyne in 1991 for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ eighth album Into the Great Wide Open, the song became Petty’s most successful single on the Billboard Album Rocks Tracks chart.

Charlotte Gainsbourg – AF607105

Appearing on Gainsbourg’s sophomore album 5:55, the track was written by Jarvis Cocker, who contributed the majority of songwriting along with Air’s Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel.

My Morning Jacket – Rocket Man

Featured in the first episode of the TV series Californication, the Elton John and Bernie Taupin composed song appeared on John’s 1972 album Honky Chateau. My Morning Jacket’s cover of the track is on their compilation album Early Recordings: Chapter 1: The Sandworm Cometh.

David Bowie – Space Oddity

Based on fictional astronaut Major Tom, David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” was released as a single in 1969 and appears on the album Space Oddity. The track was used by the BBC for their coverage of the Apollo 11 moon landings.

Foo Fighters – Learn To Fly

The music video for Foo Fighters’ single “Learn To Fly” off the album There is Nothing left to Lose won a Grammy Award in 2001 for Best Short Form Music Video. All members of the band play different characters in the video such as singer Dave Grohl playing a flamboyant flight attendant.

M83 – Moonchild

“Moonchild” is the gargantuan opener on M83’s third album Before The Dawn Heals Us. It was the first release by Anthony Gonzalez after other founding member Nicolas Fromageau left the band.

Pink Floyd – The Great Gig in the Sky

Featuring voice instrumental music by English singer Clare Torry, Pink Floyd’s “The Great Gig in the Sky” is as trippy as they come and fits in nicely with their 1973 album Dark Side of the Moon. The album appears regularly on greatest albums of all time lists.

The Beatles – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

Sparking controversy and eventually banned by the BBC because of the song’s supposed reference to the drug LSD, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” remains one of the Beatles’ greatest songs. Lennon, who wrote most of the song said he came up with the idea after seeing a picture his son drew. McCartney would later point out that it was obvious the song was inspired by LSD.

Radiohead – Subterranean Homesick Alien

Included it what may be the greatest alternative rock album OK Computer, Radiohead’s “Subterranean Homesick Alien” is a reference to the Dylan track “Subterranean Homesick Blues” with the narrator wishing to be abducted by extraterrestrials.

Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia

“Dystopia” is the title track for Australian band Midnight Juggernauts’ debut album and a perfect blend of space out/electronic music to get lost in.