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Author
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Topic: REM song lyrics ("Man on the Moon")
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mikepf
Member Posts: 441
From: San Jose, California, USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-01-2007 10:19 AM
   
While cruising the grocery store last night there was an REM song playing on the PA. I am not an REM fan, and the audio was poor but I did hear the line "If you believe they put a man on the moon..." I could not catch the rest of the following lyrics. If anyone is familiar with the song, I'd like to know if the line supports the belief or not? Is the song pro-hoax? Thanks to anyone who can clarify. While we're at it, do you know of any other songs that make reference to space missions directly or indirectly? |
spaceflori
Member Posts: 1499
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000
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posted 06-01-2007 10:44 AM
Very easy...Google: Type in "REM man on the moon lyrics" and you get a ton of results. I wonder however - and that is indeed a good question - what that phrase you heard actually means? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-01-2007 10:53 AM
The song you heard was REM's aptly titled "Man on the Moon" from their 1992 album Automatic for the People. You were listening to the chorus: Hey Andy, did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?Hey Andy, are you goofing on Elvis? Hey baby, are you having fun? If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then nothing is cool The "Andy" reference is to comedian Andy Kaufman, for which the song was written as a tribute. The song also served as the title and theme to the 1999 Kaufman bio-pic starring Jim Carrey.The song makes reference to a number of topics for which there are believers and non-believers (the bible, evolution, etc.). In light of the closing line "If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then nothing is cool," I thought the song was meant to suggest that leaving some things to mystery was what made life interesting. As to songs that make direct references to real missions: - Happy Blues for John Glenn by Lightnin' Hopkins
- Countdown by Rush (includes audio from STS-1)
- Apollo 9 by Adam Ant
- Armstrong by Nanci Griffith
- Alan Bean by Hefner
- Flying for Me by John Denver
- Contact Lost by Deep Purple
- Escape from the Atmosphere by Manheim Steamroller (audio from STS-114 and STS-121)
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gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 06-01-2007 12:28 PM
Oh dear, this could be a L-O-N-G thread, but if you want to hear a beautiful piece of relevant music try "From Gagarin's Point of View" by the Swedish trio EST (Esbjorn Svensson Trio). EST are THE modern jazz group of the moment. The first European band to grace the US magazine Downbeat - the jazz equivalent of getting on the cover of Rolling Stone. Now that's something. You can sample the track here, under Features, Videos. |
SCE to AUX
Member Posts: 245
From: Anytown USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-03-2007 01:04 PM
Curious about the line in the Red Hot Chilli Peppers song Californication
"Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement". Is this support for a consiracy theory regarding the moon or am I missing someting? I don't know much about the RHCP and thier politics...anyone? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-03-2007 02:31 PM
For what it's worth (and given the source, that might not be much), Wikipedia attributes the line to Star Trek rather than the real space program: The song is about the dark side of Hollywood. The track makes references to the decline in western society, and other topics such as pornography and plastic surgery and even some pop culture references including Star Wars (Alderaan isn't far away), Star Trek (Space may be the final frontier)... |
Naraht
Member Posts: 232
From: Oxford, UK
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 06-03-2007 03:58 PM
Yeah, I always interpreted it as bashing Star Trek rather than the space program. |
Rob Joyner
Member Posts: 1308
From: GA, USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 06-03-2007 08:41 PM
What?! Star Trek made in a basement?! Sure, buddy, sure!!! Next thing you'll say is that Spock's ears aren't really pointed!!!
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Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 06-04-2007 05:56 AM
Funny and interesting posts. Stuff for psychologists studying the cS community  |
robsouth
Member Posts: 769
From: West Midlands, UK
Registered: Jun 2005
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posted 06-04-2007 06:24 AM
"Sleeping Satellite", by Tasmin Archer |
SCE to AUX
Member Posts: 245
From: Anytown USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 06-04-2007 09:58 PM
Who the heck is Major Tom anyway? |
jarykc
New Member Posts: 8
From: Kansas City
Registered: Nov 2005
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posted 06-06-2007 08:45 AM
Two music-related areas you should look into with relations to space....Astronaut's Wife - This Enya meets Dido group's music is focused all around the space program. Their debut song, Cape Canaveral, is from the perspective of being an Astronaut's Wife. The lyrics are rich, capped off with verses like "And the radio that still carries my voice to you...like a bottled message on the radio waves will it ever get to you?" Lemon Jelly's "Spacewalk" - The coolest, happiest song dealing with space you'll ever hear. |
FFrench
Member Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 04-05-2011 07:25 PM
Another space song I just learned about, by a former colleague from Sally Ride Science. |
Spoon
Member Posts: 143
From: Cumbria, UK
Registered: May 2006
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posted 04-05-2011 07:54 PM
I have a soft spot for 'Saturn V' by the Inspiral Carpets, floppy fringes and all. |
Grounded!
Member Posts: 367
From: Bennington, Vermont, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 04-07-2011 05:18 AM
A song I have always liked is called "For Michael Collins, Jeffery and me" from Jethro Tull's Benefit album released in 1970. It is a song about loneliness and being left behind.The chorus: I'm with you LEM,
though it's a shame that it had to be you.
The mother ship is just a blip
from your trip made for two.
I'm with you boys,
so please employ just a little extra care.
It's on my mind.
I'm left behind when I should have been there.
Walking with you... I believe the song also has personal meaning for Ian Anderson and Jeffery Hammond. |
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