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Entertainment Tuesday, March 19th 2013 at 11:40 am

11 Amazing Science Fiction Songs You Need to Hear

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There’re too many songs out there about love, and breaking up, and dancing. And single ladies. What there aren’t enough songs about: Spaceships, aliens, interstellar exploration, time travel. But you know what? There are some. They’re the brilliant, speculative anthems lurking on the airwaves, drifting in the cloud, or locked up in old vinyl. Well, you’ve got a right to know about some of the best.

Sure, you’ve all heard Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” or its older brother, David’s Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” And these mainstream hits are a step in the right direction, but they’re still not enough. Of course, there are some amazing sci-fi movie soundtracks to be had — Blade Runner, Star Wars,  Tron: Legacy, even Flash Gordon! – but I’m specifically referring to songs, not scores.

Yup, there sure are more than 11 songs to know, but these will do in a pinch. So read on and listen, fellow geeks!

Oh, and I also do mean good sci-fi songs. Katy Perry’s “E.T.” will just have to wait for a different list.

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  • H.G.

    I think “Galaxy in Janaki” by Flying Lotus should be listened to. It does have a very Sci-Fi sound

  • Jeff LaSala

    I will check that out immediately!

  • RGH

    Beyond me how Remember The Future and Blows Against The Empire could be excluded from the discussion.

  • Rufus Firefly

    Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds

  • schaghticokekid

    Man, I love Kate Bush! Experiment IV, that brings back some memories.

  • Jeff LaSala

    Yay! Welcome, kindred spirit!

  • Dude

    I’d also include “Time” by the Alan Parsons Project. The first lyrics have the lines:

    “Goodbye my love, maybe for forever. Goodbye my love, the tide waits for me.”

    At the end, it becomes:

    “Goodbye my friend, maybe for forever. Goodbye my friend, the stars wait for me.”

  • Jeff Shields Kleptonaut

    I make music I like to call Sci Fi. Someone will like it. I think I’m still giving it away for free on Bandcamp. Go to kleptonaut dot com and enjoy.

  • http://twitter.com/Mesoian Mesoian

    No Deltron 3030? Come’on son…

  • http://twitter.com/nachtritter Duke Fleed

    Ayreon is metal, you guess? It is. Mixed with a lot of things as well, but it’s mostly progressive metal.

  • A.M.

    Aw, no love here for Blue Oyster Cult’s towering “Veteran of the Psychic Wars”? It’s even got lyrics by Michael Moorcock.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000033292880 Michael J. Walsh

    “Blows Against The Empire” was one of two albums (remember those?) nominated in 1971 for the Hugo Award – Best Dramatic Presentation. The other was “Don’t Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers” by The Firesign Theater

  • Sonic Attacker

    No Hawkwind?

  • Anonymous

    Since the posting of this article… I’ve listened to Oldfield’s Songs of the Distant Earth 6 times.
    Thank you. I had forgotten…

  • http://twitter.com/eclipticart Thü

    You may have forgotten Jeff Wayne’s “War of the Worlds” – many good pieces of music.

  • Jeff LaSala

    Hah, awesome. It’s good stuff, right? I hope you’re familiar with some of his other albums.

  • Tim the Enchanter

    Some good choices, but I’m with Sonic Attacker, any list of sci fi songs should al least include Spirit of the Age by Hawkwind

  • JPL

    Great list. Thanks!

    (I probably would have included Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, however…)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Artraccoon-Madison/100001015706251 Artraccoon Madison

    Kinda forgot about Planet P

  • Anonymous

    I have honestly not heard much of his other albums until now…
    regrettable. Soon to be remedied.
    As for SotDE, I had listened to it a couple of times a few years ago… but I don’t think I appreciated it fully.
    I was in my mid twentie’s in the mid-nighties and doing what mid/early twenty somethings did the best in those days: Things that made them lose entire blocks of time to the ether.. that’s my only excuse haha
    … I had forgotten how this album is essentially the best sci-fi flick you ever saw, painted entirely in audio…
    Thank you again.

  • Mr.Quincy

    “Highwayman” by Johnny Cash

    I was a highwayman. Along the coach roads I did ride
    With sword and pistol by my side
    Many a young maid lost her baubles to my trade
    Many a soldier shed his lifeblood on my blade
    The bastards hung me in the spring of twenty-five
    But I am still alive.

    I was a sailor. I was born upon the tide
    And with the sea I did abide.
    I sailed a schooner round the Horn to Mexico
    I went aloft and furled the mainsail in a blow
    And when the yards broke off they said that I got killed
    But I am living still.

    I was a dam builder across the river deep and wide
    Where steel and water did collide
    A place called Boulder on the wild Colorado
    I slipped and fell into the wet concrete below
    They buried me in that great tomb that knows no sound
    But I am still around..I’ll always be around..and around and around and
    around and around

    I fly a starship across the Universe divide
    And when I reach the other side
    I’ll find a place to rest my spirit if I can
    Perhaps I may become a highwayman again
    Or I may simply be a single drop of rain
    But I will remain
    And I’ll be back again, and again and again and again and again..

  • http://www.facebook.com/teaflax John Thelin

    It’s just a little sad to see the truly craptacular Ayreon on the same list as Jon Anderson, Kate, Klaatu and Genesis.

  • Anonymous

    More Human than Human was always a favorite for me.