31 L: Sci-Fi References in Music List
Description
This article is from the SF references in music List FAQ, by Rich Kulawiec rsk@gsp.org with numerous contributions by others.
31 L: Sci-Fi References in Music List
Landscape:
On "From The Tea-Rooms of Mars...to The Hell Holes of Uranus", see
"Einstein A-Go-Go"; nuclear terrorism ("You better watch out,
you'd better beware; Albert said that E equals M C squared") a classic.
Also "European Man", a life of leisure in an automated world.
and still from that same LP, "Live... from the Tea-Rooms of Mars";
synthesized tea-room dance music with some gently crooned SF lyrics,
(e.g "Do you know what it's like to live where there's no trees and no sky ?
Night and day are just controls.") See also "My Name is Norman Bates",
which isn't exactly SF, but horror.
Lavin, Christine:
In her song `Bald Headed Men' (performed with the Bitchin' Babes)
she says ``That guy from Star Trek: The Next Generation (love him).'' :-)
Le Orme:
Apparently a French art-rock band, did an album called "Beyond Leng",
which is apparently Lovecraftian from the title.
Lear, Amanda:
In her Album "Never Trust a Pretty Face" (1979 ??) you'll find the songs
"Black Holes", "The Sphinx" and "Intellectually", the latter a song
about a romance between a woman and a computer.
Leatherwolf:
"Gypsies and Thieves" from their first album is Melnibonean
(that is, it concerns "Elric of Melnibone", one of Michael Moorcock's
characters who jointly are "The Eternal Champion". See the entry
on Hawkwind.) and some of their other material is fantasy-ish.
Led Zeppelin:
A number of possible J.R.R. Tolkien references -- nobody really knows.
"No Quarter" from "Houses of the Holy" is rather eerie, but no one is
quite sure what it's about. There's some speculation that it might
be about Aragorn and company's trek through "The Paths of the Dead",
described in "The Return ofthe King". "The Battle of Evermore", from Led Zep IV
mentions Ringwraiths. Also see "Ramble On" on Led Zep II for mention of
Mordor and Gollum. See also "Misty Mountain Hop" on Led Zep IV. Some
speculation that "Stairway to Heaven" is about Saruman's journey to the
west, but nobody seems to be sure. It's probably as good an interpretation
as any. :-) Also "Kashmir" from "Physical Grafitti".
Level 42:
Song, "Star Child" -- is this about the Star Child from 2001?
(Level 42's name was based on the Answer to the Ultimate Question from
the Hitchhiker's Guide.) "Foundation and Empire" from "A Physical
Presence", and "Micro-Kid" from "Standing in the Light", about computer
whiz-kids.
Liebrand, Ben:
"Eve of the War". Liebrand is a remixer and disco-musician. He made a disco
version of this theme with quotes from the original recording
(including Richard Burton's introduction speech).
Limor, Gilead:
You Are The Stars. This album is an instrumental epic
describing a fantasy travel through solar systems and universes.
The album (on CD and Cassette) was released by Nesak International
Inc., New Jersey, and is part of a so-called "You Are..." series of
instrumental titles. (I believe Gilead is the first person to submit
one of his or her own works for inclusion in the list; congratulations
are in order for making it through the daunting process of cranking
out a release! Contact address: gileadgl@itexjct.jct.ac.il ---Rsk )
Lister, Anne:
English singer/songwriter with a lot of fantasy-based material; one of
her songs is dedicated to Ursula LeGuin.
Little River Band:
"Orbit Zero" from "Time Exposure" is the sad story of an alien race with
hopes of settling on Earth, only to find it already crowded by us humans.
Love and Rockets:
Rumored to have done songs relating to Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez'
comic book for which they're named. See "Holiday on the Moon", a
B-side to a single, and their cover of Pink Floyd's "Lucifer Sam".
Lovich, Lene:
"Telepathy" from "Stateless", about a maddening psychic gift.
On the album "Flex" there are the songs "Angles" and "You Can't Kill Me"
with SF aspects. "Rocky Road" from her Album "No Man's Land" describes
the stony path to an utopian land.
Lyon, Steve:
"Deimos and Phobos" is about a guy who is homesick for Mars.
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