From Björk to David Bowie: the five best songs inspired by science
Although science is considered by some to be the death of modern art, there have been many songs throughout music history that have taken direct inspiration from its themes and topics. While some become enlightened by the vast expanse of the solar system and the stars that occupy it, others gravitate towards realms closer to home, choosing to craft sonic tapestries that reflect the physical makeup of planet Earth.
The most obvious example of musicians finding inspiration in the stars is, of course, artists like Pink Floyd and David Bowie. The latter, in particular, crafted entire personas around the idea of space, reflecting other-worldly themes in his music as a way of pushing boundaries and demonstrating his innovative abilities. Brian Eno, too, was particularly interested in Apollo space missions, even once creating an ethereal, space-like album in 1983.
However, science isn’t just about space – bands like Kraftwerk created entire musical concepts around technological advancement, and the future of robotics akin to Metropolis meets The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Musical pioneers Björk and Kate Bush also threaded scientific ideas and ideology into their songwriting, exploring the relationship between mathematic and scientific accuracy and observations of the natural world.
While many musicians take science to create something inherently abstract or aesthetically satisfying, others, like Brooklyn rock band They Might Be Giants, take it a little more seriously, choosing to incorporate scientific information as a means of educating and making science – and music – more fun. As we delve into the different tracks inspired by science, it becomes clear that the industry has always been fascinated by things that challenge or transform our realities. If music is the escape, science is the rhyme and the reason, providing the necessary foundation for complete immersion.
Five best songs inspired by science:
Björk – ‘Mutual Core’
It’s not often that albums like Biophilia come around, an album which taught us more about the world of technology and applications than perhaps the evolution of music itself. ‘Mutual Core’ explores the structure and creation of plate tectonics alongside Björk‘s own personal feelings and relationships. In a way, this explains why she regards the song as her most intimate track on the album, as the lyrics delve into the similarities between the emotional and the metaphysical.
“This eruption undoes stagnation,” she sings, her vocals ethereal with a slightly unsettling undertone akin to the science of the world itself. As an experimental song and album, there’s always a level of unpredictability to the music, but that’s what’s to love about it – nature keeps us on our toes, as does Biophilia.
David Bowie – ‘Space Oddity’
A song that needs no introduction, ‘Space Oddity’ remains a significant cultural touchstone. Even though Tony Visconti deemed it a “bad choice” for a first single, the masterpiece showcased the power of sheer originality during a time when formula was supreme. Although David Bowie initially wrote the song about isolation, the fact that the space world so enthusiastically embraced it says a lot about the power of music and science colliding – even the BBC used the song as background music for the moon landing.
Major Tom departs Earth successfully in ‘Space Oddity’ but ends up sitting alone, waiting for his death “far above the world.” Although there are many interpretations of the song, it seems to reflect Bowie’s mindset at the time as he grappled with a failing career and the pressure to create a hit. The character Major Tom became a conduit for exploring such loneliness, with space being the perfect metaphor for loss and alienation.
Ella Fitzgerald – ‘How High the Moon?’
The moon is an inherently romantic topic, as evidenced by Ella Fitzgerald‘s sultry voice in ‘How High the Moon?’. “Does it touch the stars?” She asks, demonstrating the base level of scientific interest that we possess throughout all our lives. There are a lot of questions unanswered, but that’s the beauty of it. The mystery of space runs “as faint as music,” while the presence of the moon symbolises love.
Although Fitzgerald didn’t sing the original, ‘How High the Moon?’ became her staple, continuing its natural inclination towards a more upbeat tune and maintaining its lighthearted tone despite its seemingly serious subject matter. Fitzgerald successfully makes the song fun, partially due to her improvised scatting but mostly due to its rhythm and wit, which introduced an element of respite during a historically turbulent time.
Kate Bush – ‘Cloudbusting’
Kate Bush once accidentally stumbled across a copy of Peter Reich’s A Book of Dreams. Written about his father’s endeavours as a psychoanalyst, psychiatrist, and controversial figure, Bush discovered beauty between the lines and put pen to paper to craft ‘Cloudbusting’.
Reich once developed the term ‘Cloudbuster’ to describe the ways that the atmosphere and all living matter contained “orgone energy”. According to the psychoanalyst, this energy could be impacted by the device, forcing clouds to form and create rain. Bush became inspired by this notion and wrote the song, using the notion of creating rain as a romantic backdrop to the story of life in Orgonon.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – ‘Higgs Boson Blues’
Nick Cave has been to the deepest depths of his mind, many of which have influenced his music. What he doesn’t claim to have, however, is all the answers. ‘Higgs Boson Blues’ references the God particle, which is said to be significant for many reasons, particularly its responsibility for other physical forces and masses.
Cave likens the particle to something as powerful as God, an existence that, theoretically, becomes debunked by the discovery of the Higgs boson. Cave once explained that he first became drawn to the idea after discovering the peculiarity of this phenomenon and entered the recording studio with his bandmate Warren Ellis. The best part? It was entirely improvised. “To me, that song has this beautiful, unstable adventuring sound that you’d never get if we did it again,” he said.
