sing-a-long sci fi

Sing-a-long Sci Fi

So far in this blog I’ve looked at the use of the Greek alphabet and various mythologies to form sci fi words, as well as the use of the letter X, the end letters ‘ck’, sesquipaedialisms, poetry and green vocabulary in sci fi word use. Some of this has pointed to an embedded sexism in the language of sci fi, a dislike of nature unless it’s cut and put in a vase, as well as Anglo-centrism. But I’ve also looked at how planets are named in reality and in sci fi. Branching out I’ve looked at the types of food promoted by sci fi and some of the background of Avatar (more to come!). Unsurprisingly now I want to look at songs in sci fi.

Limitations

Let’s get it straight – I’m talking about the use of songs, not unadorned music. Classical and Rock music will form a blog of its own.
Obviously I can’t comment on every song used in every sci fi film and series (let alone if they’re used in games), so this is the next limitation.
Thirdly, on looking for the singers of various songs it rapidly became a problem that some songs have had many singers. I’ve tried to find the earliest, but some could be wrong and some will have been sung by other people you like that I didn’t know about. Sorry. It would take years of research to get that sorted, so it’s not possible.

If it’s such a problem why look at this?

I’m interested in several things. Firstly, copyright is different in different countries and at different times, but it restricts what can be used in films and series. Sci fi budgets don’t usually extend to paying large amounts for the rights to play a song. So what is played? How is it played? Why do producers and directors persist in using songs? What role do they play that is so important? What effect do the songs have? And if I can cover a bit of this in one blog I’ll be lucky!!

What Songs are Played?

Musicals and Musical Films supply songs used in series, and episode titles for those series. There’s a surprisingly small range of musicals used, with Man of La Mancha featured in one Quantum Leap episode, subsequently released on CD. Often characters sing the songs, or parts of them, as part of the plot. This is usual in Quantum Leap and Goodnight Sweetheart where songs are integral to the plot, and is done in Sliders when Maggie sings for a living for the group. Apart from Footloose the musicals are all old classics, which would be out of copyright. Dirty Dancing dates from the eighties, with some earlier music.

April Love: Quantum Leap A Leap for Lisa April Love 1957/Pat Boone
Deep in My Heart: Quantum Leap: The Color of Truth The Student Prince 1954
Don Quixote Quantum Leap : Catch a Falling Star Man of La Mancha
Footloose Quantum Leap : Piano Man Footloose
Get Me to the Church on Time Goodnight Sweetheart: Is Your Journey Really Necessary?: My Fair Lady
Getting to Know You Red Dwarf: Back to Earth My Fair Lady
If I Only Had a Heart The Next Generation :The Schizoid Man :The Wizard of Oz
I Have Often Walked Goodnight Sweetheart Fools Rush In My Fair Lady
Impossible Dream, The Space Cases, Season 1, 1996 Man of La Mancha
I've Grown Accustomed to His Face Now and Again, 1999 title My Fair Lady
I’ve Had the Time of My Life -Kyle XY : Season three title Dirty Dancing
Life is a Cabaret Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka Cabaret
Luck be a Lady Doctor Who: Rose Guys and Dolls
Shall We Dick? title 3rd Rock from the Sun, Season 5, 2000 The King and I (Shall we Dance?)
There’s a Place for Us Quantum Leap: It’s a Wonderful Leap West Side Story
To Dream the Impossible Dream Quantum Leap : Catch a Falling Star Man of La Mancha
Impossible Dream, The Space Cases, Season 1, 1996 title Man of La Mancha
Tonight, Tonight Goodnight Sweetheart: In the Mood West Side Story
Way Out West Sliders, Season 4, 1998 Calamity Jane
What does he want of me? Quantum Leap: Catch a Falling Star Man of La Mancha
Wonderful Spiderman 3 Annie Get Your Gun (Sinatra)
You’ll Never Walk Alone 1990, Season 2, 1978 title Carousel


Traditional Songs

There is a big range of traditional songs including Christmas carols; English, American, French, Irish, Scottish and Australian folk songs; some Italian songs. Happy Birthday has restrictions, but in this case it is sung in Klingon, so it’s OK. Who knows what is really being sung? And the all time favourite song comes out as - Amazing Grace.
As well as the usual series using songs, Star Trek appears here using a variety of traditional American and French songs.

All the Pretty Little Horses 4400 As Fate Would Have It American lullaby.
Amazing Grace - Quantum Leap : The Right Hand of God/ Memphis Melody/ English hymn.
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan/ Sliders: Pilot/ A Roswell Christmas Carol/ Sung by Vera Lynn/Elvis
SQDSV Sympathy for the Deep/EFC First of It’s Kind Presley etc.
Auld Lang Syne Goodnight Sweetheart: It Ain’t Necessarily So Scottish traditional
Carol of the Bells Quantum Leap :A Little Miracle Carol.
Danny Boy Torchwood: Random Shoes Irish folk song.
Dixie : Quantum Leap: Memphis Melody 19th C USA (Daniel Emmett)
Down in the Valley The Next Generation: Dark Page Aka Birmingham Jail folk song.
Glory, Glory Hallelujah Wild, Wild West 2000 American hymn.
Happy Birthday (The Next Generation: Parallels) Traditional song
Hava Nagilah Quantum Leap: Thou Shalt Not… Israeli folk song
Jingle Bells (Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned ) Carol.
Joy to the World Quantum Leap: A Little Miracle Carol.
Kookaburra sits in the old Gumtree Doctor Who: Fear Her Australian children’s.
La Donna E Mobile Dark Angel: Flushed; Italian opera.
Lord of the Dance Torchwood: Small Worlds English religious song.
Marseillaise The Next Generation: Hide and Q French national anthem.
The Minstrel Boy The Next Generation :The Wounded Carol
Oranges and Lemons Finders Keepers English nursery rhyme.
Pop goes the Weasel The Next Generation: Shades of Gray English nursery rhyme.
Roll out the Barrel Goodnight Sweetheart: Is Your Journey Really Necessary? English drinking song.
Row Row Row Your Boat Stargate: SG1 Urgo/Star Trek: The Final Frontier English round.
Silent Night Quantum Leap: A Little Miracle Carol
Sur le Pont d’Avignon The Next Generation: Chain of Command French children’s round
We Wish You a Merry Christmas K-9 and Company Carol
What Shall We do with the Drunken Sailor? seaQuest DSV: Bad Water Sea Shanty

Songs from the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s

Given that copyright usually lasts fifty years (sometimes longer), most of the songs played in sci fi fall into this age grouping. There are several songs here from the eighties which may have had earlier versions or short copyright.

Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra feature heavily in this section, with the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Four Tops coming next. After that there’s a wide range of songs and singers.

Songs used in episodes and films:

All My Lovin’ : Beatles Goodnight Sweetheart: It Ain’t Necessarily So
Angel Baby: Rosie and the Originals 1960/John Lennon et al Max Q
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Torchwood: Captain Jack Harkness
As Time Goes By : Sinatra Quantum Leap: Play It Again, Seymour/ D? The Happiness Patrol
Baby I need some lovin’ : Four Tops Quantum Leap: Black on White on Fire
Big Girls Don’t Cry : Beachboys Quantum Leap: All-Americans
Blowin’ in the Wind: Bob Dylan Quantum Leap : Nowhere to Run
Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover : Vera Lynn Torchwood: Captain Jack Harkness /Goodnight Sweetheart: Don’t Fence Me In
Can’t Help Myself : The Four Tops, 1965 Quantum Leap: Animal Frat
Chant Down Babylon : Bob Marley Roswell: Chant Down Babylon
Delilah : Tom Jones Goodnight Sweetheart: It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie
Dream a Little Dream of Me :Sinatra Farscape: Dream a Little Dream
Duck and Cover ( 50’s Propaganda) Quantum Leap: Nuclear Family
Eve of Destruction : Barry McGuire, 1965 Quantum Leap: Nowhere to Run
Fate’s Wide Wheel : King Thunder Quantum Leap: Glitter Rock
Feelings : Barbra Streisand Quantum Leap: Private Dancer
Flash, Gordon : Queen, 80’s Flash Gordon
Fly me to the Moon: Sinatra Space Cowboys
Georgia: Ray Charles Quantum Leap : M.I.A.
Glory of Love : Peter Cetera/Tom Jones Goodnight Sweetheart: Nice Work If You Can Get It
God Speed my Love : Righteous Brothers , Unchained Melody 55 Quantum Leap: M.I.A.
Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday : Rolling Stones 1966 Children of Men
Great Balls of Fire: Jerry Lee Lewis Quantum Leap: L Good Morning, Peoria/ Miss Deep South
Happiness is : Joplin Quantum Leap: Memphis Melody
Happy Days are here again: Barbra Streisand Doctor Who: Daleks in Manhattan/ Evolution of the Daleks
Have you ever seen rain? : Credence Clearwater Revival Stargate SG1: Unending
Heard it on the Grapevine : Credence Clearwater Revival Quantum Leap : M.I.A./Goodnight Sweetheart: The Yanks Are Coming
Heatwave: Martha and the Bandellas Quantum Leap: A Song for the Soul
Here Comes the Sun: Harrison, Abbey Road, 1969 Doctor Who: 42
Hernando’s Hideaway : Johnny Ray Quantum Leap: Sea Bride
He’s So Shy : Suzy Quattro Quantum Leap: Another Mother
High Hopes: Sinatra 59/Doris Day 64 What Planet Are You From?
Hot Spot :Foxy Brown Quantum Leap: Glitter Rock
I am the Walrus :Beatles Goodnight Sweetheart :Nice Work If You Can Get It
I Can’t Decide: Scissor Sisters (Ta-Dah) Doctor Who: Last of the Timelords
If You Leave Me Now: Chicago 1976 Goodnight Sweetheart: I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good
I’ll Never Smile Again: Ruth Lowe (music) The Philadelphia Experiment
I’m so lonesome I could die: Elvis Presley Lois and Clarke: Neverending Battle
I’m the Great Pretender: Elvis Presely Quantum Leap: Rebel Without a Clue
Imagine : John Lennon Quantum Leap: The Leap Home Pt 1/ Goodnight Sweetheart Is Your Journey Really Necessary?
I need a hero : Tina Turner Lois and Clarke: Pilot/Mad Max 3
I need somebody to love :Beatles Quantum Leap: M.I.A.
I never fool nobody but me :Irma Thomas seaQuest: DSV Sea :West
In Heaven there is no bar: Charlie Pride NTZ Kentucky Rye
I Remember You : Frank Ifield 1962 The Next Generation : Second Chances
It’s a Beautiful Day: ELO Doctor Who: Love and Monsters
It’s a Little Bit Funny: Elton John Goodnight Sweetheart
It’s got to be you : Pamela Birch Doctor Who: The Empty Child;
I’ve got a brand new pair of roller skates: Melanie Safka, 71 Doctor Who: Love and Monsters
I’ve Got a Crush on you : Gershwin/Sinatra/Fitzgerald Lois and Clarke: I’ve Got a Crush on You/Double Jeopardy
I Want to Play House with You: Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: Memphis Melody;
Jailhouse Rock :Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: Rebel Without a Clue
Jingle, Jangle: The Archies, 1960’s Stepford Wives 2
La Bamba : Trini Lopez 60’s Quantum Leap: Animal Frat/ All-Americans
Let’s do the Twist: Chubby Checker Quantum Leap: Good Morning, Peoria/ Spiderman 3
Let’s Twist Again: Chubby Checker Quantum Leap: All-Americans
Locomotion: The Beach Boys Quantum Leap: Thou Shalt Not…
Look for the Silver Lining: Jerome Kern 1919/J. Garland Lois and Clarke The Man of Steel Bars
Look of Love Willie Bobo/Dusty Springfield Quantum Leap: The Play’s the Thing
Maybe Baby : The Crickets, 1950’s Quantum Leap: Maybe Baby
Memories of You :music by Eubie Blake, words by Andy Razat. . The Philadelphia Experiment
Mona Lisa : Elvis Presley 4400 The New and Improved Carl Morissey
Moon River : Mancini (music) Quantum Leap: Runaway
My Girl : Temptations, 1964 Quantum Leap: Black on White on Fire
My Melancholy Baby : Ella Fitzgerald, 1936 Torchwood: Captain Jack Harkness
Nightbird The Next Generation: Second Chances
One eyed Purple People Eater : Sheb Wooley 1958 Contact
Quanta La Gusta : Carmen Miranda QL Miss Deep South
Que Sera, Sera : Doris Day QL Genesis
Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head: Johnny Farnham 69 Quantum Leap: The Leap Home Pt 2
Rock N’Robin :Bobby Day, 58/The Hollies 64 Quantum Leap: Camikazi Kid
Rock the Redhead : King Thunder, 1970’s Quantum Leap: Glitter Rock
Runaway : Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: Maybe Baby/ Runaway
Shout : Johnny O’Keefe Quantum Leap: Good Morning, Peoria
Singing Me Softly : Carpenters Quantum Leap: Thou Shalt Not…
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay: Otis Redding 1967 Quantum Leap: M.I.A.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes : Piaf/Barbra Streisand Quantum Leap: Stand Up
Solitary Man :Johnny Cash Stargate Atlantis: Vegas
Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me: Sinatra 45/55 Quantum Leap: It’s a Wonderful Leap
Somewhere in the night : Sinatra 46 Quantum Leap: Piano Man
Spirit in the Sky Contact
Starman: David Bowie Torchwood: Random Shoes
Steal My Heart Away: Don Williams 1979/Van Morrison Smallville: Pilot
Stormy Weather: Sinatra 44,54 Quantum Leap: Pool Hall Blues
Sympathy for the Devil :The Rolling Stones Stargate Atlantis: Vegas
That’ll Be the Day: The Crickets 1957 Battlestar Galactica:1980 The Night the Cylons Landed
That Old Black Magic: Sinatra 46 The Nutty Professor 1963
That’s All Right Mama : Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: Memphis Melody
That’s the Glory of Love Benny Goodman 1936/Bette Midler/ Quantum Leap: Good Morning, Peoria
The Boys are Back in Town: Thin Lizzy 1976 Quantum Leap: Maybe Baby
The Good Life : Tony Bennett Torchwood: Out of Time
The Good Ship Lollipop: Shirley Temple Battlestar Galactica:1980 The Night the Cylons Landed
The Runner: Ian Thomas (music) The Philadelphia Experiment
The Times They are a’Changin: Bob Dylan Goodnight Sweetheart: Goodnight Children Everywhere
Trouble : Roy La Montagne Torchwood: Out of Time
Twelve O’Clock Rock :Bill Haley and the Comets Quantum Leap: Good Morning, Peoria
Tutti Fruiti : Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: Good Morning, Peoria
Underneath the Arches Goodnight Sweetheart: It Ain’t Necessarily So
Volare : Dean Martin Quantum Leap: Double Identity
We’ve Got a World that Swings :Les Brown and his Band of Renown The Nutty Professor 1963
Well I think I’m going Outta my head : Cilla Black Goodnight Sweetheart: Fools Rush In
When I’m Sixty Four: Beatles Goodnight Sweetheart: Turned Out Nice Again
Who’s Gonna Drive you home tonight? :The Cars 1984 Transformers the Movie/2
Wild Thing: The Troggs Quantum Leap: Animal Frat/ The Leap Home 2
Winter Wonderland : Hundred incl. Bing Crosby Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned
Yesterday: Beatles Goodnight Sweetheart: Is Your Journey Really Necessary?
Yellow Rose of Texas : Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: Genesis
You Ain’t Nothin But a Hound Dog: Elvis Presley Quantum Leap: GenesisYou
Zippity Doo Dah: James Baskett for Disney’s Song of the South/46 Battlestar Galactica:1980 The lots more Night the Cylons Landed

What’s the Effect of all this old Music?

Positives first : The music is old-fashioned, warm and emotional. It’s accessible with a lot of songs that can be danced to or sung, giving programs connection to the audience. Older viewers will know the songs well, and lots of young viewers will have heard them, providing a familiar backdrop for unfamiliar situations. It’s easy to give inter-textuality using older songs, there’s a lot to choose from and people will understand what you’re doing straight away.
Specific series rely on this warmth to provide an emotional landscape for the characters to work in e.g. Quantum Leap and Goodnight Sweetheart.
But music can be used to give a very different tone. Stargate Atlantis: Vegas was very different to the normal episodes in this series, showing a different John Sheppard. The music used here is evocative of loneliness and a Western image, and it’s done brilliantly.
And the negatives: This music could put off people who like Hard Rock or Classical Music. It could also seem very twee and cloying to young people. There is a danger sci fi could sound old fashioned and out of date. (But notice the music in Fantastic Mr. Fox an animated film which was just released – the music is all the same vintage as that we are discussing.) It is an odd dynamic to have old music playing in futuristic or alien settings.

Isn’t there any modern music?

Yes, there is. Obviously some modern bands understand that being played in sci fi films and series will give them a lot of exposure, and so we’re getting modern music now, whereas ten years ago that was nearly unheard of. Andromeda named some flyers ‘foo fighters’ but we never heard Foo Fighters play on that show! However, it’s noticeable that modern music is being heard in very specific series: Smallville has Lifehouse actually playing in an episode and had an arrangement with the band, and Torchwood and Doctor Who under Russell T. Davies used up to date music .

Blind: Lifehouse Smallville: Spirit
Come Back Down: Lifehouse Smallville: Spirit
Monster: The Autonate Torchwood: Countrycide
Ooh La : The Kooks Torchwood: Small Worlds
Ooh La La : Goldfrapp Torchwood: Day One
Saturday Night: Kaiser Chiefs Torchwood: Day One
Somebody Save Me : Remy Zero Smallville: Tempest
Tainted Love : Soft Cell Doctor Who: The End of the World
Toxic : Britney Spears Doctor Who: The End of the World
Undone: Lifehouse Smallville: Spirit
You’re All I want: Lifehouse Smallville: Tempest


Song can lighten or deepen a sci fi film or series episode. I t can give inter-textuality, multiple meanings and link sci fi material. Producers are often forced to use old music, or use it because it’s familiar and easy. It’s good to see new songs being used.

(I know, I know - episode titles use song titles and lines, this will be dealt with later!)