Space Songs
Encyclopedia
Space Songs is an album in the "Ballads For The Age of Science" or "Singing Science" series of scientific music for children from the late 1950s and early 1960s. Songs were written by Hy Zaret
(lyrics) and Lou Singer (music). "Space Songs" was released in 1959 by Hy Zaret's label "Motivation Records," and was performed by Tom Glazer
and Dottie Evans.
Other albums in the "Ballads for the Age of Science" series were: "Energy and Motion Songs," performed by Tom Glazer and Dottie Evans; "Weather Songs," performed by Tom Glazer and The Weathervanes; "Experiment Songs," performed by Dorothy Collins
; "Nature Songs," and "More Nature Songs," both performed by Marais and Miranda.
The song "Zoom a Little Zoom" has notably been used in the popular online vlog Rocketboom
as its theme song.
On September 27, 2005 episode of Rocketboom
featured the songs "Why Do Stars Twinkle?" and "Beep,Beep".http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2005/09/rb_05_sep_27.html
The band They Might Be Giants
has recorded cover versions of two Space Songs, "Why Does The Sun Shine?
", and "What Is A Shooting Star? (A Shooting Star Is Not A Star)", as well as a reply to the former called "Why Does the Sun Really Shine?" which corrects scientific errors in the original.
In 2008 Chloé Leloup, Miss LaLaVox und Achim Treu reworked the album under the title "The Space Songs - Ballads for the Age of Science". The album was released on the label Sopot Records.http://www.sopot-records.com
The lyrics of the first stanza of "Why Does the Sun Shine?" also appear verbatim in the book Stars: A Golden Guide, apart from the omission of "its core is" before "a gigantic nuclear furnace".
Hy Zaret
Hy Zaret was an American Tin Pan Alley lyricist and composer best known as the co-author of the 1955 hit "Unchained Melody", one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century.-Biography:...
(lyrics) and Lou Singer (music). "Space Songs" was released in 1959 by Hy Zaret's label "Motivation Records," and was performed by Tom Glazer
Tom Glazer
Thomas Zachariah "Tom" Glazer was an American folk singer and songwriter known primarily as a composer of ballads, including: "Because All Men Are Brothers", recorded by The Weavers and Peter, Paul and Mary, "Talking Inflation Blues", recorded by Bob Dylan, and "A Dollar Ain't A Dollar Anymore"...
and Dottie Evans.
Other albums in the "Ballads for the Age of Science" series were: "Energy and Motion Songs," performed by Tom Glazer and Dottie Evans; "Weather Songs," performed by Tom Glazer and The Weathervanes; "Experiment Songs," performed by Dorothy Collins
Dorothy Collins
Dorothy Collins was a Canadian/American singer, actress, and recording artist. She was born Marjorie Chandler in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and adopted her stage name in her mid-teens.-Radio and TV:...
; "Nature Songs," and "More Nature Songs," both performed by Marais and Miranda.
Track listing
- "Zoom A Little Zoom"
- "What Is The Milky Way?"
- "Constellation Jig"
- "Beep, Beep"
- "Why Does The Sun Shine?"
- "What Is A Shooting Star?"
- "Longitude And Latitude"
- "It's A Scientific Fact"
- "Ballad Of Sir Isaac Newton"
- "Friction"
- "Why Are Stars Of Different Colors?"
- "Why Do Stars Twinkle?"
- "What Is Gravity?"
- "Planet Minuet"
- "Why Go Up There?"
Space Songs in Popular Media
Isaac Asimov wrote an essay called "Catskills in the Sky" which appeared in the August 1960 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He tells an anecdote about his children receiving this album as a present. He like the music so much, especially the song "Why Go Up There," that he appropriated the album for his own record collection. (And in the essay, gives reasons as why mankind should "go up there."The song "Zoom a Little Zoom" has notably been used in the popular online vlog Rocketboom
Rocketboom
Rocketboom is a daily vlog produced by Andrew Baron that was most recently hosted by Meme Molly until August 25, 2011. Joanne Colan hosted from July 12, 2006 until April 17, 2009. In the intervening time between Colan and Molly, Caitlin Hill hosted a few episodes in April 2009...
as its theme song.
On September 27, 2005 episode of Rocketboom
Rocketboom
Rocketboom is a daily vlog produced by Andrew Baron that was most recently hosted by Meme Molly until August 25, 2011. Joanne Colan hosted from July 12, 2006 until April 17, 2009. In the intervening time between Colan and Molly, Caitlin Hill hosted a few episodes in April 2009...
featured the songs "Why Do Stars Twinkle?" and "Beep,Beep".http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2005/09/rb_05_sep_27.html
The band They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
has recorded cover versions of two Space Songs, "Why Does The Sun Shine?
Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)
7" vinylPersonnelMusic* John Linnell – accordion, saxophone, bass clarinet, vocals* John Flansburgh – electric guitar, vocals* Brian Doherty – drums, glockenspiel* Kurt Hoffman – clarinet, saxophone* Frank London – trumpet...
", and "What Is A Shooting Star? (A Shooting Star Is Not A Star)", as well as a reply to the former called "Why Does the Sun Really Shine?" which corrects scientific errors in the original.
In 2008 Chloé Leloup, Miss LaLaVox und Achim Treu reworked the album under the title "The Space Songs - Ballads for the Age of Science". The album was released on the label Sopot Records.http://www.sopot-records.com
The lyrics of the first stanza of "Why Does the Sun Shine?" also appear verbatim in the book Stars: A Golden Guide, apart from the omission of "its core is" before "a gigantic nuclear furnace".
External links
- Information about the Singing Science series
- They Might Be Giants
- Men From Earth authors of new songs about space.
- Rocketboom
- Sopot Records