The theme of this week’s episode of Rick Pecoraro Talks to Himself, where I have the honor of being musical director, is … Outer Space.
Here’s the playlist—followed by my song-by-song breakdown.
1. Man or Astroman: Super Rocket Rumble
You gotta have some Man or Astroman on this.
2. Modest Mouse: Space Travel Is Boring
Maybe the most indie rock song title of all time.
3. David Bowie: Starman
You gotta have some Bowie on this.
4. The Kinks: Supersonic Rocket Ship
On the Modest Mouse song, the protagonist is stuck in coach as she flies through space. On this song, “nobody’s gonna travel second class.” I prefer Air Kinks.
5. Radiohead: Subterranean Homesick Alien
The first time I heard this song was in my parents’ van, on the way home from buying OK Computer at Best Buy. I thought he was saying “that beautiful shit” and not “ship,” and man, did I feel awkward (/ totally rebellious).
6. Devo: Space Junk
A cool song from a band I should listen to more.
7. The Police: Walking on the Moon
A cool song from a band I should listen to more, part II.
8. Moby: We Are All Made of Stars
The first single from the follow-up to Play. I still love it; the world decidedly did not.
9. Beastie Boys: Intergalactic
More of a chorus about space than a song about space, but still.
10. OutKast: E.T. (Extraterrestrial)
More of a chorus about space than a song about space, but still. I think people forget just how truly alien (ATLien) Andre 3000 was.
11. Ella Fitzgerald: Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words) - Live in Japan, 1964
A performance as otherworldly as the song. Good lord, what a voice.
12. Ernie: I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon
Suffice it to say I’ve been listening to a lot of Sesame Street lately. Ernie is still my favorite. He’s so ornery, and yet so sweet. This song is sort of heartbreaking. I can totally see Spike Jonze using it for a post-irony rom-com set in space.
Bonus Track: Please Mr. Kennedy from Inside Llewen Davis
“Who wrote this?” “I did.”
Rick Pecoraro Talks to Himself airs Thursdays at 2pm Eastern (1pm Nashville time). You can listen live over the airwaves on 101.5 FM, or stream it at wxnafm.org.