Music Where are all the STEM songs hiding?

[WWGD]

But to clarify the question: do you mean the theme itself is STEM- based or that the lyrics themselves address technical points? Or something else?

 

[StatGuy2000]

Since we are on the topic of STEM songs, Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked on the popular YouTube show First We Feast by host Sean Evans on rap lyrics with references or comments on science.

(Note: Skip ahead on the video to 11:56.)

 

[StatGuy2000]

But to clarify the question: do you mean the theme itself is STEM- based or that the lyrics themselves address technical points? Or something else?

I can't speak to the OP, but I would say both (STEM-based themes in songs, lyrics addressing technical points).

 

[Asymptotic]

Mose bandies biological words about, but even if they aren't technically accurate (science has advanced since the early 1960s ;) his observations remain valid.


Coaxing Tesla coils to musicality has to count for something.


Not the group I was looking for (a quartet, if distant memory serves), but this fellow fits the bill, and has a dozen or so other tunes to choose from.

 

[BillTre]

Nice. The last guy does a lot of cleaver (auto-capella (with himself)) science songs.

 

[pinball1970]

And...

This is clever but I would have preferred them in order or at least by group or something. This version has alkali metals with halogens, inert gases with heavy metals. A bit of a Mish mash

 

[pinball1970]

Mose bandies biological words about, but even if they aren't technically accurate (science has advanced since the early 1960s ;) his observations remain valid.

Love the piano on this!

 

[pinball1970]

Nice. The last guy does a lot of cleaver (auto-capella (with himself)) science songs.

He does all the parts? A good range!

 

[pinball1970]

I have found another one about space travel

This is a time when players could play and singers could sing live.



Time travel and relativity (I think)

 

[BillTre]

He does all the parts? A good range!

Here's his YouTube channel.

 

[DennisN]

From the first time I listened a song with lyrics, almost all popular songs are about relationships between people (especially romantic relationships).
[...]
Why are “logical” songs so rare, and all of them are emotional? That makes no sense

It makes very much sense to me. We humans are (arguably fundamentally) an emotional and social species.

EDIT: And if I allow myself to have some fun and strech it, I could argue that all songs are part of STEM. Emotions, and thus social relations, are governed by biology (and chemistry etc.), and biology is a natural science and thus STEM.

 

[WWGD]

But art is esthetic, designed to elicit a sensory/emotional reaction, first experienced at an emotional level, through the senses. I don't see how a STEM song can elicit an esthetic , emotional, pre-rational reaction.

 

[pinball1970]

But art is esthetic, designed to elicit a sensory/emotional reaction, first experienced at an emotional level, through the senses. I don't see how a STEM song can elicit an esthetic , emotional, pre-rational reaction.

The thought of contact with another intelligent species or just finding strong evidence of life in the universe other than Earth makes me excited, fearful, emotional.
Bowie too.

 

[pinball1970]

The carpenters.

 

[pinball1970]

But to clarify the question: do you mean the theme itself is STEM- based or that the lyrics themselves address technical points? Or something else?

This is an important point no one is seriously going to try and address quantum notation or tensors in a song BUT the overall subjects and implications of things like time travel, the vastness of space ETs/contact, pollution and ecological issues and vivisection are all covered. Here is one on the importance of protecting intelligent species other than our own.

 

[Brian DAmato]

 

[WWGD]

This is an important point no one is seriously going to try and address quantum notation or tensors in a song

Who knows, it may just be the future of education!

 

[Brian DAmato]

 

[BillTre]

But art is esthetic, designed to elicit a sensory/emotional reaction, first experienced at an emotional level, through the senses. I don't see how a STEM song can elicit an esthetic , emotional, pre-rational reaction.

I think that you need a good story and presentation to make up for the fundamentally drier subject matter normally associated with STEM. This need not always be the case.
Good story telling and engaging presentation can drag along a bunch of STEM information in a variety of entertaining ways.

 

[Keith_McClary]

This is clever but I would have preferred them in order or at least by group or something. This version has alkali metals with halogens, inert gases with heavy metals. A bit of a Mish mash

You're just jealous 'cause Vanadium isn't first.

 

[WWGD]

Since we are on the topic of STEM songs, Neil deGrasse Tyson was asked on the popular YouTube show First We Feast by host Sean Evans on rap lyrics with references or comments on science.

(Note: Skip ahead on the video to 11:56.)

De Grasse is always greener with Neil ;).

 

[pinball1970]

You're just jealous 'cause Vanadium isn't first.

Why Vanadium?
I think we have demonstrated songs about science are not that rare.
Hawkwind sang about Galileo and Einstein, interstellar travel cloning, sonic attack...
This one is about pseudoscience.

 

[pinball1970]

There is a connection between this song and Orgone accumulator.

 

[pinball1970]

This is certainly a Scientific question. Probably the question now is WAS there life on Mars.
Anyway a good excuse to put more Bowie up.

 

[OCR]

Probably the question now is WAS there life on Mars.

Just off and on . . . .

.

 

[WWGD]

This is certainly a Scientific question. Probably the question now is WAS there life on Mars.
Anyway a good excuse to put more Bowie up.

Dont mean to nitpick but is it about technical questions on determining if there was/is life on the moon or about emotional implications of the existence of life on the moon? Sorry, I am on my phone having trouble opening the video.

 

[pinball1970]

Dont mean to nitpick but is it about technical questions on determining if there was/is life on the moon or about emotional implications of the existence of life on the moon? Sorry, I am on my phone having trouble opening the video.

Bowies lyrics can be cryptic at the best of times.
He give some explanation here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Mars_(song)

 

[WWGD]

This is a perfect example of what I was referring to in terms of songs being visceral:

Whether you like the song or not, it hits you in the gut before you even consider analyzing it.

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

There are plenty of STEM tunes, here are a few I like:



I'll write a tune on F theory and LQG...

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

I am more into instrumental music; and I study with instrumental music the best.

 

[WWGD]

I am more into instrumental music; and I study with instrumental music the best.

I like some of the white noise " music". Seems one gets enough input otherwise in today's world.

 

[chemisttree]

Not sure if it is STEM enough but here goes...

“In the constellation of Cygnus
There lurks a mysterious, invisible force
The Black Hole of Cygnus X-1
Six stars of the northern cross
In mourning for their sister's loss
In a final flash of glory
Nevermore to grace the night
Invisible
To telescopic eye
Infinity
The star that would not die
All who dare
To cross her course
Are swallowed by
A fearsome force
Through the void
To be destroyed
Or is there something more?
Atomized, at the core
Or through the astral door
To soar
I set a course just east of Lyra
And northwest of Pegasus
Flew into the light of Deneb
Sailed across the Milky Way
On my ship, the 'Rocinante'
Wheeling through the galaxies,
Headed for the heart of Cygnus
Headlong into mystery
The x-ray is her siren song
My ship cannot resist her long
Nearer to my deadly goal
Until the black hole
Gains control
Spinning, whirling
Still descending
Like a spiral sea
Unending
Sound and fury
Drowns my heart
Every nerve
Is torn apart”

Cygnus X-1, Rush

 

[chemisttree]

In answer to the OP’s question, “why so rare?”, I submit that it’s because you can’t dance to a STEM song.

 

[WWGD]

In answer to the OP’s question, “why so rare?”, I submit that it’s because you can’t dance to a STEM song.

Just, I guess, like one cannot dance to something like the 'Happy Birthday' song. That would be fun to watch :).( Of course, the birthday song is not intended as music.)

 

[AndyY]

In answer to the OP’s question, “why so rare?”, I submit that it’s because you can’t dance to a STEM song.

I feel like all the They Might Be Giants STEM songs beg to differ

 

[pinball1970]

In answer to the OP’s question, “why so rare?”, I submit that it’s because you can’t dance to a STEM song.

You have never been to a Hawkwind gig?

 

[gleem]

A Tribute to space travel by Joe Steven inspired by the SpaceX Mars project.

 

[BWV]

A catchy tribute to The Manhattan Project

 

[MidgetDwarf]

Mathematics and particularly, the usage of Mathematician, has been used in countless Hip Hop songs.

 

[256bits]

This has got to be stem.

 

[gleem]

While not a STEM song or about STEM subjects the title does invoke a scientific theme. "The Neutron Dance" by the Pointer Sisters, written by Allee Willis and Danny Sembello. I was supposedly written to be used in the film "Streets of Fire" humored to be about the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust which it turned out not to be. Instead it was featured in the movie "Beverly Hills Cop"

 

[Mary Conrads Sanburn]

Girl on Fire Angelica Hale Gets the Guest GOLDEN BUZZER!

 

[waternohitter]

“The Prawn Song” — Superorganism

 

[WWGD]

A false positive:


Somehow found it as a hit but not quite, it seems from hearing it.

 

[Infrared]

String theory put to the melody of Bohemian Rhapsody:


A cute math love song:


There are plenty of pop songs that don't revolve around STEM topics but still allude. For example, the title of Muse's "Butterflies and Hurricanes" (a great song!) is a reference to the butterfly effect, but the song itself has no technical content.

 

[Mary Conrads Sanburn]

Elton John Host The i Heart Living Room Concert for America presented by Fox# StayHome # With Me

 

[Mary Conrads Sanburn]

 

[sadhappymusic]

Feynman would have probably written a cool STEM song if he had cared to try.

 

[DrGreg]

Not really a STEM song, but a science title. And the psychiatrist is played by a real scientist, Magnus Pyke, who was well-known in the UK as the presenter of a science TV show. Despite that, the song failed to chart in the UK, but was a big hit in the US and Canada.

 

[DrGreg]

Not really a STEM song, but a maths title.