PLANET PLAYLIST
5 fave songs about Mars
Since we’re celebrating Mars, here’s the obligatory song list.
1
“Life on Mars?” (1971): Of course, we had to include this David Bowie classic from “Hunky Dory” — which is obviously the first tune that most people think of when the topic of Mars songs is brought up. (FYI: Just how often that topic gets brought up does say a lot about the company you keep.) Pitchfork magazine once ranked this number — which features a great Rick Wakeman piano part — as the best song of the ’70s.
2 “Teenagers From Mars” (1979):
There was a time when the Misfits did more than just sell T-shirts at Hot Topic. They actually were once a pretty cool band, which recorded a really powerful (and powerfully disturbing) tune about some teenage invaders to our planet. “We take your weak resistance, throw it in your face,” vocalist Glenn Danzig sings. “We need no introduction for mass annihilation.” standouts 3 of his own — most notably, “Mars Needs Women” (2010): Rob Zombie is a horror film junkie who has directed several “House of 1000 Corpses,” The Devil’s Rejects” and an awesome “Halloween” remake. So, it’s not a big surprise to see him borrow the title to the classic ’60s sci-fi flick “Mars Needs Women” and use it as a song on his “Hellbilly Deluxe 2” album. And it’s not the only one he borrows, actually. The reissue version of this album also includes a song named after “The Angry Red Planet,” the 1959 sci-fi film that features one of the greatest monsters ever — the Martian Rat-Bat-Spider.
4 “Mars” (1999):
This spacey, futuristic R&B number is one of the key cuts off Kelis’ debut studio album, “Kaleidoscope,” which was produced by hitmakers the Neptunes. The song’s storyline gets a bit confusing at times (at least to us), but we know there’s a love story at its core. “Do you hear what I’m talking ’bout?” Kelis sings. “Do you hear we can conquer the world? Got this whole world running from this love between a boy and a girl.”
5 “Big Black Furry Creature from Mars” (introduced in concert 1987):
It’s Phish at its most silly (which is really saying something) as well as its most metal (which really isn’t saying all that much). It’s BBFCFM, as “Phans” like to write in their ongoing tour set lists. And it’s yet another delightful reason to adore this Vermont quartet, which really should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Bonus
Listen to the Grateful Dead’s “From the Mars Hotel” then chase with some Mars Volta. Rinse, repeat. Then go straight into Thirty Seconds to Mars, before dabbling with some Bruno Mars. Finish up with some Motley Crue (with guitarist Mick Mars), Phoenix (with lead singer Thomas Mars) and, of course, the Replacements (with drummer Chris Mars).