Dr. Whooooo, hey! And other songs for a Dr. Who themed birthday party
October 23, 2012 1:41 PM Subscribe
Help me compose the perfect playlist for a five year old's Dr. Who themed birthday party!
So far, I'm starting with Timelords - Doctorin' the TARDIS, have some Kraftwerk, Flaming Lips, TMBG, and David Bowie for the middle, and plan to end things with Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me. I need some more songs about space, time, robots, technobabble, etc. Goofy and lighthearted songs about adventure! and hijinks! would also be great.
The only restriction is that lyrics must be kind of sort of appropriate for small children.
So far, I'm starting with Timelords - Doctorin' the TARDIS, have some Kraftwerk, Flaming Lips, TMBG, and David Bowie for the middle, and plan to end things with Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me. I need some more songs about space, time, robots, technobabble, etc. Goofy and lighthearted songs about adventure! and hijinks! would also be great.
The only restriction is that lyrics must be kind of sort of appropriate for small children.
For what it's worth, Radiohead's Up on the Ladder contains the following refrain:
I'm stuck in the Tardis / Trapped in hyperspace /
posted by Windigo at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2012
I'm stuck in the Tardis / Trapped in hyperspace /
posted by Windigo at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2012
Best answer: NASA actually posted a list of songs about space, and includes a Sesame Street song on there ("I Don't Want To Live On The Moon").
They also mention a B-52s song, but I'd pick two different ones from the one they picked - I'd go with Planet Claire and Is That You, Mo-Dean?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:52 PM on October 23, 2012
They also mention a B-52s song, but I'd pick two different ones from the one they picked - I'd go with Planet Claire and Is That You, Mo-Dean?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:52 PM on October 23, 2012
"Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" by Klaatu
posted by milk white peacock at 1:54 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by milk white peacock at 1:54 PM on October 23, 2012
Ooh, and the lyrics to "Is That You, Mo-Dean" sound kind of like a trip on the TARDIS, even -
Movin' through the spheres, faster than lightposted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:54 PM on October 23, 2012 [1 favorite]
On our way to some planets that were outta sight
We said space driver, give it a spin
And take us to some places we ain't never been
I suppose the adults might enjoy a little Huey Lewis - The Power of Love. That's about a degree removed from being ABOUT time travel, but certainly evokes the images of Marty McFly's be-vested hijinks for many. Kind of meta.
How about the Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
God I'm old.
posted by Sayuri. at 1:57 PM on October 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
How about the Time Warp from The Rocky Horror Picture Show?
God I'm old.
posted by Sayuri. at 1:57 PM on October 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oh, definitely the Time Warp! Little kids would love that, I bet.
posted by Windigo at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by Windigo at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2012
Best answer: both of chameleon circuit's albums are all about dr who
posted by elizardbits at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2012 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Orbital is probably your go to modern Dr. Who Theme band.
I might add "Sidekick" from The Asylum Street Spankers Mommy Says No! album (best kids album ever, btw).
If you like old-school Dr. Who theme music, my friend Karin had a great series of posts on Delia Derbyshire.
I'd stay away from The Clash's Remote Control, but only because 5 is a bit young to have one's mind ripped open.
If I wanted classic Rock, I might add Styx's Come Sail Away, but it's a bit long for the space-payoff.
HTH, or at least doesn't hurt. Good luck!
posted by Mad_Carew at 1:59 PM on October 23, 2012
I might add "Sidekick" from The Asylum Street Spankers Mommy Says No! album (best kids album ever, btw).
If you like old-school Dr. Who theme music, my friend Karin had a great series of posts on Delia Derbyshire.
I'd stay away from The Clash's Remote Control, but only because 5 is a bit young to have one's mind ripped open.
If I wanted classic Rock, I might add Styx's Come Sail Away, but it's a bit long for the space-payoff.
HTH, or at least doesn't hurt. Good luck!
posted by Mad_Carew at 1:59 PM on October 23, 2012
Once on the Muppet Show, they covered "Cuanto le Gusta" which is all about the joy of going somewhere new. It's an Andrew Sisters or Carmen Miranda song.
posted by dywypi at 2:01 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by dywypi at 2:01 PM on October 23, 2012
Zoom a little zoom on a rocket ship...
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:05 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:05 PM on October 23, 2012
If you have time/money, you can get the tv series soundtrack. You really need the tardis sound at least - off youtube clips, if nothing else.
posted by jacalata at 2:07 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by jacalata at 2:07 PM on October 23, 2012
The Police-Walking on the Moon.
Giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon.
I hope my leg don't break, walking on the moon...
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:08 PM on October 23, 2012
Giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon.
I hope my leg don't break, walking on the moon...
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:08 PM on October 23, 2012
Double-nthing anything by Chameleon Circuit -- it's lyrics are clever about Doctor Who and I'm pretty sure all age appropriate.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:16 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:16 PM on October 23, 2012
Best answer: 500 Miles! (SLTADWC&CLSVCWDO*)
*single link totally awesome Doctor Who cast and crew lip-synch video, complete with Dancing Ood)
posted by argonauta at 2:59 PM on October 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
*single link totally awesome Doctor Who cast and crew lip-synch video, complete with Dancing Ood)
posted by argonauta at 2:59 PM on October 23, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oooo, ooo! When I was his age I loved The Trucker and the UFO!
Tangerine Dream has some great instrumental space music -- Mars Polaris and Mars Mission Counter.
Brian Eno, Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks
And Manheim Steamroller, Fresh Aire V (inspired by Johannes Kepler's Somnium) -- that's one of my long-time favorites.
posted by tully_monster at 3:21 PM on October 23, 2012
Tangerine Dream has some great instrumental space music -- Mars Polaris and Mars Mission Counter.
Brian Eno, Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks
And Manheim Steamroller, Fresh Aire V (inspired by Johannes Kepler's Somnium) -- that's one of my long-time favorites.
posted by tully_monster at 3:21 PM on October 23, 2012
Doctor Doctor by The Thompson Twins.
Spaceman by Babylon Zoo is somewhat bland with a ridiculously catchy chorus/vocal sample.
posted by comealongpole at 3:27 PM on October 23, 2012
Spaceman by Babylon Zoo is somewhat bland with a ridiculously catchy chorus/vocal sample.
posted by comealongpole at 3:27 PM on October 23, 2012
Chameleon Circuit?
I haven't listened to many of their songs so I can't promise they're all child-friendly, but the ones I've heard have been.
posted by bettafish at 6:50 PM on October 23, 2012
I haven't listened to many of their songs so I can't promise they're all child-friendly, but the ones I've heard have been.
posted by bettafish at 6:50 PM on October 23, 2012
I'd say if you're going to do Huey Lewis (and you totally should!) then go for the OTHER one from Back to the Future, namely Back in Time. Here's the first few lines:
posted by Ridge at 8:23 PM on October 23, 2012
Tell me, doctor, where are we going this time?Brilliant!
Is this the 50's, or 1999?
All I wanted to do - was play my guitar and sing.
So take me away, I don't mind.
But you'd better promise me, I'll be back in time.
posted by Ridge at 8:23 PM on October 23, 2012
Best answer: You've got David Bowie, but do you have Major Tom's last outing, Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home?)"?
Symphony of Science (autotuned excerpts of the great pop-science heroes: Sagan, Hawking, Dawkins, etc. set to the creator's original music)
Elton John: Rocket Man? ("Cold as hell" is in there, which is a word not everyone's going to be cool with)
Cracker: Low (except maybe not, if you don't want a bunch of kids asking you what a Junkie astronaut is-- this goes ditto for its probable referent, which is Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes.")
Pinataland has two appropriate songs: "Velocity" and "The Settlers," from "Songs for a Forgotten Future," Volumes 1 and 2 respectively. Links go to the band page where you can listen in their entirety and buy the whole album, but Amazon.com has each album in mp3 format so you can buy just the two if you don't the band as awesome as I do. "Velocity" is about a reluctant astronaut nearing re-entry, but wanders a little. More on point, "The Settlers" is about the colonization of Mars, from the first rocket, to the new frontier, to the expansion of humans, then human cities, and ultimately a transformed and terraformed planet. Yes, all in one song-- if you only choose one of these, go with this one. Musical style is potentially unique-- chamber-music instruments performing pop music.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:27 PM on October 23, 2012
Symphony of Science (autotuned excerpts of the great pop-science heroes: Sagan, Hawking, Dawkins, etc. set to the creator's original music)
Elton John: Rocket Man? ("Cold as hell" is in there, which is a word not everyone's going to be cool with)
Cracker: Low (except maybe not, if you don't want a bunch of kids asking you what a Junkie astronaut is-- this goes ditto for its probable referent, which is Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes.")
Pinataland has two appropriate songs: "Velocity" and "The Settlers," from "Songs for a Forgotten Future," Volumes 1 and 2 respectively. Links go to the band page where you can listen in their entirety and buy the whole album, but Amazon.com has each album in mp3 format so you can buy just the two if you don't the band as awesome as I do. "Velocity" is about a reluctant astronaut nearing re-entry, but wanders a little. More on point, "The Settlers" is about the colonization of Mars, from the first rocket, to the new frontier, to the expansion of humans, then human cities, and ultimately a transformed and terraformed planet. Yes, all in one song-- if you only choose one of these, go with this one. Musical style is potentially unique-- chamber-music instruments performing pop music.
posted by Sunburnt at 9:27 PM on October 23, 2012
Seconding anything by Delia Derbyshire. Her stuff is appropriately spacey, synth-y, atmospheric. And generally instrumental, so no concerns about lyrics. Also, there's "BBC Radiophonic Workshop" by the Magnetic fields!
posted by like_a_friend at 10:14 PM on October 23, 2012
posted by like_a_friend at 10:14 PM on October 23, 2012
The Firm - Star Trekkin'
John Cooper Clarke - I Married A Monster From Outer Space
Craig Ferguson - The lost "Dr. Who" cold open.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:30 PM on October 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
John Cooper Clarke - I Married A Monster From Outer Space
Craig Ferguson - The lost "Dr. Who" cold open.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 12:30 PM on October 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Rogue Traders' "Voodoo Child" was actually in an episode of Doctor Who, and relevant to the plot, and is fun and high-energy.
My first MeFi Mix Disc swap CD was sci-fi-themed. Here are the songs from it that are both relevant to Doctor Who and kid-friendly:
Information Society - Are 'Friends' Electric?
Barcelona - Replicant
Seu Jorge - Starman (Portuguese cover of the David Bowie song)
The Killers - Spaceman
Ash - Girl from Mars
The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light-Years from Home
Tuscadero - Doctor Doom
Neil Norman and His Cosmic Orchestra - Theme from Buckaroo Banzai (Neil Norman has entire albums of orchestral sci-fi themes)
Others:
Barcelona - Robot Trouble
Smashing Pumpkins - Spaceboy
The Red Dwarf theme
The B-52s - There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) and/or Planet Claire
Styx - Mr. Roboto
Ha! And David Bowie's "I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship" JUST NOW came up on my music player.
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:55 PM on October 24, 2012
My first MeFi Mix Disc swap CD was sci-fi-themed. Here are the songs from it that are both relevant to Doctor Who and kid-friendly:
Information Society - Are 'Friends' Electric?
Barcelona - Replicant
Seu Jorge - Starman (Portuguese cover of the David Bowie song)
The Killers - Spaceman
Ash - Girl from Mars
The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light-Years from Home
Tuscadero - Doctor Doom
Neil Norman and His Cosmic Orchestra - Theme from Buckaroo Banzai (Neil Norman has entire albums of orchestral sci-fi themes)
Others:
Barcelona - Robot Trouble
Smashing Pumpkins - Spaceboy
The Red Dwarf theme
The B-52s - There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) and/or Planet Claire
Styx - Mr. Roboto
Ha! And David Bowie's "I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship" JUST NOW came up on my music player.
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:55 PM on October 24, 2012
I like cortex's cover of the Doctor Who theme, mashed up with a couple of other songs.
posted by Pronoiac at 5:53 PM on October 24, 2012
posted by Pronoiac at 5:53 PM on October 24, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:42 PM on October 23, 2012