Where are all the STEM songs hiding?

Xforce · Oct 9, 2019

From the first time I listened a song with lyrics, almost all popular songs are about relationships between people (especially romantic relationships).
Modern songs other than this topic does exist, but very rare. Especially for STEM songs, I doubt they even exist on the radio or TV, and sometimes I have to change lyrics of popular songs to make it more “scientific”, and of course, listening to them myself.
Why are “logical” songs so rare, and all of them are emotional? That makes no sense

phinds · Oct 9, 2019

Xforce said:

From the first time I listened a song with lyrics, almost all popular songs are about relationships between people (especially romantic relationships).
Modern songs other than this topic does exist, but very rare. Especially for STEM songs, I doubt they even exist on the radio or TV, and sometimes I have to change lyrics of popular songs to make it more “scientific”, and of course, listening to them myself.
Why are “logical” songs so rare, and all of them are emotional? That makes no sense

Songs are not MEANT to be "logical", they are meant to be emotional.

Vanadium 50 · Oct 9, 2019

phinds said:

Songs are not MEANT to be "logical",

Counterexample:

Xforce · Oct 9, 2019

well, counter examples does exist, but so rare that I never heard one before

DavidSnider · Oct 9, 2019

Do not all charms fly
At the mere touch of cold philosophy?
There was an awful rainbow once in heaven:
We know her woof, her texture; she is given
In the dull catalogue of common things.
Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings,
Conquer all mysteries by rule and line,
Empty the haunted air, and gnomèd mine—
Unweave a rainbow, as it erewhile made
The tender-person'd Lamia melt into a shade.

256bits · Oct 10, 2019

This one is pretty logical.

Needs an update from one of today's artists.

Vanadium 50 · Oct 10, 2019

And...

Vanadium 50 · Oct 10, 2019

And also...

phinds · Oct 10, 2019

Well, if we're going down that path, let's not leave out

PeroK · Oct 10, 2019

Not to forget:

PeroK · Oct 10, 2019

Xforce said:

From the first time I listened a song with lyrics, almost all popular songs are about relationships between people (especially romantic relationships).
Modern songs other than this topic does exist, but very rare. Especially for STEM songs, I doubt they even exist on the radio or TV, and sometimes I have to change lyrics of popular songs to make it more “scientific”, and of course, listening to them myself.
Why are “logical” songs so rare, and all of them are emotional? That makes no sense

You should try listening to some prog rock!

George Jones · Oct 10, 2019

I guess "The Anus of Uranus" never made it big.

fresh_42 · Oct 10, 2019

A perfect example of how mathematicians think:

"Give an example for a linear transformation!"
"0."
"A non trivial one."
"1."

BillTre · Oct 10, 2019

Most STEM subject songs would probably be considered novelty songs (not main stream because not so emotionally appealing). Usually they are somewhat comical.

Probably my favorite what I would call hard STEM subject song is Monte Python "The Galaxy Song" by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. This is a show tune! Idle has updated the lyrics occasionally as new information comes out.

There are also a lot of softer subject STEM songs. Several are about the environment. Environment songs can more easily evoke emotions.

Neil Young has done several:

Natural Beauty:
After the Gold Rush:
Eagles, The Last Resort:
https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x9lvzs?width=500&hideInfos=1John Prine, Paradise:

gmax137 · Oct 10, 2019

DavidSnider said:

... gnomèd mine ...

Thanks, I love that.

Next time somebody posts "why can't I just take 4 physics and 3 math classes every semester" I'm going to send them to your post.

symbolipoint · Oct 10, 2019

How closely does a pharmaceutical recommendation count as STEM song?
Harry Nilsson wrote Put the Lime in the Coconut.

An article stated that he worked as a computer programmer for a bank.

symbolipoint · Oct 10, 2019

In case astronomic fascinations are included, Good Morning, Starshine

Volume of this is low:

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

symbolipoint said:

In case astronomic fascinations are included, Good Morning, Starshine

Volume of this is low:

For Astronomy, I love this song. From the same film?

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

This one on vivisection, the words are very clever and sad although I have always been pro vivisection.

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

Space travel

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

Toxicity and antenatal care during the third trimester

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

Advanced weapon systems and how to protect yourself

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

Another one from Hawkwind on QCD although I think they drift off topic

symbolipoint · Oct 13, 2019

My only complaint about Aquarius is that it strikes as too much Astrology.

pinball1970 · Oct 13, 2019

symbolipoint said:

My only complaint about Aquarius is that it strikes as too much Astrology.

It's talking about constellations and it was the 60s and that sort of nonsense was being treated seriously.
However Penzias and Wilson had published a few years before and music and art was more in tune with Science then. Edit, Projections were abound however.

OCR · Oct 13, 2019

pinball1970 said:

Toxicity and antenatal care during the third trimester

Then what happens. . . I suppose you get a . . . ?

.

pinball1970 · Oct 14, 2019

It's a shame the OP cannot enjoy these.
I take it a line through the name means left or banned?

Dr. Courtney · Oct 14, 2019

STEM songs are rare because they don't move one's romantic interest toward the place you would like them to go.

Why is STEM poetry so rare?

It fails to speak to the heart. It fails to move the will.

pinball1970 · Oct 14, 2019

Dr. Courtney said:

STEM songs are rare because they don't move one's romantic interest toward the place you would like them to go.

Why is STEM poetry so rare?

It fails to speak to the heart. It fails to move the will.

I think the night sky is pretty awe inspiring and heart warming.
Christopher Hitchens described it as the 'numinous'
The subject matter is the same it's just that a poet will talk about the night sky as light and shade, colour and glittering twinkling stars.
STEM guys will talk about arc seconds luminosity and spectral data.
The language is a tad cold and objective.

BWV · Oct 14, 2019

There is this

pinball1970 · Oct 14, 2019

Dr. Courtney said:

STEM songs are rare because they don't move one's romantic interest toward the place you would like them to go.

Why is STEM poetry so rare?

It fails to speak to the heart. It fails to move the will.

Just to add there is loads of comedic STEM poetry, clever and witty rather than melancholy, serene, beautiful and other adjectives i don't use that much at work.

pinball1970 · Oct 14, 2019

BWV said:

There is this

What a sad song!
Never heard this before, yeah the STEM is well spotted!

symbolipoint · Oct 14, 2019

Remember Rocket 88, expresses or emphasises the great desirable quality of a car - something for transportation technology. Engineering - the T and the E part in STEM.

pinball1970 · Oct 14, 2019

symbolipoint said:

Remember Rocket 88, expresses or emphasises the great desirable quality of a car - something for transportation technology. Engineering - the T and the E part in STEM.

I have up voted for effort although I would say tenuous still. There are more obvious examples and Hawkwind have provided 3 tracks from just one album. Even the album cover is a STEM lab.

This is a study in interstellar cryogenic travel and human cloning

gmax137 · Oct 14, 2019

BWV said:

There is this
-- Commander Cody Link --

An especially good pick, considering band member John Tichy a.k.a. Professor, Mechanical Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at RPI

https://faculty.rpi.edu/node/36055

"John Tichy is also listed in the Who's Who in Rock & Roll (1996) and the Rolling Stone Encyclopaedia of Rock & Roll (1998) for his work as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the 1960s and 70s with Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen. "

Where are all the STEM songs hiding?

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