Pop music and science fiction have had a healthy relationship over the years, in many ways other than just the costumes. Lady Gaga, David Bowie, and even Beyonce have incorporated popular themes of science fiction (as well as popularized space-suit and steam-punk glamor) into many of their songs and music videos. Author Rick Moody (his latest novel is The Four Fingers of Death, Little, Brown) joined WNYC and WQXR host David Garland on the below wnyc.org’s Soundcheck yesterday podcast to discuss the relationship between sci-fi and pop music (called Of Cyborgs and Starmen– killer title). I loved that they spend a lot of time talking about Janelle Monae, who’s latest album, Archandroid, is a 70-minute concept album where the main character becomes an android. Apparently she’s going to shoot a music video for each song and create a graphic novel called The Red Book , too. I certainly can’t wait to read it!
Check out the podcast here:
Josh Ritter is also a guest on the show, and if you haven’t checked him out yet, you should! His new album, So Runs The World Away (visit his website to download the free single “Change of Time”) was the inspiration for a book that Random House is publishing in July 2011. It’s called Bright’s Passage and is sooo good…
Music videos are already kind of out there, but I picked 4 (why not 4?) of my favorites that are sci-fi inspired for your enjoyment:
1. “Tightrope” by Janelle Monae
2. “Sweet Dreams” by Beyonce
3. “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga
4. “Larger than Life” by The Backstreet Boys
