Periodic Table Songs
I'm currently trying to assemble a collection of songs, whose names are all elements of the periodic table (one song per element). At the moment, I have "Hydrogen" by Thea Gilmore, "Helium" by Skyclad (there's another one by Front Line Assembly but it's rubbish), "Lithium" by Evanescence and "Oxygen" by New Found Glory. And then "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down, which is probably the closest I'll get to Krypton.
Does anyone know any others?
29 comments by 2 or more people
[Skip to the latest comment]Sue
I asked my partner and he came up with “Oxygene” by Jean Michel Jarre. He has a lovely way with him and I love listening to him talk to the builders – he somehow manages to get the balance just right – he’s assertive and reasonable at the same time and it’s nice to see how responsive they are to this approach, they are particularly nice builders though but he’s like that with everyone. I’ll try and think of some more songs but until then I’ll leave you with these words which I think are perfect as far as lyrics go:-
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
It’s not warm while she’s away
Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone
And she’s always gone to long
Anytime she goes away.
30 Mar 2009, 22:55
Sue
“Love Over Gold” Dire Straits
“Fields of Gold” Sting
“Hi,Ho Silver Lining” Jeff Beck
“Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron” ??
30 Mar 2009, 23:25
Raymond
“Band of Gold” Freda Payne
31 Mar 2009, 07:20
Neon Lights by Kraftwerk; Iron Man by Black Sabbath.
If you’re after every element in one song, then there’s always Tom Lehrer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYW50F42ss8
31 Mar 2009, 17:00
Sue
Does it have to be the title of a song or can it just be contained in a song somewhere? And could it be the name of a band/singer rather than the name of a song like Freddie Mercury or Jason and the Argonauts?
31 Mar 2009, 23:12
Thanks everyone for the nice feedback!
@James: Yeah I thought about Tom Lehrer, but that would be too easy… I’ll make it part of the collection, though.
@Sue: Ideally, the name of the song should be just that one word, the element, but all other contributions are also welcome! The song names people have written so far have been very suitable, although slightly abundant in Gold. So yes, if you can think of a song whose lyrics contain a word like Nitrogen or Platinum or whatever, that’s just as great!
And why not have the element in the band’s name, as you said? I’d never have thought of Jason and the Argonauts myself. Before anyone else, I’ll name IRON Maiden and NICKELback.
01 Apr 2009, 09:22
James Taylor
Carbon – Tori Amos
Neon – John Mayer
Oxygen – Bryan Adams (or Spice Girls, or Cerys Matthews, or Avalon)
01 Apr 2009, 11:16
Davis McLelland
Band wise, you could have Carbon/Silicon, Palladium, Mercury Rev, Neon Neon, DJ Zinc or “Led” Zep. And, er, assuming that it represents Magnesium and Meitnerium – MGMT.
Radiumhead? This is getting a bit silly now…
01 Apr 2009, 11:37
Gold by spandau ballet does it in one
01 Apr 2009, 20:03
Sue
I wanted to have “No Air” by Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown because I love the song but my partner said I can’t because it’s a mixture.
02 Apr 2009, 11:50
Sue
I couldn’t have “Brass in Pocket” by the Pretenders for the same reason.
02 Apr 2009, 20:00
And no, “Aqua” is not valid either. I love the way you’ve been discussing this with your partner, Sue.
And thanks everyone, for posting enough comments to make this one appear in “People are discussing”! If I keep getting comments at this frequency, I’ll soon post a structured list of how far we’ve got.
Incidentally, why not have a look at what else I’ve written on my blog? :p
02 Apr 2009, 21:22
Desi Forums
“every breath you take” by sting and the police
03 Apr 2009, 19:36
In which the element evidently is “you”, as in “Youranium”. No offence, Desi, but that was pathetic.
03 Apr 2009, 20:49
Sue
When I first read your post I wasn’t very up on the periodic table so I tried to find one on the internet without success. the strange thing is that when I bought a book as a present last week I later found it was in there. It was called “Quantum, Einstein, Bohr and the Great Debate About Reality” so I was quite surprised to find it inside. I still haven’t managed to come up with any more song titles, though. I’ll keep thinking.
06 Apr 2009, 23:26
Martyn
Lithium by Nirvana.
Gold by Prince (or The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, or The Artist Formerly known as The Artist formerly known as Prince, but now known as Prince again – whatever he was called in 1995. I really wish someone would put that squiggly thing into character map)
Would diamonds count as they are an allotrope of carbon?
08 Apr 2009, 20:31
Sue
Yes, you can have allotropes.
09 Apr 2009, 07:31
First of all: Thanks for the contributions. You guys are EPIC!
I’m amused by the way people have asked me if such and such is ‘allowed’. I never thought I’d get so many replies in the first place, so I haven’t set up any rules or anything. If you think it’s reasonable, then it’s probably fine. I’d never have thought of allotropes myself, but heck, go for it! :) I feel like cheating, but I’ll add “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” by Simon & Garfunkel, while I’m here.
As mentioned earlier, having the element somewhere in the lyrics is also cool. And to ease things a little (or make it harder maybe), we could add non-obvious composites (i.e. NOT water or air). I’ll kick that one off with “TNT” by ACDC.
09 Apr 2009, 18:23
Martyn
Polyethylene, a b-side by Radiohead (found on the How Am I Driving EP)
10 Apr 2009, 19:38
Sue
“Sometimes” by The Hollies:-
“If I could make a wish I think I’d pass
Can’t think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound
Nothing to eat no books to read
Making love with you has left me peaceful, warm inside
What more could I ask
Apart from a Warwickblog
There’s nothing left to be desired.”
I still want one just as much as ever, never giving up, I’ve come too far. By the way, I know it’s a mixture.
18 Apr 2009, 09:03
Sue
Put another nickel in, in the nickelodian
All I want is loving you and Music, music, music.
18 Apr 2009, 22:46
Sue
When you’re alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go downtown
When you’ve got worries all the noise and the hurry
seems to help, I know, downtown.
Just listen to the rythm of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
Happy again
So maybe I’ll see you there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown where all the lights are bright
Downtown, everything’s waiting for you.
by Petula Clark
18 Apr 2009, 22:58
Sue
When you’re alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go downtown
When you’ve got worries all the noise and the hurry
seems to help, I know, downtown.
Just listen to the rythm of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty
Happy again
So maybe I’ll see you there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
And go downtown where all the lights are bright
Downtown, everything’s waiting for you.
by Petula Clark
18 Apr 2009, 22:58
Andrew Parfitt
Goldfinger.
19 Apr 2009, 22:48
Sue
Mary, Mary quite contrary
How does your garden grow
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
20 Apr 2009, 06:30
Andrew Parfitt
Silence is golden
But mt eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see.
Talking is cheap
People follow like sheep
Even though there is nowhere to go.
26 Apr 2009, 07:50
Sue
“Never Let Her Slip Away”
by Andrew Gold
27 Apr 2009, 22:40
“Platinum Blonde Life”
by No Doubt
05 May 2009, 14:51
Jason
Nickelback – the band
“iodine” – Leonard Cohen
Drake Tungsten – the artist
“Beryllium Murmer” – Lost Robots
07 May 2009, 18:06
Add a comment
You are not allowed to comment on this entry as it has restricted commenting permissions.