10 Cool Classic Rock Songs About Science

Feature Photo Licensed From Shutterstock.com/Everett Collection

Our 10 cool classic songs about science present a list of tracks that showcase stories influenced by science. The topic of science covers a lot of ground, just like in high school—remember Earth science, astronomy, biology, chemistry, and all the rest? So, there are many different topics we can pick from here. We were very careful not to just stick to space songs because there are so many of them that they flood the gates. Especially in the ’60s and ’70s when everyone was writing science fiction, and everyone thought that by the time 2020 came around, we’d be living on Pluto. Hey, we don’t even have Pluto as a planet anymore—they got rid of it.

We’ve put together a list of different topical songs that have to do with science, are classics, are fun, and are enjoyable to listen to once again.

# 10 – Chemistry – Rush

We open up our list of rock songs about science with a cool one from the band Rush. The band’s song “Chemistry” was released on their ninth studio album, Signals. This album was released on September 9, 1982. We could probably fill up this entire list with Rush songs since they have many tracks that deal with scientific topics. “Chemistry” is a big one, for sure.

I’m sure you all remember chemistry class in high school, or maybe even the chemistry unit in middle school. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to hand kids in middle school in the 1970s test tubes to mix chemicals in. We all know what that led to for so many people. But that’s a topic for another time and place.

# 9 – Astronomy Domine – Pink Floyd

I wonder how many people understood what Syd Barrett was singing about when he wrote the lyrics “Jupiter and Saturn, Oberon, Miranda and Titania, Neptune, Titan, stars can frighten.” I’ve tried to figure it out a few times, but what I think I’ve come to realize is that there was really no concrete meaning; it was just a scattering of cool-sounding words in a sci-fi sense. Fans of psychedelic music could close their eyes and drift away, thoroughly enjoying the exchange of unusual lyrics bathed in instrumental sound that was pretty much unlike anything else on the radio at the time. In many ways, it was a reflection of everything that was going on.

This was the opening tune on Pink Floyd’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The album itself is a landmark of psychedelic rock, with Barrett’s imaginative and whimsical lyrics setting the tone for the band’s early sound. The blend of spacey themes and innovative music captured the essence of the late ’60s counterculture.

# 8 – The Sounds of Science – Beastie Boys

I’m sure there will be commentators who are quick to say, “Hey, the Beastie Boys aren’t classic rock,” and all that usual nonsense. If you don’t get the connections between Rock and the Beastie Boys, you’re just not listening. This one is hilarious, just like most of their tracks. It’s also pretty brilliant. The ranting and raving are definitely about science, and that’s what this is about. The track was originally released on the Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique album.

# 7 – Oingo Boingo – Weird Science

It’s fun to revisit these early ’80s songs and their accompanying videos. This video is a mix of Danny Elfman’s Oingo Boingo and film clips from the movie it was written for, Weird Science, which featured the stunningly beautiful Kelly LeBrock. It was a fun movie, and Bill Paxton’s character, Chet, as the older brother, was one of the best characters the late Bill Paxton ever played.

# 6 – Cyborg – Brian May

Well, you don’t get more topical in a list about science than a song about a cyborg. Brian May’s “Cyborg” features some really cool guitar playing. The song was released on his solo album Another World. Even the album title just bleeds science, or at least science fiction. I love the way he screams “Cyborg.” It’s just so creepy. Brian May’s Another World album was released in 1998. One interesting note is that the late Taylor Hawkins played drums on “Cyborg.” There are a lot of great guests on this album, including some appearances by Jeff Beck and Ian Hunter.

# 5 – Starship Trooper – Yes

At the halfway point on our 10 Classic Rock Songs About Science list is the classic Yes composition “Starship Trooper.” Lead vocalist Jon Anderson got the idea for this magnificent piece of music from the 1959 novel by Robert A. Heinlein. The piece was released on the The Yes Album. The record was released in 1971. “Starship Trooper” by Yes was arranged in three separate movements. It remains one of the band’s most loved recordings.

# 4 – My Clone Sleeps Alone – Pat Benatar

I always thought this was such a cool title. This sort of creepy but compelling song by Pat Benatar was released on her debut album entitled In the Heat of the Night. The album was released in 1979. The song’s opening introduction and first verse sound a little like Kate Bush. That all changes when Neil Giraldo comes banging into the room and that signature Pat Benatar sound takes over. The song was written by Pat Benatar and her bass player at the time, Roger Capps.

# 3 – “I’ve Seen the Saucers” – Elton John

Yeah, I know what you’re all thinking: “What about ‘Rocket Man’? How could he leave that one off the list?” Well, we did because we’ve heard it a million times before. Yes, it is a great song about science fiction and loneliness, and Bernie’s lyrics are fantastic, but this one is just a lot of fun too, and it needs a little bit of love. So we’re going to give it some love and include it here.

I always thought that Caribou was one of Elton John’s most underrated albums. It’s funny to read articles or comments from people who criticize this record, saying it’s no good, when they clearly have never listened to it. They see only two hit songs and think, “Oh, okay, it mustn’t be that good.” I have no idea what they’re talking about; this is a great rock and roll record, and “I’ve Seen the Saucers” is a good song. So there you go.

# 2 – Life On Mars – David Bowie

Yes, we know, “Ground Control to Major Tom.” We already know what you’re thinking, but we’re in a pretty rowdy, rebellious mood right now. And you know what? I’ve always liked the song “Life on Mars?” better. I actually never really paid as much attention to it as I should have until it became the theme song to the television show Life on Mars in 2006 It was a really good show, but it got canceled before the end of the first season and wound up having the worst ending I’ve ever seen in my life. Yet, ever since that show, I’ve come to really dig this song. The song was originally released on Hunky Dory in 1971,

# 1 – She Blinded Me With Science – Thomas Dolby

Now tell me this wasn’t the first song you thought of when you saw the topic of rock songs about science. “She Blinded Me with Science” is definitely a classic. It was released by the phenomenal keyboardist Thomas Dolby back in 1982. Dolby was a man ahead of his time. Of course, there were always those who didn’t like what he was doing with all his keyboards, but that’s always the story whenever someone comes along and tries to change things.

The song became a massive cultural hit because MTV put it into heavy rotation in the early ’80s. It also featured Magnus Pike, a British scientist. The song was originally released in the UK but broke big in the US, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It hit number one in Canada. However, it didn’t do as well in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 49.