This Saturday (July 20) marks the 50th anniversary
of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the first time any human has set foot on another
celestial body. The feat was a momentous, started a new age of space
exploration that would continue on for decades.
The moon is a popular trope in popular culture, one that
music in particular has adopted for years. Many have written about the moon’s
intoxicating beauty, its wondrous heights and its supernatural mythology.
To celebrate the moon landing, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s
music outlet, is taking a look at songs that use the moon as inspiration. Here
are six tracks that encapsulate the celestial body’s mystical qualities.
1.
Frank
Sinatra, “Fly Me To The Moon”: Written by Bart Howard in 1954 and famously recorded
by Frank Sinatra and Count Basie for release in 1964, “Fly Me To The Moon”
relates the joy of being in love to the heights of visiting the moon and stars.
Just a kiss or a held hand from the protagonist’s love interest was enough to
make him so happy that it sent him to the stratosphere nearly 15 years before
the moon landing even happened. (video)
2.
The
Police, “Walking On The Moon”: Just like the pull of gravity is lessened in
space causing a feeling of weightlessness, The Police’s “Walking On The Moon”
likens being in love to that same weightless feeling. Anyone who’s seen footage
of the moon landing is familiar with the large steps and bouncing stride
associated with actually walking on the moon, lending to the accuracy of that “feet
hardly touch the ground” kind of floating imagery being referenced in the song.
(video)
3.
Van
Morrison, “Moondance”: Another popular trope when it comes to moon songs is
the beauty created by the moonlight. “Moondance” is of this cloth, with Van
Morrison singing about dancing and “making love” with his partner under the
light of the moon on a beautiful October night. (video)
4.
LeAnn
Rimes, “Can’t Fight The Moonlight”: “Can’t Fight The Moonlight” talks about
the “magical feeling” of romance the night brings with it. No matter how hard you try, there is no escaping
the beauty of the moonlight. (video)
5.
Ozzy Osbourne, “Bark At
The Moon”: A very different selection than the previous ones, “Bark At The Moon”
is more of a horror tale than a love song. The Ozzy Osbourne classic is about a
horrific wolf-man that terrorizes a town, warning villagers of his presence by
howling at the moon. (video)
6.
King Harvest, “Dancing In The Moonlight”: An
upbeat, breezy classic, “Dancing In The Moonlight” sings of the happiness dancing
under the moonlight brings. While many associate the nighttime hours with the
occult (as in the previous pick), the song describes how natural and relaxing
that time can be, remarking that “you can’t dance and stay uptight.” (video)
Whether praising its mystical qualities, referring to love
or its associated mythical creatures, the moon has been the inspiration for
numerous musical artists over many decades. Check out some of the popular moon-themed
songs above and let us know what lunar tracks you’ll be spinning to celebrate
the moon landing.
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Find music from these moon-loving artists and more at Vinyl
Bay 777! As Long Island’s top new independent record shop we have thousands of
titles to choose from in a variety of genres to suit most music fans. Browse
our wide selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs,
memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at
vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time,
you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.
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