On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped down from Apollo 11’s lunar module and onto the surface of the moon, delivering the immortal words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Fifty-six years later, Earth’s playlist is still echoing through the cosmos.
To celebrate that historic lunar leap, here are 18 fun, far-out songs about planets that will launch your ears into orbit. Some are scientifically accurate. Some… not so much. All of them are ready for liftoff.
Beastie Boys – “Intergalactic”
A sci-fi rap anthem with robot voices, funky beats, and enough space vibes to power a warp drive.
Björk – “Pluto”
Explosive, experimental, and otherworldly. It’s like a volcano erupting on a dwarf planet.
Bruno Mars – “Locked Out of Heaven”
Sure, it’s not about Mars, but the guy put the planet in his name. That counts. Besides, this song is pure cosmic electricity.
David Bowie – “Life on Mars?”
A surreal space opera disguised as a glam-rock anthem. No official update on Martian life, but if it exists, they’re probably humming this.
Duran Duran – “Planet Earth”
New wave meets planetary shoutout. It’s fashionable, futuristic, and fun. Earth deserves a dance track too.
Elton John – “Rocket Man”
Inspired by astronauts, sealed in song by a piano legend. This is the spiritual soundtrack to floating above the Earth in zero-G.
Frank Sinatra – “Fly Me to the Moon”
No moon playlist is complete without Ol’ Blue Eyes. In 1969, the Apollo 11 crew actually played this in space. That’s a flex.
Jamiroquai – “Cosmic Girl”
A disco-funk jam that blasts off like a candy-colored comet. You can practically hear the stars sparkle.
John Williams – “The Asteroid Field” (from The Empire Strikes Back)
Planets beware—this isn’t a song, it’s a full cinematic space chase. Buckle in. Things get bumpy around Jupiter.
Muse – “Supermassive Black Hole”
A gravitationally heavy rock anthem that sucks you in with sinister riffs and interstellar swagger.
Nick Drake – “Pink Moon”
Delicate and haunting, this acoustic gem feels like a whisper from the lunar surface at 3 a.m.
Phoebe Bridgers – “Moon Song”
Heartbreaking and heavenly. Like looking out the window of your spaceship with a guitar and a soft cry.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Parallel Universe”
Funky, frantic, and full of cosmic chaos. It’s like drifting through space on a skateboard with Flea on bass.
Sun Ra – “Saturn”
Avant-garde jazz from a man who claimed to be from Saturn. Experimental, groovy, and as spaced-out as you’d expect.
The B-52’s – “Planet Claire”
Quirky, twangy, and totally space-age. Imagine a neon UFO party with retro ray guns and sax solos.
The Police – “Walking on the Moon”
Appropriately bouncy and totally timeless. Armstrong did it first. Sting did it with a bassline.
They Might Be Giants – “Why Does the Sun Shine?”
It’s not technically about planets, but it’s catchy, educational, and has the energy of a classroom with no gravity.
Train – “Drops of Jupiter”
Love, loss, and space metaphors collide in this early-2000s singalong. That title alone launched a thousand science fair posters.