The Weeknd

And no, that title is not a typo. ‘The Weeknd’ is the name of a Canadian singer I just discovered thanks to the Offspring. Part singer, part actor, part philosopher, this young man really knows how to tell a story:

But while the writer in me loves the concept behind ‘Gasoline’ – the reverse of Eudaimon, if you will – ‘Call Out My Name’ is the music that engages my emotions at a visceral level. Damn he can sing!

cheers,
Meeks

Is this the only sci-fi pop song ever written?

I was still in high school when the song ‘In the year 2525‘  became a huge hit. I don’t remember thinking about the lyrics all that much at the time, but perhaps this one hit wonder did influence my love affair with sci-fi…

 

In the year 2525 – Zager and Evans, 1969 – lyrics

In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
In the year 3535

Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today

In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you

In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you

In the year 6565
Ain’t gonna need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube

In the year 7510
If God’s a-coming, He oughta make it by then
Maybe He’ll look around Himself and say
“Guess it’s time for the Judgement Day”

In the year 8510
God is gonna shake His mighty head
He’ll either say, “I’m pleased where man has been”
Or tear it down, and start again

In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing

Now it’s been ten thousand years, man has cried a billion tears
For what, he never knew, now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight
So very far away, maybe it’s only yesterday

Songwriters
EVANS, RICHARD LEE

Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
[Lyrics courtesy http://www.metrolyrics.com/in-the-year-2525-lyrics-zager-and-evans.html]

I had to smile at a couple of the verses. We’ve had test tube babies for a generation already, and if you remember that video clip I posted about the exoskeleton helping a paralyzed woman to walk you’ll know that we are on the cusp of having ‘some machine do that for you’ as well. 😀

The one thing Zager and Evans did get right was this comment about mankind :

He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing

So, am I right? Is this song the only sci-fi pop song ever written? Can anyone think of others?

Oh, and my thanks to David Prosser for finding this golden oldie in the first place!

Have a great weekend,

Meeks