For the next few weeks (or until I grow bored of it), I've planned a musical trip into outer space. And where better to start than home?
Naturally, there are more songs about Earth than any other planet in our Solar System... so here's twenty of my favourites...
20. Placebo - Allergic (To Thoughts of Mother Earth)
If Placebo were starting out now, I probably wouldn't buy their records. Right place, right time.
19. Meat Loaf - Peace On Earth
Meat doesn't want peace on Earth. He just wants to go home.
18. Imogen Heap - Earth
Put that down and clean this mess up
End of conversation
Put your back in it and
Make it up to me now
Whatever you say, love.
17. Curiosity Killed The Cat - Down To Earth
I enjoy this now more than I did at the time, but Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot's hat is still very silly.
16. Prefab Sprout - Earth: The Story So Far
I was so looking forward to this long-unreleased Prefab Sprout album (Lets Change The World With Music) that when it finally arrived, disappointment was perhaps inevitable. Although Paddy's voice is still angelic, the instrumentation mostly sounds like it was recorded in his bedroom on a Bontempi. He just about gets away with it.
15. Green Day - Last Night On Earth
I quite like the fact that Green Day have written a musical. It's the ultimate one finger salute to all those former fans who've been screaming "sell-out" to them for years. This was never a band you should take seriously.
14. Duran Duran - Planet Earth
Yes, I know. I know. But you'd have been disappointed if I hadn't included it somewhere.
13. The Sundays - On Earth
The Sundays are a band that always make me feel younger. They remind me of a certain time. Ironically, a time when I wasn't actually listening to any of their records. But I should have been.
12. The Divine Comedy - Life On Earth
Too good for youtube, apparently. Shame.
11. Gay Dad - To Earth With Love
For about 5 minutes one Wednesday in January, 1999, Gay Dad were the next big thing. And then, like that, they were gone.
10. George Harrison - Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
Forever the coolest Beatle.
9. Carole King - I Feel The Earth Move
See also Martika, obviously.
8. Graham Coxon - People of the Earth
People of the earth, your world is crap
You ain't even on the universe map
People of the earth, you do not rock
You are nothing but a fluffy flock
People of the earth, you have failed
You still worship The Sun and The Daily Mail
7. Neil Young - Falling Off The Face Of The Earth
For a cranky old bugger, Neil don't half make some beautiful records.
6. PJ Harvey - The Colour Of The Earth
A cool a capella rendition (followed by the full album version) of one of the stand out tracks from Polly Jean's second Mercury Prize winner.
5. Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
It was about time someone judged Belinda's biggest hit worthy of a reassessment in cool. Thanks to Lana Del Rey then for paying homage on Video Games.
4. Sparks - Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
Never turn your back on Ron & Russell Mael. Or on the excellent Niko Case cover.
3. Strangelove - The Greatest Show On Earth
Many of the Britpop era bands that slipped through the cracks were a damned sight more interesting than the ones that bothered the Top Ten. Patrick Duff's Strangelove deserved stardom far more than Oasis.
2. The Dandy Warhols - Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth
Another band I sometimes think I've left behind... but they're better than history remembers them.
I never thought you'd be a junkie because heroin is so passé...
1. The Penguins / The Crew Cuts / Death Cab For Cutie et al... and, of course, Marvin Berry & The Starlighters - Earth Angel
C'mon man, let's do something that really cooks...
So. Those were my favourite Earth songs. Now tell me yours.
Points deducted for anyone who mentions the one I left out on purpose...
