23 Best Songs About Space & The Universe

The mysteries of space have baffled humanity for millennia, so it’s not surprising there’s an abundance of songs about space that explore the topic in depth.

It’s been the subject of many classic songs and inspiration for musicians who like to experiment with electronic music to create unique sounds.

This article explores the musical side of the universe, bringing you an eclectic mix of songs that reflect space in all its facets.

The 23 Best Songs About Space & The Universe

We’ve covered various genres and performers to ensure this guide delivers the best space-themed songs available.

Whether you like pop classics or experimental jazz masterpieces, there’s something to satisfy all tastes.

Let’s get started with our playlist of the 23 best songs about space and the universe:

23. “The Final Countdown” – Europe

With their iconic keyboard riff and powerful glam rock vocals, Europe lifted off with their song “The Final Countdown.”

The lead singer calls out, “We’re heading for Venus,” and sets the tone for their epic song about space.

It’s a 1980s classic that continues to be rediscovered by each new generation and an iconic anthem to boot.

22. “Andromeda” – Paul Weller

Paul Weller gets in on the space-themed music action with his song “Andromeda,” which takes its name from the largest known galaxy in the universe.

Weller uses the concept as a metaphor for departing from a dying planet, adding to the atmosphere with electronic music influences.

The song was originally released in 2008 and was featured on his album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

21. “Space Truckin” – Deep Purple

“Space Truckin” by Deep Purple includes many references to space in its lyrics, each of which comes across as a pun.

The playful lyrics read, “Well, we had a great deal of luck on Venus, and on Mars we never lacked for a good time.”

Deep Purple’s extensive range of tone and subject has seen them write one of the best songs about silence, 1968’s “Hush.”

20. “Spaceman” – Babylon Zoo

Babylon Zoo’s “Spaceman” quickly entered the world of one-hit wonders but is still a popular song today with lots of commercial appeal.

The soaring vocals express a desire to get away from everything, using space as an analogy for a place far away from your troubles.

Used as the music for a Levi advertising campaign, it’s a catchy pop song with a hook that gets inside your head.

19. “Mr. Spaceman” – The Byrds

The Byrds released “Mr. Spaceman” in 1966 as part of their fifth studio album Fifth Dimension, and it was aptly described as space rock on its release.

The song discusses encounters with alien life, with the narrator seeking passage to another world to escape earth.

It’s a pure and unadulterated science fiction-themed song that the band originally intended as a “melodramatic screenplay.”

18. “Space Travel Is Boring” – Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse released their song “Space Travel is Boring” as part of their album The Moon and Antarctica.

A song about boredom, it features amusingly fast lyrics set to impressive indie rock guitar playing.

The album from which it came was named by NME as one of the best albums ever made in their 2021 review of The Golden Casket.

17. “Spaceman” – The Killers

 The Killers are responsible for one of the best songs about freedom, so it’s no surprise they’ve also written a great song about space,

Their track “Spaceman” tells the story of a man’s abduction from his bed by aliens and the experiences he has as a consequence.

Frontman Brandon Flowers discussed the song in an interview, explaining how he was influenced by “Rocket Man” and “Space Oddity.”

16. “Space” – Murder By Death

Murder By Death cut straight to the chase with the song “Space,” released on the band’s 2018 album The Other Shore.

It’s an epic exploration of the vastness and emptiness of space that seeks to push the boundaries of what music can accomplish.

The song’s writer Adam Turla wrote the song after toying for many years with writing a space opera with a fully-fleshed narrative.

15. “Super Rocket Rumble” – Man Or Astro-Man?

Man or Astro-Man? released the song “Super Rocket Bumble” on their 1996 album Delux Men In Space.

It’s an ambitious piece that drops lyrics in favor of an imaginative soundscape, complete with radio broadcasts over the music.

The surf rock group has influenced many acts since, particularly for their impressive and imaginative use of synthesizers.

14. “A Spaceman Came Travelling” – Chris De Burgh

After reading the book Chariots of the Gods, singer Chris De Burgh was inspired by the notion of a star actually being a spaceship.

He sings in “A Spaceman Came Traveling,” “I come from a planet a long way from here, and I bring a message for mankind to hear.”

De Burgh’s biggest hit won the Most Performed Song from the ASCAP Pop Music Awards in 1988.

13. “Space Travel Is Boring” – Sun Kil Moon

Modest Mouse may have written “Space Travel Is Boring,” but Sun Kil Moon’s cover version is equally noteworthy.

The same themes are explored, but the approach to instrumentation and vocalization is entirely Moon’s creation.

Taken from the album Tiny Cities, it’s frequently cited as a great example of a cover surpassing the original.

12. “The Space Program” – A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest opened their long-awaited album, We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, with the track “The Space Program.”

Complete with a space-bound music video, the song was dedicated to the band member Phife Dawg, who passed away after it was recorded.

Pharrell Williams, Erykah Badu, and Anderson Paak all make cameo appearances in the music video.

11. “Outer Space” – John Grant

John Grant is no stranger to writing popular music and is responsible for one of the best Christmas songs of all time.

His song “Outer Space” is a captivating rock ballad with interesting beat arrangements describing a man’s feelings towards a woman.

Grant is also well known as the co-founder, singer-songwriter, and pianist for the alternative rock band the Czars.

10. “Satellite Flight” – Kid Cudi

Alternative hip-hop and synth rock music influenced Kid Cudi’s “Satellite Flight,” released in 2014 on the album of the same name.

It’s a song about enjoying the ride of life, produced with a combination of atmospheric sound effects and smooth beats.

The album from which it came peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 charts, selling over 100,000 copies in the United States.

9. “Looking For Astronauts” – The National

Indie rock band The National got in on the space race with their song “Looking for Astronauts.”

Here, astronauts are a stand-in for perfection, with the job demanding physical excellence and a high level of intelligence.

It was taken from the album Alligator, which was widely praised and appeared on multiple best album of the year lists in 2005.

8. “Space Girl” – The Imagined Village

The Imagined Village explored the vastness of space in their beautiful song, “Space Girl,” released on their album Empire and Love in 2010.

It’s a catchy space song about a girl who dreams about expanding her horizons and traveling away from the world.

The song was released set to a wonderfully-animated music video depicting a universe of weird aliens.

7. “The Galaxy Song” – Eric Idle/Monty Python

The Monty Python team is no strangers to penning music with amusing lyrics, and “The Galaxy Song” is a wonderful addition to their discography.

Eric Idle sings, “Pray that there’s intelligent life, somewhere out in space, ‘cos there’s bugger all down here on Earth!”

The song debuted in their 1983 movie The Meaning of Life and has been performed many times at Monty Python live shows since.

6. “Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Often considered among the best 60s rock bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival sang about the vast reaches of space in their song “Bad Moon Rising.”

In this song, the moon acts as a portent of an apocalyptic scenario and the end times mentioned in the Bible.

John Fogerty wrote the song after drawing influence from a scene in The Devil and Daniel Webster, which accounts for its disturbing tone.

5. “There’s A Star For Everyone” – Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin brings her exceptional vocal range to the fore with “There’s a Star For Everyone.”

Franklin’s song explores her romantic feelings for another in terms of her adoration of a distant star, permanently out of reach.

Released on her 1981 album Love All the Hurt Away, it was her 27th album in an illustrious career that spanned decades.

4. “Space Is The Place” – Sun Ra

Taking its name from the movie on which it was used during the opening titles, Sun Ra’s “Space is the Place” has a creepy vibe from the outset.

The tune blends jazz and electronic music to create exciting new sounds and was critically acclaimed at the time of its release.

Resembling the aural version of a black hole sun, it’s a deep and powerful composition at the forefront of jazz.

3. “Fly Me To The Moon” – Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra is well-known for writing some of the best karaoke songs of all time, and “Fly Me to the Moon” is equally singable.

Sinatra’s song is about a love so overwhelming it cannot be contained by the earth and needs to reach out to the planets.

“Fly Me to the Moon” has additional historical significance for being released in 1964, around the same time as the Apollo moon missions.

2. “Rocket Man” – Elton John

For Elton John, the vast emptiness of space acted as a perfect representation of loneliness for his hit song, “Rocket Man.”

Sometimes interpreted as an analogy for substance abuse, it’s also a poignant lovestruck ballad about unrequited love.

John took the title from a short story written in 1951 by the legendary science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, taken from his collection of short stories called The Illustrated Man.

1. “Space Oddity” – David Bowie

Responsible for some of the best songs of all time, David Bowie needs little introduction, and his song “Space Oddity” is considered among his masterpieces.

The song, which plays on the title of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, follows the adventures of an astronaut launched into space.

Like “Fly Me To The Moon,” it was also released around the time of the moon landings and has since established a strong cult following.

Summary

That’s a wrap on this guide to the greatest space-themed songs of all time, exploring the concept through a broad selection of musical genres.

The appeal of space continues to endure, whether in the literal sense of exploring the cosmos or as a fitting metaphor for human emotions.

As humanity moves into a new era of space exploration in the years to come, we can anticipate plenty more great songs on the subject.

What are your favorite songs about space, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.