satellite rock

Satellite Rock: When Space Became a Jam Session

Satellite Rock, a curious and often overlooked branch of the musical tree, emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, riding the wave of Sputnik mania and the burgeoning Space Race. It wasn’t a singular genre, but a loose collection of rock ‘n’ roll tunes infused with themes of space travel, alien encounters, and the vastness of the cosmos.

Imagine a world where Elvis Presley serenaded a rocket launching into the unknown, Buddy Holly sang about finding Martian melodies, and Chuck Berry wrote about speeding through galaxies in a souped-up spaceship. That was the spirit of Satellite Rock.

Funny Facts:

• The “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats: While not technically a space-themed song, its name fueled speculation about the song’s connection to the nascent Space Race. The “Rocket 88” was actually a modified car, but the rocket connection stuck, making it a semi-official anthem of the genre.
• “Space Age Love Song” by The Five Satins: This song, released in 1959, wasn’t about romance, but about a mysterious radio signal from outer space. It was a surprisingly sophisticated song for its time, with its catchy melody and thought-provoking lyrics about potential alien communication.
• The “Astro-Cat” of the genre: The Astronauts: This surf-rock band, known for their hit “The Sound of the Sea,” was originally called “The Astronauts.” They later changed their name to avoid confusion with other bands, but their original moniker perfectly captured the spirit of the era.

The Legacy of Satellite Rock:

While Satellite Rock faded from the mainstream as the Space Race heated up, its influence can still be felt in modern music. Bands like The Flaming Lips, The Mars Volta, and even the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody” carry echoes of the genre’s playful fascination with space exploration and cosmic mysteries.

Satellite Rock may not be the most well-known genre, but it reminds us that music is not limited to earthly concerns. It can take us on voyages to distant planets, let us dance with aliens, and inspire dreams of the future. And that, in its own quirky way, is pretty groovy.