Welcome to the third io9 music smackdown! We’re putting together the ultimate science fiction (and fantasy) playlist – all the music that every self-respecting fan should have on his or her iPod.
Today, we’re focusing on the pop songs that appeared in our favorite science fiction and fantasy shows and movies. What’s your favorite pop-music moment? Which would you rather have in your ultimate science fiction playlist: Star Trek: First Contact’s “Magic Carpet Ride,” or “Sabotage” from the most recent Trek?
Here are the rules for this particular playlist: It’s gotta be a song with lyrics. We mixed in some original written-for-movie pop tracks with classics. It also has to be from a television show or a film. We tried to include the best of the best, but some will always fall through the cracks — so if we forgot one (and you really think it’s worthy of the coveted spot on the ultimate playlist) please put it in the comments. The poll is at the bottom of the post.
Remember: you can vote for up to four items.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZJczZ6gbVU
Star Trek: First Contact “Magic Carpet Ride” – Steppenwolf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjNw75bJyuM
Futurama “If It Takes Forever” – Connie Francis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptRxrH1rVK8
Doctor Who “I Can’t Decide” – Scissor Sisters
True Blood “Bad Things” – Jace Everett
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GivvRMksdVk
Back To The Future “Power of Love” – Huey Lewis And The News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlzptZ9wieQ
Terminator 2 (And Terminator Salvation) “You Could Be Mine” – Guns N’ Roses
The Stand “Don’t Fear the Reaper” – Blue Oyster Cult
Hellboy 2 “Can’t Smile Without You” – Barry Manilow
Batman Forever “Kiss From A Rose” – Seal
The NeverEnding Story “Never Ending Story” – LIMAHL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_5ZQW0BCFU
Lost “Make Your Own Kind of Music” – Mama Cass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jnlu6irju8
Once Bitten “Hands Off” – Maria Vidal
Donnie Darko “Mad World” – Tears for Fears, covered by Gary Jules
Fright Night “Good Man In A Bad Time” – Ian Hunter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka_sHy9cVH0
Battlestar Galactica “All Along The Watchtower” -Bear McCreary (covering Bob Dylan)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles “The Man Comes Around” – Johnny Cash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIQ2aWfZ1nQ
Mars Attacks “Indian Love Call” – Slim Whitman
Armageddon “Leaving On A Jet Plane” – John Denver (Sung By Ben Affleck and Company)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuDdiaoqtpk
Blade ”Confusion” – New Order
Pee Wee’s Big Adventure “Tequila” – The Champs
Ghostbusters “Ghostbusters” – Ray Parker, Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OqiahpWSZU
Vanilla Sky “Everything in Its Right Place” – Radiohead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9n1T6BX4s0
A Clockwork Orange “Singing In The Rain” – Sung by Malcolm McDowell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19-RS02R0H4
Scott Pilgrim “Black Sheep” – Metric
Beetlejuice “Day -O” – Harry Belafonte
Shaun of the Dead “Don’t Stop Me Now” – Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcCHdMTrp6A
X-Files: Fight the Future “Crystal Ship” – X
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FOE1JRZ7_k
Repo Man “Repo Man Theme”- Iggy Pop
Silent Running “Rejoice in the Sun” – Joan Baez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G0BOjIb2k4
Misfits “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon” – Neil Diamond (NSFW Video)
Life On Mars “Life On Mars” – David Bowie
Being Human “History Repeating” – Propellerheads & Shirley Bassey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dRf6e-JW4
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome “We Don’t Need Another Hero” – Tina Turner
The Hunger “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” – Bauhaus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx2y5YBveHg
Time Bandits “Dream Away” – George Harrison
Teen Wolf “Win in the End” – Mark Safan
Labyrinth “Magic Dance” – David Bowie
Maximum Overdrive “Who Made Who” – AC/DC
Short Circuit “Who’s Johnny” – El DeBarge
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXMtV2h9Dw
Mannequin “Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now” – Starship
The Lost Boys “People Are Strange” – Echo And The Bunnymen (The Doors Cover)
Queen – “Princes of the Universe” Highlander
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y4_gsn7RzI
Jericho “All These Things That I’ve Done” – The Killers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtnPluFFt2A
Angel “Mandy” – Barry Manilow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER6HYd-clxA
Let the Right One In – “Flash in the Night” – Secret Service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0c54ALBvk8
Star Trek “Sabotage” – Beastie Boys
Fight Club “Where Is My Mind” – The Pixies
Back To The Future “Johnny B. Goode” – Chuck Berry
Roswell “Here With Me” – Dido
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHE4Qm_gxhs
The Mask “Cuban Pete” – Sung by Jim Carrey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qesXcZrWShw
From Dusk Till Dawn “After Dark” – Tito and Tarantula
Return of the Living Dead “Surfin’ Dead” – The Cramps
Flash Gordon “Flash’s Theme” – Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRbuxshYvtg
Cat People “Putting Out The Fire” – David Bowie
Rocky Horror Picture Show “Science Fiction-Double Feature”
Buffy The Vampire Slayer – “Walk Through The Fire” – Buffy Cast
Supernatural “Carry On My Wayward Son” – Kansas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACpamPcfEH4
Predator “Long Tall Sally” – Little Richard
Special thanks to Katie Hasty, John Schweitzer, Cyriaque Lamar, Charlie Jane Anders, Alasdair Wilkins, Fischer and Matt McDaniel.
