Songs for the Apocalypse
December 19, 2012 4:12 AM Subscribe
Rock Cellar Magazine has come up with a list of eleven songs to listen to in case the world comes to an end on December 21 2010.
11. R.E.M. – It’s the End of the World as we Know it (And I feel fine)
10. Wilco – Country Disappeared
9. The Grateful Dead – Dark Star
8. Vera Lynn – We’ll Meet Again
7. Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction
6. Bob Dylan – Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)
5. Elvis Costello – Waiting for the End of the World
4. Cracker – Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me
3. David Bowie – Five Years
2. The Doors – The End
1. Neil Young – Cortez the Killer
So what will you be listening to on December 21 just in case it's the last time you get to listen to music?
11. R.E.M. – It’s the End of the World as we Know it (And I feel fine)
10. Wilco – Country Disappeared
9. The Grateful Dead – Dark Star
8. Vera Lynn – We’ll Meet Again
7. Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction
6. Bob Dylan – Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)
5. Elvis Costello – Waiting for the End of the World
4. Cracker – Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out With Me
3. David Bowie – Five Years
2. The Doors – The End
1. Neil Young – Cortez the Killer
So what will you be listening to on December 21 just in case it's the last time you get to listen to music?
Dammit, jontyjago beat me to it.
YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IT!
posted by kuanes at 4:16 AM on December 19, 2012
YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IT!
posted by kuanes at 4:16 AM on December 19, 2012
Elevin songs?!? Those dwarf songs in the Hobbit movie were bad enough!
posted by fairmettle at 4:21 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by fairmettle at 4:21 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why do the birds go on singing?
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:35 AM on December 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
Why do the stars glow above?
Don't they know it's the end of the world?
It ended when I lost your love
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:35 AM on December 19, 2012 [4 favorites]
What? No "*******" by Jets to Brazil? These are no apocalypse fetishists.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:38 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:38 AM on December 19, 2012
Mod note: Fixed "elevin"; sorry Legolas.
posted by taz (staff) at 4:40 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by taz (staff) at 4:40 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
No, actually, it's only the year 1715. We have a few centuries before the real 2012 arrives.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:51 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:51 AM on December 19, 2012
I'll be playing The Epoxies - I Need More Time not only because of the title but because it's a really good song.
posted by Sailormom at 4:52 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by Sailormom at 4:52 AM on December 19, 2012
Sentenced - May Today Become the Day
But that's pretty much every day for me, nothing special about the 21st two years ago.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:55 AM on December 19, 2012
But that's pretty much every day for me, nothing special about the 21st two years ago.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:55 AM on December 19, 2012
Our Friends say it's darkest before the sun rises.posted by schmod at 5:09 AM on December 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
We're pretty sure they're all wrong.
Come, armageddon! come!
The Terminals - Last Days of the Sun (2007)
posted by elmono at 5:12 AM on December 19, 2012
The Terminals - Last Days of the Sun (2007)
posted by elmono at 5:12 AM on December 19, 2012
Just listen to Until The End of the World soundtrack on loop, it's good enough.
posted by edgeways at 5:24 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by edgeways at 5:24 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Did you know the Mayans had over 100 words for "credulous dipshit"?
when the shit hits the fan by fear
posted by Divine_Wino at 5:31 AM on December 19, 2012
when the shit hits the fan by fear
posted by Divine_Wino at 5:31 AM on December 19, 2012
Second that Gregory Isaacs song. From my DEFCON playlist I also recommend:
Blood and Fire
None Shall Escape The Judgement
Armagideon Time
Oh, and of course We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.
posted by word_virus at 5:36 AM on December 19, 2012
Blood and Fire
None Shall Escape The Judgement
Armagideon Time
Oh, and of course We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.
posted by word_virus at 5:36 AM on December 19, 2012
So Long and Thanks for All Fish.
Song starts about 1:20 in.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:36 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Song starts about 1:20 in.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:36 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
The combination of incredible earnestness and some absolutely goofy lyrics actually makes "Eve of Destruction" work for me. I guess that's what you should expect from a protest song written by the guy who wrote "Secret Agent Man," but it's still pretty great.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:37 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:37 AM on December 19, 2012
Oh, and of course We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.
Which appears as entry #8 in the linked article.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:38 AM on December 19, 2012
Which appears as entry #8 in the linked article.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:38 AM on December 19, 2012
Dammit Flapjax, the world is ending. I don't have time to read articles on the Internet. I still gotta make it through all these cat pictures by Friday!
posted by word_virus at 5:48 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by word_virus at 5:48 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
I have very fond memories of a similar playlist played by the radio station WNCW on Dec 31, 1999 as midnight approached.
Which brings up an interesting point, at what time is the world supposed to end? Can we all count down 3-2-1 happy new Mayan long count era?
posted by bitslayer at 5:57 AM on December 19, 2012
Which brings up an interesting point, at what time is the world supposed to end? Can we all count down 3-2-1 happy new Mayan long count era?
posted by bitslayer at 5:57 AM on December 19, 2012
Maybe not the end of the world, but (simulated) nuclear holocaust.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 6:07 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 6:07 AM on December 19, 2012
Terence McKenna/Spacetime Continuum - Alien Dreamtime
After all, this was the first I heard of the End of the Long Count, ca. 1994 in someone's dorm room...
posted by muckster at 6:12 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
After all, this was the first I heard of the End of the Long Count, ca. 1994 in someone's dorm room...
posted by muckster at 6:12 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
So what will you be listening to on December 21 just in case it's the last time you get to listen to music?
The car's on fire
and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand
lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows.
posted by gauche at 6:20 AM on December 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
The car's on fire
and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand
lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows.
posted by gauche at 6:20 AM on December 19, 2012 [3 favorites]
I'm spending the evening of 21 December at the Boston production of Christmas Revels. Beautifully-sung holiday carols with a bunch of people I love more than some members of my family seems like a good way to go out.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:30 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:30 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
My apocalypse plans mostly include sitting in a bar, drinking bourbon and complaining that they took out the jukebox, but that's what I do 3 out of 4 Fridays anyway.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:42 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:42 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Some other ways to spend the day: Top Destinations (or States of Mind) for December 21, 2012, including the Day Zero Festival, and the Global Unification Moment.
I'll be seeing Ernst Lubitsch's 1919 Madame Dubarry, starring Pola Negri.
posted by muckster at 6:45 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'll be seeing Ernst Lubitsch's 1919 Madame Dubarry, starring Pola Negri.
posted by muckster at 6:45 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
My apocalypse plans mostly include sitting in a bar, drinking bourbon and complaining that they took out the jukebox, but that's what I do 3 out of 4 Fridays anyway.
And one day you'll be right.
Prepper!
posted by mazola at 6:45 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
And one day you'll be right.
Prepper!
posted by mazola at 6:45 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ten points to Flapjax for Ms. Mosquito Davis' "The End of The World"
Butwutabout:
If -- Bread
In the year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) -- Zagar & Evans
The Earth Died Screaming -- Tom Waits
99 Luftballons -- Nena
Wooden Ships -- Crosby, Stills & Nash
Wooden Ships -- Jefferson Airplane
It's Been Done Dept.
15 songs for the end of the world -- The Huntsville Times
20 songs for the end of the world -- Dayton Daily News
40 Songs for the end of the world -- Songfacts
226 songs for the end of the world -- Wikipedia
Some of these may make you wish it was the end of the world, but I still feel fine.
posted by Herodios at 6:45 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Butwutabout:
If -- Bread
In the year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) -- Zagar & Evans
The Earth Died Screaming -- Tom Waits
99 Luftballons -- Nena
Wooden Ships -- Crosby, Stills & Nash
Wooden Ships -- Jefferson Airplane
It's Been Done Dept.
15 songs for the end of the world -- The Huntsville Times
20 songs for the end of the world -- Dayton Daily News
40 Songs for the end of the world -- Songfacts
226 songs for the end of the world -- Wikipedia
Some of these may make you wish it was the end of the world, but I still feel fine.
posted by Herodios at 6:45 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Bishop Allen's Eve of Destruction, for a more upbeat endtimes.
King Crimson's Epitaph if it's gloomy.
posted by Peccable at 7:27 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
King Crimson's Epitaph if it's gloomy.
posted by Peccable at 7:27 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Just listen to Until The End of the World soundtrack on loop, it's good enough.
Man, there was a period in the 90s when I had that on album on repeat a *lot* - some great music. Still haven't seen the movie. :)
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:53 AM on December 19, 2012
Man, there was a period in the 90s when I had that on album on repeat a *lot* - some great music. Still haven't seen the movie. :)
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:53 AM on December 19, 2012
David Bowie seems like a universally good choice for End of the World music. Five Years certainly seems appropriate, although I think I'd opt for Space Oddity. Life on Mars would work too.
Something about Laurie Anderson's O Superman also always felt a little bit apocalyptic to me, provided that the world was going out with a fizzle rather than a bang.
Fringe also cemented Yaz's Only You as an appropriate choice here.
posted by schmod at 8:01 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Something about Laurie Anderson's O Superman also always felt a little bit apocalyptic to me, provided that the world was going out with a fizzle rather than a bang.
Fringe also cemented Yaz's Only You as an appropriate choice here.
posted by schmod at 8:01 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
My favourite doomsday song (topical only this year) is Library Voices' Party Like It's 2012.
Do the oblivion shuffle.
posted by Paper rabies at 8:22 AM on December 19, 2012
Do the oblivion shuffle.
posted by Paper rabies at 8:22 AM on December 19, 2012
Play 1999 by Prince over and over again and laugh at the irony
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:09 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:09 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
They also forgot to include every single song that Killing Joke has recorded.
posted by mcmile at 9:13 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by mcmile at 9:13 AM on December 19, 2012
Oh, I know! This is the Mayan apocalypse, so, Popol Vuh!
posted by muckster at 10:07 AM on December 19, 2012
posted by muckster at 10:07 AM on December 19, 2012
Playing Killing Joke is actually one of the best ways to actually bring the End Of All Things into being.
Also, Black Breath's Feast of the Damned is one of the final nails in the coffin of this world, due to the Awesomeness of Metal.
It's a musical fact.
posted by Zack_Replica at 10:48 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also, Black Breath's Feast of the Damned is one of the final nails in the coffin of this world, due to the Awesomeness of Metal.
It's a musical fact.
posted by Zack_Replica at 10:48 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
item - It's true, Dogs Blood Rising and the remix Dogs Blood Ascending are/is some of the most singularly evil tracks I've ever heard. ("93 Current 93 in 1984 We then Arose as Dogs over Carrion")
posted by Zack_Replica at 9:22 PM on December 19, 2012
posted by Zack_Replica at 9:22 PM on December 19, 2012
How about The Beatles' "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"? The hard stop (tape cut!) ending seems the perfect analog for the end of the world. No big drama, just... lights out.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:44 AM on December 20, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:44 AM on December 20, 2012
Actually, I'd change gears and listen to Beethoven's Leonore Overture No.3 conducted by Bernstein. That's about as much drama as I would need. But one has to listen all the way through.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:14 AM on December 20, 2012
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:14 AM on December 20, 2012
Well, it's the 21st here in Japan, and the world would appear to be, um, still turning. So fuck all this doom and gloom...
I Will Survive
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:02 PM on December 20, 2012
I Will Survive
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:02 PM on December 20, 2012
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posted by jontyjago at 4:14 AM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]