Well, it's no "Faith of the Heart"
September 20, 2022 12:42 PM Subscribe
I would've gone with 'Whitey on the Moon.'
posted by box at 12:49 PM on September 20, 2022 [57 favorites]
posted by box at 12:49 PM on September 20, 2022 [57 favorites]
I was expecting one of those comparisons to be this one.
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.
Indeed.
posted by meinvt at 12:52 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
Burn the land and boil the sea,
You can't take the sky from me.
Indeed.
posted by meinvt at 12:52 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
See also Starship Troopers. Would you like to know more?
posted by Nelson at 12:54 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 12:54 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
Could have been Vangelis, Heaven And Hell "Movement 3 (from Symphony to the Powers B)", but maybe that's too retro and invested in hope for today's day and age.
posted by hippybear at 1:00 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 1:00 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
Semper Supra. Is that Latin for Always a Toyota?
posted by Splunge at 1:10 PM on September 20, 2022 [32 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 1:10 PM on September 20, 2022 [32 favorites]
Needs more fife.
Seriously, though, this is the anthem of my Space Force.
posted by BrashTech at 1:21 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
Seriously, though, this is the anthem of my Space Force.
posted by BrashTech at 1:21 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
From Twitter:
Military themes ranked:
1. Navy (anchors away is a banger)
2. Marines
3. Air Force
4. Coast Guard
5. Army
6. General Welsh saying his wife Betty is hot
7. Space Force
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:27 PM on September 20, 2022 [9 favorites]
Military themes ranked:
1. Navy (anchors away is a banger)
2. Marines
3. Air Force
4. Coast Guard
5. Army
6. General Welsh saying his wife Betty is hot
7. Space Force
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 1:27 PM on September 20, 2022 [9 favorites]
The Stargate SG-1 theme was sitting right there!
Also the Wormhole X-Treme theme.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:28 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Also the Wormhole X-Treme theme.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:28 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
our country reeks of trees
our yaks are really large
and they smell like rotting beef carcasses
posted by Clowder of bats at 1:32 PM on September 20, 2022 [12 favorites]
our yaks are really large
and they smell like rotting beef carcasses
posted by Clowder of bats at 1:32 PM on September 20, 2022 [12 favorites]
Felt very "every sperm is sacred" to me.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:34 PM on September 20, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 1:34 PM on September 20, 2022 [7 favorites]
You get a song, YOU! get a song and YOU? get a song
posted by lalochezia at 1:41 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by lalochezia at 1:41 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
lalochezia, thanks (?) for those. All together I'm feeling a very Capital Steps vibe from these. The forced meters and awkward lyrics mean all of these set me on edge.
If you can't use your military anthem as a drinking song it's wrong, people!
(The effects of alcohol may differ in space, consult your doctor before singing.)
posted by meinvt at 1:46 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
If you can't use your military anthem as a drinking song it's wrong, people!
(The effects of alcohol may differ in space, consult your doctor before singing.)
posted by meinvt at 1:46 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
Now that this Space Force "exists" for some value of "exist," we're never going to be able to get rid of it, are we?
Honestly, why did Biden not just wrap the goddamn thing up on his first day in office and get it off our hands? Because you can't get rid of these things. Ever. Too many powerful interests feeding at the trough.
When climate change has knocked our technology back to pre-WWII levels, and nobody's actually been able to muster the economic wherewithal to reach low earth orbit for decades, there will STILL be a United States Space Force, probably passing out water and salt tablets or something.
posted by Naberius at 1:50 PM on September 20, 2022 [13 favorites]
Honestly, why did Biden not just wrap the goddamn thing up on his first day in office and get it off our hands? Because you can't get rid of these things. Ever. Too many powerful interests feeding at the trough.
When climate change has knocked our technology back to pre-WWII levels, and nobody's actually been able to muster the economic wherewithal to reach low earth orbit for decades, there will STILL be a United States Space Force, probably passing out water and salt tablets or something.
posted by Naberius at 1:50 PM on September 20, 2022 [13 favorites]
My whole problem with the existence of the Space Force is that it implies Space War which implies (more inevitably than not) that our planet becomes locked into place with a chaotic system of space junk above us that doesn't let us achieve anything above very low earth orbit.
Over several generations this would naturally wear down, but the space program has been one of my favorite childhood (and beyond) "dream of amazing things" repositories for a long time.
So, yeah, kill what little wonder and hope I have left. Do that for enough of humanity, and we'll see how well that bodes in general.
posted by hippybear at 1:59 PM on September 20, 2022 [10 favorites]
Over several generations this would naturally wear down, but the space program has been one of my favorite childhood (and beyond) "dream of amazing things" repositories for a long time.
So, yeah, kill what little wonder and hope I have left. Do that for enough of humanity, and we'll see how well that bodes in general.
posted by hippybear at 1:59 PM on September 20, 2022 [10 favorites]
I'd never actually listened to "Whitey on the Moon" before, and even when I saw the lyrics quoted, I'd sorta assumed it was to the tune of "Walking on the Moon." I mean ... it scans. And it would make a pretty bangin anthem.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 2:01 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 2:01 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
The last two "small government" Republican administrations brought us the Homeland Security Department and Starfle Space Force.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:02 PM on September 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 2:02 PM on September 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
I’d like to find the person who coined the term ‘warfighters’ and ensure that his or her grandparents never met, by force, if need be. There are words that, in certain contexts, grate on my nerves as if lemon juice were poured into a raw wound. ‘Warfighters’, in every context, makes me wish I was profoundly illiterate.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 2:10 PM on September 20, 2022 [20 favorites]
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 2:10 PM on September 20, 2022 [20 favorites]
The US Space Force's new anthem proves it's just another boring government entity
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:38 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
The eight lines of lyrics you hear were the result of “years of research and revisions.” Former service and US Air Force Band member James Teachenor wrote "Semper Supra" with General Raymond’s help.That was years of research and revisions? That? Never has the phrase, "They should have sent a poet," been more apposite.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:38 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
Best April Fool's joke ever. God, they didn't even release it on April 1 so nobody would see it coming. Brilliant.
posted by goatdog at 2:48 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by goatdog at 2:48 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
Seriously, though, this is the anthem of my Space Force.
This is the anthem of my Star Force. (Well, OK, technically it was this, but the original is better.)
posted by The Tensor at 2:51 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is the anthem of my Star Force. (Well, OK, technically it was this, but the original is better.)
posted by The Tensor at 2:51 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
It sounds like my high school fight song. I assume high school fight songs are churned out by some music publisher somewhere with plug-in lyrics for the school colors, name, and mascot. Mine included the terrible line, "and today we raise the orange and black above the sky," which is practically a line in the Space Force anthem as well.
Could they not have held a seance with John Phillip Sousa's spirit? Or hired somebody who writes for Broadway? Or any half-decent indie musician?
posted by Well I never at 3:07 PM on September 20, 2022
Could they not have held a seance with John Phillip Sousa's spirit? Or hired somebody who writes for Broadway? Or any half-decent indie musician?
posted by Well I never at 3:07 PM on September 20, 2022
Thank you for Whitey on the Moon. I am embarrassed to say that I had heard of Gil Scott-Heron but had no idea who he was. His name makes him sound like the kind of sincere New Age white guy that is rife in my Quaker community. I'm so glad to find someone much more interesting than that.
posted by Well I never at 3:11 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by Well I never at 3:11 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
So they've updated it from the 1978 Space Force theme?
posted by straw at 3:14 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by straw at 3:14 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
It sounds like my high school fight song. I assume high school fight songs are churned out by some music publisher somewhere with plug-in lyrics for the school colors, name, and mascot.
My elementary school fight song was literally "The U.S. Air Force / Wild Blue Yonder" with new school-appropriate lyrics written by the principal (a nun who had served in the Air Force).
posted by The Tensor at 3:15 PM on September 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
My elementary school fight song was literally "The U.S. Air Force / Wild Blue Yonder" with new school-appropriate lyrics written by the principal (a nun who had served in the Air Force).
posted by The Tensor at 3:15 PM on September 20, 2022 [6 favorites]
Can I just say how much I enjoyed the moment in New Galactica when they used the theme from OG Galactica as the anthem of the 12 colonies?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:17 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:17 PM on September 20, 2022 [8 favorites]
I’d like to find the person who coined the term ‘warfighters’ and ensure that his or her grandparents never met, by force, if need be. There are words that, in certain contexts, grate on my nerves as if lemon juice were poured into a raw wound. ‘Warfighters’, in every context, makes me wish I was profoundly illiterate.
I assume it sounded better in the original Klingon. Translations are never kind, especially to song lyrics.
posted by Mayor West at 3:36 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
I assume it sounded better in the original Klingon. Translations are never kind, especially to song lyrics.
posted by Mayor West at 3:36 PM on September 20, 2022 [4 favorites]
OK, I just listened to it. "The invisible front line." What the hell is that even trying to connote? It sounds like product placement for orthodontics.
posted by Mayor West at 3:39 PM on September 20, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Mayor West at 3:39 PM on September 20, 2022 [7 favorites]
They missed a huge opportunity here
posted by PlusDistance at 3:43 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 3:43 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Everyone knows this is the Air Force's real theme.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:47 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:47 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
As the book title once said, I believe adapting and translating Clemenceau, "Military Justice is to Justice as Military Music is to Music."
posted by zachlipton at 3:48 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by zachlipton at 3:48 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
Anthems for government departments...is a thing?!
I miss Jen Psaki, I wonder what she'd think about this :P
Now that this Space Force "exists" for some value of "exist," we're never going to be able to get rid of it, are we?
Nope. Once established, we are stuck, indeed.
Really, Space Force would be fun if it was more like sci-fi television and aliens, instead of satellites or whatever boring space junk is floating around space. I feel like it's something we could use in the future, but right now it doesn't have a very fun/interesting use.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:12 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
I miss Jen Psaki, I wonder what she'd think about this :P
Now that this Space Force "exists" for some value of "exist," we're never going to be able to get rid of it, are we?
Nope. Once established, we are stuck, indeed.
Really, Space Force would be fun if it was more like sci-fi television and aliens, instead of satellites or whatever boring space junk is floating around space. I feel like it's something we could use in the future, but right now it doesn't have a very fun/interesting use.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:12 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
I bet they can see every pimple on the ass of russians taking a shit in Ukraine right now with whatever top secret voodoo they have floating up there. Fuck Trump's legacy, and space force sucks, but it was always just a rebranding of all the military shit already in space.
posted by adept256 at 4:24 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 4:24 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
I suppose Mars, Bringer of War (from Holst's The Planets) might be a bit too long. But how about The Final Countdown?
posted by SPrintF at 4:24 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 4:24 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
The U.S. Air Force song ("Wild Blue Yonder") was one of my father's favorite songs. It was the result of a song-writing contest held after the Air Force was split off from the Army.
The Space Force Anthem - yuck. The song sound like a baptist hymn, arranged for the Game Boy. Maybe they should have used "It's a Good Day to Die," from Starship Troopers 3.
posted by jabah at 4:29 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Space Force Anthem - yuck. The song sound like a baptist hymn, arranged for the Game Boy. Maybe they should have used "It's a Good Day to Die," from Starship Troopers 3.
posted by jabah at 4:29 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Space Force feels more like Galaxy Quest than I would like.
posted by Windopaene at 4:37 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 4:37 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
We're the miiiiighty watchful eye
OK, creepy, but I... get it.
GuardiAAAANS beyond the--
No. No no no. Six words into the song and you're already emPHAsiZING the wrong sylLABle?
No space for you.
posted by gurple at 4:45 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
OK, creepy, but I... get it.
GuardiAAAANS beyond the--
No. No no no. Six words into the song and you're already emPHAsiZING the wrong sylLABle?
No space for you.
posted by gurple at 4:45 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]
Should have gotten the United Servo Academy Men’s Chorus to sing it.
posted by Ranucci at 5:07 PM on September 20, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by Ranucci at 5:07 PM on September 20, 2022 [7 favorites]
If they aren't using Thus Sprach Zarathustra or the Blue Danube waltz, they're soft, IMO.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:08 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:08 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
Semper Supra. Is that Latin for Always a Toyota?
It looks like a word they want to jam down everyone's throat, everywhere.
The Space Force wants more ‘indigenous software experts’ that can write code
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:14 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
It looks like a word they want to jam down everyone's throat, everywhere.
The Space Force wants more ‘indigenous software experts’ that can write code
“And so one of the things that we’re working on is we have a program that we call Supra Coders and we’re trying to build indigenous software experts inside of our service…And then as we develop these Supra Coders, we’re looking at what’s the best place to put them"And I don't even want to know what they're implying by "indigenous software experts" here.
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:14 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
And I don't even want to know what they're implying by "indigenous software experts" here.
They're coding in Navajo so the Russians can't read it.
posted by mmoncur at 6:22 PM on September 20, 2022 [13 favorites]
They're coding in Navajo so the Russians can't read it.
posted by mmoncur at 6:22 PM on September 20, 2022 [13 favorites]
Imperial Death March, no?
posted by pompomtom at 6:25 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by pompomtom at 6:25 PM on September 20, 2022 [3 favorites]
Here's an interview with the actual Space Force General that almost makes it seem... less stupid.
posted by mmoncur at 6:28 PM on September 20, 2022
posted by mmoncur at 6:28 PM on September 20, 2022
I suppose Mars, Bringer of War (from Holst's The Planets) might be a bit too long.
There's always this shorter version. RIP sweet prince.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 7:01 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
There's always this shorter version. RIP sweet prince.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 7:01 PM on September 20, 2022 [1 favorite]
space
com-mand
Saviour of the universe
We're a miracle
(This mornings unprecedented solar eclipse is no cause for alarm)
Space
com-mand
sings of the impossible
posted by clavdivs at 7:08 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
com-mand
Saviour of the universe
We're a miracle
(This mornings unprecedented solar eclipse is no cause for alarm)
Space
com-mand
sings of the impossible
posted by clavdivs at 7:08 PM on September 20, 2022 [2 favorites]
This thread really needs Dos Gringos, but which?! Ah well, have a playlist. (CW: Military humor. Taste is extremely optional).
posted by Alterscape at 9:13 PM on September 20, 2022
posted by Alterscape at 9:13 PM on September 20, 2022
Why don’t they dispense with words altogether and use Holst's Mars, Bringer of War from The Planets, since militarization of space is what the Space Force is all (and only) about, but you couldn’t really get away with lyrics to that effect.
posted by jamjam at 9:18 PM on September 20, 2022
posted by jamjam at 9:18 PM on September 20, 2022
Should have gone with Devo's Space Junk or I an an astronaut.
posted by boilermonster at 10:12 PM on September 20, 2022
posted by boilermonster at 10:12 PM on September 20, 2022
It's no KPMG song.
It's also, sadly, not a KMFDM song.
Edit:
Stronger than ever, ever before!
The US Space Force is
The Future of War!
U! S! S! F!
posted by The Tensor at 12:04 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
It's also, sadly, not a KMFDM song.
Edit:
Stronger than ever, ever before!
The US Space Force is
The Future of War!
U! S! S! F!
posted by The Tensor at 12:04 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
the principal (a nun who had served in the Air Force)
And I thought I bounced from career to career.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:42 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
And I thought I bounced from career to career.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:42 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
And then as we develop these Supra Coders, we’re looking at what’s the best place to put them
Man I thought Silicon Valley people were embarrassing and then I saw the U.S. military’s take on coding bootcamps.
Though I suppose it’s only right for them to reclaim the metaphor.
posted by atoxyl at 3:34 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Man I thought Silicon Valley people were embarrassing and then I saw the U.S. military’s take on coding bootcamps.
Though I suppose it’s only right for them to reclaim the metaphor.
posted by atoxyl at 3:34 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Space Force would be fun if it was more like sci-fi television and aliens...
Have your seen their unit emblems/patches?... They have some plans these guys...
posted by rozcakj at 6:49 AM on September 21, 2022
Have your seen their unit emblems/patches?... They have some plans these guys...
posted by rozcakj at 6:49 AM on September 21, 2022
No no no needs to be the Imperial March, but in major key to make it a little less intimidating and a little more John Philip Sousa.
posted by xthlc at 7:16 AM on September 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by xthlc at 7:16 AM on September 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Five much better options that were just sitting there:
Starship Trooper
Spaceman
Rocket Man
Space Oddity
Space Ghost Coast To Coast
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:42 AM on September 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
Starship Trooper
Spaceman
Rocket Man
Space Oddity
Space Ghost Coast To Coast
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:42 AM on September 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
I work for a large nameless $40B+ professional services company. We have an entire sonic experience team for developing audio for everything from our on hold music to event music (high energy, low energy, middle energy!) to specific branding audio (sorry sonic experiences) for events from Pride to Climate Change meetings. We have a portal we can login into and create our own playlists of our corporate music from the large library, filtering by tempo, moods, genre, instrument and feel, and share with others.
I can not express how much I am glad it is *all instrumental* with no lyrics. Especially the instrumental hip hop track I am listening to....which is decent even when played on my issued laptop's speakers, but oh god if we put lyrics to it I can imagine it would be all like "....ebitda ebitda hop, you don't stop, depreciating straight line from the top.."
posted by inflatablekiwi at 11:28 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I can not express how much I am glad it is *all instrumental* with no lyrics. Especially the instrumental hip hop track I am listening to....which is decent even when played on my issued laptop's speakers, but oh god if we put lyrics to it I can imagine it would be all like "....ebitda ebitda hop, you don't stop, depreciating straight line from the top.."
posted by inflatablekiwi at 11:28 AM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
The best option is The Highwayman, which has Johnny Cash (among others in an all-star country music cast) singing a verse about flying around space.
Is it quite silly and out-there? Yes.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:29 PM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
Is it quite silly and out-there? Yes.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:29 PM on September 21, 2022 [1 favorite]
I think I've listened to every song my fellow Mefites have posted here, but I haven't yet seen anyone posting MetaFilter's Own excellent candidate for the Space Force theme:
Moon Patrol!
posted by Sleeper at 6:58 PM on September 21, 2022
Moon Patrol!
posted by Sleeper at 6:58 PM on September 21, 2022
Should be followed immediately by a mid-Atlantic accent proclaiming the Zip-A-Tone Newsreel with jingoistic updates about our warfighters on the moon beating back the dirty Reds.
It’s like something out of Fallout.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:00 PM on September 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
It’s like something out of Fallout.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:00 PM on September 21, 2022 [2 favorites]
"...guardians from on high...."
Should I be worried about this?
posted by mule98J at 8:45 AM on September 23, 2022
Should I be worried about this?
posted by mule98J at 8:45 AM on September 23, 2022
« Older The best kind of plastic debris from the ocean? | You say you want una revolución Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Servo5678 at 12:45 PM on September 20, 2022 [5 favorites]