Space Jams! With Imaginary Gardens

By Imaginary Gardens Staff, Introduction by Addison Chrivia, Editor

This week, Imaginary Gardens has two wonderful spacey articles coming out: one covering the beautiful sci-fi adventure hit, Project Hail Mary, and another exploring the exciting launch of Artemis II and the intricate history preceding it. These stories have us so over the moon that we just had to make a space-themed playlist for you to enjoy! From deep-space invoking rhythmic tracks to classic rock worthy of a moonwalk, there’s something for everyone to enjoy as we rocket towards finals week!

Addison Chrivia, Editor

“Cosmic Love” by Florence & the Machine

This melancholy and ethereal song is perfectly suited for the emptiness of space. Throughout the track, Florence describes her lover’s love as a falling star that blinded her, leaving her in the dark. The toxicity of this relationship she stayed in left her stranded from real love, stuck in the abyss of space with him. She ends the song with the lyrics, “I’m always in this twilight, in the shadow of your heart.” 

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Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer

“My Universe” by Coldplay & BTS

The endless beauty of the universe and the luminescence of the stars inside the person of one’s dreams is captured in Coldplay’s melodic and uplifting song “My Universe.” Featuring the famous K-Pop boy band, BTS, the song proclaims that the love of their lives is their universe because the person makes their world light up inside and out. Without them, Coldplay and BTS sing, their world is dark and crazy. The mix of Korean and English lyrics brings people with similar feelings together from across the world.

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Olyver LaGabed, Staff Writer

“A Moment – From Project Hail Mary” by Daniel Pemberton

There is something hauntingly beautiful about space. It’s nearly impossible to fully grasp, and there are many things we still don’t understand about it. For many people, those aspects of space are objectively terrifying. I don’t blame them – obviously, there are many dangers in the unknown – but there is also intrigue. “A Moment,” an instrumental piece written by Daniel Pemberton for the movie Project Hail Mary, is the perfect depiction of how serene space can really be.

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Ruby Caver, Graphic Design Intern

“All Star” Smash Mouth

The Shrek movies were my favorite franchise as a kid. I remember watching the first Shrek movie playing on the TV nonstop, with this being the opening song. It honestly just reminds me of my childhood, and whenever I enjoyed the simple things in life.

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Heather Schroeder, Faculty Advisor

“Goodnight Moon” by Boogie Belgique

The Belgian-based electronic swing band Boogie Belgique delivers a wild mash-up of 1930s-style swing and electronic beats in this song. It’s an expansive take on the classic sound, with wailing oboes and the beat that begs one to, in fact, get down and boogie to the moon and back. If this is how we say goodnight, I guess we’ll have to stay up all night with the stars.

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Anna Matsen, Faculty Advisor

“Fly Me to the Moon,” a cover of Frank Sinatra by Jada Facer

While considering what songs I might contribute to a space-themed playlist, my many childhood memories of listening to Frank Sinatra at my Grandpa Mario’s house brought “Fly Me to the Moon” immediately to mind. That said, if my family will pardon the blaspheme, Sinatra’s rendition has often struck me as more bombastic than does the lyrics justice. To me, this song feels best served by a nervy tension, as though the singer can no longer suppress the urge to risk directly opening up about their feelings to the object of their, until-now hidden, admiration and yearning. Harmoniously amplifying the intimate risk of a true love confession would fly this classic to truly lunar heights – worthy to then drop listeners down a long, ecstatic plummet back to Earth. Jada Facer’s voice – which rings like soft, celestial crystal – stood out to me as perfectly serving the song’s deliciously liminal sentiment. I hope all playlist listeners enjoy the way her vocal nuances illuminate the lyrics’ exquisite tension, as well as the way her musical complement sustains that delicately prolonged moment with unhurried elegance.

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Fin Jump, Comic artist 

“Meteor Shower” by Cavetown

This is such a comfort song for me that feels like being hugged by stardust. The cosmic atmosphere and nostalgic sound design instantly pull you into a dreamlight galaxy. 

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Em Powell, Graphic Design Intern

“Born Slippy (Nuxx)” by Underworld

I discovered this song through my partner a few years ago. He used to be in the rave scene in the 1990s, and this was one of the songs they’d play. Whenever I listen to this, I feel nostalgic for a time I was born just a bit too short of living through. The electric and bassy melody puts me in a trance that soothes me, even just for a moment.

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David Lavrinovich, Alumni Editor

“Звезда по имени Солнце” by KINO

I grew up with a lot of Soviet music, but this song was my first exposure to the Russian 80s rock band, KINO. The name of this song literally translates to “A star by the name of Sun” and is deeply philosophical in its commentary on war and humanity. The relaxed yet bold sound enhances the lead singer, Viktor Tsoi’s, solemn tone. In addition to the obvious celestial imagery, the song also elicits the abstract experience of feeling like you are observing life on Earth from outer space. 

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Emma G. Harrison, Editor-in-Chief

“Lost In Yesterday” by Tame Impala 

There is just something so ethereal and spacey about Tame Impala that keeps me coming back for more and more. “Lost In Yesterday” is a perfect example of a song that makes me feel like I’m floating in a galaxy far, far away. The lyrics describe a sense of nostalgia through the passage of time. This, combined with the spacey disco sounds throughout the song, makes it the perfect space anthem for all your moonwalking needs.

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Jacqueline Ayala, Editor

“Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie

It’s not a space-themed playlist if we don’t have the “Starman” himself, Bowie! With all the alien-galactic-type of style he leans towards, he is the perfect addition to this list of songs. I didn’t get the chance to grow up with Bowie’s music, but the moment I heard of him in high school, I was immediately captivated by his style and lyricism. “Moonage Daydream” is just the type of song you need to envision yourself flying off into the stars!

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Draven Copeland, Managing Editor

“Forever” by Labrinth

Ever since I watched the first season of Euphoria in high school, I absolutely fell in love with the soundtrack written and produced by British producer, Labrinth. This is arguably the most popular track from the season one album, but it never fails to give me a transcendent, spacey feeling. For me, the lyrics simultaneously encapsulate the euphoric experience of youth while also making a statement that the artist will live forever through his art, making it an interesting song to really ponder on if you want to. No matter the case, it’s a perfect piece to listen to while looking out at the stars.

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