Chemistry in Music

by Mark Griep
Department of Chemistry
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

I play one of these songs before my general chemistr or liberal arts chemistry class. I stop the song when class begins. Some students keep track of the songs and try to figure how they relate to the lecture.

Song (Year) [Duration]
by Performer

Notes

Possible Chemistry Lecture Topics
Tic Tic Tic (1949) [2:34]
by Doris Day		 This song is from the 1949 movie My Dream is Yours. Doris is a Big Band singer and her heart beats like a Geiger counter in love. Here’s Doris singing the song in a clip from the movie. measuring radioactivity
(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know (1956) [2:40]
by Frank Sinatra		 Lounge song about chemistry, explosions, kissing, and intermingling tingles. In my opinion, the refrain How Little We Know is funny before a difficult chemical topic but not after an exam. I use this before a discussion on the nature of light
Why Does the Sun Shine (1959) [2:40]
by Tom Glazer		 A song about our sun from the first album in a multi-album set of science folk songs for kids. Available online at http://www.acme.com/jef/science_songs/. It was covered more recently by They Might Be Giants and has a cute video directed by Hine Mizushima. The sun is a mass of incandescent gas where hydrogen is built into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees. It also has carbon, nitrogen, aluminum, copper and iron. elements, nuclear fusion
What Is Chemical Energy? (1959) [2:38]
by Tom Glazer and Dottie Evans.		 One of the only chemical songs in a multi-album set of science folk songs for kids. Available online a at http://www.acme.com/jef/science_songs/. Glazer later achieved acclaim for On Top of Spaghetti. combustion, bond energies, thermodynamics, free energy
The Elements Song (1959) [1:28]
by Tom Lehrer.		 This remains the apex of chemistry in song. It is available online as part of Mike Stanfill’s wryly humorous flash graphics at http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html periodic table of elements
Woodstock (1970) [5:25]
by Joni Mitchell		 This song was written two years after the famous concert. It was a hit and then immediately covered in 1970 by Crosby Stills Nash and Young who also had a hit. It is about changing the world and togetherness, which is lyrically summarized by saying we are stardust, we are billion year old carbon, we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden. elements and the solar system
Hey Hey Hey (1967) [2:14]
by Elvis Presley		 This song is from the 1967 movie and album Clambake. Elvis sings about GOOP, a super-hard super-fast-drying varnish, right before he wins the boat race, his girl, and the respect of his father. organic nomenclature
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (1971) [3:00]
by Marvin Gaye		 Things ain’t what they used to be with oil in the ocean, fish full of mercury, and other ecological problems. Marvin wonders how much more the earth can stand. water purity
Big Yellow Taxi (1974) [4:10]
by Joni Mitchell		 Joni is not happy they replaced paradise with a parking lot, so she tells the farmer to stop using the insecticide DDT. Instead, she will accept spots on her apples in return for the birds and the bees. agricultural chemistry
Radioactivity (1975) [6:50]
by Kraftwerk		 Uber-cool electronic techno disco song with a Geiger counter beat paired with a concert video. radiation, chain reaction, Curie, and ominous biological mutations
Traffic Jam (1977) [1:55]
by James Taylor		 This song is from the 1977 album JT. James sings a capella about his slow drive home in his supposedly fast car. He used to think it was cool to use fossil fuel but now he sees it is the road to ruin. petroleum, energy sources
The Day the World Turned Day-Glow (1978) [1:55]
by X-Ray Spex		 Singer Poly Styrene (one of the few female punkers) sings about our plastic world in this early punk rock song featuring a saxophone performance of all things. The Musik Channel’s recording is on YouTube plastics
Pocket Calculator (1981) [4:30]
by Kraftwerk		 Uber-cool electronic techno disco song about a pocket calculator on YouTube. significant figures and calculations
Chemistry (1982) [4:58]
by Rush		 Popular 80s rock song that may be about aliens but that mentions electricity, chemistry, water, biology, and so much more on YouTube. electrolytes
Galaxy Song (1983) [2:30]
by Eric Idle		 This is from the 1983 movie The Meaning of Life. Apparently, we are just self-replicating D. N. A. complex biomolecules
I Want A New Drug (1984) [3:29]
by Huey Lewis and the News		 Huey wants a drug that won’t make him sick, crash his car, or make him feel three feet thick. This mega-hit video is on YouTube drug discovery
Radioactive (1985) [2:51]
by The Firm		 Another popular 80s rock song. In this one, singer Paul Rodgers is radioactive and wants to get it on. radioactivity
Chasin’ that Neon Rainbow (1990) [4:05]
by Alan Jackson		 Alan sings about life as a honky tonk singer. Here’s the video on YouTube. electron energy levels
Lithium (1991) [4:17]
by Nirvana		 This song is from the 1991 album Nevermind. Kurt Cobain sings about living in his head but never mentions using the antidepressant lithium. elements, ions, periodic properties, medicinals
Be Careful What You Eat (1993) [1:15]
by Animaniacs		 Yakko, Wakko, and Dot sing about the ingredients listed on junk food packages. This one is manic fun. You might still be able to find the cartoon posted on YouTube inorganic nomenclature, salts, organic nomenclature, biomolecules
Electrolite (1996) [4:05]
by REM		 Electrolite sends singer Michael Stipe out of sight. electrolytes
Molecular Orbital Blues (1996) [4:53]
by Richard Shoemaker		 My UNL colleagues Stephen DiMagno and Richard Shoemaker co-wrote the lyrics and then Shoemaker recorded his own performance for your listening pleasure. It is available on YouTube at Molecular Orbital Blues. The song is about the homo, lumo, antisymmetric psi2, and antibonding orbitals of allyl and butadiene. atomic orbital theory, molecular orbital theory
Radiation Vibe (1996) [3:14]
by Fountains of Wayne		 Singer Chris Collingwood is grooving on a radiation vibe and wants to get some sun. electromagnetic spectrum
Artificial Flavor (1997) [4:04]
by 2 Skinny J’s		 Nerdcore hip hop in which the singer’s crazed actions are a reaction to the artificial chemicals in food. The static-image music video is on YouTube Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS)
Elements (1998) [4:13]
by Danny Tenaglia		 At the end of this electronic techno trance song, DJ Danny tells us that Elements are all there is. Here’s the YouTube video. I play this early in the semester
All About Chemistry (2001) [4:09]
by Semisonic		 Singer Dan Wilson had a relationship with a chemistry graduate student in which he promised to memorize everything she did to him so he could teach it when it came his turn. The music video includes chemical imagery. I play this late in the semester
Radiation Nation (2001) [2:00]
by Agent 51		 I love the energetic beat and fake British accents but have little idea what they are actually singing about. Adult supervision may be required. I just do not know for sure. electromagnetic spectrum
Chemical Calisthenics (2002) [3:22]
by Blackalicious		 This may be the most intellectual hip-hop song every written paired a video made by James Clark for his 6th grade class. nuclear energy
Glucose, Glucose (2004) [2:46]
by ScienceGroove		 Sung to the tune of “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies, this song is about the monosaccharide sugar, muscles metabolizing to create ATP and lactate baby. This song is online available from writer/performer Greg Crowther as an mp3 download at http://www.science-groove.org/Now/ biochemistry
Chemicals React (2006) [3:01]
by Aly & AJ		 Power pop song about feeling out my element because the chemicals react when you look into my eyes. Here is the official music video on YouTube. I play this early in the semester
Rest My Chemistry (2007) [5:00]
by Interpol		 This song is about giving up cocaine addiction. The accompanying video has great imagery. In the music video on Vimeo, pointillist atom surfaces erupt in ways that suggest electrical discharges and then calm down to atoms again. atoms
Chemistry (2007) [4:26]
by Tammy Cochran		 This was the second country song about chemistry that I’ve found. You can hear Chemistry on YouTube. Tammy starts by saying that sparks were flying on the day we met and that it was pure and simple chemistry involving chain reactions. Soon, however, the relationship is chemistry, a temporary insanity. This song is funny to play on the day after the exam. chemical reactions
Battery Life (2007) [7:40]
by Chunk & Twist		 Progressive deep techno song that declares your laptop overheats to reduce performance and lowers battery life. Here’s the YouTube video. batteries, electrochemistry, redox
Chemistry (2008) [2:59]
by Velvet		 Velvet doesn’t need psychology because with this biology and physiology, we have chemistry between you and me. Science is in control and we’re helpless in the face of D.N.A. Here is the YouTube video. chemical reactions
We Are All Connected (2010) [4:21]
by Symphony of Science		 The words of Bill Nye, Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, and Neil deGrasse Tyson are digitally symphonized so they sing about the interconnectedness of life on Earth, which boils down to the way the atoms are connected.
Here’s the Symphony of Science website and the We Are All Connected song on YouTube		 chemical bonds, biochemistry
Chemistry (2012) [4:48]
by Katie Nicholas		 Katie sings about her relationship with her boyfriend. She says their love is a new equation full of chemistry and complications. It is a chemical explosion that is radioactive and glows. Here’s the video on YouTube chemical equations, radioactivity
Chemically (2012) [6:57]
by Sander Kleinenberg		 Electronic Dance Music with vocals by Ryan Starr who wants us to get loose and be free, I mean chemically. Here’s the video on YouTube everyday chemistry
Radioactive (2012) [3:05]
by Imagine Dragons		 Dan Reynolds dramatically sings about breathing in chemicals and then about revolution. He is empowered every time he shouts radioactive.
Here’s the serious, violent, and cute video on YouTube		 radioactivity
Chemistry Dubstep (2012) [2:38]
by Dave & Adam		 Created from sounds recorded in the lab. Here’s the cool video on YouTube lab safety
Cool Kids (2013) [3:35]
by Echosmith		 Sydney Sierota sings about the angst many youth feel when they see others who they believe have it all. Even though the song doesn’t have any lyrics about chemistry or chemical apparatus, the song’s second video on YouTube includes two shots of the chemical symbol for neodymimium, element 60. It got me excited. elements, periodic table
Neon Lights (2013) [3:58]
by Demi Lovata		 Demi Lovato sings that her heart is freaking out because she and her baby are like shining stars and burning up like neon lights. Here’s the YouTube video elements, periodic table
Chemists Know (parody of Let It Snow from Frozen) (2014) [3:59]
by Gianmarc Grazioli at UC Irvine		 Gianmarc sings about life as an organic chemistry researcher. Here’s the video on YouTube. atoms, molecules, spectroscopy, Avogadro’s number, Sigma Bonding versus Pi, and so much more
Sawed Off Shotgun (2017) [3:15]
by The Glorious Sons		 Brett Emmons sings about a life on the downward slide in which he doesn’t want to take his because he’s hooked on oxycodone. Here’s the audio version of their song on YouTube. painkillers, medicinals
Chemical (2023) [3:26]
by Post Malone		 Post sings about Oxytocin and how he can’t let go, it’s chemical. Here’s the lyrics version on YouTube. painkillers, medicinals

Last updated on 2 May 2024.