If an alien visited and you had only one song to convey “music,” what would you play?

Question

Elena · Answer

ict by Oklou (& the whole Choke Enough album): Summer in a song, ict captures the exhilaration of chasing the ice cream truck —heart and feet pumping, just praying the truck will hit a stop sign so you can catch up— and feels like it stretches to resonate with every dream-chasing feeling in life. Blade bird is another standout but album is perfect to me!

BC · Answer

Let It Be

minphase · Answer

Goldberg Variations, the main theme (aria): Maybe the reprise (final track) of the 1980 Glenn Gould version.

Is it too late to suggest Erbarme Dich, sung by a good countertenor?

Londyn Harris · Answer

Dark And Long - Dark Train: Tbh I feel like aliens would totally appreciate the primal, universal, trance inducing abilities of techno and house music 👾

Minna Kelly · Answer

Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares - Folk songs by the Bulgarian State Television Female Choir: Come for the haunting polyphonic harmonies, stay for the odd meters.

As it happens, a Bulgarian folk recording was included on the Voyager Golden Record that went into deep space in the 70s. So maybe the aliens already know about it.

Great album cover, too.

Very Carrie · Answer

Debussy: Clair de lune (Menahem Pressler): Happiness, sadness, longing, peace, conflict, anger… it’s all in there ❤️

Steve M · Answer

On the Nature of Daylight (Max Richter): This song may be overused at this point but I still love it. It's got a sense of beauty and sadness. Poignant. Soothing. Haunting. Vast.