Symphony of Science: spreading scientific knowledge and philosophy through musical remixes

If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.

Paul Sagan

Or, if you are a talented specialist in audio remixing with a passion for science, all you have to do is mix electronic music of your own produce with extracts of scientific television series, to create videos that explain why you must first invent the universe. It might seem like something cool and hype to get the kids all excited, but in reality it is quite profound and moving. I admit my opinion might be biased, as I have grown up watching these sort of series and never gave up the habit. In great measure, I share the enthusiasm and passion of those science luminaries, and they are largely responsible for my continued fascination with science. I cannot possibly imagine how can anyone not be touched and praise by the message these brilliant scientific minds convey.

The project is called Symphony of Science, and is lead by the Washington-based electronic musician John Boswell. The goal of this enterprise, says Boswell, is "to bring scientific knowledge and philosophy to the public, in a novel way, through the medium of music". For the making of videos, Boswell uses pitch corrected and auto tuned audio and video samples from television programs featuring scientists and educators, such as Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Richard Dawkins' TED presentation on our "queen" universe and series The Genius Of Charles Darwin, Richard Feynman's 1983 BBC interviews, Stephen Hawking's Universe series, Jane Goddall's TED presentation on What separates us from the apes? (in no particular order, and just to list a few).

Ever since their launch, in December 2009, Boswell has created 6 videos: A Glorious Dawn, (featuring Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking), We Are All Connected (featuring Bill Nye, Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman and Neil deGrasse Tyson); Our Place in the Cosmos (featuring Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku); The Unbroken Thread (featuring Richard Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Carl Sagan), The Poetry of Reality - An Anthem for Science (featuring Michael Shermer, Jacob Bronowski, Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins, Jill Tarter, Lawrence Krauss, Richard Feynman, Brian Greene, Stephen Hawking, Carolyn Porco, and PZ Myers); and The Case for Mars (featuring Robert Zubrin, Carl Sagan, Brian Cox, and Penelope Boston). The videos have attracted over 8 million views online, contributing to the release of the first song, A Glorious Dawn, on a special 7" 45rpm vinyl single.

If I had to choose a favourite - and indeed I have to pick one video only to show here - I would go for for the Poetry of Reality. It was one who made me think that this was why I had studied science in first place. And, and in this strange days I have to live, that speaks volumes.

A PJ state of mind

I repeat myself today: I am in PJ state of mind. Take life as it comes...

The Sound Track of My Life IX - Every Breath You Take by The Police and True Colors by Cindy Lauper

And Joana asks me - don't doubt about the coolness of cucumbers or the freshness of lettuces, but maybe it a bit too cheeky for you to deny you might allegedly hypothetically have been in garage parties?

Indeed, it is correct. Though my Mother was convinced I was at library, I might have allegedly hypothetically probably been in couple of parties or high school events, even. I might have listened to this couple of songs, or in an excess of modernism, the New Romantics. Allegedly hypothetically. But, it was dark and nobody remembers for sure.

The Sound Track of My Life VIII - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies and More Than Words by The Extreme

It was a bit far from my intentions to post about these couple of songs, but I sort of owed it to the lady without whom I wouldn’t never have never started the Soundtrack of My Life. The whole thing started a few days ago, when much to much to my dismay, Joana posted on her Facebook a log about Mmm mmm mmm mmm’s by the Crash Test Dummies. A very short comment followed the song: Do you remember this one? This was the slow music by excellency... Oh, so many garage and basement parties… oh, so many first kisses...

Of course we don’t remember this song…. It was something we heard on MTV playlists and generalist radios, and thought it was for fools (and kid sisters). A tune that made critics wonder whether the world in general and the pop music in particular was close to an end. I mean, after the almost poetry of the Beatles songs, what could we make out of such inspirational words as Mmm mmm mmm mmm? Indeed, not much.

I have to add that Joana is a few years younger than myself. Though in general, we like the same music and share favorite bands, sometimes we fall into a generational gap like this one. The Crash Test Dummies’ Mmm mmm mmm mmm single was released in late 1993. By those days, I was day in, day out in Fragil, cool as a cumcumber and fresh as a lettuce. In all my coolness, a song had to be dark and obscure, preferably electronic to be heard. And, the grungier, the better. An order too tall for Mmm mmm mmm mmm and the Crash Test Dummies.

I would be insincere if I said Mmm mmm mmm mmm was not on the Soundtrack of My Life. In fact, I admittedly bought a Crash Test Dummies CD, just because I like its singer voice (True story. I have to say that disc is not bad at all either and has traveled well). I can recognize the song, but I cannot attach it with a story or a moment even. But, ask Joana, and she will tell you a whole different story. She might even say this is a true pop song, with simple and touching lyrics, that was heard by a whole a generation while falling in love for the first time.

Shamelessly, I asked Joana, about another song my sister used to like: More Than Words, by The Extreme “Oh, yes”, she answered. “that was another one!”. And indeed it was another one. My sister also used to sit and watch it on MTV on every possible occasion. Apparently, it was just to check the Portuguese flag on the background.

The Soundtrack of My Life VII - Mahna Mahna by Mahna Mahna and the Snowths

Sesame Street is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. While it might have been originally designed for pre scholar students, I have to admit that I keep watching it until well past that age. And, as you know, my chronicle incapability to tell left from right is not my fault at all. I missed the show where they explained it, and somehow never catch up with the contents.

One thing leading to the other, it came to my mind that one of the very first albums I ever owned was The Muppet Show (1997). I listened to it until the grooves disappeared, and still keep it together with all my old records. The Mahna Mahna song was strategically placed after a heated row between Miss Piggy and Kermit (Kermit got smacked at the end, if I remember well). Once Mahna Mahna and the Snowths said their goodbyes, Gonzo came up to stage to try eating a rubber tire to the sound of The Flight of the Bumble Bee (What do they know about art?!).

Mahna Mahna was played on the very first show of The Muppet Show in 1977. It was originally titled Mah-Na Mah-Na, and written by composer Piero Umiliani for an Italian documentary about life in Sweden, titled Svezia, Inferno e Paradiso (Sweden, Heaven and Hell).

Please welcome Mahna Mahna and the Snowths! Whatever that means.....

The Soundtrack of My Life VI -Connected by the Stereo MCs

When I finished my undergraduate studies in 1992, I got back to Lisbon for a while, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life and looking for the funds that would hopefully get me back to Madrid. In the meanwhile, mainly to avoid starvation, I landed at a substitute teacher position. As all beginnings, life certainly looked and full of decisions and crucial steps. Yet, it was effortless and easy enough to allow me to relax and enjoy myself. Something that was welcomed after all the stress getting my degree finished in a relatively good shape.

And, by those very days, Lisbon was boosting with all new bars and clubs. Every place looked cool and sophisticated and the city was proud to host a club that was considered to be the best one in the world - the Kremlin. Yet, those days most roads would end or start at Fragil.

Fragil, who opened its doors in 1983 in Bairro Alto, was one of the Lisbon's first clubs. In reality,it was more like a bar with small dance floor, and a very mixed crowd. Its two doorwomen were legendary. One eventually became a singer of relative success, and the other one ended up to be a public figure and lead and AIDS support organization. About 10 years ago, Fragil's owners moved the club to a much bigger space close to there river, called LuxFragil. For oner reason or the other, have never been to Lux. If you go to Lisbon, you will still be able to find Fragil, but it is a million years away of what its original splendor and glory. I was there once, but certainly will not go back. Sequels were never good ideas...

I used to be a Fragil's regular. I cannot remember the first time I was allowed in to have a gin and tonic. I vividly remember being was allowed in without a question during my freshman year in University, much to the newbies envy.There are even reports me huffing puffing over people who suddenly remember they were my friends once they saw me jumping over the line. And, once I got back to Lisbon for my gap year, I probably distilled in there a good part of teacher salary. So many happy hours of trendy music and casual (or not so casual) conversation! For whatever reason, no song like Connected by the Stereo MCs makes me travel back to that space.

Stereo MC's - Connected
par ptidavid

The Soundtrack of My Life IV - Dusk by the The

I bought Dusk a bit by accident in 1993. I just bumped into it during a shopping spree, without even knowing the The had a new CD, and put it on my cart without too much thought. The CD had been released earlier that year, and I remembered the The as a sort of band that always had been close to my heart and had great songs. After only a couple of hearings, Dusk became one of my favorite CDs ever - one of those that found room in the shelfs of 15 flats in 3 different countries. It is flagged with a VV, initials for the Portuguese Vai e Volta. Meaning, it is outbound and inbound. When I borrow it, I demand to have it back... Needless is to say that it has always found its way back home.

The the was founded in 1979 by Matt Johnson, who has been the only constant member of the band. Matt Johnson takes his time to create his master pieces. In 30 years, the The released 6 albums: Soul Mining (1983), Infected (1986, Mind Bomb (1989), Dusk (1993), Hanky Panky (1995) and their last one NakedSelf (2000). But, all of them were worthwhile the waiting. A seventh album was announced as forthcoming in May 2007 (The End Of The Day). As yet, it is still unreleased.

Choosing just one song from Dusk is not an easy task. It is one of this albums that is more than the sum of its songs. I was not able to find any video produced for my favorite song in Dusk: Bluer than Midnight . But, I can offer Dogs of Lust and an anedoct about the shooting of this video. Matt Johnson, being the perfectionist that he is, was not totally happy with the results of the shooting. There was not enough tension, he argued. At his request, the studio temperature was set to a most unbritish 38oC and the video shot again. Matt Johnson was right - you can almost feel the heat and lust when you watch the video:

the the - Dogs of lust
par nico2oo6

And, a bonus song: Uncertain Smile, played live during the 1993 Reading Festival. This song was released in 1983, as a single of the Soul Mining record. It seems it was just yesterday....

The Soundtrack of my life III- Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye is a 1944 song written by Cole Porter. It became a jazz standard and was recorded by several artists such as Ella Fitzgerald , Dinah Washington, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Carly Simon, Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams, Chet Baker, Eden Brent, and Diana Krall.

It became part of my personal soundtrack a couple of times. The first, around 86, as sung by Mick Hucknall and Simply Red. I recorded it on a long lost cassette next to Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel's Don't Give Up. It was only a pretty song when I did it, but after a few months time, it proved to be almost prophetic.

And, for a second time in my life, I put it on my walkman in 1990 as a part of the first project of Red Hot organization, called Blue. The Red Hot + Blue CD was arguable the first AIDS charity, and featured several early 90s artists reinterpreting Cole Porter songs. Annie Lennox did the honors for Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye. No broken hearts to report on this occasion, though.

The soundtrack of my life II - The New Romantics

Without going into to much detail, I used to be a fan. A huge fan. The New Romantics emerged in the UK music scene in the early eighties, as an alternative to the punk movement. As they would say in Spain, para muestra, un boton (which more or less translates as the proof is in the pudding):

Duran Duran were originally from from Birmingham (UK). They were one of the most successful band of the eighties bands and a leading band in MTV. They group was started off by Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Stephen Duffy, with the latter addition of Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor, and Simon Le Bon. (None of the Taylors are related.) They has never disbanded, but the line-up has changed to several times. They have release 13 albums: Duran Duran (1981), Rio (1982), Seven and the Ragged Tiger (1983), Arena (1984) Notorious (1986), Big Thing (1988), Liberty (1990), Duran Duran (The Wedding Album) (1993), Thank You (1995), Medazzaland (1997), Pop Trash (2000), Astronaut (2004) and Red Carpet Massacre (2007. Duran Duran was also my first concert ever, in the old Pavilhao Dramatico de Cascais.

Save a Prayer is a song from Rio, released as a single in 1983:

Spandau Ballet are a British band who formed in London in the late seventies. They were one of the most successful bands of the eighties. The band split not in very good terms during the in 1990, but announced their reunion in March of 2009, complete with a tour that begins in October of 2009. They have released 5 albums: Journeys to Glory (1981), Diamond (1982), True (1983), Parade (1984), Through the Barricades (1986) and Heart Like a Sky (1989). Their song travelled through time a bit better, but still sound a bit too eighties... One of the best songs of the decade: True, released in 1983:

Classix Noveaux never survived 1984, and probably they were only popular in Portugal (and Poland). They released only 3 records: Night People (1981), La Verite (1982) and Secret (1983). This song is called Never Again, and it was released in 1981:

How to convert a 10 favorite songs CD into a convoluted exercise- The soundtrack of my life I - Golden Brown

One thing you get used to when living in Zurich is farewell parties. For one reason or the other, people come and go all the time. But, not all farewell parties are born the same... A few months back, a dear friend threw a memorable see you all soon party, that was not exactly the usual Swiss apero. Together with the invitation, there was a request: bring along a CD with your favorite songs. "Only 10?" I replied in shock and horror. "Yes, only 10. Whatever you like, but only 10".

How could I possibly decide on just 10 songs? Should I pull eighties songs to remind myself how happy and gay these times were? Or, chose whatever two songs for decade, for experience sake? Maybe delegate on Itunes the decision and burn a CD with the 10 more played songs? I couldn't help remember another of these exercises, done sometime during the late 90ies. But, we sort of cheated a little, and instead of a 10 favorite songs lists, we ended up with several lists, ranging from songs we like for sentimental reasons, to feel good songs, passing to pub and clubsongs and memories of vacations categories. Much to my dismay, the lists seems have been lost in time and cyberspace... And, anyway, this poetic license would be stretching it too much.

After a few weeks struggling with several ideas and lists, it soon became clear that it was com-ple-te-ly-im-po-ssi-ble to create a 10 favorite songs list. I cowardly showed up at the party with a _gasp_ Best of the 80's compilation and a big smile. It was not the spirit of the thing, but it was the best I could do under the circumstances... At least, it was a directionally correct effort - the compilation had a good part of the soundtrack of my life. Songs like Tears for Fears' Shout, The Cars' Drive or The Boomtown Rats' Tell Why I Don't Like Mondays, that I used to listen on the radio, and had always been there, but never owned.

In a way, I still owe my friend that CD. And in a totally different way, it would be probably better to keep these lists and songs at a safe place, before they are washed away. As the Chinese say, an used pencil lasts longer than a good memory.

In the very early eighties, I used to come back from school and listen to the Radio. TV was not open 24h a day, and even if it were, there would be only RTP1 and RTP2. Not much of a choice, really... But Radio, that was something else. There seemed to be unmissable programs going on, even if there were only an handful of FM stations. I mostly kept it tuned with Radio Comercial, one of the public radio stations (It was named Comercial because it had advertisements and sponsors, as opposed to the other stations, who had no ads at all). After lunch, I would listen to programs like TNT (All at the Top), the more mainstream program, or O Som da Frente (The Sounds of the Front), what we would call indie music, or Rock em Stock (Rock in Stock).

My soundtrack had songs like Foram Cardos, Foram Prosas (It Were Thistles, It Were Proses) by Manuela Moura Guedes, Amor (Love) by Herois do Mar, by Herois do Mar (Heroes of the Sea, that happens to be the opening lines of the Portuguese National Anthem), Planet Earth by Duran Duran, Just Can't Enough by Depeche Mode or Tainted Love by Softcell (in no particular order). Some of these songs traveled through time better than others, I have to add. But, if I had to choose one single song from these days, it would be The Strangler's Golden Brown:

Mad World - A Michel Gondry video for a Gary Jules song

The French director Michel Gondry started his career making musical videos. As an in-demand professional, he worked with everyone from Björk to Massive Attack, including Beck and The Rolling Stones. In 2001, he directed his first film, Human Nature, scripted by Charlie Kaufman. They collaborated again on 2004's Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, which won a Best Original Screenplay Oscar . He also made commercials for Gap, Smirnoff, Air France, Nike, Coca Cola, Adidas, Polaroid and Levi - the latter making him the most highly-awarded director for a one-off commercial.

Gary Jules is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his cover of Tears for Fears single Mad World, which he recorded together Michael Andrews for the film Donnie Darko.

In 2004, the two artists got together to produce the promotional video of Mad World. The clip was done in a single-shot. Sitting at the rooftop of a school building in Brooklyn, Jules watches children choreographing simple, child-like pictures on the pavement: a car, a house, a boat:

Thomas Dolby - from I Scare Myself to La Vie en Rose

Thomas Dolby recorded I scare myself in 1983, as a track of the album Flat Earth (1984). This recording was made on the tube around those days:

In 2001, Dolby was appointed Musical Director of the TED - Ideas Worth Spreading. He performed live La Vie en Rose, together with Rochelle Garnier in 2004:

I look forward to seeing what he will be doing in 2024...