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Sagan wrote pure poetry

Category: Art • Science
Posted on: January 7, 2010 2:41 AM, by PZ Myers

Some people seem to react to the autotuned stuff with a kind of automatic detestation. So how about this? The unaltered words of Carl Sagan wrapped in a musical accompaniment.

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Posted by: metalmikebot | January 7, 2010 2:48 AM

Carl Sagan and electric guitars? Why didn't anyone think of this sooner?

Posted by: Conscious Machine | January 7, 2010 2:51 AM

Wow. Just... wow.

Posted by: John Morales | January 7, 2010 2:59 AM

Damn!

I was a fan, but I didn't know the half of it.

Posted by: Linda K | January 7, 2010 3:12 AM

I really like the autotuned stuff. It's interesting and inspirational. But then, I think you're right: it's because the scientists chosen to be in those videos are poets. Love it.

Posted by: WilliamJansen | January 7, 2010 3:12 AM

My reaction to autotuning is just visceral. This is pretty sweet though.

Anyway; I've been reading you for a few weeks now (I know; newbie), and just wanted to say that you are awesome.

Posted by: hje | January 7, 2010 3:30 AM

I had the opportunity (privilege) to hear Carl Sagan speak at the U of Arizona, a couple years before his death--he was such an effective communicator.

When I was in junior high, I wrote him to request information about Mariner 9's mission to Mars--for a report. He graciously wrote back and sent me photos taken by the spacecraft. I mean, he's a professor at Cornell with lots of responsibilities, and he takes the time to communicate with some dopey little science geek.

I think of his small act of kindness every time I pick up my well-worn copy of Cosmic Connection.

After watching Cosmos, my fundamentalist father would rant about how stupid Sagan must be, since Sagan did not believe in God. All I could do is sigh (arguing with dad was/is a waste of time).

Even though I ended up becoming a cell biologist (instead of the planetary scientist I orignally wanted to become), his words and writing have had a lasting influence on my life as a scientist.

Carl Sagan is missed.

Posted by: negentropyeater | January 7, 2010 3:35 AM

This is a bit better, but not my cup of tea.

The best I've seen so far, is HOME, the movie by Yann Arthus-Bertrand with the music by Armand Amar.

Absolutely stunning pictures of the earth combined with inspiring music and poetic pro science message.

For those who haven't seen it, it's available for free on youtube in HD in many languages.

Posted by: negentropyeater | January 7, 2010 3:38 AM

sorry, link above is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/homeproject?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/4/jqxENMKaeCU

Posted by: The Tim Channel | January 7, 2010 3:42 AM

Video proof of the homo bashing idiot and holocaust-inciting Scott Lively:

http://thetimchannel.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/face-of-religious-bigotry/

Enjoy.

#10

Posted by: The Tim Channel | January 7, 2010 3:49 AM

Start making the popcorn:

Televised Prop 8 Trial
Judge Vaughn Walker orders video coverage, the first ever for a federal trial in California, despite objections by sponsors of the ban on gay marriage.

http://www.youtube.com/usdccand

Enjoy.

#11

Posted by: John Morales | January 7, 2010 3:55 AM

The Tim Channel, meritorious as your links may be, could you please post them on the open thread rather than a specific-topic thread?

Pretty please?

#12

Posted by: vanharris | January 7, 2010 4:47 AM

That was too bad, i was enjoying it, then, a minute & a half in, there was some really bad audio interference that sounded goddam awful.

What's the matter with people? Why were Sagan's words deliberately obscured by feckin' noise?

Apparently, on the UK's BBC1 radio, the news programs are treated in a similar manner. MORONS!

#13

Posted by: boygenius | January 7, 2010 5:06 AM

I agree with John Morales@11. Isn't blog-whoring a dungeon offense? Once in a great while would be acceptable, but every feckin' post?

Don't get me wrong, I think Tim Channel serves up some good shit, but if I wanted that particular shit, I would direct my browser to the Tim Channel rather than to Pharyngula.

#14

Posted by: bad Jim | January 7, 2010 5:29 AM

Um, so the name of our planet is Blaupunkt? Or to advert to a rather obscure and obsolete American brand, Blue Dot was a particular memorable issue of LSD. It is also a rather tasty tune by Leo Kottke.

#15

Posted by: boygenius | January 7, 2010 5:39 AM

Um, bad Jim...

You have a bad Link. I luvs me some tasty Leo, so please fix it.

/I don't blame the LSD, broken links happen all the time! :)

#16

Posted by: fighthunger | January 7, 2010 6:37 AM

I guess every scientist is poet in some way. The one video on this that I liked more was from Oscar's rather than Grammy :-):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw

And while we are here admiring our home, lets not forget how little action on our part will create big difference at this home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12zHEN4nsgI

#17

Posted by: The Tim Channel | January 7, 2010 6:40 AM

Blog whoring is a little strong IMHO, but I'll try a little harder not to offend the delicate sensibilities of the group. It's true that I could have posted those links under the NJ poll vote and they would have been better 'targeted'.

On the other hand, I don't post non-meritorious crap and I do make every effort to avoid just posting 'blind' links with NO descriptions or relevance to this blog's general direction of topics.

You'll spend more time in ONE DAY scrolling through inane and pointless creationist claptrap than you will whistling by my one or two quite excellent posts per day here.

Enjoy.

#18

Posted by: kiki | January 7, 2010 7:00 AM

Hmmm. Liked the Sagan, obviously, but about halfway through, the video looked like it could have been called 'A History of the Human Race and all the AWESOME RAWKIN' COOL EXPLOSIONS AND STUFF that it has Created'.

#19

Posted by: Steven Mading | January 7, 2010 7:23 AM

This message from Paler Blue Dot's audio book is some of Sagan's most inspirational work. So much so that this one passage has become synonymous with Pale Blue Dot even though it's just one small part of the entire book by that name.

That being said, there are far better versions of this that are set the music by Vangelis, the music that was used in the Cosmos show. One problem I have with this particular variant is that the guitar is louder than Carl's voice, and that's not the way it should be.

#20

Posted by: Steven Mading | January 7, 2010 7:29 AM

Oops. Typo. I meant PALE blue dot not PALER blue dot. (the 'r' is next to the 'e' on a QWERTY keyboard. I must have ended up hitting both keys at once and since "paler" is also an English word it didn't get highlighter as a misspelling so I didn't notice.

#21

Posted by: Nebula99 | January 7, 2010 8:02 AM

This is really good; my only problem with it is that some of the audio is set a lot louder than Sagan's voice, so I have to keep fiddling with the volume if I want to hear everything and not have my ears blasted out. Still, the message is awesome.

Steven--don't worry. Everybody makes typos once in a while, and now that I've said that there are probably three in this post alone.

#22

Posted by: toomanytribbles | January 7, 2010 8:08 AM

aaaaaggghh!
thank you!

#23

Posted by: Lifer | January 7, 2010 8:08 AM

I'm right in the middle of reading "The Demon-Haunted World" for the first time. Thanks for this, PZed. It's nowhere near the Symphony of Science songs though!

#24

Posted by: plien | January 7, 2010 8:10 AM

Of course pale blue dot is poetry.
And putting it to music is a good idea.

I'm in favour of punk/metal/whatever if it's loud, only NOT with pale blue dot. I find this drowns out Sagan's voice too much.

Here is my favourite version with music by Sigur Ros

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOM7WOGGUw

#25

Posted by: hznfrst | January 7, 2010 8:23 AM

This raucous "music" does not go well at all with Carl Sagan, especially when it overwhelms his voice!

You will find it it hard to improve on the soundtrack to Cosmos: inspiring music that stayed in the background where it belonged - and which shut up when it needed to.

Nova went through a period of producing shows with ridiculously intrusive soundtracks until enough people complained, including me. I think it was another example of someone fresh out of film school who thought s/he was being "creative."

#26

Posted by: hznfrst | January 7, 2010 8:31 AM

Plien, that link is much more like it - thank you!

#27

Posted by: RamblinDude | January 7, 2010 8:57 AM

That is the most freakin' awesome video you have ever posted

#28

Posted by: Shamar | January 7, 2010 9:23 AM

I don't understand...what's people's problem with the autotune stuff?? I mean, this is good too, but wtf? I say that if they are too dense to appreciate the autotune stuff, then they don't desreve to hear any of it!

#29

Posted by: eddie | January 7, 2010 9:23 AM

Beautiful. Three (at least) different kindsa beautiful.

#30

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | January 7, 2010 9:59 AM

I echo the first comment. A Sagan rock anthem? Who would have thought.

My wife and I have been discussing baby names and I wanted to use Carl as a middle name for a boy. She wouldn't let me. For some reason she just doesn't like the name. Fortunately she's okay with Isaac.

#31

Posted by: Guy | January 7, 2010 10:15 AM

What made Sagan a great was that he was focused on delivering a positive message about science. He did occasionally point out the ridiculousness of superstitious beliefs but it was not is primary goal. This way he could engage the audience without being threatening to people that were indoctrinated into faith prior to learning about science.

#32

Posted by: echoegami | January 7, 2010 10:23 AM

My husband and I discovered the first autotuned video, "A More Glorious Dawn" when it first came out and became instantly obsessed with it. We sang it to each other and foisted it upon everyone we thought might possibly appreciate it. It rekindled a forgotten appreciation for Sagan in both of us and a sadness that he died much too soon. Sagan was indeed a poet and an inspirational man.

#33

Posted by: Hot-Z | January 7, 2010 10:30 AM

I hope many have checked out Symphony of Science..they add new videos every so often goo stuff
http://www.symphonyofscience.com/

#34

Posted by: eddie | January 7, 2010 11:29 AM

Shamar said @28;

I ^don't _understand...^what's people's _problem with the _autotune ^stuff??

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

#35

Posted by: Tom Coward | January 7, 2010 11:46 AM

Darn you to heck PZ. I'm supposed to be working, but here I sit weeping onto my keyboard!

Thanks! Keep up the good work!

#36

Posted by: Marilyn | January 7, 2010 12:00 PM

Arggghh...Lets have Pharyngulitis with a Gregorian chants background??

#37

Posted by: High Silence | January 7, 2010 12:04 PM

Hi, I'm the writer of the music for this piece, and I arranged all the Sagan audio and the video as well. Thanks to PZ for posting this, and thanks to everyone that has checked it out. I appreciate the fans of more aggressive music that liked this, and I appreciate all of you who watched the video at all. Mixing Sagan's voice with the music was a challenge as I am not a professional sound engineer, so it will not be a perfect audio experience.

Also, I like the autotune stuff so-so, but I created this song a while ago, and I think it provides a good alternative for those who prefer slightly heavier music. It's not meant to out-do the autotune pieces.

#38

Posted by: tsg | January 7, 2010 12:07 PM

It may just be my shitty speakers, but I can't hear Sagan over the guitars.

#39

Posted by: macleodcartoons | January 7, 2010 12:22 PM

Love it. Loved the Attenborough one too.

#40

Posted by: nejishiki | January 7, 2010 12:36 PM

Better than that Auto-trash.
Still waiting for a Ray Comfort video accompanied by the song "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"

#41

Posted by: SaintStephen | January 7, 2010 1:03 PM

Oh come off it, people.

What, are y'all blind or somethin'? I saw The Holy Trinity right here:

Such arrogance from Sagan and the New Atheists, in the face of incontrovertible evidence like this, is not going to win y'all very many points with the wafer-eaters.

#42

Posted by: Leofwine | January 7, 2010 1:11 PM

I agree with those who think the choice of music in this one was a bad choice. Sagan should be accompanied by inspirational melodies not punk, rock, or hip hop.

#43

Posted by: RamblinDude | January 7, 2010 1:21 PM

High Silence,

Nice job, I really like it. I got choked up. The music is great. It’s derivative of Metallica, but it’s original and fits perfectly and isn’t just another heavy metal clone piece. Thumbs way up.

It does demand a good sound system on one’s computer to appreciate it.

#44

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | January 7, 2010 2:15 PM

Yeah, no. I prefer the autotune. I love The Pale Blue Dot but that just hurts my ears and annoys me.

#45

Posted by: Bone Oboe | January 7, 2010 2:18 PM

Lifer @ # 23 said:

I'm right in the middle of reading "The Demon-Haunted World" for the first time.

I just started that one as well. Been kicking myself for not getting it sooner.
My _Happy monkey likes it, makes his coat sniny.

With apologies to William S. Burroughs.

#46

Posted by: MetzO'Magic | January 7, 2010 2:19 PM

OMG, Sagan has been reincarnated as Agent Smith! The irony of it all.

...but I liked it, me being a rocker from way back who played electric guitar for over 30 years.

Holy shit, I almost poe'd myself there. I went to look up 'agent smith' to make sure I had the correct Matrix reference, and the Google type-ahead suggested:

agent smith carl sagan

So I followed one of the links and found this very amusing video:

YouTube: The Matrix Vs. Carl Sagan

In retrospect, I don't think the makers of the video PZed posted even needed the autotune ;-)

#47

Posted by: daijiyobu | January 7, 2010 2:32 PM

Is it me or does Carl Sagan autotuned sound like Jim Henson?

His Ernie from Sesame Street voice particularly.

-r.c.

#48

Posted by: Shamar | January 7, 2010 2:41 PM

leofwine said:

I agree with those who think the choice of music in this one was a bad choice. Sagan should be accompanied by inspirational melodies not punk, rock, or hip hop.

It WAS an inspirational melody!!! And if you are too closed minded and locked in your own little world to appreciate the creativity, art, and beauty in other kinds of music than I feel sorry for you....

#49

Posted by: chuckgoecke | January 7, 2010 2:43 PM

For those that missed it, the video in this link is stunning, so good it brought tears to my eyes. Warning, its a full length feature-90minutes. Definitely on topic, and definitely worth re-mentioning!
#7 & #8
Posted by: negentropyeater Author Profile Page | January 7, 2010 3:35 AM

This is a bit better, but not my cup of tea.

The best I've seen so far, is HOME, the movie by Yann Arthus-Bertrand with the music by Armand Amar.

Absolutely stunning pictures of the earth combined with inspiring music and poetic pro science message.

For those who haven't seen it, it's available for free on youtube in HD in many languages.
#8
...
http://www.youtube.com/user/homeproject?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/4/jqxENMKaeCU

#50

Posted by: kaessa.com | January 7, 2010 3:56 PM

I enjoyed that, but the mixing could have been a lot better. It was hard to hear his voice over the music.

#51

Posted by: boygenius | January 7, 2010 4:58 PM

The Tim Channel,

Sorry, I was a little harsher than I intended. I was in a bad mood last night and I took it out on you. I apologize. Your posts always have merit, and one can always choose to click-thru to your link, or not.

Peace?

#52

Posted by: Ian McLaughlin | January 7, 2010 5:36 PM

hje, #6: "When I was in junior high, I wrote him to request information about Mariner 9's mission to Mars--for a report. He graciously wrote back and sent me photos taken by the spacecraft. I mean, he's a professor at Cornell with lots of responsibilities, and he takes the time to communicate with some dopey little science geek."

OK, this made me tear up more than I have in quite awhile. I miss Carl.

But then I tried to log-in to post this comment and the emotion quickly changed to rage.

#53

Posted by: Andyo | January 8, 2010 12:46 AM

I like better the version with movie clips. If you've seen the movies, it makes it even better.

#54

Posted by: Andyo | January 8, 2010 12:59 AM

Actually, having seen a couple of the other versions this one is pretty bad! Badly mixed and the music doesn't even sound very good. And I think some of the speech is cut out?

Check the other one I was talking about. There's another one with identical audio made with newsreel footage, equally powerful.

But the best way, go buy Pale Blue Dot and read it from the source. They're among the best couple of paragraphs I've ever read in any book.

#55

Posted by: Pastor Farm | January 8, 2010 1:03 AM

I discovered Sagan far too late, but I've love deverything I've read of his and never tire of Cosmos.

No matter what setting I hear or read Pale Blue Dot, it always ends in tears. It is true beauty.

#56

Posted by: politas | January 8, 2010 1:25 AM

Ugh. Electric guitars way too loud and overbearing! Couldn't stand watching it all.

#57

Posted by: Realist | January 8, 2010 1:57 AM

I don't know who would get deterred by an autotuned Carl Sagan but then prefer him to that kind of rock music :/

Either way, neither diminish the content of what he is actually saying which truly is poetic.

#58

Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawl2DnRjxg-9dTMThCfAKz5yvww1YFk2lo8 | January 8, 2010 8:27 AM

The juxtaposition in that clip is really quite disturbing. It just illustrates that we, as a species, may not reach maturity enough to save ourselves before we go extinct.

It also kind of hits me like Metallica's S&M did; with the same concurrent feelings of "wow that's cool" and "oh dear, we're in trouble" at the same time.

#59

Posted by: Andrew T | January 9, 2010 4:52 PM

That Sagan quote is one of my favorite of all times. It's a poignant reminder of how utterly insignificant our petty conflicts are in the cosmic scheme of things.

Great video, but they really, REALLY needed to either tone down the music or up the volume on Sagan's voice. I could barely make out much of what he was saying, and if I wasn't already familiar with those words I would've missed a lot of what was said.

#60

Posted by: reindeerflotilla | January 10, 2010 10:33 AM

@negentropyeater:

That 'HOME' film is OK in parts... it's high quality production. But it would be much better if it was more impartial, rational, complete and accurate science education with less of the unashamedly biased hippy anti-capitalism ideology which is given a priority over the best possible science communication in the film.

#61

Posted by: jackh.1979 | August 25, 2011 8:59 AM

I find it strange that many can listen to the music, and I use the term loosely, on the radio, and be turned off by autotune, as for me, I find this to be yet another brilliant forum to bring science to a new generation. Music is just as fundamental as reading. I believe Dr. Sagan would agree with me, Rest in Peace Carl, you are missed.

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