The 10 Best: Robot Songs

Prepare yourselves, puny humans, to appreciate this list of the best songs and videos about and/or featuring mighty robots. Learn to appreciate these songs and perhaps your metal overlords will show you mercy after the upcoming Robot Apocalypse.

Honorable Mention

Jonathan Coulton/GLaDOS – Still Alive

I love this song. It’s only not on the list because I couldn’t decide if GLaDOS is a robot or an AI Construct, and because with another JoCo tune out there I didn’t want to come out of the closet with the huge man crush I have on him. If you never finished the first Portal game, what the hell is wrong with you??? Oh, and you might want to skip it since it has SPOILARZ.

10. Kraftwerk – The Robots

I include this one because I would feel remiss if I didn’t. I’ve never been a huge Kraftwerk fan, but this tune from the late ’70s captured a bit of that Star Wars hype and set the stage for later robotunes.

9. Daft Punk – Robot Rock

Hell, these guys have had a robot fetish their whole lives. One more European tour and I think they will officially become robots themselves. Still, they are masters of the techno.

8. Bender & The Robot Devil – Robot Hell Song

The Robot Devil was always one of my favorite Futurama characters. The writing team for the show had some great tunes during the series’ first run. Not so much for the newer episodes.

And yeah, the quality of this video sucks. Blame copyright claims.

7. Bjork – All is Full of Love

This is just a freaky video to watch. One Bjork robot would be enough. Two makes it weird.

6. Jonathan Coulton – Chiron Beta Prime

You knew JoCo would make the list, right? If it’s part of geek culture, he has a song about it, and it doesn’t disappoint. Not only is it about our mechanical benefactors, it’s also a cheery holiday tune. Huzzah!

5. Beck – Hell Yes

Beck rocks. There, I said it. Beck rocking with four QRIO robots just kicks ass.

4. Beastie Boys – Intergalactic

Hail to the Kings, baby. Breakdancing, monster-killing robot? Yes, please!

3. Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1

I want to watch Yoshimi’s workout routines, where she “disciplines her body”. Seriously. I really like this tune, an almost uncharacteristically acoustic bit from The Flaming Lips.
Dave’s Trivia Corner: The Lips’ “Do You Realize?” is the official rock song of their home state of Oklahoma.

2. Styx – Mr. Roboto

A classic. If you don’t like this song then I hate you. Really. Just go. This might be the most famous robot song in the world. Or at least the western hemisphere.

1. Flight of the Conchords – The Humans are Dead

Calm down, calm down. I know what you’re saying.

“Wah, wah, you didn’t pick “Mr. Roboto” as number one! What’s wrong with you?”

Just listen to this song. You’ll get it. Then you’ll come crawling back. They all do. BINARY SOLO FTW!