The Y! Music Playlist Blog

Songs That Feature Theremin

By | The Y! Music Playlist Blog – Mon, Dec 10, 2007 3:38 PM EST

In 1919 a Russian physicist named Lev Sergeivitch Termen invented a radical instrument that is played without touching it. The user moves her hands around two antennas to control pitch and volume. The result is an eerie, sci-fi sound that has been used in music as well as spooky movies of the 50s and 60s like "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "It Came From Outer Space".

Even though most people have never heard of a Theremin, everyone has heard the sound many times. This playlist contains songs that feature this whacked-out instrument.

The most well-known Theremin riff is probably found in the chorus of the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" so listen closely. The Beach Boys used an "Electro-Theremin" as opposed to a traditional two antenna Theremin, but the sound is the same so I have included it here.

Please note that that Theremin is used in many more songs than are listed here, but this 30 song playlist will give you a great well-rounded view of what can be done with the instrument.

The Playlist:

1. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys

2. Shot Shot - Gomez

3. Guitar - Cake

4. Odalisque - Naughty Noise 

5. We're Not Right - David Gray

6. Holes - Mercury Rev

7. Mental - Eels

8. Cup Of Coffee - Garbage

9. All The Way Up To Heaven - Guster

10. Jacky Cane - Hooverphonic 

11. I'm So Small - Fleming & John

12. Find The Key - Various Artists 

13. Follow My Way - Chris Cornell

14. Velouria - The Pixies

15. Whole Lotta Love - Dread Zeppelin

16. Green - Action Figure Party 

17. Glory Box - Portishead

18. Saturn III - Fu Manchu

19. Malaria - L.A. Guns

20. Jimmy Was A Stimulator - Scott Weiland 

21. Better Version - Shinedown

22. Funeral Song - Sleater-Kinney

23. 4 Out Of 5 - Soul Coughing

24. Space Child - Spirit 

25. Wonderboy - Tenacious D

26. Edison's Medicine - Tesla

27. Little People - The White Stripes

28. Wild Honey - The Beach Boys

29. Echoes - Pink Floyd

News for You

  • Restaurant learns online reviews can make or break

    PHOENIX (AP) — It was the customer service disaster heard around the Internet.

  • The new consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony

    NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is the last of the three big video game console makers to unveil its latest gaming system. The unveiling comes nearly eight years after the Xbox 360 went on sale. It follows last fall's debut of Nintendo's Wii U and a preview in February of the upcoming PlayStation 4 from Sony.

  • Singer Kellie Pickler named new 'Dancing' champ

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kellie Pickler came into the final "Dancing With the Stars" episode in second place but finished in first.

  • Woman on Trump: 'Somebody had to stand up to him'

    CHICAGO (AP) — An 87-year-old woman who alleges Donald Trump cheated her in a skyscraper-condo sale told jurors Monday she had qualms about suing the real estate mogul and TV celebrity. But, she quickly added, "Somebody had to stand up to him."

  • Singer Kellie Pickler jives to victory on "Dancing With the Stars"

    By Andrea Burzynski NEW YORK (Reuters) - Country singer Kellie Pickler won the 16th season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" on Tuesday night, winning over judges and TV audiences with her graceful style and high-jumping jives with partner and professional dancer Derek Hough. Pickler, who first grabbed attention as a contestant on "American Idol" in 2006, screeched and jumped up and down when she learned she had won. "This is amazing! Oh, my God!" she exclaimed, before fellow finalist and NFL player Jacoby Jones hoisted her on his shoulders to celebrate. ...

  • Douglas, Damon dramatize a steamy show-biz affair

    NEW YORK (AP) — The idea of Michael Douglas playing Liberace might seem nearly as outrageous as Liberace himself.

Show More