# First song to mention computers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967 "2017-03-12T00:51:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/22 "2017-03-16T11:46:59Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Computers were displayed in “This Island Earth” (1955) and “Forbidden Planet” (1956). I hate to be a nitpicker, but they weren’t. There was the Interociter in _This Island Earth_, but I don’t recall any computers being shown at all. _Forbidden Planet_ famously had Robby, the Robot, of course, and a decently working robot has to be a good computer, as well. But Robby was a unique specimen “beyond all earth’s physical sciences”, built by Morbius. It’s notable that all of the equipment on board Star Cruiser C57D is conspicuously lacking in computers – it’s part of that Analog Future that was the staple of 1940s science fiction (and I’ve argued before that FP is the embodiment of 1940s pulp fiction). Even the Krel machines, although they are stated to be self-repairing and self-operating, don’t seem to act like computers – they’re more like 1940s-era automatic mechanisms. The Krel automatic desktop looks and acts more like a period microfilm reader than a present-day e-book. If you want to see Robby in a film with the 1950s vision of a computer, you need to look at the little-known black and white sequel to _Forbidden Planet_, _The Invisible Boy_: > **[The Invisible Boy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Boy)** > > The Invisible Boy (aka S.O.S Spaceship) is a 1957 black and white American science fiction film from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack, directed by Herman Hoffman, and starring Richard Eyer and Philip Abbott. It is the second film appearance of Robby the Robot, the science fiction character who "stole the show" in Forbidden Planet (1956), also released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. According to an implied, subtle back story in The Invisible Boy, the robot is the same character as tha In... Here’s the computer: [![](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5516/11145453603_49d81426b3_b.jpg) ](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5516/11145453603_49d81426b3_b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/23 "2017-03-16T11:54:12Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I hate to be a nitpicker, but they weren’t. There was the Interociter in _This Island Earth_, but I don’t recall any computers being shown at all. > > _Forbidden Planet_ famously had Robby, the Robot, of course, and a decently working robot has to be a good computer, as well. But Robby was a unique specimen “beyond all earth’s physical sciences”, built by Morbius. It’s notable that all of the equipment on board Star Cruiser C57D is conspicuously lacking in computers – it’s part of that Analog Future that was the staple of 1940s science fiction (and I’ve argued before that FP is the embodiment of 1940s pulp fiction). Even the Krel machines, although they are stated to be self-repairing and self-operating, don’t seem to act like computers – they’re more like 1940s-era automatic mechanisms. The Krel automatic desktop looks and acts more like a period microfilm reader than a present-day e-book. > > If you want to see Robby in a film with the 1950s vision of a computer, you need to look at the little-known black and white sequel to _Forbidden Planet_, _The Invisible Boy_: > > [The Invisible Boy - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Boy) > > Here’s the computer: > > [https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5516/11145453603\_49d81426b3\_b.jpg](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5516/11145453603_49d81426b3_b.jpg) By the way, there’s no reason to turn to these iffy films for computers – there were plenty of low-budget science fiction films in the 1950s that featured large-scale room-filling computers ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/24 "2017-03-16T11:57:28Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > By the way, there’s no reason to turn to these iffy films for computers – there were plenty of low-budget science fiction films in the 1950s that featured large-scale room-filling computers And again-Did _any_ of these movies have songs mentioning computers? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/25 "2017-03-16T12:07:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And again-Did _any_ of these movies have songs mentioning computers? Not that I recall, but I wasn’t answering the OP – I was correcting what I saw as an error by a later poster. With the references to computers in films in the fifties (_Desk Set, The Invisible Boy, The Fly, Kronos_, etc.) and the stories about the accomplishments of Univac and the IBM machines, you’d think there would be several songs mentioning them in the 1950s. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/26 "2017-03-16T12:10:20Z")
We used to sing Frank Hayes’ _S-100 Bus_ at conventions back in the late 70’s, but I can’t seem to find when he wrote it. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/27 "2017-03-16T12:50:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And again-Did _any_ of these movies have songs mentioning computers? The 1934 German film _[Der Herr der Welt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_the_World_(1934_film))_ has a song. But the robot is singing _to_ the human, afaict. There were quite a few robot and what-not movies pre-1950. _Metropolis_, most famously. The robot does a dance thing, but no singing. _Desk Set_ only has simple instrumentals for credits and such. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/28 "2017-03-16T12:58:15Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > We used to sing Frank Hayes’ _S-100 Bus_ at conventions back in the late 70’s, but I can’t seem to find when he wrote it. It occurred to me that fan-based _filk songs_ might offer an early example of a computer song. Certainly there were filk songs (if not yet called by that name) in the 1950s. I’m at work, and haven’t got the time to look through them and find dates, but here’s an internet filk archive of computer-based songs, if anyone’s interested. [http://suburbanbanshee.net/filk/compulnk.html](http://suburbanbanshee.net/filk/compulnk.html) The site claims that the earliest known computer filk dates from 1966 – Tom Digby’s _Little Teeny Eyes_, but I’ll bet there’s something earlier. [http://www.well.com/user/bubbles/LilTEyes.txt](http://www.well.com/user/bubbles/LilTEyes.txt) Actual sheet music for Little Teeny Eyes: [http://www.well.com/user/bubbles/LilTEyes.GIF](http://www.well.com/user/bubbles/LilTEyes.GIF) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/29 "2017-03-16T13:02:14Z")
Here’s **Univac and Humanoid** by Sheldon Allman from 1960, from his science fiction album _Songs for the 21st Century_ : [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uw2OKX9ZZfg/hqdefault.jpg "Sheldon Allman - Univac And Humanoid (Folk Songs For The 21st Century - 1960)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw2OKX9ZZfg) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/30 "2017-03-16T13:08:29Z")
It’s a much later entry, but Richard and Robert Sherman (the soingwriting brothers who did a lot of stuff for Disney, most notably the theme for _The Wonderful World of Color_ and the score for **Mary Poppins** ) did **The Computer Song** for Disney. Sadly, it didn’t come out until as late as 1982: > **[The Sherman Brothers’ Computer Song](https://mouseplanet.com/the-sherman-brothers-computer-song/3646/)** > [@](#): > > “The Computer Song” by Robert and Richard Sherman (1982) > You see my friends, the computer makes life easier. > Saves me time and headaches too. > He sorts things out, analyzes in a shake. > My enormous problem, to him’s a piece of cake! > > He’s got a great big memory like an elephant. > Utilizes knowledge without end. > That’s why I’m a rooter, for me computer. > Everybody needs a friend! > > When my work piles up, and I’m seein’ red, > 'cause I need five arms and an extra head, > I find the computer, becomes me trouble shooter. > He keeps miles and miles of facts on file. > My wish is his command. > > Nothing is astuter than a computer, when I need a helping hand. > Let me explain: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/U3lZW39D1pQ/hqdefault.jpg "Sperry Univac presents Ken Jennings EPCOT 1982") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3lZW39D1pQ) > **[Computer Song.mp3 | Powered by Box](https://app.box.com/s/yvxfes86nm)** ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/31 "2017-03-16T13:09:41Z")
Here’s **The Talking Univac Blues** from 1974, another late entry: [http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?showall=true&bookmarkedmessageid=5802038&boardid=41&threadid=97894](http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelectedControllerServlet?showall=true&bookmarkedmessageid=5802038&boardid=41&threadid=97894) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/32 "2017-03-16T13:18:52Z")
Gilberto Gil recorded _Cérebro Eletronico_ (“Electronic Brain”) in 1969 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JFAHDYEMHEE/hqdefault.jpg "Gilberto Gil - Cérebro Eletrônico") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFAHDYEMHEE) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/33 "2017-03-16T13:46:26Z")
This is definitely a stretch, but has to be a benchmark of sorts. Jacques Offenbach’s famous opéra fantastique _Tales of Hoffman_ includes a segment (Act I – “Olympia”) based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s story _The Sandman_ it concerns Olympia, an automaton that the hero falls in love with, unaware that it’s essentially a robot. There are many siongs, including “Une poupée aux yeux d’émail” – _A doll with enamel eyes_ The opera was first performed in 1851. A famous film of it was released a century later in 1951. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/34 "2017-03-16T13:56:20Z")
Seriously: CalMeachem, that’s cool stuff – thanks. Not seriously: It’s certainly the first mention of email in an artistic work! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/35 "2017-03-16T14:17:14Z")
[Tripping through IBM’s astonishingly insane 1937 corporate songbook](https://arstechnica.com/business/2014/08/tripping-through-ibms-astonishingly-insane-1937-corporate-songbook/) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/36 "2017-03-16T14:54:05Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Tripping through IBM’s astonishingly insane 1937 corporate songbook](https://arstechnica.com/business/2014/08/tripping-through-ibms-astonishingly-insane-1937-corporate-songbook/) Wow – thanks for this! To our eyes today, it’s like North Korea meets Animal House-era college boosterism. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/37 "2017-03-16T17:50:16Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This is definitely a stretch, but has to be a benchmark of sorts. > > Jacques Offenbach’s famous opéra fantastique _Tales of Hoffman_ includes a segment (Act I – “Olympia”) based on E.T.A. Hoffman’s story _The Sandman_ it concerns Olympia, an automaton that the hero falls in love with, unaware that it’s essentially a robot. There are many siongs, including “Une poupée aux yeux d’émail” – _A doll with enamel eyes_ > > The opera was first performed in 1851. A famous film of it was released a century later in 1951. Oh cool, just like your other links. Thanks **CalMeacham**. I have E.T.A. Hoffmann’s collection of stories “Nachtstücke” including “Der Sandmann” on my kindle, but haven’t got around to reading it yet. I’ve read his “Die Elixiere des Teufels” years ago, and that was some strange but great stuff. Feel inspired now to catch up on “Nachtstücke”. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/38 "2017-03-16T18:19:54Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > Does [Daisy Bell](https://youtu.be/41U78QP8nBk) count? You learn something every day. And now Jokers line to Edi in Mass Effect 3 makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/39 "2017-03-16T21:43:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s a much later entry, but Richard and Robert Sherman (the soingwriting brothers who did a lot of stuff for Disney, most notably the theme for _The Wonderful World of Color_ and the score for **Mary Poppins** ) did **The Computer Song** for Disney. Sadly, it didn’t come out until as late as 1982: > > [The Sherman Brothers’ Computer Song](https://www.mouseplanet.com/9963/The_Sherman_Brothers_Computer_Song) > > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3lZW39D1pQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3lZW39D1pQ) > > [Box](https://app.box.com/shared/yvxfes86nm) I cut down your post so that you didn’t violate copyright. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/40 "2017-03-17T00:58:24Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I cut down your post so that you didn’t violate copyright. Thx ---
**Author:** ![maxburch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@maxburch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maxburch)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967/41 "2023-01-26T20:31:00Z")
Sparks, 1967 Title of the song “Computer Girl” I think Sparks win. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-song-to-mention-computers/781967.md?page=3)