# Is music universal? More on Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 22, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234 "2018-01-22T19:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/1 "2018-01-22T19:53:10Z")
In reference to this column: > **[Is music universal?](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/9095/is-music-universal/)** METI: [http://meti.org/mission](http://meti.org/mission) I’m surprised Cecil didn’t mention “Earth’s Greatest Hits” – the recording attached to the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft and fired off into space in 1977. Here’s what was on the record: Somewhere someday somebody is gonna be dancing to Chuck Berry and Louis Armstrong and that still tickles me all these years later. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/2 "2018-01-23T01:54:29Z")
The chance of those spacecraft ever being found by aliens and them playing the records is somewhere between none and zero. Seriously. Those records, as well as the “messages” on Pioneer 10 & 11, were aimed at people on Earth. However, Cecil does make a good point. If we ever want to repel some aliens, that is, keep them away from Earth (and there are people who think we should do this), playing the Pina Colada song at them would be an excellent first step. We’ll follow it up with reruns of Gilligan’s Island. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/3 "2018-01-23T02:30:34Z")
All our TV content is booming out into space, correct? So they’re getting everything we’ve been broadcasting roughly since God was in the third grade. So this includes _The Bachelor, Dancing With the Stars, The Apprentice, Jersey Shore, Here Comes Honey Booboo …_ … everything on this list [50 Worst TV Shows in Modern History, According to Critics](http://www.businessinsider.com/worst-tv-shows-of-all-time-critics-2016-10) _Clutch Cargo._ _Supertrain_ _Manimal_ _The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault_ _The Star Wars Holiday Special_ And that’s just the ones I can think of off the top of my pointy little head. I would guess that somewhere in the universe is a sign that says “FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY … DO NOT GO PAST THIS POINT. THE MANAGEMENT ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR EXPOSURE TO STUPIDITY.” I blame _Maury_ myself. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/4 "2018-01-28T06:16:21Z")
According to highly classified SETI reports, the aliens were tolerant of all Earth’s broadcasts, until they received a string of movies starring [Pauly Shore](http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5100000/Pauly-Shore-the-90s-5132187-200-291.jpg). They’re now approaching Earth at light speed on a joint intergalactic mission to sterilize our planet of all carbon-based lifeforms. I feel bad for my cat, but otherwise applaud their effort. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/5 "2018-01-28T07:48:45Z")
God, I hope they don’t get ahold of YouTube, how embarrassing! ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/6 "2018-01-28T12:35:51Z")
WORLDSTAR!!! Skinimax Headbanger’s Ball Tentacle porn:dubious: They will kills us for sure.😃 I just hope it’s quick. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-music-universal-more-on-messaging-extraterrestrial-intelligence/807234/7 "2018-01-28T13:41:28Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > …We’ll follow it up with reruns of Gilligan’s Island. Those poor people!