“Mr. Play-It-Safe.” (I wonder if he ever met Mr. Smoke-Too-Much.)
I had always assumed the song Shadows of the Night was about aviation based on Pat Benatar’s music video for it. But the Wiki page for the song says it’s really about “two young runaways in New York City.” Huh. Her video has nothing to do with two runaways.
Not really literally about flying but there is Foo Fighters and Learn to Fly.
TCMF-2L
Shirley Temple - On the Good Ship Lollipop
(the “ship” in question is an airplane)
Here’s one from Jefferson Airplane’s corny phase - Planes.
Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder (or, as it’s actually titled, “The U.S. Air Force”)
Flying Down To Rio - Fred & Ginger (Don’t watch the clip if you’re a nervous flyer)
Flying, but a plane is not involved:
Flight of Icarus by Iron Maiden
“On second thought, I should have taken a plane.” - Icarus’ final words
Marc Blitzstein’s Airborne Symphony is a full-length song cycle of “songs about planes and flying,” starting with an intro that recaps the history of aviation:
Rhapsody in Blue was associated with flying for a while.
Often underrated Pub Rockers The Motors with Airport
TCMF-2L
Boulder to Birmingham - Emmylou Harris
I don’t want to hear a love song
I got on this airplane just to fly
And I know there’s life below me
But all that you can show me is the prairie and the sky
The wing on the aeroplane
Has just caught on fire
I say without reservation
We ain’t getting no higher
-Glow Girl / The Who
“Fly By Night” - RUSH
“High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. is sort of the aviators’ national anthem.
It has been set to music a couple of times. Here is John Denver’s version:
“Come Fly With Me” - Frank Sinatra
“Dallas From a DC-9 at Night” - Joe Ely
“Sydney From a 727” by Paul Kelly and the Messengers.
British Ska giants The Specials and International Jet Set (a scathing look at international travel.)
TCMF-2L