On the night of July 27, some lucky people around the world will be able to watch the 21st century’s longest lunar eclipse, a “blood moon” that will last one hour and 43 minutes.
While the eclipse will only be visible from parts of Africa, Europe, and South America, the moon is top of mind for many of us this week. And as Quartz’s Ephrat Livni points out, the moon is “always awesome, whether it’s a sliver or full and bright.”
So whether or not you have a view of the eclipse, we’ve put together a the perfect playlist for moongazing. Head to your nearest rooftop or backyard, crack open a beer, and bask in some of the best moon-inspired tunes that Earth has produced. From Beethoven to Kid Cudi, we promise there’s something for everyone.
Check out the entire Spotify playlist here.
Classical moon songs
Does looking at the sky remind you of your own insignificance? These songs are for those who like to adopt a brooding, contemplative mood when thinking about the moon.
Clair de Lune—Claude Debussy
Moonlight Sonata—Ludwig van Beethoven
Nocturne No.13 in C Minor, Op.48 No.1—Frédéric Chopin
Moon jazz, and various iconic moon songs
If the moon puts you in the mood for love:
Moon River—(Andrè Rieu’s version from Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
That’s Amore—Dean Martin
Moon River—Frank Ocean’s cover
Fly Me to the Moon—Frank Sinatra version
Blue Moon—Billie Holiday version
It’s Only a Paper Moon—Ella Fitzgerald version
Moonlight Becomes You—Chet Baker
Moon (soft, hard, and classic) rock and folk
Upbeat, funky, and croony music for your moondance.
Walking on the Moon—The Police
Dancing in the Moonlight—King Harvest
Harvest Moon—Neil Young
Pink Moon—Nick Drake
Space Oddity—David Bowie
Moonage Daydream—David Bowie
Moondance—Van Morrison
Mistério do Planeta—Novos Baianos
Moon rap, pop, and R&B
The moon continues to inspire artists today.
Man on the Moon—Kid Cudi
Spaceship—Kanye West
All the Stars—SZA and Kendrick Lamar
Orange Moon—Erykah Badu
Many Moons—Janelle Monáe
Honeymoon—Lana Del Rey
Interstellar contemporary
Imagine the Hubble images as music.
Cosmos II—Murcof
Coulor of Moonlight—Grimes
A story about the moon
Not really a music person? Totally fine. This podcast tells the delightful tale of “Qfwfq” and his crew, who jump between Earth and moon, and “sometimes hover in the nether reaches of gravity between the two.”
The Distance of the Moon—A short story by Italo Calvino on Radiolab
An earlier version of this article said the moon will be visible in North America. It will not, save for a slice of Newfoundland.