Planet Claire
Encyclopedia
"Planet Claire" is the second single released by The B-52's
from their self-titled debut album The B-52's
. The single was their second single to chart anywhere, at #43 in Australia and #24 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
chart, along with album tracks "Rock Lobster" and "Dance This Mess Around". The song bears somewhat of a resemblance to the Peter Gunn
television show theme, and also to Devo
's adaptation of the theme. "Planet Claire" was also later covered by Foo Fighters
; Fred Schneider
also did the vocals on their cover.
Planet Claire is also the name of a rock musical encompassing songs of The B-52's. The plot involves a young girl named "Claire" who works in a dive bar called the "Love Shack." She is involved in a car crash that causes her to awake on Planet Topaz, where parallel versions of her friends back on Earth help her on a journey of self discovery before she is returned home. It debuted in 2002 at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick, Maryland
, and was directed by Tad Janes, with costumes and choreography by Julie Herber. The musical was shown once more in 2004 at the Baltimore Theater Project, and was revived for a third time in Frederick in May 2010. The book of the musical was written by Tad Janes, Gené Fouché and Timothy King.
The DreamWorks Animation
movie Monsters vs Aliens released in 2009 contains a version of the song covered by Les Deux Love Orchestra. This version is noteworthy as Les Deux Love Orchestra contains members of Henry Mancini
's original "Peter Gunn" orchestra. Mancini is listed as co-writer on the track. The credits of the film also include the original B-52's version.
The Animation movie Paul
released in 2011 contains this song.
Canadian Thrash Metal
band Obliveon released a cover of "Planet Claire" on an EP in 1998.
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
from their self-titled debut album The B-52's
The B-52's (album)
Critical reception for The B-52's was generally favorable; critics praised the album's kitschy lyrics and party atmosphere.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Fred Schneider – cowbell, toy piano, keyboard bass, Vocals, walkie talkie...
. The single was their second single to chart anywhere, at #43 in Australia and #24 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, along with album tracks "Rock Lobster" and "Dance This Mess Around". The song bears somewhat of a resemblance to the Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The show's creator was Blake Edwards...
television show theme, and also to Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
's adaptation of the theme. "Planet Claire" was also later covered by Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
; Fred Schneider
Fred Schneider
Frederick William "Fred" Schneider III is an American rock singer, best known as the frontman of the rock band The B-52's, of which he is a founding member. Schneider is well-known for his sprechgesang which he developed from reciting poetry over guitars.-Early life:Schneider was born in Newark,...
also did the vocals on their cover.
Planet Claire is also the name of a rock musical encompassing songs of The B-52's. The plot involves a young girl named "Claire" who works in a dive bar called the "Love Shack." She is involved in a car crash that causes her to awake on Planet Topaz, where parallel versions of her friends back on Earth help her on a journey of self discovery before she is returned home. It debuted in 2002 at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, and was directed by Tad Janes, with costumes and choreography by Julie Herber. The musical was shown once more in 2004 at the Baltimore Theater Project, and was revived for a third time in Frederick in May 2010. The book of the musical was written by Tad Janes, Gené Fouché and Timothy King.
The DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. is an American animation studio based in Glendale, California that creates animated feature films, television program and online virtual worlds...
movie Monsters vs Aliens released in 2009 contains a version of the song covered by Les Deux Love Orchestra. This version is noteworthy as Les Deux Love Orchestra contains members of Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
's original "Peter Gunn" orchestra. Mancini is listed as co-writer on the track. The credits of the film also include the original B-52's version.
The Animation movie Paul
Paul (film)
Paul is a 2011 science fiction comedy film directed by Greg Mottola, written by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. It stars Pegg, Frost, and the voice of Seth Rogen as the title character...
released in 2011 contains this song.
Canadian Thrash Metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Obliveon released a cover of "Planet Claire" on an EP in 1998.
Track listing
Personnel
- Fred Schneider: Vocals, walkie-talkieWalkie-talkieA walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
- Kate PiersonKate PiersonCatherine Elizabeth "Kate" Pierson is an American vocalist and one of the lead singers and founding members of The B-52's. One of the multi-instrumentalists in the band, Pierson played guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments...
: Keyboards, wailing - Cindy WilsonCindy WilsonCynthia Leigh Wilson is a vocalist and a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s.- Career :...
: Bongos - Ricky WilsonRicky Wilson (American musician)Ricky Helton Wilson was an American instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and musician. He was best known as the original guitarist and founding member of New Wave rock band the B-52s...
: Guitar - Keith Strickland: Drums, percussion, all other sounds
Chart positions
| Charts | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
43 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
24 |