Galaxy Song

The Zoo Crew is spinning the cosmic vibes of Galaxy Song by Monty Python, featured on the album Stephen Hawking Sings Monty Python...Galaxy Song, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving to its interstellar charm. This track, originally from the 1983 film Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, got a stellar remix in 2015 when famed physicist Stephen Hawking lent his iconic computerized voice to a re-recorded version. The collaboration came about after Hawking appeared in a comedic sketch during Monty Python’s 2014 reunion shows, Monty Python Live (Mostly), where he humorously ran over physicist Brian Cox with his wheelchair for nitpicking the song’s scientific inaccuracies before belting out the tune himself. Eric Idle, who wrote the song with John Du Prez, called it “an intricate and informative lecture on the enormity of the Universe fashioned into a bewitching and highly amusing pop song” in a statement on Monty Python’s official website. Released as a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl for Record Store Day 2015, only 1,000 copies were pressed, making it a collector’s gem.

Another quirky tidbit about Galaxy Song is its surprising scientific accuracy. The lyrics, penned by Eric Idle, include astronomical figures like the Earth revolving at “nine hundred miles an hour” and the galaxy being “a hundred thousand light years side to side.” Australian astrophysicist Bryan Gaensler noted that Idle’s estimate of the Milky Way’s thickness at 16,000 light years was closer to the mark than the textbook figure of 6,000 light years at the time. However, Idle later tweaked the number to 6,000 light years in his 2007 Not the Messiah show after catching flak from a “smug website” for the original figure, as he explained on Monty Python’s website. The 2015 music video, featuring Hawking zooming through space, also spawned a custom Asteroids game where players could control Hawking’s wheelchair to blast Monty Python members’ heads, adding a playful layer to the song’s legacy.

Monty Python, the comedic geniuses behind Galaxy Song, formed in 1969 as a British comedy troupe consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. Their origin story began when the group met during a taping of the children’s series Do Not Adjust Your Set, bonding over their shared love for surreal humor and satire. The BBC soon contracted them for their own sketch comedy series, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which premiered in October 1969 and became a cult hit across Europe. Blending slapstick, dark comedy, and sharp social commentary, the troupe’s unique style led to a string of iconic films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983). Their early albums, like Monty Python’s Flying Circus LP (1970), introduced their sketches to American audiences before the TV series aired on U.S. public television, cementing their global fandom.

Fans of Monty Python can dive into their world through various platforms. The troupe’s official website, montypython.com, is a treasure trove of news, exclusive videos, and a Fanwall showcasing fan content. On social media, you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates and classic clips. Fan communities thrive online, with groups like the Monty Python Appreciation Society on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks and other devotees share memes, quotes, and love for the Pythons’ absurd humor. Whether you’re spinning Galaxy Song or quoting Holy Grail, Monty Python’s legacy continues to inspire laughter and cosmic wonder.