Comments on: Newtonian Inconsistencies in Lena’s “Satellite”

By: Johann

Johann — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:46:05 +0000

Thank you for that nice piece of OTI! I always knew that there was something wrong with that song, but couldn’t quite put my finger on int…

By: Markus Schnitzler

Markus Schnitzler — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:15:51 +0000

I’m a Lena fan from Germany and I enjoyed reading this. It is the first scientific analysis of the astronomy described in this song. Lena has created a new kind of universe, which we call “Lenaversum” in German. By the way: In the casting show, Lena once said ironically that she wants to study physics.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:25:33 +0000

@Rake: I considered that possibility; that’s why I added the line that even if Lena experiences night and day, Love as a star would not understand what she was talking about, since it sees constant day reflected in whatever is facing it. Of course, not being understood never stopped a woman from telling a guy something; just ask my wife.

I started this analysis just to amuse myself, but it actually led to some rather dark interpretations, not reflected in Lena’s lighthearted tone. If the force of love is like gravity, does it fall off as one over the distance squared? If I’m twice as far away, do I love you four times less? That contradicts the old expression “absence makes the heart grow fonder” but reinforces the somewhat more recent proverb “if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”.

By: Rake

Rake — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 04:56:36 +0000

Good article. One thing though, you say Lena could not experience night and day if she was orbiting the sun. She could however, if she was using her eyes as the referenc point. If she were not tidally locked then she would alternately see the bright sun (day) and deep space (night). Therefore the love could be between her and the sun.

By: Katie D

Katie D — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:48:39 +0000

Considering how many OTIers have expressed their appreciation of the World Cup, I’m surprised you didn’t mention “Schland O Schland”, a cover of “Satellite” by a bunch of nerdy college kids in Münster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFd9JvyFRYo . After a flurry of takedown notices and legal tangoing, the new song got picked up by Universal.

While we’re on the topic of World Cup songs, let’s not forget “Gimme Hope Joachim”, another catchy one for Germany: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK-XlOYnYJc

“’54, ’74, ’90, 2010″, by Sportfreunde Stiller, was released during the last World Cup as “’54, ’74, ’90, 2006″, but quickly amended to the new version as soon as Germany was out of the running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9owJbIUlFNc

This is all beside the point. Go listen to Schland O Schland.

By: laserbl'ast

laserbl'ast — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:10:53 +0000

eurovision only became voter-based in, i think, the 90s. i understand there was previously a panel of judges

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 21:03:48 +0000

You missed a very important piece of this puzzle: XTC’s song “Another Satellite”. Clearly the two songs form a binary pair (in fact, very similar to what you have described, while Lena’s “Satellite” is very pleasant and catchy, I doubt many people would contest that the center of gravity of this pair would be effectively the center of gravity of XTC’s contribution.)

How might XTC respond to this song?

I say why on earth do you revolve around me
Aren’t you aware of the gravity

You can’t call it Overthinking It if you don’t do your research!

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:02:42 +0000

I was reading about Eurovision recently since I had heard about it many times but knew nothing about it other than ABBA won once. It should be noted that, in addition to ABBA and Celine Dion winning, Katrina and the Waves, known to most for “Walking on Sunshine” also won once for the UK in 1997 with “Love Shine a Light.” Also, they let people sing in made up languages.

The black hole theory seems more feasible, since so little is known about the physical properties of black holes that many things are plausible in regards to those things. They don’t obey Newtonian OR Quantum Physics!

Or, conversely, this could just be a truly awful song lyrically. I’ll abide mediocre lyrics if a song sounds good, but those lyrics are just too lousy. It also reminds me of one day when, upon hearing Faith Hill’s “This Kiss,” I went on repeated rants about how comparing a kiss to centrifugal motion made no sense.

By: Timothy J Swann

Timothy J Swann — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:40:21 +0000

Great job, I really enjoyed this… surprised I didn’t hear it whilst I was in Germany.