Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem
In 1978, the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult released the song “Godzilla” as the first single from the fifth studio album <i>Spectres</i>. Despite not registering on popular charts, it would eventually evolve into an iconic song of its era. “Godzilla” continues to receive airpla...
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2024-10-01
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| description | In 1978, the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult released the song “Godzilla” as the first single from the fifth studio album <i>Spectres</i>. Despite not registering on popular charts, it would eventually evolve into an iconic song of its era. “Godzilla” continues to receive airplay on classic rock stations, and it remains a staple of the band’s touring performances. In 2019, a cover of the song, more than forty years after its release, made its film debut in <i>Godzilla: King of the Monsters</i>. Though the song is primarily a tribute to the Japanese monster from which it gets its name, “Godzilla” also reflects the nuclear fear and paranoia of the 1970s Cold War era. “Godzilla’s” cultural impact, the song’s lyrics, the Cold War context in which it was written, and its connection to the kaiju films featuring the famous monster are examined. While this is the most popular and well-known song dedicated to Godzilla, it is not the only one. Other compositions have, but they have failed to achieve the iconic status that Blue Öyster Cult’s version has attained. This song has evolved into an unofficial anthem for the great monster. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-422699ee0aa947aeaae1363a559a4e6f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-422699ee0aa947aeaae1363a559a4e6f2025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872024-10-0113513810.3390/h13050138Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju AnthemDaniel Patrick Compora0Department of English, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USAIn 1978, the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult released the song “Godzilla” as the first single from the fifth studio album <i>Spectres</i>. Despite not registering on popular charts, it would eventually evolve into an iconic song of its era. “Godzilla” continues to receive airplay on classic rock stations, and it remains a staple of the band’s touring performances. In 2019, a cover of the song, more than forty years after its release, made its film debut in <i>Godzilla: King of the Monsters</i>. Though the song is primarily a tribute to the Japanese monster from which it gets its name, “Godzilla” also reflects the nuclear fear and paranoia of the 1970s Cold War era. “Godzilla’s” cultural impact, the song’s lyrics, the Cold War context in which it was written, and its connection to the kaiju films featuring the famous monster are examined. While this is the most popular and well-known song dedicated to Godzilla, it is not the only one. Other compositions have, but they have failed to achieve the iconic status that Blue Öyster Cult’s version has attained. This song has evolved into an unofficial anthem for the great monster.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/13/5/138GodzillaBlue Öyster Cult<i>Spectres</i>kaijumonstersong |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Patrick Compora Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem Humanities Godzilla Blue Öyster Cult <i>Spectres</i> kaiju monster song |
| title | Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem |
| title_full | Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem |
| title_fullStr | Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem |
| title_short | Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla”: An American Kaiju Anthem |
| title_sort | blue oyster cult s godzilla an american kaiju anthem |
| topic | Godzilla Blue Öyster Cult <i>Spectres</i> kaiju monster song |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/13/5/138 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielpatrickcompora blueoystercultsgodzillaanamericankaijuanthem |