I remember first becoming aware of Gary Numan after watching an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000," specifically one where an alien takes control of a child's Simon game and makes it play horrible synth sounds.
I realized that the "in cars" chorus Joel and the bots were singing was actually from a song I liked but didn't know the name of, so I looked it up.
I think the sounds the alien makes are more similar to Numan's "We Are So Fragile," but its lyrics aren't as recognizable.
That synth version, which was an iTunes download of mine, was the first version of "Gymnopédie No. 1" I actually knew by name. Since it's a public domain composition, it's one I grew up hearing in the background of many things but never knew by name. Now it's also one of the couple of songs I can stumble through on piano.I have long loved the music of Erik Satie, and - to my stunned and delighted surprise - on the B side of one of his singles (the old 45rpm records), Gary Numan recorded a synth version of Erik Satie's Gymnopédie No 1.
Days of Future Past
by the Moody Blues.
Great old concept album. So pretentious.