For space is wide and good friends are too few

What is filk?  Hard question.  Easy answer: the folk music of the science fiction fandom.  Thing is, it doesn't always sound like folk music, and it's not even close to all about science fiction.  We've got singers and rappers, guitarists and accordion players, keyboardists and bodhran-wielders.  We'll take sad songs about space and ballads from the back pages of Mercedes Lackey novels, songs that are strings of innuendo based on Star Trek, songs about gaming, politics, Shakespeare, Kipling, cats, escapism.  Songs to the tune of one song, referencing three more songs, making jokes about a sci-fi convention that happened back in the 60's and speculating about the furture of space travel.  It's music fit for Dothraki; it takes what it likes and goes where it will--but it has also become the bardic historian of fandom, and it's one of the most inclusive and accepting musical traditions of Western civilization.  We want you, your three banjo chords, and your truth.  And by "truth," I mean excess emotions about comic books.  This blog aims to educate the uninitiated, bring new music to enthusiasts, and promote anyone who wants to be promoted. 

[exapno]

The Pegasus Committee and OVFF are proud to announce the Finalists for the 2025 Pegasus Awards!

Best Filk Song

Believe - Peter Alway

Future Me - Robert Beckwith

Helium Miner's Song - Heather Preston

My Dandelion Friend - Summer Russell

One Small Boat - Marilisa Valtazanou

Best Classic Filk Song

City of Doors - Dr. Mary Crowell

Crimson & Crystal - Cynthia McQuillin

Like Their Feet Have Wings - Gwen Knighton Raftery

Merry Meet - Steve Macdonald

Storm Dancing - Tom Smith

Best Performer

Barbership

The Blibbering Humdingers

Daniel Kelly

Lauren Oxford

Via Bella

Best Writer/Composer

Eric Distad

Maja 'Thesilée' Ilisch

Daniel Kelly

Kari Maaren

Griff the Filker

Best Hero Song

Dangerous Heroes - Michael Longcor

Do As Peggy Says - Erin Bellavia, Rand Bellavia, & Adam English

Jeanne Hachette - Mary Bertke

The Ones Who Walked Away - Beth Kinderman

Sam at the Green Dragon - Summer Russell

Best Villain Song

The Dark Man - Paul Kwinn

The Evil Eyeball - Sibylle Machat

Gabriel Gray's Song - Batya Wittemberg

Hellraiser - Tom Smith

Sympathy For Mr. Morden - Jeff Bohnhoff

The online ballot is now open, and available at 

Congratulations to all- it's well deserved!!

[filkyeahfilk]

Reblogging this a little belatedly to add: you can hear all these songs on Filkcast starting in October! The schedule has been posted:

October 1 - Hero Songs - Villain Songs October 8 - Writer/Composer - Best Performer October 15 - Best Classic Filk Song - Best Filk Song

Older episodes are also available at the link above, with a lot more great music. Enjoy!

(Also: yes, we haven't been posting much for a while now, we're hoping to fix that.)

[scribefindegil]

Hey, if you like filk our amazingly talented friend Beth Kinderman has a new album dropping on October 25th (but you can pre-order it now at her Bandcamp!)

We've been hearing Beth perform some of these songs in concert for years and I'm SO excited there are finally gonna be recordings of them available! I love all of Beth's music, but this album has some of her most powerful pieces, the sort of songs that worm their way into your psyche and stay there. If you like prog-rock, references to science fiction and mythology, complex harmonies, and the sort of lyrics that will buzz around in your head for months, check out Sisyphus: Ten Songs About Hope by Beth Kinderman and the Player Characters!

[nevver]

The Eagle has landed: July 20, 1969

[alphaflyer]

I remember. What a day.

[topaz119]

Happy Moon Day!

[animatedamerican]

For the Eagle has landed; tell your children when Time won’t drive us down to dust again

[animatedamerican]

Happy Moon Day, tumblr.

[filkyeahfilk]

Happy Moon Day!

[filkyeahfilk]

Hi! I was wondering how one might be able to join this Filkhaven Discord server that you speak of.

Well hi! Asking us is a good start -- here's an invite that should still be current (and please let us know if it's not). See you there!

[karinta-agogobell-unified]

A song I wrote, inspired by Turn A Gundam.

-

Lyrics:

-

I blink the frost from my eyes

as the sun seeps into my bones

My house is overgrown with vines

I planted ten generations ago

They give me a stallion to ride

and the reins are placed into my hands

I am the moonlight that shines

on these ancestral, long-forgotten lands

I can’t recall my mother’s eyes

nor the features of my father’s face

I’m sure they must have been like mine

but now I’m their only living trace

Long is the history untold

and long have we waited to return

But as our plans now unfold

I start to see peace’s promise burn

And though the great machines have started to move forth without me

I still must bear the consequences of my sin

But now my own reflection in the flesh has dared allow me

to see through others’ eyes and hear the changing wind

And though we come from different places, times, and circumstances

we dance together to the same eternal tune

The past repeats itself and comes back bearing second chances

just like the phases of the moon….

[filkyeahfilk]

I never thought that I could hold you forever Always knew deep down you’d have to go home I can be grateful for these bright years together And I know you miss the salt sea foam If you hurry, you can still catch the tide, my love If you hurry you can still catch the tide.

“Still Catch the Tide” by Talis Kimberley, performed here by Seanan McGuire with Michelle “Vixy” Dockrey, Tony Fabris, S.J. Tucker, and Amy McNally.  Lyrics are available here.

This is one of my favorite songs to sing along to when I want to be Sad About The Sea (a specific emotion that I experience with alarming regularity.)

If you want a selkie song with a happy ending, check out “The Maiden and the Selkie” by Heather Dale or “Glass Half Full of the Sea” by Benjamin Newman.

[belle-heaulmiere]

A parody fragment from a few years back…

Saw the light on, thought you’re doing laundry

I never figured you’d do that yourself

You looked so guilty as you reached for something,

Something on the highest shelf…

I’ve seen the videos you post to TikTok,

I know the stuff you put on Instagram

I know the problem with your whole generation

And I’m smarter than you think I am.

I never thought I could watch you forever

The way I used to back when you were small

“Keep detergent out of reach of your children”

I can’t do that now - you’re six feet tall

Yet I worry you might still eat the Tide, my son

Yes, I worry you might still eat the Tide

[filkyeahfilk]

Consensus among the filkyeahfilk mods is that this is hilarious and deserves a further reblog.

[filkyeahfilk]

I am trying to find the lyrics to Altair V, to the tune of Forest Lawn. Co-writer is Linda Stoops. I cannot remember if it was Leslie Fish or Julia Ecklar on the bi-line. It would have been late-70s/early 80s.

Hello! We've been looking into this and had no luck so far, but we've tossed the question to the filkhaven discord and will continue the search.

If anyone who sees this can offer any leads, please let us know!

[filkyeahfilk]

@mayphoenix Good news! Someone on the filkhaven discord was able to find someone with a copy, and they've shared the lyrics with us! They're pasted in below the cut.

Thanks to everybody who helped us hunt this down!

----- Altair 5 Words by Linda Stoops and Pat Stanley TTTO: Forest Lawn

Oh, lay me down on Altair 5 in a lithium casket With crystal flowers over my head in a silver basket Let a Vulcan Bugle Corps play taps while blasters roar And 15 federation employees sell souvenirs at the huckster's store

Oh, I want to go Fannish when I go And they'll give me a proper funeral there I know They'll bury me in fleece, with Elvish runes spelling "Rest In Peace" Oh, take me when I'm gone to Altair 5.

Oh, lay me down on Altair 5, they understand there They've got a Galactic Choir and a Martian Band there Just put me in their care, I'll find some comfort there 16 blasters in a last salute, we'll drop Spielberg on a parachute

Oh, I want to go Fannish when I go And they'll give me a proper funeral there I know With a hundred spacey things, and Elven Dancers with golden wings Oh, take me when I'm gone to Altair 5.

Oh come, come, come, come, come Come to the woods of Lothlorian Where the songs of the shire we will sing Be as peaceful and trusting as a hobbit would And have Gandalf bury me with the ring!

To find an off-world resting place is my desire To have John Williams play the score comes a little higher A daggit cast in brass, will stand in plastic grass While hidden weights and springs wags its tail to the mourners filing past

I want to go Jedi when I go And they'll give me a proper funeral there I know They'll bury this old fan, with a eulogy by Desert Ben Oh, take me when I'm gone to Altair 5.

Lords of Kobol, pray for me Reassignment finally. Take me when I'm gone to Altair 5!

[filkyeahfilk]

I am trying to find the lyrics to Altair V, to the tune of Forest Lawn. Co-writer is Linda Stoops. I cannot remember if it was Leslie Fish or Julia Ecklar on the bi-line. It would have been late-70s/early 80s.

Hello! We've been looking into this and had no luck so far, but we've tossed the question to the filkhaven discord and will continue the search.

If anyone who sees this can offer any leads, please let us know!

[filkyeahfilk]

I'm pretty sure ya'll ain't active any more, but, I'm looking to find a song, presumably it is called song of the bear. Basically, I want to find what song of the bear II on fire in the sky by Jordin Kare is a parody of.

[Added in later ask: Never mind, I found it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGxst2-vNY0]

Sorry, yeah, we haven't been active for a while -- I think all of the mods got a bad attack of Real Life at about the same time, and never picked this back up. Maybe we should ... fix that?

In the meantime, at the very least I'm going to go ahead and post this, with both the original and the parody.

[astriiformes]

Hey all! Remember the concert @scribefindegil and I talked about performing back in August that ended up having technical difficulties for folks who tried to tune in to stream? I have good news - the convention posted the official video of our performance (this time with sound!) to their YouTube channel today.

Since this is now the largest repository of our music all in once place (especially some of our newer songs), I broke it down into a tracklist, so if you've never heard our music before, want to check out the new stuff, or just want to listen to a favorite song or two, they'd be easier to find.

(And yes, if you just want to see me play the electric kazoo while dressed as Raine Whispers, I have noted when it made its appearance)

If you haven't heard our stuff before, we're Astrisoni, a two-person viola-and-guitar filk (nerd folk, basically) duo that write songs about sci-fi, fantasy, our favorite stories, and all manner of adjacent topics. A handful of our songs are also available for purchase on our Bandcamp (where and and all support is always appreciated, especially since we're going through a bit of a rough patch)

0:22 - Opportunity Lullaby

One of our most popular songs, a lullaby written in honor of the late Opportunity rover. My sister, who I finally got to perform for at this concert, said it made her cry. (As an endorsement). Also on our EP on Bandcamp!

5:15 - Story And Song

A song about the power of songs -- and storytelling, and TTRPGs, and the creativity lurking in all of us.

9:12 - Pure Of Heart

Probably our most famous song, which was nominated for a Pegasus Award back in 2021 and is also available on our EP. A warning about the dangers of unicorns -- and unrealistic standards.

16:14 - Ancillary

One of our newest songs, Scribe's ode to the Imperial Radch trilogy

21:07 - The World Is Still Here

A TAZ: Balance song about NO-3113

25:35 - Don’t Stop Believing (Redux)

I almost hate to give away what's going on with this one, but. Yes, it is a Don't Stop Believing parody. Yes, it is about cryptids. Yes, it is where the electric kazoo makes its appearance. Lot happening here.

32:25 - You Comfort Me

Our Legolas & Gimli duet inspired by their mirrored lines in The Two Towers

38:42 - Possessing The Text

One of our newest songs, Scribe has described this one as an ode to writing queer fanfiction for stories that don't respect you. But you know, with ghost metaphors.

45:00 - Solidarity Forever (Boiling Isles version)

A Raine Whispers-inspired filk of "Solidarity Forever"

49:15 - Chapters In-Between

An ode to some favorite stories, and the aching feeling of having to wait for a better future even when you're working to make one happen. Noteworthy for, among other things, being the song I finally fit a Pacific Rim verse into.

56:04 - Make This Timeline Brighter

Our most common closer, with a fairly self-explanatory title. This one is also up on Bandcamp.

[tigergingicat]

A bit of vampire lore that Anne Rice stole from Bram Stoker (and that Bram Stoker made up), and a song that Jodi Krangle wrote about the Anne Rice version. Given today’s Dracula Daily of the captain’s log, it seems like a fun day to post it. Could be considered spoilers for Dracula if you don’t already know this bit of lore…

[filkyeahfilk]

Hi there! I am writing with excitement to share that a high quality version of Carmen Miranda's Ghost has been uploaded to archive(dot)org! Link is here! I am also writing with a follow-up about that version of Music Box Dancer! I was able to contact the person who originally uploaded it, and it comes from the My Little Pony: The Princess Promenade soundtrack CD (2006)! Despite the lyrics from this version of this song being scattered across some lyrics websites (as opposed to the Ray Conniff lyrics), I've still found no indication of who actually wrote this version or where it originates. (Unless it originates directly from the soundtrack CD.) Does anyone have any ideas on how I can research and figure out who wrote this version?

Thanks for the news and the link!

I'm afraid I don't have any ideas beyond the obvious googling, but possibly some followers do. Any ideas, followers?

[astriiformes]

do you know any filk songs about robots/ai?

Embarassingly I do not know nearly enough! I'm sure there are loads (which some of my filk-y friends and followers are welcome to add on here) but not many are coming to mind.

My duo, Astrisoni has Opportunity Lullaby (in honor of the Opportunity rover) and The World Is Still Here (which also has a reprise, Scribe usually sings them both together now), inspired by the character NO-1331 from the Balance arc of The Adventure Zone. I know Scribe is also working on a very metaphorical song that leans heavily on Asimov's Laws of Robotics, and I've also been trying to write a robot version of "The Ramblin' Rover" (The Martian Rovers, obviously), but neither of those is finished just yet.

I mentioned Ben Newman's Not All Who Wander Are Lost (In Space) earlier today because I love it, which also features an intelligent spaceship computer/AI, so that might fit the bill for you (lyrics here to go with the mp3 above)

I know that Daniel Kelly has a fun Mars rover song also (Mars Rovers, which is a decidedly filk take on The Wild Rover)

Other than that I am coming up short tonight, but I know it's a topic people have written plenty of filk songs about, so hopefully some other folks will have suggestions for you too!

[filkyeahfilk]

Hey, followers! Any suggestions on this topic?

[nefilk]

NEWh3re is almost here!

Please join us for NEWh3re (pronounced “Anywhere Three!”), June 10-12, 2022, with Guests of Honor Astrisoni (Nate Wulver and Heather Estelme).

Our preliminary schedule grid and song contest announcement have both been posted. And as in previous years, please come join us on the NEFilk Discord server.

Hoping to see you soon at the con!

[nefilk]

Our schedule has been updated! Same link as above, new grid.

[filkyeahfilk]

Hi there! I hope this message finds everyone well and in good spirits! I don't know if this technically counts as a filk thing, but I couldn't think of a community better than filkers to track down a hard to find track! I'm looking for a recorded version of Music Box Dancer. Not the Ray Conniff version. The one that starts "You walk in the room and you're wearing a frown/You reach for the shelf and cradle it down..." It's the strangest doggone thing! I can find the lyrics just fine, but (1/2)

(2/2) I can't find a recorded version of that set of lyrics, nor who wrote them. (Unless that version is indeed written by Frank Mills.) Instrumental versions abound and I've found the stray recorded Conniff version, but no luck on this alternate version. I'd appreciate any help, but totally understand if it's not possible! Have a great day!

I don't think I've ever heard of this song, but I can signal boost! Hey followers, anyone have any ideas?

[nefilk]

Announcing: NEWh3re 2022!

Yes, folks, we are once more holding NEFilk as an online event in June 2022.

Please join us for NEWh3re (pronounced “Anywhere Three!”), June 10-12, 2022, with Guests of Honor Astrisoni. Check out their bandcamp, and stay tuned for more announcements!

[filkyeahfilk]

When I was a mermaid, my daughter, my dear And a long time before I had you I lived in the ocean a long way from here And some of my stories are true

Apparently, Talis Kimberley’s daughter once pointed at a picture of a mermaid and said “That’s you when you were a mermaid”.

[arachnaetheyarnspider]

I think something weird happened with this one: the link has changed to “Eurovision 1976″ instead of the Talis Kimberley song that should be here.

[filkyeahfilk]

... That is deeply weird. And it's happening again when I try to embed a link to the right video!

You should be able to click here for the right one, at least.