I’m sure you all are as happy as me to finally have nice weather and be able to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the beach. Well, you better enjoy it while it lasts because the skies of Ocean City will be full of the roars of aircrafts such as fighter jets and stunt planes this weekend for the 7th annual OC Air Show. Several different shows will occur during the event, including performances from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, a U.S. Marine Corps Harrier, the U.S. Navy Seals Leap Frogs parachute team and more. This is going to be a fun, adrenaline filled weekend, and it definitely gets me in the mood to jam out to some classic songs about planes. Last year, I shared with you my favorite songs about flight, so for this year, here are my six favorite songs specifically about planes.

 

By: Jefferson Airplane

Off the album: Jefferson Airplane (1989)

I do not mean to offend here, but this song is a guilty pleasure of mine simply because of the hilariously awful production value of the song’s music video. Watch it on Youtube; you won’t be disappointed. This was the final album released by the band, whose previous album was released 17 years prior. Everyone who was a member of the band during its heyday in the late 60s returned to the lineup, save for drummer Spencer Dryden. The drummer was reportedly not asked to return because co-founder Paul Kantner still held a grudge against him for firing the band’s then manager, Bill Graham, way back in 1968. 

 

By: Don McLean

Off the album: American Pie (1971)

Although I hate to focus on such a sad story, this song is about one of, if not, the most historic plane crash in music history. The song recounts the tragic deaths of rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” – Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr., who all perished in a plane crash in 1959. In fact, it is thanks to this song, February 3, 1959 is officially known as The Day the Music Died (which, as you know, is a lyric taken directly from McLean’s song). None of the musicians are actually mentioned in the song and it is known for containing cryptic lyrics. The only line that we are really 100 percent sure about is “February made me shiver with every paper I’d deliver.” McLean has revealed that referenced him learning about Buddy Holly’s death while folding newspapers for his paper route.

Editor’s Note: I had just received 45 records from those artists that Christmas. Even for an 11 year old, it was devastating.

 

By: Peter, Paul and Mary

Off the album: Album 1700 (1967)

Most famously recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, the song was actually written by legendary American folk singer John Denver. Under the title “Babe, I Hate to Go,” Denver released 250 copies of the single to family and friends using his own money. Peter, Paul and Mary loved the song so much, they decided to make their own version. Interestingly, the song didn’t become a big hit for them until “Leaving on a Jet Plane” was released as a standalone single two years after the album’s debut. Denver’s own version would first officially appear on his debut solo album, Rhymes & Reasons, in 1969.

 

By: The Steve Miller Band

Off the album: Book of Dreams (1977)

Keeping the theme of songs written by other people, “Jet Airliner” was written by blind musician Paul Pena in 1973. Steve Miller said he originally heard the song on Pena’s unreleased album New Train in 1977, and liked it so much he decided to record a version with his band. The song became a huge hit for The Steve Miller Band, while conflicts between Pena and his record label delayed New Train’s release until 2000. Yes, you read that right; it was released 27 years after its initial recording. 

 

By: The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Off the album: One Hot Minute (1995)

After the huge success of the band’s previous album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, guitarist John Frusciante quit the band mid-tour, which led to guitarist Dave Navarro’s involvement in this album. Navarro’s presence led to a darker sounding album with even a little bit of a metal influence. “Aeroplane” was one of the few upbeat songs on the album, featuring a guest appearance from Flea’s daughter Clara and her classmates as a choir. Although this song is great, thankfully Navarro was kicked out of the band after this album and Frusciante re-joined to write many more classics with the band.

 

By: Paul McCartney & Wings

Off the album: Band on the Run (1973)

Alright, I’m kind of cheating here. “Jet” really isn’t about a huge metal flying mode of transportation; rather Paul McCartney has admitted that the song is about a pony he owned whose name was Jet. Still, this song is a classic and it’s better than any other song I was thinking about replacing it with. Although we know of the title’s origin, the song’s lyrics don’t really reflect the subject matter. In true Paul McCartney fashion, the lyrics are fairly ambiguous and we are likely never to know the meaning of the song. In a totally unrelated note that is only included because I like the band, Australian rock band Jet named themselves after this song.