Surfing with the Alien

Album: Surfing with the Alien (1987)
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Songfacts®:

  • One of Joe Satriani's most popular songs, the guitarist came up with it after the title just popped into his head. He started thinking about what would happen if aliens came to Earth, but instead of looking to destroy the planet or take over, they were just looking for fun.

    "I had never seen a science fiction movie about that, so I thought, 'What would that sound like?" Satriani said in his Songfacts interview.

    Some folks in Hollywood may have had the same idea: The following year the film Earth Girls Are Easy was released. Starring Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey, the movie is about aliens who visit our planet looking for a good time.
  • Satriani recorded the majority of this album with a Kramer Pacer guitar rather than the Ibanez 540 Power many of his fans believe was used.
  • The album cover shows the superhero Silver Surfer. Satriani had never heard of the character, but after he turned the album over to his record label, Relativity, they arranged for the Silver Surfer to be on the cover.
  • Satriani's use of the wah-wah pedal earned him the #10 spot on Guitar World's list of best wah solos of all time in 2015.

Comments: 8

  • Matt from Bakersfield, CaSatriani taught Kirk Hammet some stuff before he joined Metallica.
  • Luke from Dayton, OhSatriani is like one of the best guitarists ever, yet very very VERY underrated
  • Steven from Shepparton, AustraliaSatriani is a guitar God , had the pleasure of seeing G3 live in Melbourne in 2006 it was awesome.
  • Greg House, Md from Princton-plainsboro, NjI actually like Tears In The Rain better. Heard the song during a docudrama about old mental asylums.
  • Shaun from New York, NyTry playing this song while playing F-Zero GX. m/ m/
  • Mateusz from Adamin, PolandBaddest? Are you crazy?
  • Michael from Chicago, IlThis is one of the BADDEST instrumentals ever!!!
  • Devon from Westerville, Ohthe song is sweet. the solo around 1:10 is crazy. Satriani has tought vai well.
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