Today is Veterans Day -- a big thank you to all those who served in our country’s armed forces -- and while not to diminish their service and sacrifice, it’s also a very special day for math-heads and metalheads alike. November 11, 2011, is not only the last fully binary date of the century, but with its elevens across the board, the day also evokes for movie and music fans this classic scene from Spinal Tap:
In fact, some have proposed calling today Spinal Tap Day, or more specifically Nigel Tufnel Day (or more generally National Metal Day). If you’re interested in hearing songs that people feel most compelled to turn up past ten, check out NPR’s list, These Go to Eleven. Gathered below, though, are songs and, in some cases artists, purely inspired by the number eleven:
Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11
El Ten Eleven - Indian Winter (Live on KEXP)
Schoolhouse Rock! The Good Eleven
Thao and Mirah - Eleven (ft. tUnE-yArDs)
Sammy Davis Jr. - Eee O Eleven
Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension
Film School - 11:11
Eleventh Dream Day - Orange Moon
The Grateful Dead - The Eleven (live from Shrine Exhibition Hall, Los Angeles 8/23/68)
U2 - 11 O’Clock Tick Tock (Live from Red Rocks)
Rufus Wainwright - 11:11 (Live in Oslo)
Johnny Paycheck - A-11
Neil Halstead - Elevenses
Doves - Eleven Miles Out
David Byrne & Fatboy Slim - Eleven Days (feat. Cyndi Lauper)
Kimya Dawson - Eleventeen
Benny Goodman Sextet - Seven Come Eleven
Rancid - The 11th Hour
Ned’s Atomic Dustbin - Song Eleven Could Forever
Shostakovich Symphony No. 11 - Finale
