26 Songs About Robots, from Mr. Roboto to Robot Rock

What is the most famous song about robots?

"Mr. Roboto" by Styx is the most famous song about robots, and "The Robots" by Kraftwerk is the most influential, a cold electronic anthem that helped shape synth-pop and techno. For a newer pick, "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk comes from the duo who spent their whole career dressed as robots.

Classic songs about robots

1. "Robot Man", Connie Francis: a 1960 pop novelty about wishing for a perfect robot boyfriend.
2. "Robot", The Tornados: a 1963 space-age instrumental.
3. "I Robot", The Alan Parsons Project: the title track of an album inspired by Isaac Asimov.
4. "The Robots", Kraftwerk: the electronic pioneers singing as machines.
5. "Are 'Friends' Electric?", Tubeway Army: Gary Numan's chilly song about androids.
6. "Mr. Roboto", Styx: from a concept album about a rock star who escapes prison disguised as a robot.
7. "Rockit", Herbie Hancock: a hip-hop jazz hit with a famous video full of robotic figures.
8. "Dancing Machine", The Jackson 5: Michael Jackson famously did the robot dance to it on TV.

Robot songs from the movies

9. "Electric Dreams", Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder: from a 1984 film about a computer that falls in love.
10. "Who's Johnny", El DeBarge: the theme from Short Circuit, about a robot that comes to life.
11. "The Touch", Stan Bush: from The Transformers: The Movie.
12. "Put On Your Sunday Clothes", from Hello, Dolly!: the old musical number WALL-E watches again and again.
13. "Down to Earth", Peter Gabriel: the Oscar-nominated end credits song from WALL-E.
14. "Immortals", Fall Out Boy: from Big Hero 6, the film about a boy and his robot Baymax.

Modern songs about robots and androids

15. "Paranoid Android", Radiohead: named after Marvin the robot from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
16. "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger", Daft Punk: robotic vocals over a famous groove.
17. "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1", The Flaming Lips: a karate black belt who fights evil robots.
18. "Robot Rock", Daft Punk: a heavy, guitar-driven robot anthem.
19. "Technologic", Daft Punk: a robotic voice reciting a list of tech commands.
20. "Robots", Flight of the Conchords: a comedy song set in a robot-ruled future.
21. "Many Moons", Janelle Monáe: sung as her android alter ego, Cindi Mayweather.
22. "Robot", Miley Cyrus: about refusing to be controlled like a machine.
23. "Fembot", Robyn: a playful electro-pop song about a robot woman.
24. "Robot Boy", Linkin Park: a gentle song about feeling empty and mechanical.

Robot songs for kids

25. "Robot Parade", They Might Be Giants: a fun song from their first album for kids.
26. "Pocket Calculator", Kraftwerk: a cheerful song about a little electronic gadget.

Why are there so many songs about robots?

Robots let songwriters sing about what it means to be human. Some songs are playful, like a robot dance craze, while others use robots to talk about loneliness, control and technology moving faster than we can keep up. Electronic musicians embraced the idea most of all: Kraftwerk performed with robot mannequins of themselves, and Daft Punk hid behind robot helmets for nearly three decades.

The story behind Mr. Roboto

"Mr. Roboto" opens Styx's 1983 album Kilroy Was Here, a rock opera set in a future where rock music has been banned. The hero, a rock star named Kilroy, escapes from prison by hiding inside a robot. The song's Japanese opening line and its robotic voice made it one of the most recognizable songs of the 80s, and it is still a favorite for karaoke and costume parties.

Songs for doing the robot dance

The robot dance took off in the early 70s, and Michael Jackson made it famous when he performed it to "Dancing Machine" on TV. For a dance contest, pair "Dancing Machine" with "Rockit", "Technologic" and "Mr. Roboto": all have the stiff, stop-start beat that makes robot moves look sharp, whether the dancers are five or fifty.

Songs about computers and machines

For a wider playlist about technology, add "Computer Love" by Kraftwerk, "Electric Dreams" and "Technologic". These songs are less about metal robots and more about our relationship with the machines in our pockets and homes.

Songs for a robot-themed birthday party

For a kids' robot party, start with "Robot Parade" and "Pocket Calculator", play "Who's Johnny" and "Immortals" for the movie fans and finish with "Dancing Machine" for a robot dance contest. For a superhero twist, see our songs about superheroes.

Songs for a robotics team

For a robotics club or competition, "Robot Rock" and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" make energetic walk-up songs, and "Mr. Roboto" is a crowd favorite during breaks. For space-themed science fairs, see our songs about planets.

A song for a tech lover

A personalized song can celebrate the engineer, gamer or robot-obsessed kid in your life: their name, their inventions and the projects that keep them up late, in an electronic, pop or rock style. It makes a fun birthday or graduation gift.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: electronic, pop, rock and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three things they love to build, code or tinker with.
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5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your favorite inventor a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.