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š§ Greetings, everyone, and welcome to our discussion on music, sci-fi and safety! This is Dave, and this month, I’m thrilled to jump into one of my favorite intersections of passion and curiosity: music and its place in the universe - particularly through the lens of prog rock, science fiction and safety.
One moment that stands out was hearing a brilliant organist improvise jazz variations during the Doxology in church - a sacred piece, unexpectedly transformed by harmonic creativity. That blend of tradition and innovation stuck with me. Around the same time, I began decoding The Doors’ songs by ear. It became a personal mission to understand the enigmatic work of Ray Manzarek, one of many keyboardists who would influence my creative journey.
š¹ The Key Masters That Shaped a Sound
The late '60s and early '70s were rich with keyboard icons. Ray Manzarek, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Jon Lord, Steve Winwood, and Herbie Hancock were just a few of the visionaries who made the keyboard a lead instrument, not just a background texture. Their bold, boundary-pushing compositions helped define genres like psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and jazz fusion.
Today, artists such as Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater, prodigy Rachel Flowers, Matthew Bellamy of Muse, and Mickey Dale from Embrace continue to inspire me. Their mastery shows how the keyboard continues to evolve and shape modern music, much like the pioneers before them.
My own experiences playing in a high school rock band called The Color added fuel to the fire. It was a time when rock was at a creative peak. Iconic bands like The Animals, The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Rolling Stones dominated the charts and the airwaves. It was a golden age for the “The” bands, and they helped define what rock meant to my generation.
š Music and the Cosmic Order
So, what is it about music that motivates us, that connects so deeply to our sense of meaning and order?
Back in 1619, the astronomer Johannes Kepler pondered this same question in Harmonices Mundi (The Harmony of the World). Kepler sought to unify astronomy, music theory, and geometry. He believed that the universe operated with divine, mathematical order - and that planetary motion reflected musical harmony.
Kepler specifically associated musical intervals, such as the perfect fifth, with the angular velocities of planets at their closest and farthest points from the sun (perihelion and aphelion). These ratios, he claimed, weren’t just scientific - they were sacred, the literal music of the spheres.
Centuries later, sound in science fiction would echo this idea in dramatic fashion.
š½ Five Notes That Changed Everything
In 1977, Close Encounters of the Third Kind brought this concept to the big screen. John Williams’ haunting, unforgettable five-note motif became the bridge between humans and extraterrestrials. In Spielberg’s story, scientists use music to communicate with an alien species - and the aliens respond with an enhanced version of the motif that includes geographic clues pointing to Devils Tower in Wyoming.
It wasn’t just a soundtrack - it was a form of language, combining mathematics, sound, and meaning. Williams’ theme resonates so deeply because it taps into the universal nature of sound, a medium that exists beyond culture, species, or even worlds.
And what a visual and auditory experience it was: flashing lights, swelling brass, delicate synths, and a dramatic musical dialogue between man and alien. It’s a perfect example of how sound and cinema can become one.
š„ The Modern Sonic Experience: Dunkirk
In more recent years, composers like Hans Zimmer have pushed this boundary even further. His score for Dunkirk is famously built around tension, ticking clocks, and layered sonic textures that almost become a character in the film itself.
Watch - or better yet, listen to Dunkirk - with studio-quality headphones or in a theater equipped with Dolby Atmos, and you’ll hear every distant explosion, every creak of the hull, every breath. The film’s critically acclaimed sound mix immerses you in the chaos and urgency of war in a way few films can. The result is both haunting and deeply human.
š¦ŗ From Sound to Safety
So, what does all of this have to do with safety?
In life, we’re always looking for order amidst chaos. Whether it’s ethereal sound, outer space, or the workplace, structure creates clarity and trust. In a practical sense, order is what keeps us safe - on the roads, at work, at airports. It’s seen in traffic lights, safety standards, visual cues, and even the queues at a busy restaurant.
At Mighty Line®, “order” is delivered to workplaces that support company safety and 5S initiatives through their high-durability floor striping and signage solutions. Mighty Line® products align with OSHA, ANSI, and ISO color standards, and they’re designed to last - standing up to forklifts, foot traffic, and the demands of industrial and storage environments.
Mighty Line® also serves a long list of industry "A-listers" who rely on their products to keep their operations visible, efficient, and safe.
š¶ Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
So here’s your homework: after you listen to some inspiring music - whether it’s prog rock, sci-fi scores, or your favorite band - take a moment to visit us at MightyLineTape.com. Let’s connect. Whether by phone, email, or even through music, we’d love to hear your thoughts and stories.
In our next Mighty Line Minute, we’ll dive even deeper into the fascinating relationship between music and safety - two seemingly different worlds that share the same heartbeat: harmony, order, and purpose.
Until then, stay safe - and stay inspired!
- Dave Tabar
Mighty Line Minute
