But while the very thought of an unsolicited visit from beyond the solar system is terrifying, what if they want nothing more than to get acquainted with us earthlings?
And while our species is getting to know the other, Redditor cocoperrier had an interesting hypothetical he posed to strangers on the internet.
And that was:
"If aliens asked you to pick one song to represent humanity what would you pick?"
People didn't hold back from what they really had to say about our humanity.
An 80s Classic
"Everybody wants to rule the world 👀"
– Vv-V
Getting Along
"Why Can't We Be Friends?"
– theniqk
What A Conservatorship Is
"Toxic - Britney Spears"
"All aliens need to know that this is a traditional ballad from the cradle of civilization."
– brentus86
Our Clock Is Ticking
"The final countdown - Europe. First 80s song I remember hearing, first song I played on the sax (that wasn't part of my learning songs). It's a banger and always will be."
– Wynonna99
Shifting Blame
"We didn't start the fire."
– NirinQuing
Accepting Our Fate
"It's the End of the World as We Know it (and I Feel Fine) by R.E.M."
– mrmitchs
When putting ourselves in a positive light, these songs seemed appropriate.
Hey Now
"You're an all star."
– L0AD13
Two Choices
"Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World.....Would be the aspirational choice."
"Theme from Sanford and Son .....Would be my personal choice."
– KirbyBucketts
It's Quite Bubbly
"The Coke song:"
"I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…I'd like buy the world a Coke and keep it company."
– NorthernStockNoob
Holding On To A Good Thing
"Never gonna give you up."
– CLEETUSTHEMIGHTY
We Are Winners
"We are the champions of course."
– fantasy2301
These might work best as a playlist to welcome our martian friends.
Timeless Composition
"Beethoven's 9th symphony"
– Smooth-Reality-1434
"I was thinking Beethoven too, but one of the piano sonatas (no. 8?) or quartets (no. 14?)"
– GruckleBuck
"Welcome to the Jungle."
– Soylent-PoP
British Invasion
"Almost all the songs by The Beatles."
– dennis7x
I think there is no better introduction to humanity than the single most-performed song and most-translated song ever.
"It's a Small World (After All)."
The Sherman Brothers' earworm written for Walt Disney succinctly conveys a positive message of peace and brotherhood, and it represents the very essence of the humanity we can only hope to strive for.
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We must of course send Adele. As long as they promise to send her back. And if she goes... I'm going as well.
Steve
steve irwin GIF by BustleGiphy"Steve Irwin. He was great at handling creatures we think are strange and scary." ~ iamacraftyh**ker
"My first thought! What a legend he was! And his enthusiasm for life would be so disarming they would just go with it."
~ kittenharty
Carl
"Carl Sagan." ~ Vegaman11998823
"The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot."
"Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds."
"Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves."
"- Carl Sagan (The Most Metal Quote of All Time)"
~ MoxEmerald
Will we be destroyed?
"Genghis khan, for genocidal communal reasons." ~ HorseWest9068
"Mr. Khan! How'd the meeting with the aliens go? Will we be destroyed?" "No. I don't think they can do that anymore. On a semi-related note, I am now the Great Khan of the UFO and some planet I've never seen before. You're all welcome and also under my rule." ~ Frapplo
Rise & Fall
"Marcus Aurelius." ~ Stoic-Nurse
"I feel like this would be a good view. They wouldn't just receive a positive view of the world but a true view of the world pain and suffering but, from the ashes something great rises and many great things happen, empires, nations, kingdoms."
"All rise and reign for lifetimes. Many grow attached to that way of life and believe it will stand for eternity only for it to end in someone's lifetime. But those who came before saw them at their height and true beauty and those after saw it crumble and fall." ~ PeanutRecord698
Love Him!
Keanu Reeves Flirting GIFGiphy"Keanu Reeves. His film resume seems to be appropriate." ~ YEGMusic43
So far, so good. I'd trust Keanu with everything. And Steve Irwin... love him.
The Good Guys
bob ross GIFGiphy"Bob Ross, Steve Irwin, and that one really really nice old man across the street that gives you the best candy on Halloween and is always there to be a sprinkler for positivity energy." ~ Timely-Style-130
JC
"Julius Caesar probably. He was kidnapped by pirates and charmed them so much they kept him alive. Meanwhile, Caesar openly threatened them and said once he is rescued he would have them tortured. The pirates did not treat Caesar any worse and, sure enough, Caesar was rescued and put all the pirates to death." ~ EnumeratedWalrus
Who Better?
"Honestly? Myself. I don't truly know anyone else and although I know I'm far from qualified I still think I'd be an alright choice. Idk. Without a thought I'd say someone like Abraham Lincoln but who knows how crappy a person he was. Same goes with a family member. Yeah. My grandpa is amazing but I don't know how he would react to aliens. Hence I can only truly suggest myself." ~ darkcyberleon
Not Him!
"Anyone but Mark Zuckerberg. He already controls this planet. He gets access to anymore resources, the next thing you know he has all the infinity stones. The last thing anybody wants is a multi-universal identity theft lizard wizard containing omniscience." ~ essentialoils3
Arnie
"Arnold Schwarzenegger. He seems like a legitimate cool guy, with the special Olympics stuff he does and encouraging healthy lifestyles and such. He also seems fairly level-headed as a post-political leader, so I'd trust him to work out a good deal with the aliens."
"And if on the off chance the aliens have watched Predator, they would know Arnie is not to be messed with. Arnold Schwarzenegger for sure. Unless the aliens have housekeepers on their ships, then we should probably go with someone else." ~ ProcedureAcceptable2
Best Friends Bff GIFGiphy"After reading other posts it made me realized I can't endorse someone I haven't met. So I take back Einstein or Edgar Cacte instead my best friend and best person I've ever known Sandra (Flicka) Dukes. It was an honor to be her friend."
~GullibleEffect9399
So we do have options. Not many, considering there are 8 BILLION of us.
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