| Planet Claire | |
| Cover: | Planet Claire single.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | The B-52's |
| Album: | The B-52's |
| B-Side: | Downtown |
| Released: | July 6, 1979 |
| Recorded: | 1978–1979 |
| Length: | 4:35 |
| Producer: | Chris Blackwell |
| Prev Title: | Rock Lobster |
| Prev Year: | 1979 |
| Next Title: | Dance This Mess Around |
| Next Year: | 1979 |
"Planet Claire" is a song by the B-52's, released as the second single from their self-titled debut album in July 1979. Based on Duane Eddy's version of Henry Mancini's Peter Gunn theme, the single reached number 43 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart and number 24 on the Billboard dance chart in the US.
Cash Box said that "bongos, Ventures-influenced guitar work and morse code blips are calling all pop, AOR audiences to dance to this humorous followup to 'Rock Lobster'."[1] Record World said that it had "an undeniable rhythm track" and "more unique synthesizer lines" compared to "Rock Lobster".[2]
In 2011, band member Kate Pierson expressed her dissatisfaction with the way engineer Robert Ash mixed her vocals with the Farfisa organ on the studio version, using effects to make her vocals "sound like a synthesizer", and stated that she prefers the sound of live performances of the song.[3]
| Chart (1980) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 43 | |
| US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[5] | 24 |
An instrumental cover version of the song performed by Les Deux Love Orchestra is featured in the DreamWorks animated motion picture Monsters vs. Aliens.