Category Archives: Space Music

Space music roundup – Feb.22.2023

Here are some space music related items:

** Julia Westlin and David MeShow do a nice acapella cover of TALK’s Run Away To Mars (Listen to the TALK version in the previous Space Music posting):

**Space Song (Lyrics)Beach HouseVibe Music – YouTube

** An anthology of lyrics to Filk songs has been created by Chris Weber and is available as an e-Book, in paperback, and in hardback at  Sentient Chili and Stranger Filk: Lyrics to 107 Songs of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Fandom eBook : Weber, Chris: Kindle Store/Amazon [commission link].

** Hole in Space — the mother of all video chats – CIS 471: A story about early satellite-enabled global music and art events:

New technology enables new art forms and artists Kit Galloway and Sherrie Rabinowitz (K&S) began working with geostationary satellite links in 1977. Their first work was an experiment in remote dance and music. Video of dancers at The Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and an educational television center in California was transmitted to a central control studio where a composite was formed and sent back to monitors the dancers could see. 

See also:

* SETI Live: The Earthling Project – Songs for Outer SpaceSETI Institute on YouTube

Join SETI Institute’s Artist-in-Residence, Felipe Pérez Santiago, as he discusses the ambitious Earthling Project. Launched in 2020, the project collects songs from people around the world to create musical compositions representing humanity. These compositions will be sent into space with the help of the Arch Mission Foundation, a nonprofit preserving human knowledge for future generations. Tune in to hear from Santiago and SETI AIR Director Bettina Forget, and listen to the world sing in harmony on the Earthling Project – Songs for Outer Space.

** Download the Earthling Project app and use it to

[r]ecord your voice singing about your culture and traditions, your geographic context, your personal history, everything that makes you human.

** The Earthling Project – TrailerThe Earthling Project on Youtube

It’s time to make history! One voice that will unite all cultures: Earthling Project.. This historic legacy awaits, let’s be the musical representation of humanity at this point in history.

** Space Oddity (David Bowie Cover) – Puddles Pity Party

** Saturn, The Bringer of Old AgeTomita

Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” Movement 2: Venus, The Bringer of Peace, electronically performed by Isao Tomita, ©1976, RCA Records, New York, NY. Produced by Plasma Music, Inc.

** Patrolling Space Borders (Full CD)Tangerine Dream

Also known as Tangerine Dream – Laserium North American Tour March 29th – April 1977 / Montreal – Place Des Arts – 09/04/1977 Original Canadian CHOM-FM Recording. Unofficial Release

** Science Of Sleeping, Spacecraft – Moons of Jupiter [Album] (2022) – WherePostRockDwells – YouTube

Purchase: https://spacecraft.bandcamp.com/album…
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/59KUVS…

Genre: Ambient, Cinematic
Artists: Science of Sleeping & Spacecraft
Album: Moons of Jupiter (December 9, 2022)
Label: Valley View Records (https://www.valleyviewrecords.com.au/)

** Talking To The Moon (Lyrics) – Bruno Mars – Vibe Music – YouTube

** Interstellar (Royal Albert Hall Organ) – Hans Zimmer – Ashton Gleckman

Composed by Hans Zimmer
MIDI Programmed and Arranged by Ashton Gleckman

All organ sounds from the new Royal Albert Hall Organ library, recorded at the historic hall in London by James Everingham. Available now: https://www.royalalberthallorgan.com/

=== Amazon Ads ===

Critical Mass (A Delta-v Novel)

===

Celestron – NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope –
Compact and Portable –
Newtonian Reflector Optical Design –
SkyAlign Technology –
Computerized Hand Control –
130mm Aperture

Space music roundup – Nov.18.2022

Some space music for your weekend enjoyment:

** Globe  Typho

Typho is an up-and-coming Hip hop/ Indie-Folk Songwriter from Leeds, UK. He brings a sui generis blend of creativity and musicianship to every project he undertakes, scribbling lyrics that are idiosyncratic and charismatic in nature. With a passion for telling stories through song and animation, he composes music that is an honest reflection of himself and how he sees the world, His song “4AM” was featured on BBC introducing, a radio station for upcoming artists, in 2018.

His latest single, “Globe,” is an innovative and fresh alternative hip-hop song that talks about the realities and mysteries of life – folded in the subtlety of words. The lyrics are drenched in mood-befitting background music that is catchy and melodic. His previous single, “Cave Paintings,” is a fast-tempo and up-beat track with heavy electronic drums and pulsing synthesizers. The instruments have a dark and dramatic sound, and the song contains strong influences from the Chillwave genre. It speaks about the human spirit and our temporary nature on this planet. Typho is committed to creating a connection with his listeners, reaching new audiences and sharing his music with the world. 

**

** Hans Zimmer – Interstellar (Royal Albert Hall Organ)

** Hewan Aman – OUT OF SPACE  (Our niece Hewan is a rising DJ star in France ):

** Space Tourist · Bart van Wissen

** AstroPilot, Spacecraft – Possible WorldsWherePostRockDwells – YouTube

 

 

Misc: BtB bleg; “Under Ancient Skies” cosmic tribute; Space music from Angèlia Grace & Karliene

Bob Zimmerman points me to a fund-raiser this week: Quick November Fund-Raiser for Behind the Black.

Bob does frequent postings in which he discusses images of the amazingly diverse Martian surface such as:  Terraced mesa inside Martian depression“[The image] shows a very puzzling terraced mesa inside an enclosed depression or sinkhole (the western half of which can be seen in the full image).

Today he posted this item about the Curiosity rover’s latest activities: Rover update: Curiosity on the move again

And here is his report on the asteroid Apophis, which will pass close to earth in 2029: Apophis: the asteroid that may someday hit the Earth – Behind the Black

===

Here’s an audio narrative/musical tribute to the cosmos created by a

collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Diplo, with words by the museum, music from Diplo’s album MMXX, and narration by Hrishikesh Hirway. As a companion album to MMXX, Under Ancient Skies expands on the theme of our connection with nature to explore our human experience in the cosmos around the globe and throughout history, from the ancient world to contemporary understandings of the universe.

===

“Angelic Soprano” Angèlia Grace renders a beautiful vocal interpretation of a selection of the Hans Zimmer soundtrack to the film, Interstellar [Amazon commission link]:

===

Karliene sings a space Christmas song titled, A Spaceman Came Travelling by Chris de Burgh

=== Amazon Ad ===

Interstellar
(Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
[Expanded Edition]

“Dark Was the Night” – New book about Blind Willie Johnson and his music on Voyager I

An announcement from Gary Golio:

Black Blues Legend Blind WiIlie Johnson Blasts into Outer Space
in New Picture Book about His Soul-Stirring Song

 Ask Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Lucinda Williams and Jack White to name the slide-guitar player they most admire, and they’ll all say Blind Willie Johnson. What those musicians may not know is that one of his songs found its way to the depths of outer space. In Dark Was the Night – Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars, NY Times-bestselling author Gary Golio and Caldecott Honoree E. B. Lewis weave a magical tale of how the healing power of music can turn darkness into light.

Born in 1897, young Willie shone as he sang and played a cigar box guitar made by his father. But his bright childhood fell dark when he lost both his mother and his sight. Fortunately, his love of music led him back into the light. He began singing in churches and later brought his unique blend of gospel-blues to street corners all over Texas. Willie’s powerful voice, joined to the wail of his slide guitar, moved even more people when he cut some records and his songs were played on the radio. Yet by the time he died, he and his music were largely forgotten.

Then, in 1977, Willie’s haunting song, “Dark Was the Night“, was launched into space on the Voyager I space probe’s famous Golden Record. There, along with the many sounds and sights of planet Earth, is the soul-stirring song of a blind man, telling us not to be afraid of the dark, and reminding us that we are never really alone.

“An ode to a too-little-discussed musician and an excellent introduction to his amazing musical talent.”
Kirkus, *starred review*

“An inspiring story of one man’s commitment to lifting up himself and those around him with his music.
An American treasure who shouldn’t go unsung.”
Booklist

“Lewis’s expressive watercolors depict the subject’s humble country beginnings as well as the joy that he felt when he sang and played”
“A beautiful, timely tribute to a little-known musician and space venture.”
School Library Journal, *starred review*

Gary Golio is the author of the NY Times bestseller JIMI: Sounds Like a Rainbow – A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award; Bird & Diz and Strange Fruit – Billie Holiday and the Power of a Protest Song, both ALA Notables; and other books about legendary artists. A writer and musician, Golio has been featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition”, CBS-TV’s “Sunday Morning News,” and on radio stations nationwide. He lives in the Hudson Valley with his wife, children’s book author Susanna Reich.

E.B. Lewis is a fine artist and the acclaimed illustrator of over 70 books, among them Coming On Home Soon by Jacqueline Woodson (Caldecott Honor Award), Talkin’ About Bessie by Nikki Grimes (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award), and The Secret World of Walter Anderson by Hester Bass (Orbis Pictus Award). He is also the recipient of the NY Times Best Illustrated Book Award, Kirkus’ Best Illustrated Book Award, and four additional Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. Lewis teaches at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, and lives in Folsom, New Jersey.

Dark Was the Night: Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars[Amazon commission link]
Written by Gary Golio
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Published by Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books
August 2020 • Ages 5-8 • 32 pages • $17.99 hardcover/$10.99 Ebook • ISBN: 978-1524738884

=======

Here is a short video about Johnson and his music on the Voyager spacecraft: Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground, and brilliant is that song drifting through space | Aeon Videos

Johnson’s recording of Dark was the Night, Cold was the Ground:

Here is a nicely played cover of Dark was the Night (hat tip Behind the Black):

=== Amazon Ad ===

Dark Was the Night:
Blind Willie Johnson’s Journey to the Stars

Space Songs – Live concert from Air & Space Museum

The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum is hosting an online space music event tonight at 8:00 pm EDT: Space Songs: Through the Distance

Join the National Air and Space Museum Thursday, April 30 at 8 pm EDT for a YouTube concert event, sharing songs about space and isolation to celebrate how extreme situations can bring out the very best in us all and why there’s no challenge we can’t face together. This recorded concert, hosted by Tested’s Adam Savage, will feature special guests and performances by Sting, Clipping, Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast, Dan Deacon, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Valerie June, Lukas Nelson, Grace Potter, and Vagabon.

We know that people love space. And it’s not just because of Moon rocks and pretty pictures of the cosmos. Space exploration is an extraordinary expression of humanity and can inspire us like nothing else.

Naturally, there are a lot of great songs about spaceships and astronauts—about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances And many artists use solitude to fuel creativity and experimentation. We could all use a little bit of that inspiration right now. So while our museum remains closed to the public, we want to share some songs that inspire us with viewers at home.

=== Amazon Ad ===

See You In Orbit?:
Our Dream Of Spaceflight