Across the Universe
Feb 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm by Susie
This made me smile:
WASHINGTON - The Beatles are about to become radio stars in a whole new way.
NASA on Monday will broadcast the Beatles’ song “Across the Universe” across the galaxy to Polaris, the North Star.
This first-ever beaming of a radio song by the space agency directly into deep space is nostalgia-driven. It celebrates the 40th anniversary of the song, the 45th anniversary of NASA’s Deep Space Network, which communicates with its distant probes, and the 50th anniversary of NASA.
The question for rock nerds is, What version? My vote’s for the faster (true speed?) version that was initially released on a charity album. They pulled two young women off the street to sing background vocals. The version on Let It Be is slowed down, I believe, and has added instruments. Still a great song and, surely, worthy of the expense that NASA is putting into this exercise in Boomerdom.
Actually, given the present state of the world, I think HELP! would be more appropriate.
Wonderful story. though my first thought was the same as frankenslade - which version! More info, please.
And, yes, “Help” would’ve been another possibility.
Oh, duh. If it’s the 40th anniversary of the song, then it’s the original, faster speed version that was used on the charity album.
Recorded the same day as “Lady Madonna,” “Hey Bulldog,” and George’s “The Inner Light.” Strange little one-off session just before they took off on their trip to India.
William, thanks for determining the CORRECT answer, if not the one NASA will follow. Just 2:45 until blast off!