In a fantastic use of government dollars, NASA is going to beam the Beatles song “Across The Universe” into space on Monday. Get it? Because it’s going across the universe? Ho ho! According to the NYT, “at precisely 7 p.m., E.S.T. the song will be beamed by the agency’s Deep Space Network of antennas at the North Star, Polaris, which is 431 light years away.” Noted astronomer Brian May has yet to comment on this little stunt, which is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the song and the 50th anniversary of NASA, but no matter what he says, I’m sure the world’s baby boomers are thrilled that even before we’ve made interplanetary contact, we’re teaching beings that live on other planets about what “real music” truly is. [NYT]
In Space, No One Can Hear Beatles Haters Scream
February 1st, 2008 // 14 Comments
 |
Why Did Katy Perry Dump Her Boyfriend? – Global Grind |
 Chris Brown's Temper Gets Him In Trouble Again – Huffington Post | |
| Taylor Swift Loses a Big Fan – Fox News | |
| Justin Bieber's Strange Phobia Exposed – Global Grind | |
| Miley Cyrus Shows Too Much Skin – Huffington Post | |
| Why Is This Singer In The Hospital? – Fox News |
Swap it out for the Fiona Apple cover and I’ll get on board.
This would have made so much more sense.
Why not Klaatu’s “Calling All Occupants of Interplanetary Craft?”
Rock Snob points awarded: infinity.
ARRGH! Beaten to the hipster punch! By the Carpenters cover, even!
Well played, Ned. Well played.
I gotta admit that the Baby Boomer swipes are getting a little tired. Most of the Beatles fanatics I know (including me) are MY age. My parents and their ilk long since traded their cool records in for the Margaritaville station on Sirius. What do we even mean by that term? The Boomers are 60+ now.
And, sure, that “real music” attitude drives me crazy, but I find it in all circles, whether it’s garage/psych enthusiasts, hip-hop folks, indie rockers, or classic rock fans.
@TheContrarian: One tries.
@Lucas Jensen: I think it’s the fact that the Beatles fanatics ARE younger that’s kinda depressing. Don’t get me wrong, Abbey Road was the second CD I ever bought twenty years back, know pretty much everything by them backwards and forwards, but I burnt out on them — and a lot of other things I loved to death by other bands — a long time ago. You all might well get there too!
@Lucas Jensen: so, i’m young(ish), am a beatles fanatic, have cool records, and listen to the margaritaville station on sirius. what does that make me?
@Ned Raggett: Well, it’s not ALL I listen to or anything, but I do love that band. My general concern is that people throw around the term Boomer when I’d say that I’m hard-pressed to even find anybody who works in the rock media who fits that description. It’s this phantom boogeyman group of Rockists held up as straw men when, in actuality, I think the “real music” types (and I understand exactly what Maura is saying there) are much younger. I’m just sick of hearing about Boomers being responsible for this or for that when, beyond Rolling Stone, VH1 list specials, and mainstream non-music mags (which admittedly is a big influential group), I can’t think of whom in the music press is really pushing these kind of “Boomer agenda”.
I still love the Beatles, God yeah, but NASA sure as hell didn’t do this stunt for the sake of the Polarians out there. Nope, the audience is us taxpayers. I also wouldn’t be surprised if this was also some barely-sub rosa marketing ploy for a certain upcoming DVD release for a certain Beatles-related movie whose name absolutely escapes me at the moment, wink wink.
@iantenna: I have no idea. I think it just makes you you.
@dickdogfood: I didn’t even think about that.
Whatever the motivations, this is good for the universe.
Actually, if I’m doing my math correctly, boomers are now between the ages of 44 and 62.
@raihala: 48 to 62 is technically it. But that’s if you put the end of the Baby Boom at 1964. A lot of people stop at 1960. Regardless, I talk to very few writers and editors that are within that age range. That’s a pretty broad range of age to call a generation and to ascribe generalized characteristics.