A short time ago, in a galaxy not very far away... NASA launched the Voyager Golden Record into outer space.
Wikipedia explains, "The Voyager Golden Record is a phonograph record included in the two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977. It contains sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. It is intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or far future humans, that may find it."What a great idea — but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be working. It's now thirty years later, and we still haven't heard from the aliens (at least as far as I know...)
Maybe the extraterrestrials just don't care for the music we recorded for them — there's no accounting for taste, after all — so I've decided to take another shot at it... and I need your help!
First, go to the Golden Record website to find out what was on the original Golden Record (assuming you don't already have it committed to memory...)
Then post a comment below with your suggestions for the new version.
Anticipating NASA budgetary constraints, this new interplanetary mix will be recorded on a 100 minute cassette encased in a gold-plated ghetto blaster — therefore we have room for only about twenty selections, each lasting five minutes or less. (Let's not burden the cosmos with the entire Ring Cycle or White Album just yet. Remember we're trying to encourage the aliens to visit, not scare them away...)
Check back here on Monday, when I'll be posting the final track listing of our new Golden Record drawn from your suggestions and my own personal picks.
Boldly go where no mix tape has gone before...!
Article comments
1 - Chris
There's got to be at least one Mashup on there. Probably something from Aggro 1 or Party Ben. Something to show future how we like to take a horrible song and make it better.
2 - Stephen V Funk
SIDE A
1. Sun Ra: Outer Spaceways Incorporated
2. John Oswald/Richard Strauss: z24 [sort of via The Beige One]
3. Toni Basil: Mickey [via Atul]
4. Ellington/Strayhorn: Take The A Train [via Eddie]
5. J.S. Bach/Wendy Carlos: "Little" Fugue in G Minor [via ladelfa]
6. Aphex Twin: Flim
7. Ween: Poopship Destroyer [via John S]
8. Spiritualized: Sway
9. Javanese Gamelan [via Eddie]
10. Brian Eno: Music for Airports (excerpt) [sorta via ladelfa]
SIDE B
1. Alexander Courage: Star Trek theme
2. David Shire: Night on Disco Mountain [via Beige]
3. Scott Joplin: Solace [sorta via ladelfa]
4. Frank Sinatra: I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb [via Suzanne]
6. Messiaen: O Sacrum Convivium!
7. Mbira music
8. Elvis Presley: Blue Moon [sorta via ladelfa]
9. Lucia Pamela: Walking on the Moon
10. Sun Ra: Space Is The Place
Ok, so it kinda sucks... anyone else wanna take a shot at it?