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Music to land on the Moon by

The history of the space race told through music lyrics.

On the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landings, Beatriz De La Pava researches how real life events are reflected in the lyrics of popular songs, and shows how music can paint a vivid picture of the social, political, economic, and cultural landscape. From Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon, when reaching outer space was merely a metaphor for love, through to the Apollo 11 mission; narrated by bands like The Byrds and Public Service Broadcasting.
From the journey of the first woman into space, to the tragic accident of the Columbia shuttle, immortalized by Deep Purple finishing the ride with the exploration of Mars, which has now become a reality that is reflected in music. De La Pava plays the music that chronicles the history of the space race, and speaks to the people who knew it, made it and loved it.

Image: Music on the Moon (Credit: ±«Óătv)

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Wed 24 Jul 2019 23:06GMT
±«Óătv World Service

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Music Played

  • Frank Sinatra

    Fly Me To The Moon

  • Public Service Broadcasting

    The race for Space

  • Pink Floyd

    Set the Control for the Heart of the Sun

  • Pink Floyd

    Astronomy Dominae

  • David Bowie

    Space Oddity demo version

  • Public Service Broadcasting

    Go!

  • The Byrds

    Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins

  • Pink Floyd

    Moonhead

  • The Goons

    Russian Love Song

  • Mecano

    Laika

  • Public Service Broadcasting

    Gagarin

  • Muslim Magomayev

    The girl’s Called Seagull

  • Komputer

    Valentina

  • The Kinks

    Supersonic Rocket Ship

  • Elton John

    Rocket Man

  • Vangelis

    Albedo

  • R.E.M.

    Man on the Moon

  • Rush

    Countdown

  • Isao Tomita

    Space Walk, Impressions of an Astronaut

  • Jean‐Michel Jarre

    Last Rendevouz

  • John Denver

    Flying For Me

  • Deep Purple

    Contact Lost

  • Space Oddity

    Colonel Chris Hadfield version

  • will.i.am

    Reach for the Stars

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Jul 2019 02:06GMT
    ±«Óătv World Service
  • Sun 21 Jul 2019 13:06GMT
    ±«Óătv World Service
  • Wed 24 Jul 2019 08:06GMT
    ±«Óătv World Service
  • Wed 24 Jul 2019 23:06GMT
    ±«Óătv World Service