Post by 3 on Dec 19, 2006 16:34:43 GMT 1
On 16 December, 1965, Jingle Bells became the first song to be broadcast from space. Gemini 6 astronauts contacted Mission Control with a report of a satellite in polar orbit. Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra reported “eight small modules pulling a command module”, before noting “the pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit”. They then performed Jingle Bells on a smuggled harmonica and sleigh bells.
Clearly, it gets pretty boring in space. Likewise, if you’re tiring of the over-familiar Christmas mix, if Noddy Holder’s war cry at the start of Merry Christmas Everybody is already beginning to grate, perhaps we can help. This Christmas, treat yourself and download twelve free mp3s. They are by turns surprising, melancholic and heart-warming. As are all the best Christmases.
the fall
hark, the herald angels sing!
John Wesley’s 18th Century hymn as knocked out by the Manc punks. Happy Christmas-ah!
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_thefall_harktheheralangelssing_au.mp3
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mother and the addicts
oh no! it's christmas again
“When my family comes round and I’m at my wit’s end...” The Glasgow garage-rockers feel the pressure.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_motherandtheaddicts_ohgoditschristmas_au.mp3
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aidan moffat
santa claus is coming to town
Now Arab Strap have gone their separate ways, enjoy this no-fi version of the festive favourite.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_aidanmoffat_santaclausiscomingtotown_au.mp3
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headcoatees
santa claus
Originally a limited 7" release, enjoy this burst of scratchy garage doo-wop from Holly Golightly and friends.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_headcoatees_santaclaus_au.mp3
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sufjan stevens
that was the worst christmas ever!
Stevens' contribution hints at the claustrophobia of family gatherings.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-CVZ-06-01731_sufjanstevens_thatwastheworstchristmasever_au.mp3
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quasi
merry x-mas
A beautiful composition taken from this year’s album, When The Going Gets Dark.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-CEL-06-00028_quasi_merryx-mas_au.mp3
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1990s
jingle bells
OK, so it's not actually THAT song, nor is it particularly festive. But damn it’s good.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_1990s_jinglebells_au.mp3
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envelopes
pink christmas
A glorious seasonal cacophony - a bit like if all your Christmases really did come at once.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-KYF-06-00003_envelopes_pinkchristmas_au.mp3
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chevron
rudi the techno pioneer
Planet Mu’s electronic maverick drops a ragga-jungle mash-up of We Wish You A Merry Christmas. That’s nan sorted then.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_chevron_rudithetechnopioneer_au.mp3
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the knife
christmas reindeer
Having conquered 2006 with their Silent Shout album, The Knife get festive. Weird, but festive nonetheless.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/SE-WCE-01-00811_theknife_christmasreindeer_au.mp3
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scissors for lefty
christmas intentions
The Cali rockers regret misbehaving all year. Don’t they know he’s making a list and checking it twice?
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_scissorsforlefty_christmasintentions_au.mp3
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sufjan stevens
sister winter
It’s that man again. Another present from his five-CD Christmas box set.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-CVZ-06-01748_sufjanstevens_sisterwinter_au.mp3
Clearly, it gets pretty boring in space. Likewise, if you’re tiring of the over-familiar Christmas mix, if Noddy Holder’s war cry at the start of Merry Christmas Everybody is already beginning to grate, perhaps we can help. This Christmas, treat yourself and download twelve free mp3s. They are by turns surprising, melancholic and heart-warming. As are all the best Christmases.
the fall
hark, the herald angels sing!
John Wesley’s 18th Century hymn as knocked out by the Manc punks. Happy Christmas-ah!
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_thefall_harktheheralangelssing_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
mother and the addicts
oh no! it's christmas again
“When my family comes round and I’m at my wit’s end...” The Glasgow garage-rockers feel the pressure.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_motherandtheaddicts_ohgoditschristmas_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
aidan moffat
santa claus is coming to town
Now Arab Strap have gone their separate ways, enjoy this no-fi version of the festive favourite.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_aidanmoffat_santaclausiscomingtotown_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
headcoatees
santa claus
Originally a limited 7" release, enjoy this burst of scratchy garage doo-wop from Holly Golightly and friends.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_headcoatees_santaclaus_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sufjan stevens
that was the worst christmas ever!
Stevens' contribution hints at the claustrophobia of family gatherings.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-CVZ-06-01731_sufjanstevens_thatwastheworstchristmasever_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quasi
merry x-mas
A beautiful composition taken from this year’s album, When The Going Gets Dark.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-CEL-06-00028_quasi_merryx-mas_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990s
jingle bells
OK, so it's not actually THAT song, nor is it particularly festive. But damn it’s good.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_1990s_jinglebells_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
envelopes
pink christmas
A glorious seasonal cacophony - a bit like if all your Christmases really did come at once.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-KYF-06-00003_envelopes_pinkchristmas_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
chevron
rudi the techno pioneer
Planet Mu’s electronic maverick drops a ragga-jungle mash-up of We Wish You A Merry Christmas. That’s nan sorted then.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_chevron_rudithetechnopioneer_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the knife
christmas reindeer
Having conquered 2006 with their Silent Shout album, The Knife get festive. Weird, but festive nonetheless.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/SE-WCE-01-00811_theknife_christmasreindeer_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
scissors for lefty
christmas intentions
The Cali rockers regret misbehaving all year. Don’t they know he’s making a list and checking it twice?
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/_NOIRSC_scissorsforlefty_christmasintentions_au.mp3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
sufjan stevens
sister winter
It’s that man again. Another present from his five-CD Christmas box set.
www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/collective/ext/ide1/-/http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/collective/downloads/GB-CVZ-06-01748_sufjanstevens_sisterwinter_au.mp3