Canadians in Space

"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-boggingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the drug store, but that's just peanuts to space."

- Douglas Adams

Canada seems to be increasing its presence in space lately; Robert Thirsk is one of the additions to the Space Station crew and Circque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté is set to become Canada's first space tourist. Our interest in space has varied over the years, mine included, but the succesful exploration and study of it continues to be one of the most challenging projects humanity has undertaken.

My favourite songs from the set are the Lemonjelly and Langley Schools Music Project contributions. The Lemonjelly song uses voice samples recorded during actual Apollo Missions (and is just a really beautiful song) and the Langley Schools one is a cover of the David Bowie song as recorded by around 70 students in B.C., and is Bowie-approved. Thanks to Kris for pointing it out to me.

* denotes Canadian musicians

1. Guided by Voices - Hey Hey Spaceman (Devil Between My Toes)

2. Spiral Beach - Rocket Fuel (Ball)*

3. Devo - Space Junk (Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!)

4. The National - Looking For Astronauts ( Alligator)

5. Laura Barrett - Space Seed: The Musical ( Victory Garden )*

6. Lemonjelly - Space Walk (Lost Horizon)

7. The New Pornographers - Star Bodies (Twin Cinema)*

8. Carbon Dating Service - Starbeat Graduation March (Polyentendrii)*local

9. Modest Mouse - Space Travel is Boring (This is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About)

10. Greg Macpherson - 1000 Stars (Balanced on a Pin)*

11. Broken Social Scene - Stars and Sons (You Forgot It In People)*

12. Wintersleep - Astronauts (Welcome to the Night Sky)*

13. Langley Schools Music Project - Space Oddity (Innocence and Despair)*