Retired astronaut (the first Canadian to walk in space), former commander of the International Space Station (ISS), musician, engineer, and former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot Chris Hadfield published a new music video: “An Astronaut’s Christmas Carol – Jewel in the Night”.
The song was originally recorded back in December 2012, and it was the first musical recording in space ever (that we know of). Hadfield used that recording, added extra instrumentals, and prepared the beautiful video below.
Hadfield wrote:
“The lights of the Earth look joyful, plus so many stars shining in the night. This carol brother Dave and I wrote looks at Christmas from a new height.”
“I recorded the vocals and guitar on the Space Station, using an iPad velcroed to the wall. We added extra instrumentals later in an Earth studio. Now I sing it every year at home and thought it would be nice to share.”
“Merry Christmas to all, no matter where the Season finds you. Be well.”
The video contains scenes from inside of the International Space Station, the orbiting laboratory. And also many beautiful views of Earth.
Hadfield has flown two Space Shuttle missions (STS-74 in November 1995 and STS-100 in April 2001) and served as commander of the International Space Station.
Hadfield launched in the Soyuz TMA-07M flight for a long duration stay onboard the ISS as part of Expedition 35. He arrived at the station two days later, as scheduled, and became the first Canadian to command the ISS when the crew of Expedition 34 departed in March 2013.
On May 12, 2013, he turned over command of the orbiting laboratory and returned home aboard the Soyuz spacecraft on May 13.
During his free time on Expedition 35, Hadfield recorded music for an album, using the Larrivée Parlor guitar previously brought to the ISS. The first song recorded in space, Jewel in the Night, was released via YouTube on Christmas Eve 2012. Here is this original video (music and static images only) below.
Lyrics of “An Astronaut’s Christmas Carol – Jewel in the Night”
So bright, Jewel in the night.
There in my window below.
So bright, dark as the night.
With all of our cities aglow.
It’s long been our way
To honor this day
And offer goodwill to man.
And know, where ever we go,
It’s come round to Christmas again.
So far, shines every star.
They’re without limit to see.
So grand, far away land
Beckoning, calling to thee
And let it be shown
Where ever we go
In all of the wonders above,
With all that we bring
There’s no finer thing
Than this message, this province of love.
A love for the families
That gather below.
Love for the stranger
That you’ll never know.
For those who aren’t with you
Who wander above.
So bright, jewel in the night.
There lies the cradle we knew.
Home of all that we love
And all of our memories, too.
It shall be our way
To wander away
And take with us all that we know.
And never cease this message of peace
From Bethlehem so long ago.
It shall be our way, to wander away,
And take with us all that we know.
And never cease, this message of peace,
From Bethlehem so long ago.
Sources
- “Jewel In The Night”, The First Christmas Carol From Space” on Astronaut.com
- Chris Hadfield on Wikipedia
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