MIAMI:

The songs of the Beatles have always enjoyed a global appeal. Now one of their best-loved recordings is to be beamed into the galaxy in an attempt to introduce the Fab Four’s music to alien ears.

NASA will broadcast the song, Across the Universe, through the transmitters of its deep space communications network on February 4 — the 40th anniversary of its recording at London’s Abbey Road studios.

The music will be converted into digital data and sent on a 431 light year-journey towards Polaris, the North Star, in a stunt that also commemorates the space agency’s 50th anniversary.

The former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, who co-wrote the song with John Lennon and played an extraterrestrial concert from Earth to the crew of the international space station in 2005, said he was excited by the project. “Well done NASA,” he said. “Send my love to the aliens.”

Whether there is anything out there to hear the broadcast is another matter. But according to Briton Martin Lewis, an LA-based former producer of Beatles DVDs who came up with the idea, it would be fun trying to collect the royalties. He said he chose the 1968 song, which was never released as a single, because its title and lyrics represent a spirit of friendship and harmony. “It has universal appeal. It transcends ages, borders, language and other barriers.” — The Guardian