“AULD LANG SYNE”, GUY LOMBARDO, DICK CLARK’S ROCKIN’ NEW YEAR’S EVE
By Alan L. Chrisman
When the calendar year was changed by the Church under Pope Gregory X111 in 1582, from the old Roman Julian calendar to better line up Easter with the Spring Equinox, and account for an uneven lunar cycle, the end of the year was designated to be December 31. Ever since, most English-speaking countries have celebrated New Year’s Eve by saying good-bye then, to the previous year and welcoming in the New Year.
“Auld Lang Syne” has long been one of the songs to be played and sung at that time, at the stroke of midnight. The words to it are based on a poem, “Auld Lang Syne” (meaning ‘old long since’) by Scottish poet, Robbie Burns, and the melody is taken from a traditional Scottish folk tune. As the Scots and others from The British Isles settled around the world they brought it with them and commemorated the occasion, so it became part of North America’s traditions.
One of the musicians most associated with “Auld Lang Syne” for years was Guy Lombardo. Lombardo was actually originally Canadian and he and his big-band dance group, The Royal Canadians, popularized it. Lombardo was the headliner on New Year’s Eve for almost half a century at New York’s Roosevelt Hotel and later at the Waldorf Astoria from 1924 on, where live remotes were broadcast in conjunction with celebrations on Times Square, which had become the center of American festivities. Those shows, first on radio then on TV, were transmitted into millions of American homes and became part of the shared tradition.
By the 70’s, rock ‘n ‘roll promoter and founder of American Bandstand, Dick Clark, had up-dated and began hosting the show for younger generations. He called his show, “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve’ and Clark’s array of acts, whomever was currently popular, soon became the most watched. The carried-on tradition of watching the ball drop as everyone counted down the arrival of the New Year, became part of the ritual from New York’s Times Square, the center of New Year’s Eve celebrations in America. Clark continued on until, after a stroke in 2004, he had to eventually pass the hosting duties on to Ryan Seacrest.
But even today, the first song played is still Guy Lombardo’s version of “Auld Lang Syne”. Since John Lennon’s death in New York in 1980, his anthem, ”Imagine” ,is also poignantly played as well as Frank Sinatra’s “ New New York”. For thousands who gather in Times Square, as well as millions more watching around the world, it has become the occasion to kiss those close and say good-bye to the old year and welcome in the coming year and say, “Happy New Year!”
Below Rod Stewart doing “Auld Lang Syne” at Scotland’s Stirling Castle, 2012:
http://youtu.be/Al7ONqrdscY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al7ONqrdscY
“AULD LANG SYNE”
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne*?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
By Alan L. Chrisman
When the calendar year was changed by the Church under Pope Gregory X111 in 1582, from the old Roman Julian calendar to better line up Easter with the Spring Equinox, and account for an uneven lunar cycle, the end of the year was designated to be December 31. Ever since, most English-speaking countries have celebrated New Year’s Eve by saying good-bye then, to the previous year and welcoming in the New Year.
“Auld Lang Syne” has long been one of the songs to be played and sung at that time, at the stroke of midnight. The words to it are based on a poem, “Auld Lang Syne” (meaning ‘old long since’) by Scottish poet, Robbie Burns, and the melody is taken from a traditional Scottish folk tune. As the Scots and others from The British Isles settled around the world they brought it with them and commemorated the occasion, so it became part of North America’s traditions.
One of the musicians most associated with “Auld Lang Syne” for years was Guy Lombardo. Lombardo was actually originally Canadian and he and his big-band dance group, The Royal Canadians, popularized it. Lombardo was the headliner on New Year’s Eve for almost half a century at New York’s Roosevelt Hotel and later at the Waldorf Astoria from 1924 on, where live remotes were broadcast in conjunction with celebrations on Times Square, which had become the center of American festivities. Those shows, first on radio then on TV, were transmitted into millions of American homes and became part of the shared tradition.
By the 70’s, rock ‘n ‘roll promoter and founder of American Bandstand, Dick Clark, had up-dated and began hosting the show for younger generations. He called his show, “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve’ and Clark’s array of acts, whomever was currently popular, soon became the most watched. The carried-on tradition of watching the ball drop as everyone counted down the arrival of the New Year, became part of the ritual from New York’s Times Square, the center of New Year’s Eve celebrations in America. Clark continued on until, after a stroke in 2004, he had to eventually pass the hosting duties on to Ryan Seacrest.
But even today, the first song played is still Guy Lombardo’s version of “Auld Lang Syne”. Since John Lennon’s death in New York in 1980, his anthem, ”Imagine” ,is also poignantly played as well as Frank Sinatra’s “ New New York”. For thousands who gather in Times Square, as well as millions more watching around the world, it has become the occasion to kiss those close and say good-bye to the old year and welcome in the coming year and say, “Happy New Year!”
Below Rod Stewart doing “Auld Lang Syne” at Scotland’s Stirling Castle, 2012:
http://youtu.be/Al7ONqrdscY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al7ONqrdscY
“AULD LANG SYNE”
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne*?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak' a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Scottish poet, Robert Burns is credited with "Auld Lang Syne" words, later set to a traditional Scottish tune: Guy Lombardo , big-band leader, popularized it for New Years in North America
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