Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine

Today is New Year’s Eve. Doddering old 2013 is on its last legs and will soon be replaced by a brand new year, 2014. Accordingly, we have just the thing for your listening and viewing pleasure while you attempt to navigate this always-treacherous transitional period. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to:

A Festival Of Auld Lang Syne Performances

Our first number will be on the musical saw with accordion accompaniment, plus there is a bit of the human voice. From 2006, here is someone named Nicki Jaine on both the saw and the vocal, accompanied by Roy Ashley on accordion, with Auld Lang Syne #1 (2:43).

Next, we travel through both time and space to Detroit, Michigan, in the year 1987 to hear the young Aretha Franklin and Billy Preston sing a Motown version of our festival theme, Auld Lang Syne #2 (2:07). For some unknown reason there is a brief appearance by comedian David Brenner at the end of the performance.

As we continue to mellow and chill and let the old year slip away, here with Auld Lang Syne #3 (4:52) is saxophonist Kenny G -- you may skip this video only if you majored in jazz saxophone in college and feel that Kenny G sold out for commercial success.

To close our Festival we reach all the way back to 1953 and the old master himself. Here are Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians with what must surely be the schmaltziest version ever recorded -- Auld Lang Syne #4 (2:10), complete with chromatic runs.

Our Festival is now at an end. If we have done our work properly, your transition from 2013 to 2014 will be a smooth one. You may now return to your normal life, where you are free to choose any kind of music that helps you get through your day.

Now go forth and multiply get one for the Gipper hold your head up high.

Lord, for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.

13 comments:

  1. BIG smile Sir Robert. Who else but you would put this musical extravaganza together for us to enjoy tonight. Thank you so much.

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  2. Welcoming the New Year in the NYC subway: Auld Lang Syne at the Union Square subway station http://youtu.be/5yqJ3ZPyEOY
    Happy New Year!

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  3. Carol, you're welcome!

    Michelle, thanks for the link. New York's famous Subway Sawlady, Natalia Paruz, plays a mean musical saw!

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  4. Happy New Year RWP. I hope 2014 will be a contain less pandemonium for you.

    Stay well and enjoy,

    Best,always,
    Reamus

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  5. I am grateful not to hear bag-pipes. Which make me weep.
    Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  6. i just don't kmnow why i used to listen to guy lombardo, but i always did and my mom and dad did not particular like him<><><>i must have just been very subjectable to that kind of stuff<><>very easily impressed<with him harry belefonte the big bopper richardsen buddy holly and norman condiff singers

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  7. Reamus, Happy New Year! One of the great unanswered questions is "Why hasn't Reamus posted anything since opening day of baseball spring training last February?"

    Elephant's Child, a Happy New Year to you! I am also grateful not to hear bagpipes. Which make me scream.

    Putz, a Happy New Year to you and all the David Barlow Players. Lombardo I know, and Belafonte (note spelling), and Richardson (note spelling), and Buddy Holly, but you threw me there with that last one. I may be the only one here who knows that you have mixed the Norman Luboff Choir with the Ray Conniff (note spelling) Singers. It's rather like getting Jay-Z mixed up with Z Z Top, something I hope never happens to Beyoncé, for her sake.

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  8. A Lady's Life, a Happy New Year to you in western Canada!

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  9. Richie, a very Happy New Year to you and Gena as we'll.

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  10. Something strange seems to be happening (or I'm in a time warp.) Your post on apostrophe-itis has disappeared, and this post, which I should have been able to see on December 31, was not visible to me this morning, Jan. 2. Be that as it may, a Happy New Year to you, also, RWP.

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  11. Happy New Year to you, Pat, as well. You are not in a time warp (well, you might be, but that is in no way the fault of this blog) and it shouldn't seem strange that strange things seem to be happening, as strange things happen all the time, probably. We just need to pay closer attention.

    I took down the apostrophe-itis post because Elizabeth helped me to see it from a different perspective (and so did Yorkshire Pudding even, a little bit, with his remark about pedantry) and I no longer wished to have it associated with me. But whatever damage was done cannot be undone, I suppose, except in a Romans 8:28 sort of way.

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  12. “Sometimes God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves.”
    ― Max Lucado

    My love to you, Bob. X

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