The New Year is a time for fresh starts, champagne toasts, and of course, fantastic music. As we prepare to bid farewell to the old and embrace the new, let’s highlight a few of the most beloved and iconic songs that get us all in the New Year’s spirit. Grab your party hat and check out these festive favorites!
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
This charming song perfectly captures the anticipation and hopeful romance of the New Year. Written by Frank Loesser in 1947, it has been covered by a number of artists, from Ella Fitzgerald to the Carpenters. However, Frank apparently felt that some of the singers missed the point: namely, that the “What are you doing?” question was being asked well in advance of the holiday, in hopes of commitment in the future. “It always annoyed my father when the song was sung during the holidays,” shared his daughter Susan. Sorry, Frank.
Champagne Polka
If you enjoy celebrating the new year with a glass of bubbly, Johann Strauss’s “Champagne Polka” is tailor made for you! Written in 1858, this so-called novelty piece is subtitled “A musical joke” and is said to mimic the sound of popping corks. Energetic and upbeat, one section even quotes a popular, carefree Hungarian tavern song. All in all, this composition is the perfect party tune!
Happy New Year
For an upbeat and reflective New Year’s anthem, check out the Swedish group ABBA’s “Happy New Year,” a song that perhaps found its biggest fans in Vietnam. Not much European music made it past the country’s government censors in 1980, but Sweden’s diplomatic support for Vietnam likely gained some toleration for its popular singing group. ABBA’s upbeat melodies and groovy fashion style struck a chord with people who were ready for some positivity, and “Happy New Year” was a major hit in the war-weary country.
Auld Lang Syne
It wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without this classic! Originally a traditional Scottish folk song, the lyrics we know today were adapted by poet Robert Burns. Literally meaning “old long since,” Auld Lang Syne is a heartfelt ode to cherished memories and old friendships. The best-selling recording of this perennial favorite is said to be Connie Francis’s version from her 1962 LP.
We hope these fun facts add an extra spark to your New Year’s playlist! From all of us at the Howard County Concert Odyssey, we wish you a new year filled with joy and music.