It was hardly the toughest link to work out, but how often does Saturday Snapshots fall on New Year's Day? Here are the Auld Lang Answers...
10. Often mistaken for space aliens.
I was watching a documentary recently where the US government claimed that when people saw UFOs, they were actually seeing U2 spy planes. Which aren't shaped like flying saucers at all. Far more likely they're seeing Bono's halo...
I always hated New Year's Eve when I was younger. It seemed one of those nights of the year expressly designed to highlight your loneliness and make you realise how all your dreams were still unaccomplished. I spent all of my teenage New Year's Eves alone in my bedroom, and most of my twenties alone in a radio studio, having volunteered to work the night no one else wanted to. Now that I'm a father, I'll be celebrating New Year's Eve as I have for the last three years... in bed by 10, hoping not to get woken up by the fireworks.
Still, if you are going out singing Auld Lang Syne on New Year's Eve, here's ten songs to take with you. I called it Volume 1 because there's plenty more where these came from. If we're all still here next year, maybe I'll throw together a Volume 2...
Another song from the recently mentioned Oklahoma! Particularly apt...
It's been such a bad year Put it behind us now It's a New Year This year will be a better year It seems we just get over one thing And then get knocked down by another Round and round my head they fly And what are the chances Of us both getting through this...?
Tell me, First Aid Kit... did it hurt when you fell out of heaven?
Now I have a lot to learn and I'm starting tonight, Got to stop looking at things like they're black and they're white. Got to write more songs of a little more, treat my friends better. Got to stop worrying about everything to the letter.
A few resolutions the world could take heed of there...
Most people though, celebrate New Year like Kid Rock.
I’ll quit smokin’, I’ll quit eatin’ I’m not jokin’, I’ll quit cheatin’ I’ll quit cursin’, I’ll quit drinkin’ I’ll be a better person, but tonight I’m thinkin’
Let’s get shit faced, let’s get shit faced Let’s get into trouble, let’s get outta this place And I’ll have faith in the coast that you clear Say you love me, Happy New Year...
If I ever did throw a New Year's party, this is the band I'd book to perform.
I can't think of any other song that captures the ramshackle chaos of a New Year's party where everyone's had too much to drink and anything could happen.
Nick and Socorro broke up And Candice wouldn't shut up Fin he recorded the whole thing Ray he said damn you And someone broke my camera And it was New Years And we all started to sing Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind
And Tom's voice is perfect here: he always sounds like he's had a skinful.
On the other hand, Motion City Soundtrack describe perfectly every New Year's party I've ever been to...
Why did I come Oh why did I come here? These humans all suck I'd rather be home feeling violent and lonely I'm not trying to sound so insincere But the postcard that's taped to the freezer reads "wish you were here" How I wish I could disappear
Sad to read that MCSt called it a day earlier this year after almost 20 years as a band. Still, maybe they saw the writing on the wall for us all...
Deacon Blue were a great pop band. Not open to debate. Gotta feel sorry for Ricky though - on top of everything else this year, it sounds like he's had trouble with the mother-in-law...
Now I'm telling you this
In a difficult year
Oh, your mother
She gave me problems!
And here's another great pop band... hell, one of the greatest. If you don't believe that, I have three things to say to you:
1) Agnetha's voice is up there with Kate Bush's;
2) Elvis Costello's biggest hit was inspired by Dancing Queen;
3) Blue eyeshadow rocks.
1. Frank Turner & John Snodgrass - Happy New Year
Over on Amazon, someone described the album this comes from thus:
"It's not a real album, it's two blokes and a recorder and lots of alcohol."
Well, I take issue with that statement for a couple of reasons. Firstly... you just described the songwriting process of probably 75% of recorded popular music over the last 50 years. Secondly... Frank & Jon never promoted this as a real album (certainly not in the way that Frank promotes his normal records), it was always supposed to be a couple of buddies jamming and having fun. And it doesn't get more fun than Happy New Year, a song that never fails to make me smile... especially the bit where Frank has to explain to his American pal what Boxing Day is...
Call up your buddies Get them to bring the beer Thin Lizzy on the stereo No fights, no tears If I could be anywhere I'd wanna be here Have a Happy New Year!
Whether you're out partying till dawn... or in bed by ten... have a great New Year's Eve. Here's hoping 2017 is a whole lot better for all of us...
