Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Auld Lang Syne



Many of you have heard the song "Auld Lang Syne." Kenny G has recorded two unique versions of the song that you may have heard. The first (referred to as The Millennium Mix) was released in 1999. The second version (Freedom Mix) was released in 2002. Both versions have been played quite a bit on the radio. The unusual thing about these versions is that 20th century sound clips are mixed in with the music. These move in chronological order (in historical order) throughout the song. Most of the clips are about 3 seconds long, so it is hard to identify them all as the song moves along. The videos we will view also show some of these moments.




How many of the moments can you identify? Do you like the tune? Let us know what you think. How does mixing history and holiday music work?




Auld Lang Syne, an old Scottish poem is most widely known as the song that is sung at midnight on New Year's Eve. Have you heard it before?

29 comments:

Unknown said...

I can identify quite many of the clips because of what we are taught in history classes and things some still talk about today. The tune was okay, it was pretty catchy. I liked it. I think that the video was kind of cool, mixing history and holiday music was a nice thing to do, especially with that song. I have never heard the poem before, but it seems kind of interesting.

trevor said...

I never heard of Kenny G but I know that he is a real American Patriot. His songs tell the stories of America through it’s ups and downs. He shows that America has changed in many ways. America is the proudest country in the world and our history will live on. Kenny G song reach out to the American people saying that we have done so much in a short time.

Unknown said...

I thought the video was very interesting. It was pretty cool seeing the past sixty years of the world pass by in 3 second clips. I also thought the song fit the video quite well. Their wasn’t a clip on the video that I didn’t recognize. Overall, I feel that this mix of holiday music and history was very clever and entertaining.

Muhammad R. said...

I think that the tune played in the video sounds familiar. In the video we were both entertained and educated by the events shown. It shows how much the American people have overcome. I think that I mostly hear the tune in the video around New Year's when people are reviewing past events. Overall, the video was entertaining and showed us a lot of history at the same time.

Ashley said...

First, I think the idea to mix all these unforgettable moments in history was an outstanding idea. You have to be really mature and be able to think back and remember which events were impor-tant, and which events were not as important. Most of these events that were presented in these two videos were familiar to me, because of history classes and taking an interest in some of the events that took place. To be able to mix the events together like this, and put music behind it is a very interesting thing to me. When I was told we were doing a blog that had something to do with history I thought it was going to be boring. I had no idea you could think about so much at one time. This was a brilliant idea. Thanks, Kenny G.

Unknown said...

I really liked the second video but I also liked the first. I like how they did combine history with music it really makes you listen. I think that the first video had a lot of facts in it about the world. The second video I liked that it talked about 9/11 and showed pictures because that was a horrible day and it really shows how bad it was in some of the pictures. The videos gave plenty of information about the world and things that have happened that has most definitely put an impact on people’s lives. I really enjoyed the videos that we watched and I liked that it was about the past and the tragic things that have happened.

Fyfe said...

Moments that I can identify are some really sad but historical times, like when the Twin Towers were attacked, also the Simpson case (about him being convicted of murder), and when Kennedy was accused of having sexual relations with someone else. The tune in the clip was ok, I suppose, I didn't particularly like it. But I thought mixing history with music was a great idea, it could of been better with different music though. And I never heard the song that he song at midnight on New Years Eve before (not that I know of).

Unknown said...

I really liked the second video but I also liked the first. I like how they did combine history with music it really makes you listen. I think that the first video had a lot of facts in it about the world. The second video I liked that it talked about 9/11 and showed pictures because that was a horrible day and it really shows how bad it was in some of the pictures. The videos gave plenty of information about the world and things that have happened that has most definitely put an impact on people’s lives. I really enjoyed the videos that we watched and I liked that it was about the past and the tragic things that have happened.

Unknown said...

After listening to the two clips, I have heard the song before. It is played every New Years Eve on TV after the New Years ball drops. I could identify most of the moments in both of the clips. I was surprised, though, that this particular song was put with this kind of history moments. The song seems to me more of a happy song, but most of the historical moments that were showed in the clip are sad.

Skye said...

After listening to the song “Auld Lang Syne” I find it very touching. It focused on many of the most important issues within history. Some of the issues were serious others were humorous; it is amazing how Kenny G was able to put these together. Kenny G put much thought and honor into his work and for that I appraise him. I hope that many others continue to listen to his music.

Ball23 said...

This makes you remember about all the sad events that happened in the United States. It makes the love the solders pour out. This song should be played everywhere in the United Sates it isn’t already. Listening to this song is another way of learning your history. It tells you certain dates that occurred during certain time periods. I really love the song because it makes me think on how grateful I am and be thankful for my family that is sill living .

Unknown said...

I identify a lot of moments in the video. Most of them I’ve learned in Social Studies. The tune is great by mixing history with the New Years Eve theme song. The video was showing the things that are now in history from previous years. The moment that I wouldn’t forget is the 9/11 attack because it was very very sad by innocent people have gotten killed in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. I cried about it when I Heard it.

Shaylor Merritt said...

I have heard this song before, which seems fitting, because it was originally sung at New Years. I never knew it had lyrics, though. As for Kenny G, I've never heard either of his versions. I wasn't too particularly fond of either of them. I don't really like the sound of the instrument he played (I think it was an oboe) and it seems to me he put past conflicts in the song to try to make it sad or inspiring. In my opinion, he is no better than half of the twelve year olds with access to the internet. Almost anyone can take a normal song and put sound clips over top of it. I'm all for originality, but New Years is about looking forward, not to the past.

Roland Downing said...

First Block. Good work done in a short period of time! It is interesting to see almost a century of history rolled out in a short period of time. I hope it makes you realize the importance of learning history!

whsduke™ said...

I enjoyed the video a lot because I like to study many of the subjects that were in the video. I recognized many of the clips because we were taught about them in school. The song is quite catchy as well in my opinion. It kind of helps you watch the video because with the sad came the fitting music but it also helped brighten the mood during the funny clips. The only thing I did not like about the video is that you would be watching it and something funny would show up on screen so you would laugh and then really quick another sad scene would pop up and then you feel guilty for laughin

Lauren! said...

In these videos I can identify quite a few of the moments viewed. Since the video clips move swiftly it is difficult to recognize every one of them. I thought that the song itself by Kenny G was great. I have heard this song before on the radio. I heard it around the end of December. I like the tune of the music with the history clips because it makes the mood suspenseful and really makes you pay attention to what is happening. I think that this song with history clips works but some other songs with these clips may be rather odd.

Roger said...

In both of the videos I identify around 30 if not more events. The tune was alright but it gave the events that were put to it a sad over look. The song was great he is great. I don’t how history and holiday music work out together. This was the first time I have ever heard them both put together before.

Unknown said...

I thought that both of the videos were very entertaining. They told us about all sorts of things that have happened in the past. I could identify most if not all the events that occurred in both of the videos. I very much did enjoy the tune of music in the background of the videos. Mixing history and holiday mu-sic together is a very good way to show how things have happened at different points of life.

Unknown said...

These videos are very eye-opening because they show all that America has been through in the years. I had never heard the song before, but I liked how they combined history with music. It was sad to see the World Trade Center after being hit. It makes me think of all of the lives that were lost because of the pilots of the planes. I don't understand how some people can just be so cruel. Hearing Martin Luther King Jr. talk showed us how much segregation has changed, and how blessed we are to be able to live in a non-segregated time. The U.S.A has been through so much over the years, but we have still remained a country.

Unknown said...

I enjoyed watching them because it reminded me about all that has happened over the years. I can identify quite a bit in the movie. Not that I have lived through but just a small amount of the history that occured; but from books and other resources. I have never herd of Kenny G but I think that putting music to history is a good idea.

Maurica said...

I have never heard this song, but I really like it. I could identify some of the clips because I have learned about them in history. I liked the video because it shows have far we have come as a country. It really does not seem like it has been less than a hundred years since we have had the internet and other things. I like how the song and the pictures coordinate with the time of year. We are almost done with 2008 and rapidly entering 2009.

Anonymous said...

I liked the videos. The references to some of America’s points in history were really well put together. Kenny G is an amazing musician. I have heard of his music before, and I really like it. I love history its my second favorite subject due to my favorite subject math.

**Bethany=) said...

I think today’s video took away from both components. I focused more on the history. It was hard to listen to the song. I like that song is really reminded me of Christmas. The video was well put together and I guess it was good to recap as much history as possible before entering a new year so the song and video tie together. I didn’t think it was good to have the voices in the video so loud over the music. To me the song didn’t go with the video even thought the title of the song was related. The video wasn’t holiday related just full of history. The video was geared towards New Years and the song was geared towards Christmas in my opinion. So I don’t think the mixing of history and music worked.

Unknown said...

I must say that watching the video, with a mixture of events that had occured was sad. I think it was kind of interesting how they played the tune to go along with it. I guess in a way they were saying let us start a new begining by remembering the past, but yet moving on to a better future. The video also showed how time has changed over the years.

Dee Dee said...

I think that the videos were very interesting. It reflected back on a lot of our history. The tune was very catchy it really got you into listining to what it was about. The idea was very neat. I have never really heard of the person that was behind all of this but I really do like it. It just felt more like a tribute to the people that has fought for our country and who put their lives on the line such as J.F. Kennedy and Martin L. King Jr. and all the others that died trying to make our country better.

Maurica said...

I have never heard this song, but I really like it. I could identify some of the clips because I have learned about them in history. I liked the video because it shows have far we have come as a country. It really does not seem like it has been less than a hundred years since we have had the internet and other things. I like how the song and the pictures coordinate with the time of year. We are almost done with 2008 and rapidly entering 2009.

Unknown said...

The video was very sad because I really can get the out look for what those people went trough back then. I’m not saying I can feel what they felt but trough that clip I can hear the terror that they have in there hearts. The pain they felt, some people don’t know about the history that is behind the American dream. Many people don’t care.

Layfette said...

The events showed a lot about United States history. The majority of the things show our ups and downs; how we are still standing strong regardless of what we have been through. Out of all the obstacles we faced, it never brought us down. We still remain strong. That video shows a lot of over coming things and through it all we still remain.

Unknown said...

Most of the clips were recognizable. The tune was out of this world it’s what made the clip interesting and made me focus on nothing but the clip. The mix was and hit It’s like they were mixing a little of history and a little of the past together. It talked about history with a music hit of 2000.