Category Archives: Happy New Year

We’ll Take A Cup Of Kindness…

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When George Baily gave up all hope, Clarence, an angel-in-waiting, needed to show him that his life had more meaning that he could ever have fathomed. How, as mere mortals, was George (and all of us, actually) able to grasp the profundity that every being effects/affects every other being he/we come in contact with? Stephen Sondheim touched upon that message too, in the song “No One Is Alone”,  from INTO THE WOODS: “You move just a finger, say the slightest word…something’s bound to linger…be heard…you are not alone…” (that show touches me on a deeper level than any other of his masterpieces – and that’s saying a lot coming from a self-proclaimed Sondheimite.)

2011 was too rough a year for too many people I love, so my hope is for a 2012 that is filled with promise and peace and prosperity – mentally, monetarily too, but most importantly, soulfully. I know these are clichés, but clichés are clichés for a reason – because they are borne of truth.

The power of intestinal fortitudinous is mighty. It’s a fundamental, natural gift we all born with, and it lives within the caverns of our deepest souls. It is revitalized in need, during our darkest times, resurrected right on the cusp of us giving up. But we never give up – it won’t allow us to. For we are the captains of our own souls and the creators of our own fates…we survive.

But we also need to be the people that we can actually look into the mirror at…and be more than that reflection, not less.

Happy 2012. Bring it on.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And never brought to mind? 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And auld lang syne…

For auld lang syne, my dear, 
For auld lang syne. 
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, 
For auld lang syne…

We’ll Take A Cup O’ Kindness Yet…

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(This is pretty much a repost from last year’s New Years wishes, only the dates have changed and I added a little more verbiage to reflect its relevence…)

 

ABBA, the eternal androids from Sweden – whose music will survive any imminent nuclear holocaust – has arguably the most popular ‘pop’ New Years song (that I can think of off the top of my noggin) with the appropriately titled “Happy New Year”. Without grasping the irony in its seemingly cheerful lyrics, most who hum along don’t realize it’s a depressing, dark and sarcastic tribute to the impending year, and decade, in question. Don’t believe me? Read the lyrics HERE.

While listening to the song recently, especially the last verse before the chorus…

But is it REALLY a HAPPY New Year, ABBA?

 

 

Seems to me now
That the dreams we had before
Are all dead, nothing more
Than confetti on the floor
It’s the end of a decade
In another ten years time
Who can say what we’ll find
What lies waiting down the line
In the end of ‘89

 

 

…I wondered why they hadn’t thought to record multiple versions that would be played every end-of-decade, almost guaranteeing the relevance of the song (although 2019 doesn’t rhythmically or melodically fit into my rambling discourse…) and their timelessness.  

Hum away, enjoy. But, me?  I can’t think of a more glorious way to ring in 2010 than with the Queen of, well, everything, and the late, great Billy Preston, side by side at the piano, elatedly serenading you and me with “Auld Lang Syne” (from David Brenner’s 1980s talk-fest “Night Life”).

 

 

It instills in us the hope that, perhaps if we really try, we could swiftly forgo a most tumultuous 2009 – and any distress the Aughts as a whole might have emanated – and truly believe in ourselves the possibility of a most sanguine new year.  After all…

 

May we all have a vision now and then
Of a world where every neighbour is a friend
Happy new year
Happy new year
May we all have our hopes, our will to try
If we don’t we might as well lay down and die
You and I 

Thank U, India

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Happy New Year again, one and all – it’s been a few weeks, I understand, and I thank all of you who have inquired about the lack of posts-a-plenty.  But, there’s a legitimate excuse – I’ve had the flu, missed almost a week of work, and still can’t shake this groggy, nasty head cold due to this arctic freeze we’ve been slogging through this week (at least here in NY). 

Oh, woe is me, blah blah blah.  I’ll try to update as frequently as possible, but I can’t even promise myself I will.  Especially since I’ll soon be writing my American Idol Report Card on a weekly basis. 

But, I’m meandering now.  Here is my first post of 2009 (also, see the post script below)~

 

 

If you haven’t seen “Slumdog Millionaire”, you’re missing a juxtaposition of wonderment, sadness, darkness, exhilaration, surprise, giddiness and unadulterated joy and finally, romance.  Because of its popularity and copious awards (it will be a sure-fire Oscar contender), there’s a backlash brewing already.

I say, fuck the naysayers who’ll hate it based solely on its mass appeal (don’t you hate people like that?!) ~ enthrall yourself in its magic.  Sit back, suspend some belief and relish in the amazing script by Simon Beaufoy (you’ll wonder why no one’s thought of some of these plot points before, so archetypal it is) and the natural, beautiful performances (most notably from the two leads, Dev Patel, the adorable actor who’s one of the stars in the great BBC show “Skins”, and the intoxicating, stunning Freida Pinto).

I said it before, I’ll say it again ~ it’s hard to fathom that the same man who made the disgustingly demented “Trainspotting” helmed such a tale.  But, Danny Boyle also made one of my favorite films of the past few years, “Millions”.

Here’s the last scene and closing credits of the film, where the cast dances, in grand ol’ Bollywood style, to “Jai Ho”~

Enjoy ~ because it’s only a matter of time before Fox Searchlight has it removed!

 

 

 

 

P.S.  I’m changing the format somewhat.  I won’t begin every new post with the headline “My New ____” as I used to.  I realize I’m not clever enough to continually think of a deft possessive.  Hence the Alanis Morrisette allusion of today’s post title~

My – And Your – Very Happy New Year!

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ABBA, the androids from Sweden whose music will survive an imminent nuclear holocaust, has arguably the most popular ‘pop’ New Years Eve song (that I can think of off the top of my noggin) with, appropriately titled “Happy New Year” (what originality!)  Without grasping the irony in its seemingly cheerful lyrics, most who hum along don’t realize it’s a depressing, dark and sarcastic tribute to the impending year in question.

Hum away, if you must.  Me?  I can’t think of a more glorious way to ring in 2009 than with the Queen of, well, everything, and the late, great Billy Preston, side by side at the piano, elatedly serenading you and me with “Auld Lang Syne” (from David Brenner’s 1980s talk-fest “Night Life”), instilling in us the hope that, perhaps if we really try, we could swiftly suppress a most distressing 2008 and truly believe in ourselves the possibility of a most sanguine new year.  Well…I said we could try!