A daily chronicle of creativity in film, TV, music, arts, and entertainment, produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from November 2014 – March 2020. Host John Horn leads the conversation, accompanied by the nation's most plugged-in cultural journalists.
You will invariably hear "Auld Lang Syne"when the clock strikes midnight on December 31 .
The New Year's Eve anthem is based on an 18th-century Scottish poem, set originally to the tune of a traditional folk song. There are countless versions of the song, by artists of all stripes. There's everything from the classic Guy Lombardo version to a dubsteb version from Tornado Twins.
To cut through the fat, we asked our favorite pop culture junkie, Sean Rameswaram of WNYC's "Sideshow" podcast to rank his top five versions from bad to better.
5.) Rod Stewart — Really bad
"My Mom’s going to hate me for this, but Rod Stewart’s take is treacle garbage. It’s the same version he does of every standard and Christmas carol: he croons, the strings come in, and everyone gets a paycheck. Boring!"
4.) Mariah Carey — Bad, but that video. THAT VIDEO!
"No offense to MiMi, but she already owns, and arguably ruins, Christmas because everyone, everywhere, plays her version of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” That being said, the video for her dance pop version is bonkers. Fireworks and cheese all over the screen!"
3.) Less Bad — Who doesn't love an old-school disco jam from 1984?
"While we’re on dance-y interpretations, there’s a disco version of 'Auld Lang Syne.' It’s by Boney M and it’s a lot of fun – especially if you’re attempting to re-ring in 1985."
2.) Actually tolerable — It's really the fiddle that makes it tolerable.
"My favorite of all the newer versions is easily Andrew Bird’s. It’s got zero schmaltz, but captures the prefect measures of sorrow and optimism one should be feeling about the end of one year and the beginning of another. Plus there’s some fun fiddle in the third act."
1.) So bad it's actually good — two words: Jingle Cats!
"I predict the internet will [still] love cats in 2015."