Well, I'd like to join Danny, my husband and to tell you some more about Christmas and New Year European and Ukrainian music. First off, I'd like to say that there were snowy and frosty Christmas seasons in Ukraine when I was young. But for many years Ukrainian winters have been very mild and the last one was almost dry. This year it is the same, there are still rather high temperatures in Kiev. As I have a few relatives in Ukraine and we communicate, I know it for sure they all would like to have at least some snow on New Year but, who knows? As Danny said, it is time for miracles! Let's hope for Ukrainians to see at least a few snowflakes during the Christmas season!
Well, I'd like to start this discussion telling you about one Ukrainian composer, Dmitry Leontovich, who wrote one of the greatest Christmas songs sung all over Europe and America for more than hundred years. The name of this song is "Chedric". It is classic music for those who like it:
M._Leontovich-CSHedrik_Rozhdestvenskaya_ukrainskaya_narodnaya_%28mp3.cc%29.mp3
This song became so famous that you can hear it in many languages now. Here is the English version:
M._Leontovich-CSHEDRIK_ANGL_VERSIYA_%28mp3.cc%29.mp3
Besides, I'd like to add a few traditional Ukrainian carols. The first one is an ethnic song, true sound of Ukrainian national singing:
kolyadki-ukrainskie-oy-sivaya-tay-zozulenka%28rest-night.com%29.mp3
Two others are modern. Such songs are sung when young people knock on the doors asking for Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. It is a very old tradition of Eastern Slavs. The people who sing Christmas carols are always welcomed in any house. Those songs are greetings and wishes of prosperity, good health, good crops and all the best. The first song is also traditional:
But this one is very modern national Ukrainian music although it saves traditions:
And, finally, I'd like to post one of the most famous New Year songs ever sung. It is "Happy New Year" By ABBA. I hope this music will sound in your minds like it sounds in Dan's and mine and you all will feel happy, free, confident and ready for the new challenge:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uo0JAUWijM&list=RD3Uo0JAUWijM#t=0
Here is the lyrics:
And the fireworks are through
Here we are, me and you
Feeling lost and feeling blue
It's the end of the party
And the morning seems so grey
So unlike yesterday
Now's the time for us to say...
Happy new year
Happy new year
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
Sometimes I see
How the brave new world arrives
And I see how it thrives
In the ashes of our lives
Oh yes, man is a fool
And he thinks he'll be okay
Dragging on, feet of clay
Never knowing he's astray
Keeps on going anyway...
Happy new year
Happy new year
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
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 eighty-nine...
Happy new year
Happy new year
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.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY FRIENDS!!!
Replies
Dear Ann! Sure, Abba's "Happy New Year" is so well-known! I am really sorry that great band broke up because of personal relationship. As you may know, it consisted of two married couples and when one of them filed a divorce, the band stopped singing together and the world lost one of the greatest pop-groups. As far as I remember Benny Anderson performed much longer and composed a lot of good music. Some of it became famous, but not as famous as Abba.
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
Dear Elen! I wonder you haven't heard Schedrik(correct spelling) song by Dmitry Leontovich before. It sounds all over America these days. When I was a boy I sang it together with other boys in the childish chorus on Christmas. I am glad now you know one of the most popular classic Christmas melodies. As to ABBA's song, you might have been too young at the times of their triumph, but it is still one of the most popular New Year songs all over the English speaking countries. I am really happy that our discussions give people some new knowledge about our countries. Thanks for being so active in this group. Music should unite!
Have great winter holidays!
Danny, it is a song that radios here didn't play it. They play songs like the songs of your discussion and the "Last Christmas" and "All i want for Christmas is you". And yes, i was very young to remember the ABBA'S song :)
Dear Elen! Thanks for your nice comments! Danny may think everyone knows world music like he does! Don't pay too much attention to that. But I am really happy you like Schedrik composition. It is a great classsic composition and it really sounds everywhere in America these days, but mostly in the churches and at the philharmonic concerts. This music is very emotional and I am happy you felt it. In fact, it is the main idea of this group and music in general. Have a very happy New Year
Nice songs Tanya! Thanks for introducing us to the traditional songs of your country! I didn't know the first song, not even in English. I liked it much! It is so strong music and i imagine a ballet to dance it. About ABBA'S song i also didn't know it and what it touched my heart is these lyrics "May we all have a vision now and then, of a world where every neighbour is a friend" !!!
Hapy new year to you too!!
Thank you for the wonderful Post. I support your hope for a few snowflakes during the Christmas season :)
Dear Modaway! Playing snowballs is really funny! As you may know we also like to make a snowman (or snowgirl, it depends on tastes, ha-ha!). It is one more symbol of New Year. I hope you know what I mean. So, if there is snow in the North, we will go to Boston on New Year, but I have a lot of doubts about snow winter even in the North of the USA. So,let us see, and if we are lucky to see true winter, we will post the pictures. Meanwhile, have great holidays!
Thank youuuuuuu! Such a "snowy" video! Both Danny and I miss winter so very much! As you know I was born in Kiev and Dan was born in Boston (the north-east part of the USA) and lived there for about 30 years. So, we both miss change of seasons and we sometimes go to the North in fall and winter just to recall our best memories. This November we went to Washington DC to see amazing beauty of the fall. It is so great, so romantic and so sad! But it always gives us hope for another spring.
I like George Michael so much! I wonder, why Dan hasn't posted this song. But you know, he is such an urban cowboy! He adores country music and good rock!
I am so very thankful for your great gift! You couldn't find better!
Darling! Good job! Sorry for not adding George Michael's songs but I wanted to make my post sound "country". Hope, you don't mind!
Modaway! Thank you, my friend for adding this video! You are always so good and thoughtful!