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Hogmanay hogwash

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Published Date: 05 January 2009
The BBC's Hogmanay Live show, totally dominated by two mediocre pop singers, was an insult to Scotland's vibrant, thriving cultural renaissance. "Hogmanay Dead" would have been a more appropriate title. Leon Jackson delivered what must be the most spineless, spiritless, embarrassing version of Auld Lang Syne ever broadcast.
Meanwhile, the superb duo of Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, renowned the world o'er and much loved across the Scottish nation, made only one fleeting appearance for a set of sparkling reels.

The BBC seems obsessed with the idea of capturing the young audience. Actually, on Hogmanay the young audience is out there partying and not stuck, as many older folk are, in front of a TV set. (As it happens, the young audience is not averse to a good blast of Scottish music on Hogmanay.)

Homecoming 2009? Who in their right mind would want to come home to a country where the national television channel hasn't the foggiest idea what's going on?

ALASTAIR CLARK
Linn Mill
South Queensferry, West Lothian


Robert Burns must be spinning in his grave after hearing the BBC's Hogmanay presenter, Jackie Bird, introducing "Auld Lang Zyne".

The anglified band that then performed the anthem managed to continuously accentuate the "z" and introduce an extraneous "for sake of". Whatever happened to the sibilant "s"?

JAMES D BROWN
Burnside Road
Elgin



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 January 2009 9:17 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Sierra Foothills Scot,

Diamond Springs 05/01/2009 01:23:11
Hazel Whyte, who sings beautifully, pronounces "Syne" as "Zyne" every time. See tinyurl.com/7axaz3.

I have also heard Glasgow pronounced "Glazgo", but only by Americans, who also mispronounce "Syne".
2

ann278,

fife 05/01/2009 02:01:41
'spineless, spiritless, embarrassing' harsh wordss!
leon sang beautifully! he sang it the best i've ever heard.
3

Easter Hibee,

Leith 05/01/2009 05:55:04
Leon Jackson's performance of Auld Lang Syne with Emily Smith was excellent. Kept simple, with warm, folky vocals. It was nice to hear the song sung traditionally, without bells and whistles and overpowering, shouty vocals.
My elderly parents enjoyed the performance, and liked the other two songs young Leon sang. Mind you, they are not narrow-minded in their musical tastes.
4

Mikey,

05/01/2009 07:11:13
I can only think that the previous two contributors are tone deaf. Leon whatsisname was singing in a key that made him struggle in the lower registers and was decidedly flat at times.

Still, the laddie is only a karaoke singer, so we shouldn't expect too much.

More worrying is the fact that some people, i.e. the previous two contributors, are so used to mediocrity that they accept it as part of Scottish life!
5

G,

dundy 05/01/2009 12:38:59
Don't watch....go out or have people round if you care that much about the tradition of HO/UGAME/ANA/EY....just getting all the possible spellings in there so the pedants won't moan.....but they will!!!
6

David Ban,

04620 Vera 05/01/2009 16:12:45
Thank goodness I missed the BBC "Hogmanay Life Show" so I cannot be critical, but enough points of views have been uttered to allow an opinion.

I often wonder if the BBC and other Establishment voices are working to a master plan to eliminate Scottish expression and culture. We have this sudden attack on Robert Burns by Historians and political commentators like Jeremy Paxton and the BBC seems far removed from the speech, music and traditions of Scotland. I presume this is because the BBC are English in speech and thought and light years away from the Scots psyche especially at New Year.

Why must the "appeal" to young people be done through the appalling standards of the "X-factor" programmes.
When I think of the musicianship of the singer Julie Fowlis, the Gaelic Rock Groups and the various Hogmanay traditions around Scotland the young people of Scotland are being denied access to the music and dance of their country.

The BBC must get some Scots to do the programming.
7

Amanda Huginkiss,

05/01/2009 16:49:59
Greater Glaswegians have for years pronounced us as 'UZ', so why not zyne for syne?
Anyway, who cares?
8

Ewan Oosami,

05/01/2009 17:04:51
My arze
9

Gdgy,

05/01/2009 20:06:32
#7.....Gaelic rock groups......?????
Oh that would be great..........
Hougamenansy traditions are just habits....who eats black bun????? Who carries coal on new years day????

 

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