Last Night of the Proms - Sat 13 Sept

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/whatson/0809.shtml

Anyone else like to watch this each year?

When I first moved, I was curious - largely because of the Billy Bragg Brickbat lyric:  I used to want to plant bombs at the Last Night of the Proms.  And Steve told me about how his dad used to have him & his little brother watch it (when they were little boys), waving little Union Jacks -- primarily for the purpose of teasing & annoying his mum, who refused to watch & went up to bed instead.  So we watched it the year I moved here, for the purpose of my cultural education.

I like seeing the end with Land of Hope and Glory, British Sea-Songs, Rule Brittania, Jerusalem, and My Country 'Tis of Thee ('erm, God Save the Queen...hee hee).  It's something that I associate with the passing of summer for another year (although summer this year was a bit of a wash!).

I like watching the Last Night of the Proms and have a giggle at everyone bobbing up and down waving their Union Jacks. DH always ask me why they bob up and down but I have no idea! They just do!

I like watching the Last Night of the Proms and have a giggle at everyone bobbing up and down waving their Union Jacks. DH always ask me why they bob up and down but I have no idea! They just do!

Yes - that's funny!  I notice lots of bobbing during the British Sea-Songs part.  I always imagine that several of them have had a few glasses of champagne, but I could be wrong!

So we watched it the year I moved here, for the purpose of my cultural education.

I've done a LOT of things for the purpose of my cultural education over the last 22 years, but watching this would be a step too far for me!  Never seen it, and have no desire to! 

Yes - that's funny!  I notice lots of bobbing during the British Sea-Songs part.  I always imagine that several of them have had a few glasses of champagne, but I could be wrong!

Make that Pimms!!

I've done a LOT of things for the purpose of my cultural education over the last 22 years, but watching this would be a step too far for me!  Never seen it, and have no desire to! 

Not to worry, Q-G, they no longer sing the verse of 'God Save the Queen/King' about crushing those rebellious Scots...

Make that Pimms!!

Yes, you are probably right!  Come to think of it, I have some Pimms that needs drinking up before the summer's out...  Maybe I'll start my own Pimms/Proms/bobbing tradition down here in Yorkshire!

Not to worry, Q-G, they no longer sing the verse of 'God Save the Queen/King' about crushing those rebellious Scots...

safe to come out, then?

Carolyn, my partner and I like watching this too and my favourite part is that sea shanty medley towards the end (especially when the different songs are broadcast live from the other venues around the UK), followed by Land of Hope and Glory (a song I always knew as Pomp and Circumstance, played at graduation ceremonies back in the States!)  Sounds silly, but the whole medley sequence and the Elgar bring tears to my eyes every year, even as I'm laughing at the crowd's traditional hijinks.

I wouldn't say I get verklempt exactly...  We enjoy watching, the bobbing & all that -- also how the crowd crosses arms & holds hands -- swaying & bobbing together as they sing along, but I also find there's a bittersweetness to it as well, signalling the end of another British summer (to me).  Plus, it can also be a bit wacky if you've had a few drinks & you decide to join in & belt out (Rule Brittania!) - Britons never, never, never shall be slaves!

I also love the song Jerusalem (and I'm not at all religious or in the WI either! ).  There is or was, I think a Beeb production(?) or maybe it was Channel 4(?), a documentary that runs every now & again on the history of the song -- beginning with what they think Blake intended in writing the poem, then it being eventually set to music -- both poem & song with origins in socially progressive movements.  And then how ironic it is that everyone from the WI to Labour to the Tories (possibly even the BNP?) have claimed the song as their own.  Billy Bragg features prominently in this documentary.

Kids back at school and last night of the proms - signalling the end of the summer that never was...

A bunch of friends are going.  I would have loved too.  Especially with the pieces they have chosen.

And Joshua Bell will be there, such a nice guy. And great to look at

Tonight's the night!  7:30 pm - everyone got their Pimms ready?

 im watching now, but not bobbing up and down 

im watching now, but not bobbing up and down 

Steve had to sing Land of Hope & Glory to me cos I don't know the words!

And I always say - isn't that nice they play My Country Tis of Thee at the end!

Steve had to sing Land of Hope & Glory to me cos I don't know the words!

Pity they don't put words at the bottom for people to follow along with! "Follow the bouncing ball"!