Happy New Year!

From all the staff at OISE Oxford we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! We have seen many students come and go over the year and it has been an absolute pleasure to meet you all.

Later tonight the traditional new year's song 'Auld Lang Syne' will once again resound all over the world as 2014 commences. The song's title translates into colloquial English as "the good old days" or "back in the day" and its lyrics were originally written by well-known Scottish poet Robert Burns back in 1788, inspired by fragments of traditional songs from earlier times. But it was not until after his death that the tune emerged and it has since gained huge popularity all over the world, being translated into numerous different languages. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the lyrics, take this opportunity to swat up ready to join in the sing-song and click here to get to grips with the tune. Don't worry, the first verse and the chorus should be more than enough to get by!

AULD LANG SYNE

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And auld lang syne?

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

And surely you'll be your pint-stowp

And surely I'll be mine

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne!

Chorus

We twa hae ran about the braes

And pu'd the gowans fine

But we've wander'd monie a weary fit

Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn

Frae morning sun til dine,

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,

And gie's a hand o' thine,

And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught

For auld lang syne!

Chorus

For more on how this simple Scottish folk song became one of the world's most popular songs and what it means, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-25402099

The Nation’s Favourite Christmas Carols

No Christmas celebration would be complete without the opportunity to belt out a few carols and this is exactly what the students at OISE Oxford will be doing this evening at Merton College’s Christmas Carol Service. If you are from abroad you may be unfamiliar with these seasonal songs, however anyone who has grown up in the UK will have had these tunes drilled into them from a young age. Why not take a look (and a listen!) at the nation’s most popular carols, as voted by listeners of the radio station Classic FM in 2012.

1. O Holy Night (Click to listen)

2. Silent Night

3. In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Gustav Holst 

4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

5. In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Harold Darke

6. O Come All Ye Faithful

7. O Little Town of Bethlehem

8. Away in a Manger

9. Joy to the World

10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

There’s still a chance to vote for this year’s favourite! Go to http://www.classicfm.com/discover/collections/christmas-music/nations-favourite-carol/ to register your vote.

Wimbledon - we're still in it, folks!

Following our Wimbledon blog post earlier this week we are proud to say that both Laura Robson and Andy Murray are both still in with a chance!

'British number one Laura Robson is into the third round of Wimbledon for the first time thanks to a comfortable 6-4 6-1 win over Mariana Duque-Marino.' 

The staff at OISE Oxford along with the general public will be closely following the upcoming games and rooting for our British sportsman. Andy Murray's childhood friend has even written him a song to show his support - a little bit cringe perhaps, but anyway, click below for a listen.