Sumer Is Icumen In - better known as "The Cuckoo Song" - performed at the Olympic Stadium in Munich during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games.
Ladies and Gentleman, you are witnessing what is considered the first "artistic" performance in Olympic Ceremony history! Although there were dances in previous ceremonies, this is considered the first "BIG" one.
Really, if you look at the history of "Sumer is Icumen in" it's pretty fascinating, because it's really a bawdy, pagan song meant to welcome the spring in the 13th century. For the U.S., the song of the Robin is the traditional harbinger of spring; but in Europe it's the Common Cuckoo. People were very close to the land by necessity; the middle stanza especially shows this: "Awe bleteþ after lomb lhouþ after calue cu Bulluc sterteþ bucke uerteþ murie sing cuccu" ( The ewe is bleating after the lamb, the cow is lowing to her calf; Bullock prances, stag farts (or dances), merrily sings cuckoo! ) "bucke uerteþ" is problematic, people STILL argue about its translation 800 years later! But I favor "the stag farts" because that's an actual thing - it's how a lot of male cervines (elk, deer, and so on) signal rutting time has arrived, and to advertise their availability to does. (Deer are not exactly the most romantic creatures on the planet, but neither were 13th century peoples!) There's also a version right on the original sheet music in Latin, that celebrates the crucifixion of Jesus rather than the pagan rite of spring. The Wicker Man made it famous, but that song's been around a very, VERY long time - the oldest known written song in existence!
Germany hosted the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936 before Munich 1972. A Medieval English song about summer finally coming with a big group of post-war generation youth dancing to it gave the World the message that wounds of war have been heeled and it is time for peace and prosperity. Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain and others having formed the EEC in 1958 it was an optimistic time in Europe. Though in the World the Vietnam War was at its peak, Détente in Cold War was about to end, Central and South America and Middle East were boiling, Bretton-Woods monetary agreement had just been abandoned and the 1973 Oil Crisis was just around the corner. 1972 Munich Olympics Opening Ceremony together with the Munich Massacre of 9/11/1972 marks a turning point in World History.
Unfortunately, security has been very neglected. There was a security expert at the time of the organisation of these Olympic Games who described a scenario in his presentation to the organising committee exactly as it actually happened. The key people rejected this presented scenario as completely unlikely. They wanted open games without openly visible security forces. Even the police in the Olympic Park, in the stadiums and in the Olympic Village wore colourful suits instead of their uniforms! Unfortunately this well-intentioned concept failed. One could at least have accepted Israel's offer, which could have saved the hostages with special forces.
@@ruhri0411 Unhappilly meanterm the German political class didn't learn anything from the failures of its illusions back then. Now it's as bad as never before.
WhiteCamry I’d also be quite interested to know the sources that back up your statement. As far as my knowledge of etymology and linguistics go, most of the lyrics are rooted in Germanic languages through Anglo-Saxon influence on Early Modern English. Obviously the 300 year influence of Norman French is present too, but really there’s not an overwhelmingly Icelandic link. Which parts do you think are similar?
I'm reading the Grantchester Mysteries and in book two the rector Canon Sydney Chambers is musing and this medieval round comes to his mind and he quotes part of it. Neat.
We sang in college choir in Taiwan many years ago.. and I was delighted to find this recording a few years back...and love it.. But now under the cloud of isolationism and nationalism, wall building.. an middle English song sung in Germany at a summer Olympic all of a sudden appears to be almost unthinkable.. But I love it still! Viva la music sans frontier!
South Korea sang another English song during the opening ceremony at the 2018 Olympics. So you’re wrong, you can have border security and still sing songs from other countries at the olympics.
It isn't a Middle English song, it's Old English. Meaning an Anglo-Saxon song. A Germanic song. English has spread around the world. Anyone can sing it if they want to.
summer is a cumin in Loudly sing cuckoo SING CUCKOO! Eweth Bleeteth after Lamb, Cows after calves do MOO!, Bullock stampeth,Deer do champetch, SING MERRY CUCKOO! Cuckoo cuckoo, Well you sing cuckoo, DONT YOU EVER STOP CUCKOOOO!
11 days later, the world would be mourning the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes. This makes hearing this song very poignant. Everyone felt as young as these children on the day of the Opening Ceremonies; they'd feel very sad after the massacre.
Jim McKay mentions the contrasts between the lovely day of the Opening Ceremony and the sorrowful day of the Memorial service for the 11 Israeli athletes. He had mixed emotions about the Games going on in spite of the tragedy.
@@mariamonig3366 Well, it was written down in about 1260 and is in Middle English. If it was from 1000 it would be from the Anglo-Saxon period and it would be in Old English - over 60 years before the Normans arrived.
The Germans wanted an old song which hadn't been tainted by the Nazis. A lot of German folk songs etc had been heavily promoted by that regime as part of the master race indoctrination. A medieval English song was 'safe'.
@@AethelredTheReady the point of such argument is to overcome presumptions of many societies yet that still relish colonial history (where black tended to be denoted primitive, never genius). The period- english of that song has stronger connections to German language than modern english. It’s also a round, that allowed for the visual (of rounds of various sizes in the choreography).
Ah the days when we were allowed to celebrate our own culture and heritage. Now we are supposed to celebrate everyone else’s and ours is being suppressed.
As we become minorities in our own homelands, it will continue to worsen. Funny thing is, even when that happens, we still won't be considered minorities and be given special treatment.
Funny - apart from the majority of comments, which don't try to make a cynical political point, all I can see is a bunch of far-right racists on this thread making the false claim that "leftists" are somehow stopping them from singing this song and celebrating mediaeval European culture (or whatever paranoid drivel is in their diseased minds).
wow its like a twisted fertility festival with vague nationalist rhythms and harmonies - like the Wicked Witch's march in the Wizard of Oz but with cheerful little uber children
Johannes: I'm a lefty and I agree with you! This was beautiful to me as a teenager. I took it in the spirit they intended, instead of all that militaristic shit from 1936, they made a lighthearted celebration. Well, you know the saying "this is why we can't have nice things."
@@WhiteCamry -- in what way is it a *good* thing? And once you answer that, you need to answer -- *without using double-standards* , why it would be a better thing if the Inuit had a bunch of white people trying to live in their midst, why ethnic Tibetans should share Tibet with the Han Chinese, and why native Hawaiians should share their islands with the Japanese, Chinese, and white people.
Unfortunately, this will not happen, it would be exactly 100 years after the Nazi games of Berlin. After many rejected bids of German cities for summer and winter games by the IOC, the majority of Germans are against Olympic Games in Germany. The application costs are wasted, apparently the IOC does not want any more games in Germany. Maybe this will change in the second half of this century. But there was the idea to host the 2036 Games in Berlin and Israel, that would be the only chance that there would be a broad approval in Germany and by the IOC. I find the idea very charming, maybe something will come of it?
Ladies and Gentleman, you are witnessing what is considered the first "artistic" performance in Olympic Ceremony history!
Although there were dances in previous ceremonies, this is considered the first "BIG" one.
it's beautiful
Wow!!!! such a beautiful song!!! Medieval song but still can vibrate our soul. Sing cuckoo..
Nice - one of the most ancient songs in history - beautiful.
When Europe was Europe!
I’m getting both Middle English and Middle school vibes from this song
🤣😅🤣 This comment deserves more upvotes!
BEAUTIFUL...takes me back to my school days
Really, if you look at the history of "Sumer is Icumen in" it's pretty fascinating, because it's really a bawdy, pagan song meant to welcome the spring in the 13th century. For the U.S., the song of the Robin is the traditional harbinger of spring; but in Europe it's the Common Cuckoo. People were very close to the land by necessity; the middle stanza especially shows this:
"Awe bleteþ after lomb
lhouþ after calue cu
Bulluc sterteþ
bucke uerteþ
murie sing cuccu"
( The ewe is bleating after the lamb, the cow is lowing to her calf; Bullock prances, stag farts (or dances), merrily sings cuckoo! )
"bucke uerteþ" is problematic, people STILL argue about its translation 800 years later! But I favor "the stag farts" because that's an actual thing - it's how a lot of male cervines (elk, deer, and so on) signal rutting time has arrived, and to advertise their availability to does. (Deer are not exactly the most romantic creatures on the planet, but neither were 13th century peoples!)
There's also a version right on the original sheet music in Latin, that celebrates the crucifixion of Jesus rather than the pagan rite of spring. The Wicker Man made it famous, but that song's been around a very, VERY long time - the oldest known written song in existence!
Come. It is time to keep your appointment with the Olympic Games.
war so eine schöne Eröffnungsfeier und ich war mit dabei .-) lange ist es her... immer wieder schön anzusehen... Danke!
Germany hosted the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936 before Munich 1972. A Medieval English song about summer finally coming with a big group of post-war generation youth dancing to it gave the World the message that wounds of war have been heeled and it is time for peace and prosperity. Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain and others having formed the EEC in 1958 it was an optimistic time in Europe. Though in the World the Vietnam War was at its peak, Détente in Cold War was about to end, Central and South America and Middle East were boiling, Bretton-Woods monetary agreement had just been abandoned and the 1973 Oil Crisis was just around the corner. 1972 Munich Olympics Opening Ceremony together with the Munich Massacre of 9/11/1972 marks a turning point in World History.
Unfortunately, security has been very neglected. There was a security expert at the time of the organisation of these Olympic Games who described a scenario in his presentation to the organising committee exactly as it actually happened. The key people rejected this presented scenario as completely unlikely. They wanted open games without openly visible security forces. Even the police in the Olympic Park, in the stadiums and in the Olympic Village wore colourful suits instead of their uniforms!
Unfortunately this well-intentioned concept failed. One could at least have accepted Israel's offer, which could have saved the hostages with special forces.
@@ruhri0411 You are right in all points.
A lot of historical knowledge. Thanks!
@@ruhri0411 Unhappilly meanterm the German political class didn't learn anything from the failures of its illusions back then. Now it's as bad as never before.
More English than the 2012 Olympic ceremony by Danny Boyle!
you know this is icelandic right?
@@niamy1 it's not. It's sung in the Wessex dialect of medieval South West England, from the 13th century.
@@kirsty6005 In the 13th Century English and Icelandic weren't all that different.
WhiteCamry well they were pretty different linguistically, so it’s not accurate to say it’s an Icelandic song.
WhiteCamry I’d also be quite interested to know the sources that back up your statement. As far as my knowledge of etymology and linguistics go, most of the lyrics are rooted in Germanic languages through Anglo-Saxon influence on Early Modern English. Obviously the 300 year influence of Norman French is present too, but really there’s not an overwhelmingly Icelandic link. Which parts do you think are similar?
Pagan AF but linguistically interesting
Oldest Rota song we know.
Pagan? Written in about 1250 - England had been Christian for at least 500 years.
Qui, Je t'aime. C'est magnifique.
Es war so schön dabei gewesen zu sein 1972 in München ❤
Wow.
Beautiful
I'm reading the Grantchester Mysteries and in book two the rector Canon Sydney Chambers is musing and this medieval round comes to his mind and he quotes part of it. Neat.
Bliss it was in that dawn to be alive, but to be young was very Heaven!
It is time to keep your appointment with the wicker man.
Did they light the torch with a wicker man that year?
oh god. oh jesus christ.
"A rare gift, these days."
Dear God in Heaven, even these people can't be that mad!
Great gallows humor!
Brilliant - a hundred recs :)
We sang in college choir in Taiwan many years ago.. and I was delighted to find this recording a few years back...and love it.. But now under the cloud of isolationism and nationalism, wall building.. an middle English song sung in Germany at a summer Olympic all of a sudden appears to be almost unthinkable.. But I love it still! Viva la music sans frontier!
I sand this song in Honor Choir in 5th grade last year and then found the song again
South Korea sang another English song during the opening ceremony at the 2018 Olympics. So you’re wrong, you can have border security and still sing songs from other countries at the olympics.
It isn't a Middle English song, it's Old English. Meaning an Anglo-Saxon song. A Germanic song. English has spread around the world. Anyone can sing it if they want to.
@@JeromeViolist It is patently Middle English.
so the boys have the hoops and the girls have the wands? Uuuuummm...
And on the bed there was a woman. And on the woman there was a man. And from the man there came a seed. And from the seed there came a boy.
Æthelred the Ready and from that boy came a man and from that man came a grave, and from that grave, a treeeeeeee
#FANtastic!
summer is a cumin in
Loudly sing cuckoo
SING CUCKOO!
Eweth Bleeteth after Lamb,
Cows after calves do MOO!,
Bullock stampeth,Deer do champetch,
SING MERRY CUCKOO!
Cuckoo cuckoo,
Well you sing cuckoo,
DONT YOU EVER STOP CUCKOOOO!
a glorious day under the münchen'72 sun
1/5 today. Happy May Day, everyone! :)
11 days later, the world would be mourning the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes. This makes hearing this song very poignant. Everyone felt as young as these children on the day of the Opening Ceremonies; they'd feel very sad after the massacre.
Richard Clifford Tell me more!
Jim McKay mentions the contrasts between the lovely day of the Opening Ceremony and the sorrowful day of the Memorial service for the 11 Israeli athletes. He had mixed emotions about the Games going on in spite of the tragedy.
Yes, we remember that tragic event!
Miri it is while sumer ilast.
What timeline is this?
A better one
Carl Orff hat diese musikalische Unterstützung dargeboten aus seinem Schulwerk. Sumer is Icumen In stammte um 1260 aus England.
Das Lied ist noch älter,ca 1000 n.C. und der Ursprung ist wohl aus der normannischen Zeit.
@@mariamonig3366
Well, it was written down in about 1260 and is in Middle English.
If it was from 1000 it would be from the Anglo-Saxon period and it would be in Old English - over 60 years before the Normans arrived.
Somewhere between North Korea and The Wicker Man.
Beautiful German girls singing an Anglo-Saxon song. I was born too late for all of this, but it's terrible what we have lost. We are natural allies.
Sang this song for 5th grade Honor Choir
The land of Bach and Beethoven looks to an English piece. Nowadays it would be denounced as cultural appropriation!
If only it were just that. Now in the year 2020 we have people seriously arguing that Beethoven was black...
The Germans wanted an old song which hadn't been tainted by the Nazis. A lot of German folk songs etc had been heavily promoted by that regime as part of the master race indoctrination. A medieval English song was 'safe'.
@@AethelredTheReady the point of such argument is to overcome presumptions of many societies yet that still relish colonial history (where black tended to be denoted primitive, never genius). The period- english of that song has stronger connections to German language than modern english. It’s also a round, that allowed for the visual (of rounds of various sizes in the choreography).
This is what Europe should be like
The Wicker Man has ruined this forever for me.
Old as hell. Iirc, oldest rotaty song
Ah the days when we were allowed to celebrate our own culture and heritage. Now we are supposed to celebrate everyone else’s and ours is being suppressed.
As we become minorities in our own homelands, it will continue to worsen. Funny thing is, even when that happens, we still won't be considered minorities and be given special treatment.
You do know that this is an English medieval song sung by germans right ?
Yep. Pretty much. We are allowing ourselves, and our culture to be eradicated from the planet.
@@jeremiahjere6079 England and Germany are brother-countries
I'm of Mexican heritage and I'm enjoying this English culture in 2022. Don't be so pessimistic!
It's nice to know that I can't even attempt to celebrate old European culture without being bombarded with racism. Thanks once again comments.
Wdym?
Funny - apart from the majority of comments, which don't try to make a cynical political point, all I can see is a bunch of far-right racists on this thread making the false claim that "leftists" are somehow stopping them from singing this song and celebrating mediaeval European culture (or whatever paranoid drivel is in their diseased minds).
@@nathynorthy6916 Ok globaloid
wow its like a twisted fertility festival with vague nationalist rhythms and harmonies - like the Wicked Witch's march in the Wizard of Oz but with cheerful little uber children
+pfflam Exactly! Where's Lord Summerisle and Britt Ekland?
Same, Johannes. Plus, you can probably see a lot of people without blonde hair among the masses.
Johannes: I'm a lefty and I agree with you! This was beautiful to me as a teenager. I took it in the spirit they intended, instead of all that militaristic shit from 1936, they made a lighthearted celebration. Well, you know the saying "this is why we can't have nice things."
And that's a good thing. It's okay to be white.
@@Zugspitze116 My comment did not age well at all, sorry. I'm just interested in Middle Ages songs.
At least they are all still white...
What do you mean by that?
That he's a racist.
Germany sure doesn't look that White anymore.
thank god am i right 😂😂😂
You say that like it's a bad thing.
@@WhiteCamry -- in what way is it a *good* thing? And once you answer that, you need to answer -- *without using double-standards* , why it would be a better thing if the Inuit had a bunch of white people trying to live in their midst, why ethnic Tibetans should share Tibet with the Han Chinese, and why native Hawaiians should share their islands with the Japanese, Chinese, and white people.
Denial of self-determination.
cmon Germany, get that bid for the 2036 Olympics!!! It’s time to bring back the games back to your country!!!! 🇦🇺❤️🇩🇪
Unfortunately, this will not happen, it would be exactly 100 years after the Nazi games of Berlin.
After many rejected bids of German cities for summer and winter games by the IOC, the majority of Germans are against Olympic Games in Germany.
The application costs are wasted, apparently the IOC does not want any more games in Germany.
Maybe this will change in the second half of this century.
But there was the idea to host the 2036 Games in Berlin and Israel, that would be the only chance that there would be a broad approval in Germany and by the IOC.
I find the idea very charming, maybe something will come of it?