Why every American graduation plays the same song
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2017
- We're all familiar with Pomp & Circumstance, the graduation song that's the official soundtrack of almost every commencement. But how did it get so big? In this episode of Vox's Almanac, Phil Edwards investigates and finds diamonds, war, and Dame Clara Butt. Follow Phil Edwards and Vox Almanac on Facebook for more: / philedwardsinc1
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Pomp & Circumstance has long been a graduation anthem. Part of Edward Elgar's infamous military marches, the tune was composed in the midst of the Boer War, a conflict that expanded the British empire in search of diamonds and gold. When the song was used for Edward VII's coronation, it was lent words that, even today, promote the British empire. That's why the version with lyrics is known as "Land of Hope and Glory."
The famous song was used when Elgar received an honorary degree at Yale and, quite simply, people liked how it sounded. It quickly spread and became a graduation anthem in America (and remained an unofficial national anthem in the UK). Today, we hear it everywhere - and it's all thanks to Edward Elgar's unique place in British culture.
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for such a war song, it sure as hell sounds peaceful.
Well if a march was too upbeat soldiers would have to run and they would get tired. Marches are meant for long continuous movement.
thats right, lars!
***** why do you gotta hate ? Lol I'm not trying to be edgy or witty lol. I just post some shitty comment and they tend to get liked.
That's the mark of a good piece of propaganda.
"war is peace"- Orwell
Graup Every little bit counts when you're trying to deceive your populace into fighting for "freedom" by overthrowing secular democracies like 1950's Iran and Chile to then install brutal dictators like Batista and the Shah.
so the short answer to the question in the title is
because they liked it
because the British*
fyukfy because they can
No no no, it's because Britain. Get your internet grammar straight
fyuk
The narrator forgets to mention that 28,000 white Boer women and children died in the concentration camps that the British set up in South Africa - a forgotten genocide. 28,000 was a large percentage of the Boer population at the time. The concentration camps were the first of their kind in the world and it has been completely swept under the carpet by the British.
The only bad part about being in band is having to play this song at least 20 times every year at graduation
Katie67 It. Never. Ends.
I can’t get it out of my head it’s like a worm
Look on the bright side. If(and when) you’ve memorized the damn tune, belch it out to your friends’ delight. :D
I have to do it in a couple of days. Ugh.
It's the worst
ＷＩＤＥＲ ＳＴＩＬＬ ＡＮＤ ＷＩＤＥＲ
chode
thats what she said.
@@regularhuman6414 ggs
Dr lazy Dolphin hahah
Shall thy bonds be set
My band teacher calls it "Pumpkin Circus Dance". Gotta love him
Fantom Plays I could see pumpkin head clowns dancing to this..
The bd we had last year always called it Pomp and Kms.
Fantom Plays lol
My teacher remembered a kid crossing out “Pomp and Circumstance” and writing “Pimps at the Circus”
Nah man, it’s pomp and circumcise.
I love the way Americans are like 'oh yeah--that song from graduation' meanwhile when I hear it as a Brit I start shouting 'LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY' and think of Last Night at the Proms
So true
It is actually a piece. Hope it helps.
Amen, my friend!
Yeah i got confused asf as to why i heared this during some graduation scenes in american films instantly thinking "Thats Land of Hope and Glory, but without the lyrics?"
You have to admit that, when its lyrics are taken aside and listened to purely as an instrumental piece, it just sounds appropriate for graduation. It has a very upbeat and comfortable cadence that’s suitable for the procession of graduates walking ceremonially to their places. It’s a happy tonality with the major key. And the mood is satisfyingly triumphant, even if perhaps almost a little aristocratic (but hey, it’s academia, after all.)
This is so bizarre why Americans use this. It would be like British universities playing "America the Beautiful" at graduation.
ojideagu I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps we are just the best at creating masterpieces?
You make a very good case. We’ve used God Save the Queen as My Country ‘Tis of Thee. The biggest one is The Star Bangled Banner, our national anthem, who’s tune is a British drinking song called Anacreon in Heaven.
.......stealing melodies vs stuffing people in ovens.....hm.
You said you were "thinking" and then implied "Pomp and Circumstance" was a masterpiece. Do you see where you went wrong, there?
BW Acuff At first I thought nah I'm not going to reply.... But I'm very curious, who exactly do you think is stuffing people in ovens?
For even more WTF: in Argentina it is sometimes heard at weddings.
Would've thought they'd listen to propaganda about the Falklands.
Kind of ironic, especially if the song is applied within the context of the Falklands/Malvinas.
Huh
@heobuniel9643 don't touch his majesty's rock collection.
Now this is all I'm going to think about during every ceremony I go to...
So, How did you get along with the task of licensing you stick men Dr. ?
Why do I see you everywhere i go? 99% of the videos i watch have you in the comments.
Io-Ni-Ga-Ox he's trying to get more subscribers.
Io-Ni-Ga-Ox I was literally about to comment this
stop following me
Holy Crap! Thank you Vox for the shoutout! Big Fan, keep up the great work!
Chidubem Ezinne Vox like this please
That's so awesome, CONGRATS!! and THANKS for suggesting it! : )
Chidubem Ezinne
Chidubem Ezinne Igbo Kwenu
Chidubem Ezinne luckkkkyyy
I'm from the Philippines and I've marched to that music three times now. Primary, secondary, and college.
It's something the Americans definitely shared to us. Or at least, the Filipinos educated in the U.S. who came back home.
They played this song in our kinder graduation lol
Philippines is part of US. I'm so proud.
@@Seramics no i think were hespanic
@@beatriz5417 We are not all Hispanic
If I should ever find myself at an American graduation, I'll sing the lyrics out loud :)
Poffertje my friend I was thinking the same thing! I too if I ever visit America and hear this Melody play I too will be singing the lyrics of Land of Hope and Glory
That would be funny just don’t do it at a preschool or elementary graduation that might not be the best idea
Panzerkampfwagen V Panther A then why do you play it in America??
That line, "Wider still and wider, shall thy bounds be set" is quite relatable to graduation.
Lol
Oh Vox... You are a master of making things i`d never have thought of interesting...
Artoghrul Gahramanli Shouldn't you say "I'd have never thought of"?
Probably yes, but who cares
me, your sentence confused me for a sec.
😂😂
Vox, I'd like to know why KFC is associated with Christmas in japan
Larry the Squirrel KFC wanted to increase sales in Japan, so they made a huge marketing campaign during Christmas.
Thanks but I really need a 5 minute video to understand that single statement.
To roughly summarize it’s a marketing tactic KFC came up with which successfully made it a trend.
simple: because Colonel's face looks like a santa clause for Japanese
what are you supose to eat when your watching an anime marathon?
Am I the only one who gets chills down my spine upon hearing Pomp and Circumstance?
Did anyone else think that the graphics for Dame Clara Butt's recording was creepy as hell?
Lachlan Edwards hehe Butt
hell-ah odd, bordered with the land of creepy.
Yeah.
this is the high quality content I subscribed for
Dear Vox,
I suggest you do a video on the New York blackout in 1977 and how that was a major contribution to the rise of Hip-Hop and Rap. And yes I would love me a shout out; if this comment was seen.
Thanks
+
It's Frank. The funniest thing about major blackouts is the sudden rise in the birthrate nine months later. When Americans are deprived of viewing TV, they have to resort to other methods to relieve boredom.
Vicky Abramowitz
So, you think Americans just watch TV all day?
+Ike Okereke. No, I think most Americans have an occupation that takes up a lot of their day and when the work day is done, they like to relax by watching TV.
Vicky Abramowitz thanks for the fun fact
I used to think this song was called " Pomp & Circumference"
Nah, it's "Pump and Circumcise".
I thought it was "Pomp and Circusdance".
Philip R r/woooosh
No, it's called Land of Hope and Glory.
Land of Hope and Glory.
It's very confusing as a Canadian.
I go to my cousin's graduation and then I end up shouting
"LAND OF HOPE AND GLORRRRYYYYY"
Anyone in school band can probably play it from memory -- especially if the graduating class is over 1,000. As a trumpet player for my freshman and sophomore high school years, I thought my face was going to fall off from playing this on repeat.
Ken Lane could I ask, as an Englishman if Americans know the significance of this song and that it is debated to be the contender for England's national anthem ( as God Save the Queen is for Britain not it's individual countries).
TheCoomer nope we don't
@@TheCoomer I'm an American and I had no idea about the history and British significance of Pomp and Circumstance until I saw this video. They don't teach us these things in school.
@@alyssa588 Thank you, when it is played is the melody just a tune. Or does it hold any significance? For instance, it is one of the last song played in the last night of the Proms with Union Jack's waving.
@@norsegoat1408 I have to say, I am equally surprised of the significance of this song in America. As an Englishman it never occurred to me that this melody would be used other than 'Land of Hope and glory'.
This certainly is a great video.
I think that on both sides of the pond we need to Learn more about each other countrys. Especially now with what is going on in politics in the UK that a new relationship between our countrys may come about.
Maybe they should teach us this in school before we graduate.
why...?
ava ava that is so fantastic song made by in English composer about our glorious Empire.
vox answers more questions than google
I loved to know where the birthday song comes from and how come it has practically the same lyrics in different languages.
That was written by a couple of sisters who were teachers who wrote it as a song to start the day off for their pupils. The original lyrics started 'Good morning to you...'
In Brazil we get to choose the songs. Interesting video though.
Gusdof
So y'all can choose "anaconda" if you wanted?
Gusdof we choose songs too but they play this one as we enter
That Thing You See At The Corner Of Your Eye Yep, pretty much
That Thing You See At The Corner Of Your Eye Kinda of.
jason todd I graduated this year and we had to choose the class entrance song, the professors entrance song, the individual song and the ending song. Almost an entire soundtrack.
graduation song? nah.
randy savage entrance theme.
First thing I thought when I heard this...
Kefiafusu right? now i wonder why they chose that as his tune.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOYEAH!
Kefiafusu exactly
After watching this video, now it makes more sense as to why he chose this theme! OOOOOHHHHHH YYYYYYEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!
Watching this hours before my college graduation. Now as I walk in I’ll be singing Land of Hope and Glory 😂
"But how did it get so big?"
MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE OOOH YEAH
Graduating on May 17th!
The Bisharp Bishop
Nice!
Congratulations!
The Bisharp Bishop congratulations
Me too!!!!!
congrats
In our country *Pomp and Circumstance* is commonly used for kindergarten to elementary graduation, highschool and college graduations usually make use of Verdi's *Triumphal March* (Gloria al'Egitto ad Iside) with some few pomp on the side
P A U L P A U L Interesting, what country are you from? We also use Verdi's Triumphal March at my high school. Pomp and Circumstance when the graduates walk in and Triumphal March when they leave.
Philippines
Philippines?
Isko rin ako, see my youtube page
UPLB class of 2013 here. Haha. Three graduation marches are played LIVE with the UPLB string ensemble during graduation. Aida, pomp and circumstance, and a graduation march exclusively for UPLB. Throughout the graduation, the ensemble plays these three imagine that! Then at the end of the ceremony, they play Isang Daan, the UPLB Centennial themesong. See my page as well. Haha.
“You can’t complain about anything until you have to play this song 17 times and multiply it by two because of repeats to get a total of 34 times.” - a band kid
Every time song starts I just keep starting singing “land of hope and glory”
That's because that's what it is!
lol at 3:18 that is NOT where Cincinnati is...
it's where harambe died for our sins
True. I live in Cincinnati and that isn’t even close😂
Cincinnati. A state you think of so little that you don’t even realise that that’s not where Cincinnati is
BigMacMagraw Cincinnati isn’t a state...
*+BigMacMagraw* I looked it up and as it turns out Cincinnati is a city in Ohio
I had no idea it was so popular in the states. It's still regarded as a sort of national anthem in the UK. It's also just such a better tune than the actual national anthem.
The only thing this video is missing is a clip of the Last Night of the Proms because every year a sold out Royal Albert Hall audience sing this all together and it's kind of epic and also really weird, and honestly I really recommend looking up Last Night of The Proms - Land of Hope And Glory if you've never seen it because it really is quite something to behold.
Jokes on you, Philipines also have that tune on every Graduation...and that's on Colonialism🤣
The graduation music in the Philippines is from aida or Marcia trionfale an Italian music not this
@@anorexorcist4472 Both are used. Aida and Pomp & Circumstance.
Philippines needs to be colonized again.
Philippines have never been colonised by Great Britain unfrotuntly, even if the briitsh would have dream of it
but it's actually USA who had seized power and protectorat over philippine in the early 1900's after the American-spanish war
@@gutsjoestar7450 The british conquered manila during the 7 years war for a year
Vox is high time you show and make whole video about your video editors. those guys are frekin awesome !
This song is very pompous
also very circumstantial
Revo Red if you speed it up and bass boost it, it becomes a light 7. Add MC Ride, and you can hear AntFant nutting cross the block.
Blehe i'm about to do just that.
Lloyd Nix u da real lord of the game 👏
You should hear the rest of the march if you think this part is pompous lol
It's a sound of dream for me. Everything turns to positivity whenever I heard that marching music.
". . . And Cincinnati" *Puts the music note no where close to Cincinnati*
common guys. . . look at a map, you even have google to help :/
😂😂 I specifically came to the comments to see if anyone else noticed that!
I've been to graduations where they play the Bittersweet Symphony instrumental
Is that in reference to Cruel Intentions? Because that would be messed up.
Penny Lane My mom, brother, and two friends had the Bittersweet Symphony instrumental played at their graduation
I mean the song predates the movie but if it _were_ in reference to the Les Liaisons dangereuses adaptation.... like I said, that would be messed up. I've read that book. It would be messed up ;)
My mom graduated nursing school in 09. My brother and friends graduated a couple years later
I'm sure whoever chose the tracks had benign intentions :)
Vox this isn't the graduation song, Vitamic C's - Graduation (Friends Forever) is.
I was thinking this.
Zachary J. Taylor _OR_ "Wear Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrmann : )
I would argue that Vitamin C's song is quickly becoming the HIGH SCHOOL graduation song. At colleges and universities though? Pomp and Circumstance unquestionably.
Really??
We only had Vitamin C's song at our Elementary School graduation!
Zachary J. Taylor that song is absolute cancer and if I have to listen to that song again bad things will happen
It's like this channel reads my mind of all the questions I ask myself...
My turtle swims sideways..
YOUR TURTLE SWIMS UPSIDE DOWN
Brilliant
I would love to have the vocaloid version of pomp and circumstance play at my graduation. That would be interesting...
Let's not forget the iconic 2000 hit "Graduation (Friends Forever)" by pop icon Vitamin C.
As a British person I am very familiar with land of hope and glory because it is sung at patriotic events like the queen's jubilee
Thank you for the explanation. I always wondered about that song... always makes me cry...
So I'm graduating in a week and thanks to VOX, this song will the only thing I'll be looking most forward to?
congrats!
@Norskebanan Thank you!
I never connected this music to graduations in US. I do connect it to the "Last Night of the Proms" concert played every summer and transmitted on radio stations internationally from Royal Albert Hall.
Thx for the information to such a brilliant song
Even in my country (Philippines)
When I'm graduated recently (2018) this is the song on my graduation (especially on the part that a people gives you your diploma).
i love pomp and circumstance. it was my favorite song to play in band
Whatever you may think about the history of this piece, there's something magical about hearing it while walking the stage to get your diploma.
Absolutely Excellent. Thank You.
I just graduated nursing school 2 days ago. This song was played. It was absolutely beautiful
I think it's important to note that just because it had a meaning through it's lyrics popular at the time, that it inspires more emotional than vocal interest in the modern context.
Here in the Philippines we use this composition on every graduation also. Its a symbolical music exclusive for graduation only. I actually thought this is the case for every country only to find out its not until this video.
Thank you for your work
This song played in my middle school graduation as well! I'm probably going to hear it again when I graduate next year
Being a (former) Band kid in high school. I hated playing this song. I still do hate this song. Repeating and repeating until it got stuck in your head. I cried when I graduated because I didn't have to play it anymore
what was the first song they played?!?!?!?!?
Kitse of Suburbia i can't find it too😢😢😢😢
'find you' by Be the Young
Probably just mocking how most graduations now start off by playing the song voted as "Most popular" by the graduating class when people start entering the auditorium.
Maaaan.... I live across the Pacific and I still got this song for graduation.
This popped into my recommendation the day I heard it at a graduation.
3:27
Where can i find this 80s techno sounding version
I still only think of Macho Man when hearing Pomp and Circumstances
Every band kids worst nightmare ever. Playing this song for almost a hour over and over again
A glorious anthem for a glorious empire
“Oooooohhhhh YEEEAAAAHHHH!!!”- Macho Man Randy Savage
Man, I wish it was it’s every day bro
They're using it because it's a good tune, grand sound. Fitting for ceremony.
It’s a great song and a clarinet heavy piece
I literally heard this song an hour ago when I practiced for my graduation lol
Elgar is such a great composer. If you’ve ever heard his “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations or the vocal version “Lux Aeterna,” then you know. :)
Beautiful song!
Since freshman year, I have been playing pomp and circumstance. Now as a senior I can finally walk to it 😌
An American graduating this year! Was playing the song in my room because my graduation is cancelled due to coronavirus. Figured I’d learn the history. I didn’t even know this had words. Wow
In the beginning the song that says "I'll find you" can anymore tell me what song?
WoW amazing video Vox
Thank you for that.
It may be the graduation song for most, but for me it's Macho Man Randy Savage's entrance theme! Oooh yeah!
Dig it! Ooooh yeeeaahh Elizabeth
Snap into a Slim Jim! Ooooooh yeah!!!!!
Ooooohhhh yeeeaaaahh! Dig it!
and they didn't even credit him by saying it also means the intro of the macho man Randy Savage. now that is just rude of them. he is probably turning over in his grave now. no slim jims for them!
Every graduation in the United States*, Vox. Love your videos, as long as theyre not so America-centric as this one
Yeah. I kinda remember the music from a movie or two, but that's it.
Why shouldn't Vox's videos be American centric? Vox is an American company.
Timothy Rudy If you are a company with an international reach, you have to cater to international audiences. Shell is based in the netherlands, but they don't sell cheese and windmills in their gasstations worldwide right?
QuMiJo sometimes people can only speak for people they know.
+QuMiJo
They don't _have_ to do anything except whatever it is they _want_ to. At the end of the day, they made their vid, and you're not unsubbing because of just this one.
Further, the USA is *obviously* their emphasis, which is they they cover so many things pertaining to the US presidency. They do USA + International News; that inherently is going to put USA above everyone else that is lumped into "international."
This song makes the graduation more emotional.
I work at Barstow Community Colllege and this last year our graduation CD broke so we actually used a joke CD we had on Hand which was the star wars correnation march. it was so fun to see how all of only 5 people in the whole crowd noticed.
I'm from Taiwan, I always thought this was just a theme song of an popular Japanese animation.thanks for clearing it up!
this sounds like the inspiration for John Williams Star Wars "Throne Room" Scene.
graduation song never gets old.......
In my band class we had to practice the for the whole day till we got it correct this song has been stuck in my head since
Interesting video. In Britain, the song is generally played at two places: at the Proms, a yearly festival of classical music, and at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day. These are both two of the most 'British' events in the cultural calendar - and for that reason I've always considered the song to be an archetypal element of British culture - so it surprises me that the song has such a distinct history away from the UK.
A similarly capital B British song would be 'I Vow to Thee my Country', based on a section of Holst's Planets suite. I look forward to Vox informing me that some Canadian ice hockey team has been using that as a half-time anthem or something.
Which songs are played in other countries?
ThePogoDude s thanks!
here in brazil it is really common to hear Vangelis" Titans from the Alexander the great movie
mine was (search it) ERA - Ameno
oh forgot to mention I'm from brazil
J. Victor Rocha Now that you mentioned ameno, It is really weird how epic this songs usually are, too much for the occasion to be honest
Everytime I go to a graduation I'm like humming the whole time
This video was released when I was a freshman. I just graduated, and only then do I see this video...
Who's singing the song in 0:05 Find You song, who is it from?
'find you' by Be the Young
Nice to see you Americans are still, at heart, part of our Glorious Empire ;)
Hello. Greetings from California. BROTHERS FOREVEr🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸
Because American identity is rooted from the British - They were Brits.
Then celebrate July 4the w/us you Brits!!
Americans and Philippines: This is the graduation song.
British: Slam their head on the table
Graduating High School tomorrow. I remember they played this when I graduated Pre-School in 2005 lol.
Could you do something about differences between Britain, the U.K. and why Scotland, England and Wales aren't official countries but N Ireland is? Also why in sports they all have unique national anthems but when the play as GB they use England's anthem
England doesn't have an official national anthem. GB uses the national anthem of the UK. England alone uses the same national anthem.
God save the queen is England national anthem as a country state isn't it? Is that not why they sing that and each of the other states of the UK sing different songs in competitions like the 6 nations?
It is not. England will sing God Save the Queen but it is the official anthem of the UK as a whole. Therefore God save the Queen is also the national anthem for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They all have there own national anthem for just themselves however, England is the odd one out. Sometimes England will not sing God Save the Queen and will instead choose a national song of England like Jerusalem; as they did in the Commonwealth Games.
Ironically it ha been suggested for England to adopt Land of Hope and Glory (Pomp and Circumstance) as its official National Anthem. However, most the world will probably wonder why England is using the 'graduation' theme at the Olympics at.
Jerusalem is the de facto national anthem of England.
Please guys the Find You song they played in the begining who is it from???
Honestly, since I'm not American and there's no graduation ceremony in my country, the first thing that comes to mind when I hear this song is that awesome scene in Kingsman: The Secret Service.
The viewer who made the suggestion for this video on Pomp and Circumstance made a really good call.