No more carols. No more heralds. The stockings are no longer hung by the chimney, if ever they were at all. Some lights will still twinkle on porches and eaves, but most of the trimmings have made their way back into storage. And the tree is either out on the curb, pointlessly waiting for a collection that will never come, or it has been disassembled into component twigs and reboxed. Our wreath remains on the front door, but it will be gone by this time tomorrow. It is safe to say that the holiday has come and gone.

And yet, one of my favorite seasonal songs remains. If asked to pick, I’ll almost always point to “O Holy Night” as the carol for me, or maybe a sad rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” — I’m a sap that way. But the song you’ll find me humming for days and weeks into the new year is a brilliant piece of work by Frank Loesser.

If you were around this time last year, you already know the song in question. (Sadly, the video link in that post busted when I rearranged some files, so here’s a new one.)

Frank Loesser was the genius behind Guys And Dolls. A great musical, the kind that will impress even those who profess no love for the genre what-so-ever. Don’t believe me? Rent the film from 1955. If you don’t find yourself smiling by the time Marlon Brando starts singing “Luck Be A Lady Tonight,” then I don’t want to know you. You catch that? Brando. Singing. It’s not high opera, but its awesome all the same.

I’m not sure just when Loesser wrote this favorite song of mine, but Ella Fitzgerald first recorded it in 1960. Lena Horne did it her way in ’65. The Orioles, a proto-Doo-Wop group, sang it way back in 1948. Regardless, it ages well. “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?” is one of those conversational songs that doesn’t take kindly to belting or wailing. Not right off the bat, at least. To do it justice, a singer has to start off shy, knowing full well that the answer to the question they’re about to sing might not be the news they’re needing.

Maybe it’s much too early in the game,
Aah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same.
What are you doing New Year’s …
New Year’s Eve?

But enough reading. You need to hear this for yourself. It’ll do you good.

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” – The Orioles (1948) download
[audio:orioles_whatareyoudoing.mp3]

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” – Lena Horne (1965) download
[audio:lena_whatareyoudoing.mp3]

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” – Rufus Wainwright (2005) download
[audio:rufus_whatareyoudoing.mp3]

So hey … what are you doing this New Year’s Eve?