There are oh-so-many holiday songs, and yet really only one that's associated with the arrival of a new year. Composer Burt Bacharach fools around with the notion of a fresh alternative to "Auld Lang Syne."
DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: In the `We were wondering' category goes this question:  Why are there a      gazillion Christmas songs but only one New Year's song?  In fact, ASCAP,      the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, just announced      the most performed holiday songs of the past five years and "Auld Lang      Syne" didn't make the list by a long shot.</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: We thought we'd pose the question to one of America's premiere      songwriters, Burt Bacharach.</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: Want a venture a guess?</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): I will.  First of all, you've only got      one night so it's not a performed song that can amount to anything      because you've got such a small window.  Christmas songs start getting      played, oh, right after Thanksgiving, sometimes before.  You know,      there's a residual thing.  I mean, we've all written Christmas songs.      I've written a Christmas song called "The Bell That Couldn't Jingle."  I      think if you were to say to me, `OK. Write a new song for New Year's      Eve,' I would say, `Why?  It's a good one.'</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): I think "Auld Lang Syne" works fine.  Of course it's not going to be the      most performed song.  Not even going to be close to being a performed      song.  You only have this one day and you only have one moment.  At the      stroke of midnight, it's gone.</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: But still that's like a huge moment.  There are parties,      resolutions, new starts, redemption.  I would think that would all make      for a great song.</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): Well, it is a great song, but it is a small moment in the      longevity of a song.  You're not going...</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: So even though you're sitting there at a piano right now in the      studios of KCRW in Santa Monica, I couldn't possibly ask you to come up      with a little ditty for New Year's Eve?</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): Well, it would probably in the mood that I'm in go to the      greatest Christmas song I think.  The song that touches my heart the most      is "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and try to put something on      there.</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): (Singing) Have yourself a merry--have yourself a happy      healthy new year.  Keep the thoughts just right.</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): Something like that, you know?  Take a great melody, drop in New Year's,      you know?</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: Thank you.  Happy new year, Burt Bacharach.</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): Don't you love that--don't you love that melody?</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: I do.</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): Have yourself a very healthy happy new year.  One more      time.</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): (Singing) Have yourself a very healthy new year.  Keep      your thoughts all bright, with hopes for peace and laughter...</s>Mr. BURT BACHARACH (Songwriter): Yeah, something like that.</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: Burt Bacharach will join us again next Saturday to talk about      his new album, a collection of political songs, really.