Celebrating ‘Leap Year’ Film and its Songs on Leap Day
By Maxine Nelson, 21st Feb 2012 | Follow this author
| RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/oi8_jmyt/
Posted in WikinutReviewsFilm & TVIndependent
Leap year happens every four years. February gains another day on the 29th, though it is still the shortest month of the year. It’s also the year women can propose to the men. What is Leap Year, and more specifically, Leap Day? Are there any movies and/or songs commemorating this unique event?
- Leap Year and Leap Day - What Are They?
- "Leap Year' Movie Based on an Irish Tradition
- 'Leap Year' Soundtrack
- SOURCES:
Leap Year and Leap Day - What Are They?
This significant year and day gets no respect. It comes every four years when an extra (intercalary) day is added in February, since it is the shortest month of the year. In ancient Rome their calendars were becoming burdensome by adding an extra month every few years. Thus Julius Caesar devised a calendar, which we still use today, called the Julian Calendar back in 45 BCE. That is how Leap Year and Leap Day became by adding an extra day every four years. Pope Gregory XIII back in 1582 refined this calendar even more with declaring a century year, such as 1900 and 2000 in our times, not a Leap Year unless it is divisible by 400 as a centurial year. In 2000 it was divisible, though 1900, 1800 and 1700 were not Leap Years.
A few famous people are born on Leap Day such as the rapper Ja Rule, motivational speaker Tony Robbins and singer/songwriter Chris Conley. The most famous piece of information about Leap Year and Leap Day in today’s culture is women have the opportunity to propose on February 29th to their fiancé. There are virtually no songs written, TV specials aired or other media outlets commemorating Leap Year or Leap Day except for a movie released in 2010. Even though it wasn’t out on a Leap Year, the movie is significantly based on a tradition in Ireland. A woman may propose to the man on Leap Day, February 29, and he must accept it.
"Leap Year' Movie Based on an Irish Tradition
The romantic comedy film “Leap Year” stars Oscar nominated actress Amy Adams and John Lithgow, who is best known for his role in the television sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun.” Interestingly it was not released during a Leap Year in early January 2010. Obviously this movie came and went in the theaters when it wasn’t exactly a box office success. It didn’t get much love from the film critics either. On that note this is the only piece of relevant pop media about Leap Year and the myth of women proposing to men. In the movie Amy Adams character, Anna Brady, learns of an old Irish legend and tradition of women proposing every four years and the man must accept. She goes to Ireland to propose to her fiancé, but gets diverted to Wales due to a storm in Dublin. Along her travels of trying to get back to her fiancé in Dublin on February 29 she meets a local innkeeper who helps in the process. This is when the story takes on a complicated twist.
'Leap Year' Soundtrack
You’ll find countless popular songs about many of the holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Christmas, but nothing on Leap Year or Leap Day. The film’s soundtrack features an assortment of love songs and Irish tunes from different eras and genres musically. It’s about as close as one could get to celebrating February 29th. Artists such as Nat King Cole and The Mamas & the Papas from the 20th century as well as Colbie Caillat and many other from the 21st century contribute to “Leap Year’s” score. Randy Edelman composed its original music which is the only piece featured on the soundtrack album. Here are the 15 songs with the song title and artist from the movie “Leap Year.”
I’ll Tell My Ma – The Colonials
The Irish Rover – The Colonials
More and More of Your Amor – Nat King Cole
Day to Day – Eulogies
Waltz With Anna – The Brombies
Patsy Fagan – Dessie O’Halloran and Sharon Shannon
Within a Mile of Home – Flogging Molly
Buffalo Gals – The Brombies
A Pint for Breakfast – The Brombies
Leaping Lizards – The Brombies
The Staunton Lick – Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen
Dream a Little Dream Of Me – The Mamas & The Papas
Only Love Can Break Your Heart – Gwyneth Herbert
Never Forget You – Noisettes
You Got Me – Colbie Caillat
SOURCES:
Leap Day traditions and superstitions on February 29, TimeandDate.com
"How could the year 2000 be a leap year when 1900 was not?," HowStuffWorks.com
Leap Year, UniversalPictures.com
Leap Year (I) 2010, IMDb.com
“All 15 Songs from the Leap Year Soundtrack,” Reeltracks.Wordpress.com
All photos and a promotional image are from Wikimedia Commons.
Comments
23rd Feb 2012 (#)
Very neat, lovely, thanks Maxine...
Reply to this comment
23rd Feb 2012 (#)
Love this page. Fun facts and well written, that's a given. I just love when Leap year comes around, so all those that were actually born on the 29th, get to celebrate it on that day. Just makes me smile. Well done, star quality page. Congrats! As always, thank you for sharing.:)
Reply to this comment