IT Anthems: Apple's Greatest Hits
Published: 13 Dec 2002 07:23 GMT
Audio (scroll down for the lyrics)
Here's a slice of history. The Apple II was, we are told, the first truly personal computer and a revolutionary idea. It was perhaps the supreme product of the era when personal computing was about bringing the unknown power of the silicon chip to the ordinary (well geeky) person.
This song dates from April 1984, when the Apple IIc was launched in San Francisco, at an event called "Apple II Forever" that is remembered as "part revival meeting, part sermon, part roundtable discussion, part pagan rite, and part county fair". The event even included a Californian speciality, a 6.1 Richter earthquake, participants recall.
Slightly less earth-shattering, perhaps, this song was part of the festivities. It was played first to the troops at internal events, and apparently went down so well, it got used in the public launch.
Apple IIc was a full-strength Apple computer with 128k of memory, two serial ports and a mouse in an 11in by 12in box small enough to fit in a briefcase. Impressive stuff.
Like almost all slogans, Apple II Forever was actually the reverse of the truth. A few months before the launch, Apple had introduced the Macintosh and, while there were still plenty more things that could be done with the Apple II, the writing was on the wall. New Apple CEO John Sculley was making the company more corporate
Apple created a further Apple II version, the Apple IIc Plus in 1988, with a zippy 4MHz prorcessor and 3.5 in disk drives. This was the company's finest 8bit computer, and sold well. A 16 bit version, the Apple IIGS also did well, but was dropped in 1992 in favour of Macs.
Despite this, I am told there are many Apple IIs still in use today. It certainly has a loyal following, who also refer to the "Apple //" and the "Apple ][".
And while it may not have lasted forever, we know that Apple IIs will continue in use for a few more years yet -- if Hollywood is to believed. In 2010, the sequel to 2001, Roy Scheider is seen on a beach, using one fitted with an LCD screen.
You can find our more about the Apple II at AppleII.org, including pictures of an Apple II on its holidays up a mountain. A very complete history of the beast is at Apple2history.org
Which brings us to the song, which tells us how the Apple II makes life better and better, bringing a smile to children's faces. Ah well, no doubt it brings back happy memories to some.
Anthems fans, be warned! There are more Apple songs out there, and we plan to bring you more of them! This one was included on an Apple "Developer Helper" CD of the late 1980s. This delivered early releases of Apple software to developers, and filled up the extra space with some surprisingly good songs.
Please send any anthems, from any IT companies, to corpanthems@zdnet.co.uk. Surely the UK's Amstrad had a song for its own revolutionary CPC464 computer, also launched in 1984?
Lyrics
Remember how we started
Not so long ago
We dreamed of giving everyone
A personal way to grow.
Our dream became reality
And now we're making....
.... History!
Take imagination, and let it lead the way
To a new world of discovery
Setting light, every day
Bringing smiles to children's faces
Opening doors to brand new places
Chorus Apple II Forever!
Making life better and better!
Apple II Forever and ever
Bringing the rainbow to you!
Apple II!
Forever! (Forever!)
Oooo-oooh yeah
And now the world keeps changing
And we'll be changing too
Reaching out with new ideas
And bringing them all to you!
Our future keeps on growing and growing
Our colours keep on showing and glowing
Chorus Apple II Forever!
Making life better and better!
Apple II Forever and ever
Bringing the rainbow to you!
Apple II!
Forever! (Forever!)
Apple II!
Apple II!
Leading the Way!
Apple II!
Apple II!
Apple II Forever!
Making life better and better!
Apple II Forever and ever
Bringing the rainbow to you!
Apple II!
Forever! (Forever!)
(swoosh)
Apple II Forever!
Making life better and better!
Apple II Forever and ever
Bringing the rainbow to you!
Apple II!
Forever! (Forever!)
Apple II Forever!
(swoosh)
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