In case you hadn’t noticed, today is St Patrick’s Day. I’m not in the least part Irish – I’d never have passed the Jack Charlton test – but I have long been a huge fan of Irish music. It therefore felt right to make an additional bonus post this week and share a few tunes for the day. I won’t be passing much comment on the music – think of this as more a brief Wednesday Warblings rather than a Tuesday Tunes post – but I hope you’ll enjoy some of the music that wonderful country has produced over the years.
The first one is a meeting made in Heaven between two of my favourites. Van Morrison and The Chieftains got together in 1988 to make an album called Irish Heartbeat, and this is the opening track:
A slower one next, from a master of his craft:
It isn’t one of Christy’s own songs – it was written by Jimmy MacCarthy – but that is, simply, a piece of musical magic.
This next one is a standard of Irish music, so much so that I was spoilt for choice on which version to include. At the risk of upsetting folk purists, I went for a rock version:
I really couldn’t leave these guys out, could I? They don’t come much more Irish than this:
I thought I’d round off by going back where I began: another track from the Irish Heartbeat album. I couldn’t find a live version of this one that I liked, either by Van and The Chieftains or anyone else, but this video gives a nice feel for the spirit of the music, and of today:
☘️Happy St Patrick’s Day. Have a great day, wherever you are!☘️
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good choice for the rock version of Whiskey in the Jar!
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Thanks – I thought so too. It gave the post some balance 😊
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🙂
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We’re all Irish on St. Patrick’s day. And the music has travelled all.over the world probably.
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I used that excuse for this one! Irish music is a lot of fun 😊
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Good choices, Clive. Ride on was one I hadn’t heard before… a lovely voice and easy listening but my fav had to be Tin Lizzie…:) x
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Ha…Thin Lizzy even…x
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Pleas see previous reply 😂 x
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Christy Moore’s voice is a bit special, isn’t it. Did you know that’s what they originally called themselves and were billed as in their early days? The ‘Thin’ was an homage to the Irish accent.
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I didn’t know that, Clive 🙂 x
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You know me – a mine of useless information 😂 x
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As am I, Clive most of the time but great in a quiz x
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A great selection of wonderful Irish music, Clive. Thank you!
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You’re welcome, Clare – glad you enjoyed them 😊
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🙂
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All great tunes for St. Paddy’s Day. I have always loved Irish music.
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Thanks, Darlene. I love it too – so much joy and feeling in it.
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van Morrison and the Chieftains is a match made in heaven – great song choice.
I remember when you shared another Christy Moore song; it was nice to hear that amazing voice again.
your comment about Whiskey in the Jar made me look for a more traditional version, and I found one by the Dubliners. The Thin Lizzy one is a good alternative…
and speak of the Dubliners – not surprised to see them included; that song reminds me of The Wild Rover by the High Kings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgd07Ica5s
and a great tune to wrap things up, probably my favorite of the ones you’ve included…
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It’s a fabulous album, if you don’t already have it, as my last choice also shows.
Christy Moore has a wonderful voice, and deserves to be much more widely known than he is. Some great albums, too.
There are loads of versions of Whiskey In The Jar, but as most of the others went down the more traditional route I opted for a different one for this. There’s another version by the Killdares which starts with a three minute fiddle solo – very atmospheric, you can almost feel the fog on the mountains.
The Dubliners are always fun to see and hear. I almost included that High Kings one, too, so I could show off by saying that the lady playing fiddle also did that for a live performance by Sharron Shannon and Steve Earle of his Galway Girl, but I don’t know her name!
I had so much fun putting this one together – I listened to many more than I included!
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I may have to give that entire album a listen.
and I will look for that Killdares version of Whiskey in the Jar.
and only you would know the connection between the High Kings and the Galway Girl song…
I also had fun putting my St. Paddy’s Day music post together, since I got to listen to so many Irish songs…
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You should, it’s well worth it. I bought it when it was first released and played it so much the cassette wore out!
The Killdares are a little bit different. I didn’t include them in this because they come from the well known Irish town of Dallas, Texas, but their music is good. I also know of other ‘Irish’ bands from over there (eg Dropkick Murphys) but there are others from Germany, Poland, Australia and Transylvania in my YouTube library.
I just happened to recognise her…
It was a good reason to listen to loads of great music.
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just listened to the album on Spotify through my headphones – wonderful…
I know a couple of my kids liked the Dropkick Murphys, probably almost 20 years ago at this point.
I also watched the Killdares – that was a pretty good version also…
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Glad you enjoyed it, and also tried the Killdares. The Dropkicks are an acquired taste, I think…
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I don’t mind the Dropkicks…
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Nor do I, most of the time. Not too keen on some of their more shouty songs tho…
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clever though…
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They write some great lyrics – when you can hear them 😉
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PS – that last one is a skipping song sung by children while they played, probably at least a hundred years old. I have a version by a Russian folk band which I’ll unleash at some point – it’s utterly bonkers but loads of fun.
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look forward to that Russian song!
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Maybe in an Under The Covers post, or if I do a Tuesday theme of musical lunacy. My other new series starts later this week and I could include them in that, but they might be too obscure and off the wall for most tastes!
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I’m curious as to what your new series will be…
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The only clue I’ve given so far is that it’s a music one – no real surprise there!
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I picked up on that; and I’m going to eliminate rap music…
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Good thinking. ‘Music I Hate’ probably wouldn’t be a good idea 😉
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it would be fun reading how you describe such “music” 🙂
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Maybe, but posting videos I’m recommending people don’t watch may not be a good plan…
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probably not… unless it’s reverse psychology…
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I’m not brave enough to try that 😂
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🙂
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Thin Lizzy isn’t the first group you picture when it comes to the Irish, but I’m almost always going to lean with a good rock track.
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The original – and core – members were Irish, and the band was formed in Dublin. That’s good enough for me! It’s a great track, too.
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Reblogged this on Ramrock's Blog.
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Clive, it’s lovely with a touch of Ireland this afternoon through this eclectic music selection! Christy Moore has a sublime voice! Whilst travelling through Ireland I loved the free spirit within bars and restaurants of one or two people singing and soon everyone joined in – all gifted musically.
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Thanks, Annika, I’m glad you enjoyed them. I agree on Christy Moore’s voice, it’s very special. Those impromptu sessions are great, aren’t they! Warm, friendly people.
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Ah, Thin Lizzy – one of my all-time favourite bands. Thanks to you, Clive, I also now like Christy Moore whom I hadn’t previously heard of.
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Mine too, Stevie. I’m glad you like Christy too – his voice has a warmth to it that just wraps itself around a song.
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