Greatest Irish song ever

deadybai · 23-07-2013 11:26am #1

What is the greatest song to have come out of Ireland?For a small nation we have produced some of the finest songs in popular music history.

For example, in Rolling Stone magazine they made a list of the 500
greatest songs ever which was published in 2004. Of the 500 songs, 352 are from the United States and 117 from the United Kingdom; they are followed by Ireland with 12 entries (of which 8 were composed by U2).
Also U2 had 2 more songs added to the list in the reissue in 2010.

So which song is the greatest from this country?

My top 3 are
1. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To You
2. The Stunning - Brewing Up A Storm
3. U2 - One

Honorable Mention:
Mark McCabe Maniac 2000 :P

old hippy · 23-07-2013 11:30am

Take My Hand - In Tua Nua
Charlton Heston Put His Vest On - Stump
Town to Town - Microdisney

But that may change, I'm loathe to leave out Christy Moore.

Btw, Nothing Compares 2 U is a Prince song, does it still count?

deadybai · 23-07-2013 11:34am

old hippy wrote: »

Take My Hand - In Tua Nua
Charlton Heston Put His Vest On - Stump
Town to Town - Microdisney

But that may change, I'm loathe to leave out Christy Moore.

Btw, Nothing Compares 2 U is a Prince song, does it still count?

Yeah it does cause the Sinead O Connor version was the one that is more recognisable and she made it far better.

old hippy · 23-07-2013 11:43am

deadybai wrote: »

Yeah it does cause the Sinead O Connor version was the one that is more recognisable and she made it far better.

More recognisable for sure but better? Hmmmm

deadybai · 23-07-2013 11:47am

old hippy wrote: »

More recognisable for sure but better? Hmmmm

ah it definitely is better. its a much better version. and the video is class too.

old hippy · 23-07-2013 11:51am

deadybai wrote: »

ah it definitely is better. its a much better version. and the video is class too.

I think it's her least adventurous song, tbh. And I say that as someone who likes Sinnead. I saw her live in 86 or 87 and she was awesome.

I'd add Troy to my list, if I could.

kingtiger · 23-07-2013 12:11pm

Rory Gallagher "Walk on Hot Coals" - live version

thesultan · 27-07-2013 4:05pm

kingtiger wrote: »

Rory Gallagher "Walk on Hot Coals" - live version

So true

SilverScreen · 27-07-2013 4:16pm

My Bloody Valentine - Soon

Fuzzy guitars, dance beats and indecipherable vocals... mmmmmmmmmmm

losthorizon · 27-07-2013 4:58pm

The Fat Lady Sings - Arclight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlcSZotpAhE

Microdisney - Singers Hampstead Home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGTLVwa5OD8

Undertones -Its Going to Happen. Irelands best ever band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtaqgW6MXg

Special mention

Gerry Cott - Pioneers. Only heard it again recently after years of wanting to hear it again. A few listens and it grows on you. Very 80ish

wow sierra · 28-07-2013 1:38pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xQOb51qZ-c

thebaz · 28-07-2013 1:41pm

Van Morrison - the way Young lovers Do

De Bellem · 28-07-2013 7:40pm

There's so many. Still relevant today and standing the test of time is
Paul Brady with "Nothing But The Same Old Story"

http://youtu.be/AcnzblEZJ18

With so many having left our shores in the last few years to find work this song relates to those emigrants of today as it did for those in the 80's, 70,s 60s, 50's and so on. This song is about them and about those they left behind.. Need I say more . Take a listen. Definitely a candidate

nitna bitna · 28-07-2013 7:44pm

the dubliners ; im a man you dont meet everyday

aslan : Down on me (live at vicar street version)

GLaDOS · 28-07-2013 8:00pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZltd_nz2ag

Ruudi_Mentari · 29-07-2013 4:48am

If sinead is top of the agenda then nothing compares 2 Mandinka:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QFPfSfLi-Q

pappyodaniel · 29-07-2013 4:52am

Probably Luke Kelly singing On Raglan Road. I'd have it as our national anthem, it's such an appealing song

Icaras · 29-07-2013 7:51pm

Damien Rice - Eskimo
David Kitt - headphones
The Pogues - A pair of brown eyes

tommy2bad · 29-07-2013 7:59pm

Seans_Username · 30-07-2013 1:55pm

OP had it from the beginning.

Maniac 2000. Simple as.

bullpost · 30-07-2013 2:00pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpZLqWkUblc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG8Ect3Xn7w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R29W_PvTT7M

eyebrows63 · 30-07-2013 5:08pm

maybe not the greatest but its up there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b0OiptaQZA

Hootanany · 30-07-2013 5:18pm

Galilio Declan O'Rourke what do i win.

rolliepoley · 30-07-2013 6:24pm

And then i would have these also.

Ruudi_Mentari · 30-07-2013 6:28pm

Gavin said their music isn't very irish, and indeed it reminds me of the desolation of aussie outback:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2EYrtGZdsI

Probably holds up as my favourite, if not the greatest.

3DataModem · 30-07-2013 6:31pm

U2 One.. not a huge U2 fan but that's a great song.

Undertones teenage kicks.

Heroditas · 30-07-2013 6:32pm

3DataModem wrote: »

Undertones teenage kicks.

Beat me to it.
Surprised it wasn't already mentioned!

armchair fusilier · 30-07-2013 8:04pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QzDWIOUnM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZv2s7fU0v4

30-07-2013 8:07pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRHeTIcgwH8

InTheTrees · 30-07-2013 8:19pm

Waterboys whole of the moon is excellent.

And U2 One is great too.

InTheTrees · 30-07-2013 8:23pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcwsfns7KPQ

InTheTrees · 30-07-2013 8:27pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nog3F0yy5c

InTheTrees · 30-07-2013 8:28pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WwaPv1rZiQ

Joe10000 · 30-07-2013 8:34pm

deadybai wrote: »

What is the greatest song to have come out of Ireland?For a small nation we have produced some of the finest songs in popular music history.

For example, in Rolling Stone magazine they made a list of the 500
greatest songs ever which was published in 2004. Of the 500 songs, 352 are from the United States and 117 from the United Kingdom; they are followed by Ireland with 12 entries (of which 8 were composed by U2).
Also U2 had 2 more songs added to the list in the reissue in 2010.

So which song is the greatest from this country?

My top 3 are
1. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To You
2. The Stunning - Brewing Up A Storm
3. U2 - One

Honorable Mention:
Mark McCabe Maniac 2000 :P

Nothing compares to you is not even in my top 5 Sinead songs, Troy for me. Best Irish song is impossible to call, possibly 20 on the short list. Today I'll say half past two and tomorrow it could be the streets of NY, sweet sixteen, one or bad.

deadybai · 30-07-2013 8:48pm

Joe10000 wrote: »

Nothing compares to you is not even in my top 5 Sinead songs, Troy for me. Best Irish song is impossible to call, possibly 20 on the short list. Today I'll say half past two and tomorrow it could be the streets of NY, sweet sixteen, one or bad.

I'm not particularly a big fan of Sinead O Connor myself. I wouldn't be in to her type of music at all but that song is an obvious exception. I just love that song.

daithi1970 · 30-07-2013 8:50pm

1. The Island - Paul Brady
2. With or without you - U2
3. Old Town - Phil Lynott

(Dis)honorable mention to anything by Daniel, or Richie Kavanagh.

3DataModem · 30-07-2013 9:01pm

Heroditas wrote: »

Beat me to it.
Surprised it wasn't already mentioned!

It's just beyond awesome

harris33 · 30-07-2013 9:11pm

the pogues-the band played waltzing matilda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

harris33 · 30-07-2013 9:12pm

oh and ronnie drew-the parting glass

Lelantos · 30-07-2013 9:17pm

Rory Gallagher............Tattooed Lady
Christy Hennessey......Roll Back The Clouds
Zig & Zag..................... Dem Girls

ms1968 · 30-07-2013 9:27pm

Sinead O'Connor's version - Scorn not his simplicity
Rats- Mondays
Christy Moore - Ordinary man

Cienciano · 30-07-2013 10:01pm

pappyodaniel wrote: »

Probably Luke Kelly singing On Raglan Road. I'd have it as our national anthem, it's such an appealing song

100% on this. Nothing comes close to Raglan Road sung by Luke Kelly

10 years ago I would have said U2, One. But now I think it's such a cheesy song, can't bring myself to listen to it I dislike it so much!