Overhyped overrated Irish music

lumphammer2

Over the years ... I have seen how RTE and other forms of the Irish media overhype what becomes overrated music ... we saw it with Boyzone, Westlife ... and we cannot forget Six ... we see it each year with those Eurovision singers ... Donna and Joe, Black Daisy, Chris Doran, Ryan Dolan ... even the names are getting alike now as well as their style !! ...

Then it is these singer songwriters ... all writing tuneless melodies and puzzling lyrics ... profound riddles that make no sense to anyone except the creator ... we have a Gavin James one day and a Dermot Kennedy the next ... we have an Imelda May turning into one of them and all (yes her original style was good ... but not what she does now) ... we get a Tubbers plugging them and telling us how 'lucky' we are to have such 'talent' on display ...

It just seems today if someone can write any auld 'song' then they have a sporting chance to climb to dizzying levels of fame until people realise they are not as 'good' as the hype around them ... where are the great interpreters of songs gone? ... artists versatile enough to writer their own and cover the classics ... artists who can sing multiple genres and make it work ... I am sure they are still out there but RTE and the like will not give them a chance when they are too busy promoting their new found darlings ... or worse again trying to revive hasbeens like Ronan Keating, Lee Matthews Mulhern and Eoghan Quigg ... ex talent show, boyband and/or Eurovision fodder ...

Music has gone down the swanny here in Ireland ... and that will remain as long as talent show, boyband, Eurovision or any guy who presents as a 'songwriter' is picked before genuine interpreters of proper songs and music ... listen to any modern Irish act in pop and then listen to one in 'country' or 'folk' today and they sound the same ... once you'd know one genre from another ... and they are all here today/gone tomorrow because despite the hype no one is really interested in them longterm ... and as long as the media keep hyping these overrated music entities this will not change and modern music's abysmal reputation remains ... to the detriment of proper up and coming singers/musicians ...

Mal-Adjusted

What on earth is an interpreter of song?

mazdamiatamx5

Agreed on Imelda May, vastly overrated IMO. Also Glen Hansard. One admittedly great single with The Frame's "Revelate", but aside from that nothing he has done has ever impressed me.

maninasia

Well he has staying power and two very popular films to his name at least.

Every country has their local favourites that they plug.

Are you saying they aren't a patch on Joe Dolan and Dicky Rock these days?

lumphammer2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137251#Comment_120137251

Frank Sinatra would be an example ...

MrMusician18

Aslan.

Was at a gig of theirs once and they had so little they played Crazy World three times.

magicbastarder

the cranberries. 'linger' is fine, but 'zombie' is the most overrated, dreary POS.

pappyodaniel

Dermot Kennedy. Is there a word to describe that style of vocals that he does? Ed Sheeran has it amongst others where they "curl" certains words in an exaggerated way.

- "Ooh darrrlin' I louuve yaaou" type of thing. It's very irritating but the kids can't get enough of it.

Beechwoodspark

main thing in ireland is to get the right agent with connections into montrose, then you are set for life

the likes of gavin James or oddball Hansard are ample proof

lumphammer2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137253#Comment_120137253

That second song Imelda and Glen did on the Tubridy Show before Christmas was one of the worst things I have ever heard ... proof both are overrated and overhyped ... both prob had 1-2 good songs from years back but that's it ...

lumphammer2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120138096#Comment_120138096

Exactly ... these 2 are so overrated and have never truly impressed me ...

I remember that Gavin James guy on that moon landing anniversary programme in 2019 at the height of RTE's obsession with him ... his performance and appearance on the programme had nothing to do with the topic .. he sang one of his own yokes ... could sing neither Fly me to the moon ... or Viva Las Vegas !!

Ubbquittious

The coronas, bell x1 and all the other friends of RTE that Dee Forbes is tirelessly trying to elevate to superstardom

Citizen Six

I hope nobody is even thinking of naming the Fontaines DC in this thread.

newmember2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120139588#Comment_120139588

Well I'm thinking of naming Conor O'Brien of the Villagers purely on the fact I cannot stand the high-pitched 'squeaking' that he calls singing.

Eoinbmw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137847#Comment_120137847

Nah just hating !

Eoinbmw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058280569/overhyped-overrated-irish-music

Record sales and net worth will tell us how they are rated everything else is just pure opinion!

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137264#Comment_120137264

Aslan are absolute scutter and Christys vocals are fairly sketchy to say the least

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058280569/overhyped-overrated-irish-music

You seem to have created a list of "artists" than no musical person would rate.

loyatemu

Thin Lizzy. I'm not saying they're bad but I don't get the national obsession. There are about 10 different tribute bands doing the rounds, far more than for U2. I'm not a huge fan of either band but U2 have far more classic songs and yet Lizzy are still considered some sort of national icons. Outside of Ireland most people would only know "The Boy are back in Town" and maybe "Whiskey in the Jar".

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120139824#Comment_120139824

are you saying that the best song released in 2022 was the one which sold the most?

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120140281#Comment_120140281

i assume it's to do with the fact that lizzy predate U2 by 7 or 8 years; the first irish rock or pop band to make it big internationally. metallica are noted fans, which does no harm to their profile.

deadybai

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120140281#Comment_120140281

You are right about Thin Lizzy outside of Ireland but that is to a casual music fan. Outside of Ireland, rock fans often site Thin Lizzy as vastly underrated. A lot of rock bands point towards them as a major influence. They also had their heyday in the 1970's, well before anyone else (in Ireland).

Also, thier live album 'Live and Dangerous' is often cited as one of the best live rock albums of all time. Seriously it's a fantastic album, that should be listed to by any Irish rock fan.

I’m an alternative,indie, metal , punk , synth man my self and of course since I was a kid you would struggle to see anything remotely alternative on rte . I would guess rte see shows like other voices as alternative but let’s face it it’s almost the other extreme, contrived, pretentious pretend rock /indie.

although suicidal tendencies did film for jo maxi at 5am on the way to the airport 😂😂

https://youtu.be/4mewDYCneM8

I always get the impression alternative music intimidates Irish media and can provide “lols” for themselves.

personally and this is not influenced by my own taste , but I think it’s time we sent one of our own metal acts to the Eurovision and put on a mighty production.

kevin shields was a huge influence on 90s alt (grunge) and you would never know he lives here , never acknowledged by rte , yet being interviewed by every other country 😂

Dave fanning gave rob Trujillo a good knowledgeable interview before slane .

there’s an rte radio one documentary about prince and it’s brilliant check it out

the klf on the late late show was amazing Also therapy did a savage tune

luckily we have more than enough podcasts to seek out the amazing underworld that is very much alive

RAMMSTEIN FOR SLANE

magicbastarder

but I think it’s time we sent one of our own metal acts to the Eurovision and put on a mighty production.

my brother-in-law's gaelic doom metal band entered the irish leg of eurovision once. fanning loved them, the other two judges didn't; they simply weren't eurovision material. and then lordi won that year. their drummer got a drunken text that night from fanning, apologising for them not being picked.

Monitor1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120140281#Comment_120140281

People get very angry when I point out Phil Lynott wasn't even Irish.

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120139588#Comment_120139588

I came here to do exactly that. Fontaines DC are just plain shite.

JKerova1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120137264#Comment_120137264

Have to disagree there. Where's the Sun is an amazing single. So is Loving Me Lately. This Is is a classic. My favourite song of theirs is the little known The Gallery which I think was a b-side. Christy was a great songwriter.

Now The Coronas on the other hand is band I really dislike. Can't understand why they have such a following.

Strumms

The Coronas, The Script, Dermot Kennedy, The Frames / Hansard, Mundy, Imelda May ( such a one trick Pony ), Fontaines DC.

Blandsville dot com

Gremlinertia

Boomtown rats, kila and the mary wallopers, all dirge

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120140615#Comment_120140615

Except that he was.

6541

Denise Chaila

French Toast

Dermot Kennedy and his inability to write happy lyrics. Even his songs with catchy instrumentals inevitably end up píssing and moaning about a woman.

Eoinbmw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120140462#Comment_120140462

Is my Opinion better or more valuable than yours? No

Still just an Opinion.

If 10 million teens like a song then they like a song!

Monitor1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120141044#Comment_120141044

Where was he's birthplace?

Fuascailteoir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120142763#Comment_120142763

He was n=born in england but grew up in Ireland and considered himself Irish so clearly he is Irish if he viewed himself that way

Flaneur OBrien

I always think it a little bit odd that you can call someone who won an Oscar and a Grammy (and nominated for many more), "overrated" or "overhyped". They're pretty much the pinnacle of songwriting for movies/the stage.

Monitor1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120142980#Comment_120142980

It would still say British on his passport.

Fuascailteoir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143078#Comment_120143078

no he had an Irish passport

Monitor1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143125#Comment_120143125

My missus has an Irish passport, still says she's British on it.

Lewis_Benson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120140621#Comment_120140621

This.

I had someone trying to convince me they were brilliant.

Music for artsy type who aren't really interested in real music.

On thin lizzy, they are so loved because they were a band of real musicians, knew what they were doing and knew how to write great rock tunes.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143056#Comment_120143056

you could argue that is the pinnacle of being overrated or overhyped, though? this is not a comment on 'falling slowly', but if a mediocre song won an oscar, that is the pinnacle of being overrated. an oscar is nothing but someone's opinion (probably more likely the opinions of a smallish bunch of people), in the end.

Yurt2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143154#Comment_120143154

No it doesn't, it would detail her city/town of birth. That's all.

facehugger99

Had the misfortune to see The Thrills once at a festival.

Shockingly bad - how did they ever get hyped up so much here?

lumphammer2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143373#Comment_120143373

Very very true ... There are plenty mediocre and overhyped acts who win Oscars, Grammies, ... all the rest of these ... it is a matter of who you know and how connected you are moreso than what ability you have ...

In Ireland RTE and the like have their own versions of Oscars and Grammies for mediocre singers, bands, comedians and self produced TV shows ... the handpicked favourites win and there is no real opportunities given to anyone outside the who you know ...

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143056#Comment_120143056

A lot of this thread is about who you don't like personally not who is overrated as a musician.

Far more of a CA/IMHO thread than a proper music one.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120143373#Comment_120143373

It didn't "just win an Oscar" though. It was generally a well loved film and soundtrack.

Hansard is up there with Bono on the pain in the whole list but there are way more overrated musicians.

Imelda May is one I never got. Just seemed to ride the wave of a brief trend for vintage dressed women with loud voices.

Worst of all though is Damien Dempsey. Would never have gotten a second look if it wasn't for the "salt a da urt Dubalin" thing.

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120149437#Comment_120149437

I was with you til you dissed Damo 😂

I'm looking forward to his show in The Abbey. I think he's close to Christy Moore in his prime these days.

Can't stand Imelda May. Or Boomtown Rats. Dreadful band.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120149466#Comment_120149466

I agree he is close to Christy Moore 🤣

Boomtown Rats for me are one of those bands who have an absolutely massive gulf between their best stuff and the rest. I've tried but could never sit through a full album of theirs.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120149437#Comment_120149437

It didn't "just win an Oscar" though. It was generally a well loved film and soundtrack.

i did say 'this is not a comment on 'falling slowly'', though.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120149922#Comment_120149922

Ya fair enough I picked you up wrong there.

Fr Tod Umptious

Sorry OP but you can't call Boyzone or Westlife overrated.

You or I may not like their music or may not be in the target demographic but they have been and remain very popular in may parts of the world.

They are highly rated by their target audience.

But since I have been growing up there have been loads of bands that were way over hyped in Ireland.

Hot House Flowers were one, they had one good song, same with "Light a Big Fire", "Those Nervous Animals", "In Tua Nua" etc

All were pimped as the next U2, every Irish band in the 80s and 90s was pimped as the next U2, but it never happened.

In the last two decades you have the likes of The Frames, Mundy, Dermot Kennedy, Paddy Casey, etc etc, all being the same bang average.

TagoMago

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120139588#Comment_120139588

Don't think they're overhyped too much in this country but the way the UK press fawn over them is staggering. The Fontaine's could record themselves farting and the NME, Guardian and Q would give it five stars. Best one I read was a live review from the Guardian saying they were up there with The Smiths and The Pogues 🤦