The greatest Irish song of all time

timthumbni · 16-09-2018 12:33pm

munsterlegend wrote: »

timthumbni wrote: »

I’m well aware of who wrote the song. No political borders ?? Exhibit A ... the Wolfe Tones...

Sure every country has songs/bands who write about political freedom. Traditional Irish music belongs to all the island both north and south. Just because you don’t agree with the lyrics of certain songs is irrelevant.

Well to be fair the Wolfe tones are normally only listened to by Scottish neds in Celtic jerseys I suppose.

leonffrench · 16-09-2018 12:34pm

Cry Before Dawn - Gone Forever. Great Wexford band. Should have been huge

16-09-2018 12:42pm

So many extraordinary versions of one of the best known and most utterly rousing of all the songs from the 18th-century Aisling genre of poetry, Óró sé do bheatha abhaile:

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sje2VYw99A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwM8pCAynbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSFGx1eh59w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzXswoAUi0U

There's still something classic about Darach Ó Catháin's (from Ráth Chairn/Leitir Móir) hugely acclaimed version from 1980 - Darach was singing on a building site over in Britain and somebody reported him for bringing the Irish lads to tears with his sean nós singing and RTÉ flew him back to Ireland to record this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AFRCWg_kOc

demanufactured · 16-09-2018 12:44pm

What this thread really illustrates is how shyte "Irish music" is.

16-09-2018 12:48pm

Still brilliant, and not just because they're mere students as opposed to professionals - yet another 18th-century 'Aisling' poem (by Seán Clárach Mac Dónaill) turned into a famous song:

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

Sting and The Chieftain's version of the same song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4gjc8p7qzo

sligojoek · 16-09-2018 12:59pm

riffmongous wrote: »

Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones do a great upbeat version of the anthem in English, The soldiers song

The continuity Wolfe Tones.

A few mentioned 1000s are sailing by the Pogues. Here's a version by the writer, Philip Chevron.

munsterlegend · 16-09-2018 1:03pm

timthumbni wrote: »

Well to be fair the Wolfe tones are normally only listened to by Scottish neds in Celtic jerseys I suppose.

Which kind of sums up the north I suppose. It’s always them or us as opposed to everyone actually being virtually the same or equal. The Dup denigrate everything that is ‘Irish’ playing up to its sectarian bigots but are beginning to finally wake up and smell the coffee by attending gaa matches and meeting Irish language groups. It’s the only way forward just like Irish music is no threat to anyone but joins our cultures together.

timthumbni · 16-09-2018 1:11pm

munsterlegend wrote: »

timthumbni wrote: »

Well to be fair the Wolfe tones are normally only listened to by Scottish neds in Celtic jerseys I suppose.

Which kind of sums up the north I suppose. It’s always them or us as opposed to everyone actually being virtually the same or equal. The Dup denigrate everything that is ‘Irish’ playing up to its sectarian bigots but are beginning to finally wake up and smell the coffee by attending gaa matches and meeting Irish language groups. It’s the only way forward just like Irish music is no threat to anyone but joins our cultures together.

It’s quite funny as everyone knows that band in particular make their money from wannabe scottish Celtic supporters and the bigots amongst them.

Ken. · 16-09-2018 1:15pm

Mod- I like this thread. Do not make me mod the thread. Drop the political stuff right now.

Also demanufactured thread banned. Reason- Being a killjoy.

munsterlegend · 16-09-2018 1:19pm

timthumbni wrote: »

It’s quite funny as everyone knows that band in particular make their money from wannabe scottish Celtic supporters and the bigots amongst them.

You seem to be besotted by them. Of all the great Irish music you focus on that band! By the way they are also popular in North America.

Irish music is 32 county and beyond. That is the point.

timthumbni · 16-09-2018 1:20pm

If We are talking pop music only then I would say thin lizzy whisky in the jar. What a tune.

timthumbni · 16-09-2018 1:21pm

munsterlegend wrote: »

timthumbni wrote: »

It’s quite funny as everyone knows that band in particular make their money from wannabe scottish Celtic supporters and the bigots amongst them.

You seem to be besotted by them. Of all the great Irish music you focus on that band! By the way they are also popular in North America.

Irish music is 32 county and beyond. That is the point.

As the mod suggested not the forum for this argument.

coolshannagh28 · 16-09-2018 1:25pm

Sonny678 wrote: »

The greatest music talent this country has ever produced by a metric mile is Van Morrisson. He doesnt play the media game and he is not a very cuddly individual, but in terms of music he is the greatest musical figure this country has ever produced. Put it this way Van Morrisson is the river shannon of Irish music, all other artists are just small tributaries compared to this giant of music.

Here are some great Van Songs

Here comes the Night
Caravan
Tupelo Honey
St Dominics Preview
Cyprus Avenue
Wonderful Remark

But three Van songs that stand above any, 3 of the greatest songs ever written and they are , 3 Van masterpieces ,

And it Stoned Me
Into the Mystic
Madam George

If you want fast cheerful pop song, listen to Brown Eyed Girl, but if you want songs that are soulful, at times dark , with deep meaning, tboughful lyrics, incredible music, listen to those three masterpieces above.

Other great Irish Songs that deserve a special mention

The Blades Ghost of a Chance
Stiff little Fingers Alternative Ulster
U2 11 O Clock Tick Tock
The Undertones Teenage kicks
Gilbert Sullivan Clair
Rory Gallagher/Taste Blister on the Moon
Ash Girl from Mars
Something Happens Parachute
The Stunning Brewing up a Storm
A House Endless Art
Microdisney Birthday Girl
Sinead O Connor Mandinka
Shane McGowen /Pogues A Pair of Brown Eyes
The Stars of Heaven Sacred Heart Hotel
Whipping Boy We dont need anybody Else

This is pretty definitive , And it stoned me is probably the best ever written I would give a mention to Dancing in the moonlight by Thin Lizzy a song before its time.

invicta · 16-09-2018 1:25pm

captbarnacles wrote: »

Green Fields of France (willie mcbride)

Great song,....but,
written about Anzac soldiers,by a Scott!
(Eric Boogle)

munsterlegend · 16-09-2018 1:27pm

timthumbni wrote: »

As the mod suggested not the forum for this argument.

Which I just saw.

My greatest Irish songs would be:

Song for Ireland
Grace Jim McCann
U2 - One
Cranberries - Dreams
The four of us - Mary always makes me smile

julyjane · 16-09-2018 1:32pm

Joxer goes to Stuttgart

invicta · 16-09-2018 1:37pm

This is a interesting thread, but from Carolin through O Riada, and around by Val Donikan,Wolfe Tones,Daniel O Donnell,right up to Kodaline, there has been some brilliant music.To pick just one piece is virtually impossible.

By the way,forget about Daniel, but ye get my jist!!

timthumbni · 16-09-2018 1:40pm

Actually the song Carrickfergus is an amazing one too. Well I’m drunk now and I’m seldom sober.....

16-09-2018 1:56pm

invicta wrote: »

This is a interesting thread, but from Carolin through O Riada...

I absolutely love this rousing Seán Ó Riada tune. I feel like marching to Kinsale right now!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09YO0a7ePAU

And for survivors of the 70s, we have this brilliant Horslips version of it (although I wonder how many have made the link):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5G8AJf4Xzw

Tom Mann Centuria · 16-09-2018 2:02pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ubhRXBxsa8

. Classic in the drinking song category and use of the word sh*te.

trashcan · 16-09-2018 5:50pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I absolutely love this rousing Seán Ó Riada tune. I feel like marching to Kinsale right now!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09YO0a7ePAU

And for survivors of the 70s, we have this brilliant Horslips version of it (although I wonder how many have made the link):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5G8AJf4Xzw

Knew it was a traditional rifff,though I couldn't have named it. I think the electric guitars in the horslips version give it an extra bit of omph that I like.

Interesting thread,, which seems to have turned into people a naming their favourites. That being the case I'm going to take the opportunity to name a song which most people will probably have never heard. Scott Millar Said, by Steven Ryan and recorded by his band the Revenants is probably my favourite Irish song, and one of the best I've ever heard. Absolutely sublime. Nicky Kelly of the Fat Lady Sings wrote an article about it some years ago where he also named it as his favourite Irish song. It's about the death of his father as far as I know, and when he sings "still we halve time enough to remember the ones who leave though they hardly care to go" it wells me up. I'd post the video from YouTube if I wasn't so technologically illiterate.

.red. · 16-09-2018 6:18pm

I've already posted my favourites, but I'm shocked nobody has mentioned the great Irish cailín band, B*witched and their french song, C'est La Vie.
Here it is for anyone fortune enough to forget it

https://youtu.be/UvjLgjtJKsc

pleas advice · 16-09-2018 6:46pm

munsterlegend wrote: »

The four of us - Mary always makes me smile

how could that be considered 'the greatest' anything?

demanufactured · 16-09-2018 10:31pm

Putinbot wrote: »

Mod- I like this thread. Do not make me mod the thread. Drop the political stuff right now.

Also demanufactured thread banned. Reason- Being a killjoy.

Aww

PTH2009 · 16-09-2018 10:36pm

Shocked I was the only person who mentioned Boomtown Rats

Prob the case of Bob's Humanterian work for most of there success but they do have some great songs and were great supporting Queen in July in Marley Park

FixdePitchmark · 16-09-2018 10:42pm

Some great tunes here - but is it a stretch to call The Waterboys Irish ?

FixdePitchmark · 16-09-2018 10:43pm

PTH2009 wrote: »

Shocked I was the only person who mentioned Boomtown Rats

Prob the case of Bob's Humanterian work for most of there success but they do have some great songs and were great supporting Queen in July in Marley Park

A great character and a few great songs - but sadly he can't sing ?

PTH2009 · 16-09-2018 10:48pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

A great character and a few great songs - but sadly he can't sing ?

He's not the best but still an ok performer and has the bank balance of a successful star

Little talent can get a person very far

sydthebeat · 16-09-2018 11:00pm

PTH2009 wrote: »

He's not the best but still an ok performer and has the bank balance of a successful star

Little talent can get a person very far

"How to compare popular songs that will sell " is actually a very good album.

He's underrated

PTH2009 · 17-09-2018 1:19am

This is a great Irish song
https://youtu.be/InS3YsrlgkY

The clip from one of the 80s reeling in the years episodes with this playing in the background brings a tear to the eye

The greatest Irish song of all time

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