Hi lads,
What do you think about new versions to known Irish songs?
Ever heard a good one that was in your idea way better than the original?
I just found this on the web, which made me wonder about it. Very different from everything I heard so far, but I like what they’ve done with the song. Any idea what’s the tune at the end?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps2VMY_KIpU
Chieftains recorded the tune as Larry Redican’s, and it’s called the Galway reel on the album Northern Lights (Kevin and Seamus Glackin ) - https://thesession.org/tunes/613
There’s something about the phrases in the A part which made me feel lost when I first learned it.
I really like what they did with that, sent shivers down my spine 🙂 Good stuff!
Total tripe in my opinion.
Not all modern versions of traditional songs mind you, but that particular rendition is rubbish start to finish. At least for my taste.
Someone with an ear for Irish Country might like it as that’s what it strikes me as. No offence BB - not a dig at you, you’re entitled to your opinion, and tastes.
It seems to be trying to achieve the “Galway Girl” (which of course IS a modern song) vibe but falls far far short - I’m not too keen on the over produced sound either - it doesn’t help.
Wish I could get those few minutes I spent watching it back but more so I wish I could remove any trace of that muck from my brain.
I should add I’m far from a pure drop head - and have listened to and do listen to all sorts of varied music.
Here’s a quality “modern” version of a traditional irish song:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-M2jSzLBzK4
Jaysus, “Mikiemax” - that’s so old it’s nearly traditional 🙂.
I kind of agree with you on with “Troubador’s” clip above, but some “new versions” work and others don’t - but of course it’s all down to personal taste, and there’s no “right” and “wrong”.
I come across quite a few “new versions” these days listening to the new release CDs which occasionally get sent to me for the local community radio programme I co-host. Some I like, the majority I don’t.
There’s a song which is certainly well-known on the west coast of Scotland - used to be sung by people like Cathal McConnell, Mick West and Kevin Mitchell and I think maybe Willie Devine. It’s about the Irish workers who built some of the hydro-electric schemes in Scotland in the 1950s and 1960s, I suppose, called “The Micky Dams”. I’d always heard it sung unaccompanied, and when I got a CD by “The Paul McKenna Band”, I was a bit skeptical as to how it would work in a band setting. Turned out it was the best thing I’d heard in years, and I certainly think they make a great job of it. Here they are on “Youtube” :
https://youtu.be/HoiYok0JYqQ
Of course, I’ll always like the versions by the singers mentioned above, but I love this.
PS - I don’t think the above version is “better” than any of the “originals”, but it is every bit as good as, in my own opinion.
If every performing group did a tune alike, it would get mighty boring mighty quick. Personally, I like the version by the Orthodox Celts but it’s probably pretty close to the traditional style in any event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEt2XdN_TbQ
A much-abused song…………………
https://youtu.be/8GbdB7PlGtc
Hi Kenny, I believe it was written by Willie Devine, who still can still do it Justice.
Star of the County Down always sounded like more of a steady march feel to me. The version from the “Bloomers” in the OP is too bright and bubbly for my taste. I’m not averse to interesting new arrangements of older songs, that one just didn’t do it for me.
I like arrangements that showcase musicianship but don’t depart much from trad versions of the song. You can still do a lot with that approach. Like this one: House Carpenter/Gypsy Davy by Altan. I saw them performing this live a month ago, and it was great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP4r1vhYbPI
For my money there is no one doing old songs justice like Lynched. I can’t put my finger on it the seem both ancient and post-modern at the same time.
BB, make sure you are ‘in the zone’ when you listen to them, if you know what I mean. 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWH6c4HcBUc
@CheekyElf - Now that was well worth hearing. Thanks for posting.
Here’s my take on The Star of the County Down. (Banbridge is my home town.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwxfIIOW4c
Interesting comments there gents.
I actually discovered about The Bloomers just recently.
They seem to be doing some nice things. I like their version of the Earl’s Chair and Frank’s reel.
Speaking of taking traditional songs and giving them a “modern” touch, I don’t think you can get any more modern than their version of “Step it out Mary” by them - from the cinematic point of view! (For some reason I don’t think the poor soldier was meant to be depicted like THIS!)
Musically speaking, I think they’ve done a fine job with it though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVyC8LJG2pE
I dont like the first song, its an appropriation of good words matched to an anonymous tune. I dont understand why they didnt get some other words, the melody and tone is misplaced.
I dont mind new performances of traditional songs, new arrangements or instrumentation but there must be some resemblence.
I just realised that I forgot to comment on the Bloomers video(s). I think the singer/guitarist is a good musician and performer. The flute and the fiddle sound a bit… schooled/classical/non-traditional (or is it just the arramengents?). The video production somehow reminded me of the band Full Set, which are mentioned somewhere on the Bloomers website.
I like it when people try new approaches to old songs. And if they don’t suit my taste, I just don’t listen to them again. No need to condemn the folks who are trying something fresh--life is too short to be negative!
For some life *is* too short. Not sure that’s as true for those of us who have idle time to post comments online whenever we choose. The OP’s video is a good version of the music by a band of capable musicians.
But at the heart of it the video is nothing more than a well produced advertisement. That’s hardly innovative.
It would be great to hear these same musicians in a more raw production of their music.
There is some irony in that. The Clancy Brothers and the Dubliners did a lot to “standardise” songs. There were loads of different versions before records made the same versions popular everywhere. Now bands are desperately to make the old chestnuts sound different again…
