Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Darowyn
Date: 19 Nov 11 - 03:43 AM

Note to self:-
In the unlikely event that I find myself performing "Fields of Athenry", at the relevant point, I must go into a four minute (at least) electric guitar solo from "Free Bird".
I regularly do "Dirty Old Town" as a Reggae with my rock band - and I sing the correct 'Salford wind' too!
We also do "House of the Rising Sun" with The Animals' arrangement but the original feminine lyric.
In my solo days I used to sing "House Carpenter" to a mighty blues beat.
It's a Rock Band- we're wild, Man! We don't care what folk purists think (if such beings exist in the real world), because none of them come to our gigs anyway.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Quiet Rover
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 10:03 AM

And GuestL'or hasn't the decency to answer you Dave?
So many years later, why? I heard the 'upbeat version' - funny as hell to read that 10 years from the thread-start - and the audience was calling back something different/new. I think it must be a local callback since I find nothing new here. Great as a ballad or dance or rebel piece. FoA is always a great tune, played often round here at festivals and pubs, but best after the 4th pint or 'the 7th glass.'

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 07:52 AM

Yeah but why ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,LOR
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:41 AM

WOW that thread was kept up for 7 years and now here i come Three years later WOW

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Nick
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 07:25 AM

Not sure you'll approve of this so don't listen if you like a nice slow acoustic version. This is a very poor recording from an early practice with a band that almost got formed. It's rather more upbeat than some of the versions mentioned on this thread.

Is it in keeping with the song? Is it 'right' to do it this way? Who knows, but I did enjoy playing it :)

Athenrye

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 06:05 AM

Here's a clip of Paddy Reilly performing it:

CLICK.

I reckon it still stands up very well indeed.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Sharon Carl
Date: 15 Feb 08 - 10:43 PM

I just listened to David Og play this on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiIkRz_aP8M&feature=related

I'm sure this is what everyone is talking about. The song is sung with a strong background beat, but I wouldn't call it 'upbeat'. I think the intent is to bring out the protest aspect of the song. Trevelyan was responsible for the genocide of 1,300,000 men women and children during the Irish famine.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Lauren
Date: 02 May 07 - 02:33 PM

I know what they scream.. After 'Where once I watched the small free birds fly' the crowd screams ' LET THEM FLY LET THEM FREE BIRDS FLY!!!'

was athenry really sang upbeat in Dublin?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 12:26 PM

The Century Steel Band did a version. I googled "steel band fields athenry" and there are a number of articles there naming those who recorded the song.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,chloe
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 07:16 PM

but who actually plays the upbeat 1,
i've heard it before but when i've come to search for it all i find is some techno club music crap. if anyone knows, let me know please.
x x x

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 09:40 AM

It's the usual mudcat thing. Getting hot and bothered about the "inner meaning" et al. Sure, it was written during the recent "troubles" and was meant a a serious comment on one aspect of british repression, i.e. transportation to Van Diemans Land for minor offences, back in the 1800's. Presumably, the author, Pete St. John recorded it but the it became a "hit" when recorded by Paddy Reilly. For the information of Mudcatters worldwide most Irish people have outgrown the resentment of the brits and the song has become a rabble rouser rather than a rebel rouser.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 08:24 AM

Up Beat or Dirged , I would rather sing Malcolm Austen's rewrite ! A LOT more fun !

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 06:52 AM

Dear "Guest, Me"---May I say (it"s a free country, just ) how much I would like to see you and your friends doing your version, complete with "Sinn Fein " and " IRA " responses, in front of an audience comprised of members of English cavalry regiments, and Royal Marine bandsmen,with a few relatives of Lord Mountbatten thrown in ?? I feel sure that the resulting carnage would be most gratifying !! Or you might just be asked to leave, as we do not hold, in our hearts,the same twisted,blind hatred for the Irish, that some Irish have for the English ( who are mostly all from other countries now,anyway )

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Scrump
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 04:33 AM

We practiced this last night, as we're always getting requests for it and with St Patrick's Day coming up we thought we'd better be ready
:-)

But I hadn't thought of doing an upbeat version. (It reminds me of last Saturday night at a pub gig, I misunderstood the leader's instructions and started playing chords at a fairly fast speed. The fiddlers then joined in and I realised my mistake and started playing the right chords for the tune but at the same speed (luckily the tune I'd thought we were playing and the one we ended up playing were in the same key!), which was a lot faster than we normally play that particular tune. The fiddlers just played to keep up with me, and we all had a laugh and enjoyed it, and so did the audience. Sometimes a mistake like that can turn into something good!)

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 10:24 PM

Okay, I live pretty far from the road - does this "hey baby let the free bird fly" mean something that renders it hilarious after you've had a dozen stout, or what?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: oldhippie
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 09:57 PM

The Dropkick Murphys version is complete with bagpipes; as is their Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace won them an award a few years ago for best adaptation of a traditional tune.
Another band that does uptempo versions of folk is The Real McKenzies.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 08:14 PM

Jeeze! Have yous never cheered at a really good funeral?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,me
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 07:44 PM

What is shouted is "hey baby let the free bird fly" and then they sing "our love was on the way" and you scream "Shin fein"...then they say "we had dreams and songs to sing" and you scream "IRA"

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 09:31 PM

FWIW - as a singer of Celtic folk songs I perform at a good number of pubs and a fair number of festivals around the country. I recently sang "Fields Of Athenry" at a Dallas pub and one of the town's Celtic
purveyors of pub tradition took me aside and said he loved it. I sing it at a tempo somewhere between the Byrds versions of
"Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn,Turn,Turn" - with a slightly punchy folk-rock feel. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: growler
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 04:12 PM

I hate the bloody thing, but when I play it, everyone seems to enjoy it. Is'nt it what it's all about?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Teribus
Date: 25 Oct 05 - 02:15 PM

GUEST,[e-mail] - from way back in 30 Mar 04 - 10:49:

"I have only heard this song once."

YOU, LUCKY, LUCKY BASTARD

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 05:28 PM

Had to add to it just for "The 1oo th" !!!!!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 05:27 PM

Oh The Threads That Never Die !!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Mike Molloy
Date: 24 Oct 05 - 05:05 PM

Is this the longest running thread in history?

'Long lie the threads of Athenry'

One of the best places to hear this is in 'Irish Times' Los Cristianos, Tenerife. Performed by Celtic Con-Fusion, Derek and Jerry.(especially after a few pints of Murphy's Red)

If anyone is going there soon take the lads some Barry's Tea. I'm not due there until Novemeber and I hear they have withdrawal sypmtoms.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 07:19 PM

Boris

Real St.? - he isn't even a real John!

Regards

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,West, Carol
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:56 AM

Is that you Boris?

CW

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Boris Johnson
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:47 AM

I don't think he was a real saint or he would be dead.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,ocujimmy
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:57 PM

Wherever I go I always find people asking me to sing this song and the people asking allways are asking for it to be sung in it's original format because they undesstand the real meaning of the song, the way the composer Pete ST John mean't it to be sung.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,galego galician
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:12 PM

yeaaaaaaaah

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Cattail (no cookie)
Date: 12 May 05 - 03:05 PM

Hi all.

As Paddy(1) and Jer up above mentioned, this was done by Brush Shiels on his CD "Fields of Athenry" on the Chart label. No: CHCD018.
He credits Pete St John as the composer.

Most of the other tracks on this album are given the same up-tempo
treatment and come out of it quite well,IMHO.
They are worth a listen at least.

The tracks are:-

01. Dirty old town
02. Fields of Athenry
03. Celtic rock
04. Dublin City girls
05. Touch the earth
06. Rocky road to Dublin
07. Whisky in the jar
08. Molly Malone
09. Spanish lady
10. Danny boy

Hope this helps

Cheers

Cattail !

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 11 May 05 - 10:08 PM

Hi all.

I started this thread low many years ago and am impressed it keeps being revived.

I'm now a big fan of the Dropkick Murphy's and love their version. But still I wouldn't call it "upbeat" Not like what I heard in other places.

Thanks all for the conversation!

Keep it going!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Ginna
Date: 11 May 05 - 09:58 PM

And Lagwagin do Bad Moon Rising

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Ginna
Date: 11 May 05 - 09:57 PM

Dropkick Murphys Very Good.

There is also a very fast version by a band called no se for a name, not my liking but still.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Pudu
Date: 09 Mar 05 - 08:20 AM

The Dropkick Murphy's Version is amazing - seing it performed live is quite an occasion too with the audience joining in for quite a few parts.

A changed version of the song has also become very popular at Liverpool FC games with the crowd singing 'The Fields of Anfield Road' more than once a match.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 06 Mar 05 - 03:43 PM

Fast or slow as long as it gets to you then it is good. I usually try most slow pieces played fast just for a change and sometimes they seem better.

Next time you want to shout out IRA in your nice bar in Boston, why not shout Al Qaeda or FARC and see how the friends and relatives of the dead approeciate it.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,caliboy
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 11:33 PM

i must say that the best version of F oA i have heard was on Dropkick Murphy's album Blackout. They also have a live St. Patty's Day in Boston album with a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Pauline L
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 12:36 AM

Big Mick, I thought of another song with an upbeat, cheery tune and words of impounding doom: Bad Moon Rising.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Brakn
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 08:42 PM

"god how ignorant are you lot"

poet,
you got the wrong year and wrong author.

Also Bobby Sands, who has got nothing to do with this song, didn't die in Dartmoor.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: poet
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 08:19 PM

god how ignorant are you lot
the song was written in 50s or sixties I cant rememember which by a young Irishman called "something "Sands" who went on hunger strike in Dartmoor Prison and "Died for the Cause".
I do not rememeber his first name and I dont agree with his cause,
but he wrote a beautiful song that carries a message of mans inhumanity to man over the last couple of hundred years not just the Irish but man in general. I sing it slow but I have heard most versions and it has been done to death but I still enjoy hearing it however it is performed. but for someone too call it trivial (Mikefule) shows a lack of understanding of history and how much soul some one puts into their music. and not only that it pisses me off.

Graham (Guernsey)

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Rastaman
Date: 04 Mar 05 - 04:25 PM

Have seen the Phatt-B'Stards do this as a 'punk' song with the first verse sung as a ballad with pretty harmonies then into the chorus a la Sex Pistols.

The line "Where once we watched the small free birds fly" is followed by a punch in the air and the yell "Yeah baby! See the free birds fly"

Accompanied by 'po-going' ha'king (noisy throat clearing) and mock-gobbing, it certainly gets a pub crowd joining in.

Obviously less popular in the genuine Irish Society Clubs where they like 'real' Irish music by Daniel O'Doggerel

Not seen Juan P-B on here for a while! Has he retired ???

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From:
Date: 03 Mar 05 - 04:47 PM

I just came on here by accident, doing some research on the development of the song for a Uni class, and am blown away by the intensity of responses on here. Very cool you guys feel as strongly as you do, and thanks for the insight. Be aware, I'll most likely quote a number of you in my presentation! Thanks for the help!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Mar 05 - 11:14 AM

This thread does bring up a point. Does it bother anyone else when someone does a song arrangement that is completely inconsistent with the lyrics? There is a performer who shall remain nameless that drives me crazy. He does this song, as well as Hard Times, with a drum machine, synth'ed chorus, and at what approaches a disco beat. I have no prob with parodies, but when one is presenting the song and doesn't seem to hear the words s/he is singing, it makes me crazy. I like this person, but I rarely go see him/her anymore. It is like the message in the music is secondary.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Lisa F.
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 06:17 AM

Fields of Athenry sung by the crowd yesterday in Lansdowne Road during rugby match Ireland - England !

Lisa in France

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 05 - 02:52 AM

let's keep it rolling - almost 4 years since the original post!

i disagree with ya, poppagator- i live in the us and hear "fields of athenry" almost every time i go out- usually as a mid-tempo ballad with loud audience shoutback if you are in the right pubs (boston, san diego, denver, san francisco, seattle - they play this everywhere i've been). we shout sinn fein and ira in the pubs that let us - we get in fights in the pubs that don't ;-)

if your pub is merely "irish-themed" that may be your problem. you want "irish-owned"...

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 03:50 PM

"done to death"....

Just to illustrate the vast differences between the two sides of the ocean:

I live in the US, enjoy Irish stout and whiskey, enjoy hanging out (when I can afford it) at Irish-themed local pubs that feature live music, and to my knowledge I have *never* heard this song!

Go figure...

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: muppitz
Date: 28 Oct 04 - 03:35 AM

The only way to sing the Fields of Athenry is the parody!!!!

The damn thing has been done to death and even at my small age, "I'm so fed up of the fields of Athenry!"

muppitz x

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 05:05 PM

Lemme get this straight: when I hear all those rednecks shouting "Free Bird! Free Bird!" -- they're really requesting "Fields of Athenry"?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,TicMan!
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 01:38 PM

Though im not sure of the origin of the upbeat version....the hoop suporters love it!
during the course "WOHH BABY LET THE FREE BIRDS FLY" is yelled after "Where once we watched the small free birds fly"
then... after "our love was on the way" some ppl shout "Sinn Fein" and then after "we had dreams and songs to sing" others scream "I.R.A!!"
I dont know if those are the same ones you heard, but at my Celtic club those are the call back lines.
Slàinte!
Sean
Ourselves Alone!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: TS
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 06:34 PM

I'll agree to the Link being within that of the relm of the Glasgow Celtic. I've attended afew fan club meetings and when they get drunk they sing Fields of Athenry and put in the "hey baby watch the free birds fly"......Slàinte!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 04 - 06:13 PM

it doesn't matter what beat is played while this song is sung....its still a beautiful song for the Irish. If ur ever in the north of ireland make sure not to sing it walking down the Shankill...lol

CHEERS
Kevin