Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 07 May 04 - 04:57 PM

This may be one of the threads that will not die - of course I'ved doomed it with that statement.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 07 May 04 - 08:55 AM

I prefer it sung so quietly that I can't hear it.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: mooman
Date: 07 May 04 - 07:40 AM

Personally I much prefer it played and sung very slowly and sensitively as that to my mind suits the sentiments of the song better.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Coiglidh
Date: 07 May 04 - 07:33 AM

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 02 May 04 - 01:39 AM

Yep dianavan.

Someone who isn't stirred by the song has the heart of a grinch.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: dianavan
Date: 02 May 04 - 01:29 AM

If it doesn't bring tears to your eyes, it aint being sung the right way. Its called respect. What if people made fun of all the other sad events in history?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Dreadnought
Date: 01 May 04 - 07:06 PM

I was once in a rock band that did a break-neck paced punked up version on the tune that we called "Fields of Peckham Rye".

Wasn't very good to be honest.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: vindelis
Date: 01 May 04 - 06:58 PM

I believe it was written by Pete St John. He who wrote 'The Ferryman' and 'Rare old Times'.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,brit lad
Date: 01 May 04 - 03:58 PM

Hi all

What an excellent thread, having worked in Dublin for 5 years I got to hear a lot of Irish music. I only ever heard F of A played upbeat until today. I like the upbeat version and whether you call it a rebel/anti-british or whatever song it still gets me tapping/singing along.

slainte

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 11:22 AM

Will...

lots of detail, including some about the singer in the movie HERE .

Regards

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 10:47 AM

I think most people know that it's a modern song - certainly sounds modern. Nothing wrong with that,however. Not sure what you mean about "for torists to sing," but I know it pretty popular among the Irish themselves.

Since starting this thread a while back, I've had the good fortune to discover the band Drop Kick Murphys. A punk band from Boston that does Irish non-punk music in a punk style. They cover Athenry and it's pretty good. It fast and load, of couse, but it's not performed "upbeat" the message is still there and when I sing it along with them, I still feel the same way as I do when singing it in the "original" style.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: kendall
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 07:53 AM

Is there something upbeat about a million people being allowed to starve to death? I fail to see it.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 04:04 AM

concertina ceol you are nearly completely right but I thought that everybody knew that anyway

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: concertina ceol
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 04:00 AM

I'm probably completely wrong but wasn't "Fields of Athenry" written in about 1976 for tourists to sing? I always assumed it was an anti English (Absent landlords) song which goes down well with the roots tracing Americans. It doesn't sound authenticaly traditional to me - too much syrup.

If it is authentic then sorry if I've offended anyone!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: cloudstreet
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 03:02 AM

Great film.

The upbeat stuff reminds me of an appallingly upbeat version of "The Men Behind the Wire" I found on a compilation tape once (shudder).

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 11:27 PM

Never saw the movie (or heven heard of it) - sorry.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From:
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 10:49 PM

I have only heard this song once. It was at the end of the movie Veronica Guerin. Great Movie, sad ending, sad song. Looking for the artist who sings the song in the movie but can't find who it is. Anybody know?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST, Mikefule
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 03:03 PM

Fields of Athenry clearly retains some tribal significance, whether you call it a rebel song or not. Only a year or two back I read of a Glasgow Celtic supporter who was killed by a Rangers fan in a fight on match day. It was reported that the fight started when the Celtic supporter was singing F o A aggressively at the Rangers fan.

What a bizarre image, and a sad indictment of the human race. :0(

As for singing it upbeat, fair enough, but I draw the line at prefixing it with "A wop bop a lula, a bop bam boom!" And any more reference to free birds will necessitate a 12 minute 4 bar repeat guitar solo...

Sung in moderation, like many songs, F o A is lovely. It's when a song becomes 'meaningful' that it can lose its meaning, if you see what I mean. The same could be said of Streets of London, that one about purple heather, with " Will ye go, laddie go" in it, and many others.

The Wild Rover is no better or worse than a thousand other fairly trivial folk songs. Somehow, it has gained acceptance in the non folk world (i.e. among the folk!) and has become the ultimate corny song in the ghetto of folk song enthusiasts.

Finally, Right up your... what? Oooooh, Matron. ;0)   Best laugh I've found in a forum for ages. :0D

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Gwylam Bach
Date: 04 Nov 03 - 12:21 PM

I like to do F o A whilst tap dancing and accompany myself on the spoons, but I very rarely get asked.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: dulcimer
Date: 21 Jun 03 - 05:47 PM

I just played in one of those singing pubs in Killarney along with the scheduled performers. The audience wanted FA all night long. Finally at the end, we did it. It was played very up beat and when we got to free birds fly, the audienc yelled or chanted while the note for fly was held--GOT TO LET THOSE FREE BIRDS FLY. I was a little surprised, but what the hey--it was singing pub and many had had two or three pints over their limits.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Jun 03 - 04:48 AM

F o A is a perfectly good song than can be completely ruined by the
MIStreatment thereof.When sung TOO slowly it becomes a real dirge
and if done too upbeat the melody can be lost.Personally I find the up tempo added chant version to be o load of cobblers.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Y Star
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 05:40 PM

OK. To contribute further... I heard the 'upbeat' version of 'Fields' at the Bog in Auckland NZ a few months ago, sung by a man called Owen (I think) who works there, I think the chanted bits were 'baby baby watch the free birds fly'/'shoot (or much worse) the Queen'/'IRA'. I laughed muchly as I too had only heard the downbeat/serious version before. Although I probably shouldn't have laughed... anyway, the 'up-yer-kilt' thing in 'Wild Rover', I've also heard one lady say (in purposefully affected 'haughty' tone of voice) 'right up your skirt'.

Meanwhile... I shall leave you with this quote (or paraphrase) from an early 90s Aussie skit show on TV...

You just call out my name and you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again - (woman's offstage voice) 'JAMES!!' - (singer) 'not now' -
Winter Spring Summer or Fall, all you've got to do is call - 'JAMES...' - 'shut up!!' -
And I'll be there, yes I will, you've got a friend - 'JAMES!!!!' - 'will you SHUT UP while I'm trying to sing the bloody song...'

Y :)

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Songster Bob
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 04:19 PM

Two words:



FREE BIRD!



Bob

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: UB Ed
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 04:09 PM

Oh.

That versions' not allowed in our pub, NoMattch.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: NoMattch
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 03:50 PM

There's a Glasgow Celtic band called Athenry that do a decent upbeat version. The audience parcipitation where I am call out..

"Hey, baby. Let the free birds fly."
Our love...
"Sinn Fein"
There were dreams...
"I.R.A."
It's so lonely...

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Schantieman
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 04:30 AM

Oh, no! Not "The Fields of Athenry"!
I've heard that song so much it makes me cry.
I hate that bloody thing -
There are far better songs to sing.
I've had it with "The Fields of Athenry"!

S

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,Stevo
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 10:58 PM

You can all find a very loud and rousing version on the Irish themed punk band Dropkick Murphy's newest album "blackout"

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: UB Ed
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 12:56 PM

Except without the "e"

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: kendall
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 12:19 PM

If you have no real feel for the song, it doesn't matter what you do to it. Sorta reminds you of rape, eh?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: UB Ed
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 11:29 AM

rap?

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 06:24 PM

I have heard it done very well as a RAP by a musician friend who told the audience that he was was fed up doing the normal version at every wake, wedding and christening he played at. Some songs get done to death. I'm sure a change now and again does them good. Why should FoA be any different from any other song and not be re-arranged to suit the audience.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Brakn
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 01:50 PM

A rebel song? No.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 01:00 PM

Funny,

I never really thought of Athenry as a Rebel song. A song of protest - of starvation and lost hope, but not a lets "fight for our rights" kind of song.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: MC Fat
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 09:25 AM

They don't just do rebel songs in fact that's probably the only one. They do some of their own and their 'interpretations' of other stuff. For instance they do a version of 'Ranzo me boys' which is all brash loud and fast and sort of misses the point but they are quite reasonable to listen to.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,GerMan
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 09:17 AM

Meet on the Ledge are playing at this year's Cropredy Festival. I was looking forward to seeing them but now I know that they do rebel songs I'm not so keen.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: MC Fat
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 07:17 AM

There's a Midlands based band in England called 'Meet on the Ledge' who do an upbeat version with lots of tom toms on the drums. Still doesn't make the song any betterer

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: kendall
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 05:43 AM

I like bluegrass, but, I hate it when they do MAKE ME A PALLET by driving the piss out of it.
Same with East Virginia.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,GerMan
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 04:21 AM

Bored of Fields of Athenry? Try these alternative lyrics:

Remember our Fathers brave & bold
As they fought for Ulster's cause
In far off lands
And my Father said to me
You must join the YCV
With a rifle or a pistol in my hand

Lyrics from the other side of the fence!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 09:23 PM

My god,

New info on a question nearly two years after the question was asked.

Thanks!

Blackcatter

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,celtaddict
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 07:17 PM

In New York/New Jersey one sometimes hears Fields of Athenry sung in the usual (for U.S.) somber way with an addition, in the chorus: the line, "Where once we watched the small free birds fly..." is followed by audience members chanting "Go, baby, let the free birds fly!" without the singer changing his tempo.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 12:36 PM

Its football connection started with Glasgow Celtic supporters, who tend to be of a, ummm, Catholic/Irish nationalist disposition.

I'd say it's the combination of football terrace idiom and victimhood fatigue that led to the more upbeat versions.

But I would have thought it would go even better in a reggae rhythm.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:32 AM

Fields of Athenry is also the anthem of London Irish Rugby team. Personally I think its the least Irish sounding Irish song I've ever come across!!!

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: GUEST,GUEST,Jer
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:12 AM

Brush Sheilds has an album out with 12 or 13 songs sung in this upbeat fashon. The songs include Molly Malone, Wild Rover, F o A, The Tractor Song, Dirty old Town etc. I shall get the name of it and post it up asap.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Hillheader
Date: 20 Apr 01 - 02:25 AM

I heard FoA sung upbeat over two years ago in Tenerife and it was great.

Perhaps the origins of the faster version stem from us Glasgow Celtic (soccer)fans who have this as an anthem. Getting 60000 people (and yes there are that many of us at each game!!) to sing slow is impossible so the pace picks up.

They play the slow version (by Paddy Reilly) over the sound system before each game and last week even had the Irish Tenors perform is live.

Regards

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Matt_R
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:28 PM

Three lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming...

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: chessell
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 07:26 PM

No Use for a Name does an upbeat punk version of the Fields of Athenry. It starts off slow but then the elctric guitar and drumkit come in....

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 04:46 PM

Yea Gods! A rugby anthem! Couldn't they pick something more appropriate - say "Bloody Well Dead?"

pax yall

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: death by whisky
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 03:32 PM

I play it up tempo (yes im back at trad and ballad),for the younger audience,slower for the more mature audience.Its been adopted as an anthem for the Munster rugby team.Im not sure what the responses are.

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: UB Ed
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 08:13 AM

So basically folks are taking a Rocky Horror Picture Show approach to Athenry. I'd love to hear the techno version, Alison.

I guess the crowd could throw corn, water (bay), chains (crown), confetti stars....

Subject: RE: Fields of Athenry - performed upbeat?
From: Robo
Date: 19 Apr 01 - 12:14 AM

I was in Clifden last year, as a matter of fact, and only heard the traditional version. And WYSI, based on other messages here, I must say bluegrass is hardly the worst fate "Fields" could suffer. The songs not meant to be uptempo no matter what game you're playing.

Rob-o