The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #41161 Message #2081677
Posted By: Big Al Whittle
19-Jun-07 - 09:44 PM
Thread Name: Which Irish Troubles Songs are Offensive
Subject: RE: Which Irish Troubles Songs are Offensive
The Irish rebel songs are amongst the most beautiful in the cannon of folksongs anywhere. However as one Irish folksinger friend said to me, I couldn't live with myself if I knew I'd been instrumental in stirring up that shit.
If you do the Irish gigs, you will get that music requested. Many venues will say straight out to you - no rebel songs. Some will spell it out to you exactly why. One landlady said to me - if you do those songs, there might well be a fight, and its always those who can least take care of themselves that get hurt.
I way I think its easier for Irish singers to refuse to do them, than non Irish. Because the aficianados of rebel songs assume either you don't know them, or you are agin them on idealistic grounds.
I think you would be a bit dumb - to start out on a career singing Irish music and NOT knowing them. But try and be sensitive to your listeners.