Help: Irish Song Poll

Subject: Irish Song Poll
From: GUEST,Ceilidh Connection
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:21 PM

I'm running an onofficial poll on my website to find out what the most influential Irish song of the Millenium is. It's very easy to vote and everything's anonymous. Just click here .

Please feel free to e-mail me by clicking here .

Cheers! --C.C.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:41 PM

The most influential Irish song of the millenium? That's kind of like taking a vote on the best breath of air in the last century. Doubt you'll come up with an answer to that one. One will want Rosie O'Donnel, another I'll Take You Home Again, another Mavourneen, and several more the Maid with the Nutbrown Hair, The Rising of the Moon, Kevin Barry, and the Wild Colonial Lad in the Black Velvet Band. Others will insist on pure Gaelic. This is not gonna happen, as the elephant told the ant.

A.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: paddymac
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:45 PM

Amos, you're right on.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Áine
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:58 PM

Amos, paddymac, I agree with both of you. Both of you know where I stand when it comes to an Irish song -- anything in English AND before 1870 really doesn't cut much mustard with me.

-- Áine

Má tá Gaeilge agat, abair í!

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:00 PM

Don't know about "influential" but a few of my favorites are "Sitting Down at the Table",(not sure of title, but by Tommy Sands), "Killkenny", and "Shall My Soul Pass Through Ireland",and the poem,"The Hunger Stikers"

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:38 PM

My favourite couplet on the English language side of Irish music is a late one, but no less true for that:

..it was not her beauty alone that won me.
Ah, no, 'twas the truth, in her eyes ever shining,
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

The whole song is fine, but those lines sweep me away in particular. Silly old romantic.

A

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: NSC
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 12:14 PM

Áine,

There is a wealth of trad Irish songs pre 1870, in english. Barry Gleeson recorded a beauty on the CD "The Croppies Complaint" released in commemmoration of the 1798 rising. It was written by a Dublin loyalist of the time William Ball. All of his compositions are in a Dublin museum now.

But there were loads more. As you travel from East to West so the songs of pre 1870 are either translations from Irish or are still sung in Irish and a lot are beautiful. That does not mean that songs in English were not beautiful or well written.

I am never more amazed than when I hear versions of songs still being sung in rural parishes. Some of the songs penned many , many years ago.

The Tradition is still alive here in Ireland.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: GUEST,aldus
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 12:15 PM

I would exclude the songs written by American songwriters of the 20's, 30's and 40's. Not because many of them aren't wonderful songs, but because they are about Ireland without being Irish. Having said that, I agree a song of the Century would be difficult to pick but I would choose The Patriot Game....

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Mbo
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 12:21 PM

Amos, I thought you were "too leathery" to be a Romantic? You've been holding out on us! I love "Is Ar Eireann Ni Nosfain Ce Hi." It is so very applicable to my life. Kinda like a personal theme song.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Amos
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 12:25 PM

Humph...er..Grumph. Well, sirrah, well! Yes. P'raps just to keep my options open I can wend a romantic line or two, but the Real me is leathery. Yes sir, no nonsense. Tough. You betcha!

A

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Mbo
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 12:33 PM

Uh-huh!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From: Áine
Date: 02 Feb 00 - 02:39 PM

Dear George (NSC),

Please don't think that I dismiss out of hand the multitude of beautiful Irish songs written in English. Not at all! I apologize for not making myself more clear. I should have said that I 'prefer' songs in the Irish language, which I consider much more eloquent, descriptive, complex, poetic, and emotive than the English language.

The question posed by the original poster is totally a subjective one; so, please, forgive my preference as being entirely personal, and one that does not at all express any dislike of the English language songs.

However, in my humble opinion, the songs in English that have been translated from the Irish are but dim reflections of the originals. The English songs do, on the other hand, give a wider audience access to the Irish culture.

Well, this subject could lead to a long-winded discussion and/or a pedantic rant, so I'll stop now. Just know that I meant no offense and I hope that none was taken.

Le meas, Áine

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Song Poll
From:
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 12:57 AM

Thanks everyone for your opinions and I'll be sure to try my best at adding them.

Slainte.