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21 Dec 02 - 02:04 AM (#851588) Subject: The world's favorite song From: Ed. Click here for the BBC article. Mmmm. OK...
The winning song was recorded by The Wolfe Tones and includes the refrain: "And Ireland, long a province, be a nation once again". The Wolfe Tones were said to be "thrilled" by the announcement. They said they were "proud" to have been ranked above bands such as The Beatles, who failed to make the top 10 despite 55 different song nominations. Following a late surge in votes, the Irish sing along crossed the finishing line ahead of a patriotic Hindi song, Vande Mataram. With the lyrics taken from a poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Vande Mataram is regarded by many as India's national song. In third place an Asian track, popular in the 1980s, entitled Dil Dil Pakistan by Vital Signs, finished ahead of pop poll classics including Cher's Believe at number eight and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody at number ten. A few artists had many songs nominated and split their vote. Forty songs by Iranian artist Googoosh were chosen while Bob Marley had 29 songs nominated, with No Woman No Cry topping the list. Europe's top tune was Wind of Change by the Scorpions, a song many associate with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Also popular was this year's summer holiday hit The Ketchup Song by Spanish sisters Las Ketchup. Abba and fellow Scandinavians Ace of Base had songs nominated too. Since its launch in November the poll, which was part of BBC World Service's 70th anniversary celebrations, attracted the attention of listeners from all around the world. From Botswana and Antarctica to the Caicos Islands, nearly 150,000 votes were received from 153 countries, nominating over 6,500 songs. By inviting its 150 million listeners to vote either by post or online, organisers were surprised by the scale of the voting. BBC World Service 70th anniversary project editor David Stead, said: "It's been a massive logistical challenge." The poll had to deal with people trying to influence the vote through fan sites and spamming. "Our New Media teams have been stretched to the limit and it has been extraordinary watching the votes drop in second by second into our mailbox." He added: "This is a unique chart, for the first time we've been able to see how bands like the Beatles, which traditionally do well in these polls, measure up against other forms of world music."
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21 Dec 02 - 04:20 AM (#851603) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: GUEST,fogie I wish I'd been asked!!! I obviously dont know globally what the most popular song is . What for instance do the the Chinese hum in the bath . Its all very well wanting " a nation once again " but its obvious that the nation still has a lot of problems to sort out. Sounds like the words got round and some group or other wants to make a political point. I guess in the English speaking world the most requested song is White Christmas -isn't it? What happened to my mudcat name?? |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:19 PM (#851798) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: ard mhacha Fogie, What`s the matter, do you want a recount, Ard Mhacha. |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:26 PM (#851800) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Ebbie This is so funny. Remember the exception taken by some about the U.S.'s 'World' Series in baseball? As a provincial American, I've never even heard of 'A Nation Once Again' nor even of the Wolfe Tones. Allegedly, this is a poll taken by the 'BBC World Service', of which I've never heard, either. So just who voted in this exhaustive quest to ascertain the world's favorite song? |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:35 PM (#851807) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: John MacKenzie A belief in democracy, is like a belief in fairies. It's bound to end in either buggery or disappointment. Giok |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:39 PM (#851810) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: pattyClink I love that song, but for heaven's sake, it's not the least bit popular. What kind of @#$@#(& passes for a polling company over there? |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:44 PM (#851812) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: wysiwyg No, in today's world, I think it would have to be not a song, but a warm-up exercise: Me-me-me-me-meeeeeeeeeeeee......... ~Susan |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:45 PM (#851814) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Amergin actually i can't stand that song...have heard plenty better.,... |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:52 PM (#851820) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Bill D tsk..one you read about the voting process, it's not hard to imagine that a few Irish email lists would garner more 'votes' than India might muster...and where was this advertised? And why rate apples against oranges anyway? What silly thing to survey! |
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21 Dec 02 - 03:57 PM (#851826) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Cluin No problems with #1, though I don't care for it either, never bothered to learn it even though I've had a request or 2 come St. Paddy's Day. I'm just miffed that anything by Cher would have beat out anything by so many other people. |
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21 Dec 02 - 04:06 PM (#851830) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Peter T. Paul's grandfather sings it in "A Hard Day's Night", so it must be an important tune. yours, Peter T. |
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21 Dec 02 - 04:37 PM (#851846) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: mack/misophist The United States abuses the hell out of the term "world", why can't England, too? |
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21 Dec 02 - 06:24 PM (#851888) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Bill D do two wrongs make it right? *grin*..... |
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21 Dec 02 - 07:27 PM (#851924) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: masato sakurai The World's Top Ten are: Number 1. A nation once again, Wolfe Tones The Wolfe Tones are one of Ireland's most famous folk bands. They recorded A Nation once again in 1964. The song was written in the 1840s as a call for Irish independence. Number 2. Vande Mataram, Various artists A patriotic Hindi song, the lyrics from a very famous poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatarji. Regarded by many as India's national song. Performed in the 50's film "Anand Math". Number 3. Dil Dil Pakistan, Vital Signs Vital Signs' first real taste of success was "Dil Dil Pakistan" in 1987. It instantly became the song that was on everyone's lips, a kind of pop national anthem. Next was their debut album: Vital Signs, released in 1989 it produced several hits including Gori, Yeh Shaam and Samjana. Number 4. Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu, llayaraaja Performed by S. P. Balasubramaniam and Swarnalatha, Rakkamma Kayya Thattu, this song is from the movie "Tali-Party", an Indian version of the God-father. The musical director of the film was Ilayaraaja. Number 5. Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu, Thirumalai Chandran From the Tamil Tiger Film "Mugungal" about the Tamil plight in Sri Lanka. Number 6. Ana wa Laila, (Me and Laila) Kazem El Saher Tall, dark and handsome, Kazem Al-Saher is arguably the biggest pop star to come out of Iraq. Ana wa Laila, his most famous song is about his love for Laila. pop star to come out of Iraq. This, a song from the early part of his career (late 90's) is about his tortured love for Laila. Number 7.Reetu haruma timi hariyali basant hau nadihruma timi pabitra ganga hau, Arun Thapa A very romantic song the title of which means "You are the spring amongst the seasons". From one of Nepal's biggest pop stars. The Late Thapa died in 1999. He had been suffering from lung and liver ailment. He started his singing career approximately 30 years ago when he first sang his songs in Radio Nepal in 1971. Thapa's songs are popular among all sections of the society. Number 8. Believe, Cher Cher is a solo singer who made her name in the 60's as part of a husband and wife singing team but has gone on to have hits in 5 decades. Her song "Believe" was a number 1 single in the UK in 1998 and went on to be the biggest selling single of the year remaining at the top of the UK charts for 7 weeks. Cher is also an Oscar winning film actress appearing in films such as: Mask, Witches of Eastwick and Moonstruck. Number 9.Chaiyya Chaiyya, A R Rahman Music director: A R Rahman From the film "Dil Se", Chaiyya Chaiyya is performed by the Punjabi folk singer Sukhinder Singh. The musical director of the film A R Rahman, is one of Bollywood's top music directors. Number 10. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen The only record to top the UK chart on 2 occasions selling more than 1 million copies each time, first in Nov. '75 and again in Dec.'91. Widely recognised as first pop tune to have its own video, this six minute pop opera regularly tops polls in UK. The group Queen were composed of Roger Taylor on drums, John Deacon on Bass. |
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21 Dec 02 - 07:58 PM (#851936) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: GUEST,Q World music gets almost no play in North America. Here in Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Co. has about an hour on Sunday, and CKUA has three hours of music from Ireland and Scotland on Friday evenings (both on the internet). "Believe," I have heard, and I have most Wolfe Tones cds, but agree that few people outside of Irish nationalists listen to them. Surprised that Amazing Grace didn't make the list; it is difficult to get away from. The BBC Radio Three is on the internet, and I often have it in the background as I use the computer. I see that the article is from Radio One, which I don't think is on the internet. |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:04 PM (#851941) Subject: Review: A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Neil Comer This has just been voted ( by BBC poll) the best song of all time. Any thoughts? Messages from multiple threads combined. I moded this message here from another thread on the same topic. |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:23 PM (#851945) Subject: RE: Review: A Nation Once Again From: harvey andrews Meaningless poll hijacked by an interest group Messages from multiple threads combined. I moded this message here from another thread on the same topic. |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:33 PM (#851949) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Ebbie The United States abuses the hell out of the term "world", why can't England, too? They can, misophist- but then they shouldn't complain. |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:34 PM (#851951) Subject: RE: Review: A Nation Once Again From: Haruo Was it written by Ayn Rand? ;-) I don't think I know it. Haruo Messages from multiple threads combined. I moded this message here from another thread on the same topic. |
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21 Dec 02 - 08:52 PM (#851958) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song From: Haruo Children of the Revolution here in Seattle do world music, at least that's what everybody says. Seems to involve belly dancing. They send me lots of email. Haruo |
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21 Dec 02 - 09:33 PM (#851968) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Gerry. A nation once again by the Wolfetones would not rank as Irelands favourite song never mind the worlds. Looks like vote rigging to me. |
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21 Dec 02 - 09:33 PM (#851970) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Haruo Thanks for combining the threads, Joe, but you did kind of eviscerate the punch of my Ayn Rand comment, which was quite pithy as an immediate reply to harvey andrews. (The allusion is to the Modern Library editors' poll a few years back, where three or four of the top ten titles in 20th century literature were written by the lady.) Haruo |
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21 Dec 02 - 10:21 PM (#851994) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Jimmy C I'm surprised that anyone would conduct a poll like this. But results are results and we have to live with the outcome. I cannot see a nation with the population the size of Ireland being able to outvote many of the worlds more populated countries, maybe the extra votes came from people in those countries who really want to be Irish, what do you say Ard Macha ?. LOL. I'm really surprised at Cher's "Believe" getting mentioned as well. Fogie, what in your mind constitutes "the English speaking world". I would have thought that Amazing Grace or Scotland the Brave would be mentioned as well, it seems that every time a pipe band has to play at a parade,,, a football game or a funeral, anywhere in the world these two tunes are a must. Having played in a pipe band I know there are many more tunes and I would love to hear something else played - just once. But having said that , and being Irish I will live with the result, although as we all know that the most popular "Irish Songs" in the world would have to be the non-Irish Danny Boy and "It's a long way to Tipperary". Erin go brath. |
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21 Dec 02 - 11:14 PM (#852007) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Guest Jimmie C, you forgot Toora Loora Looral! |
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22 Dec 02 - 12:47 AM (#852041) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Jimmy C Oh yeah, I was hoping everyone else would forget that one as well, but with " Going my Way" being frequently shown around Christmas time,it's probably not going to happen. Ah well. |
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22 Dec 02 - 03:12 AM (#852070) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: leprechaun I've just pasted this thread onto another document so I could rearrange the posts and uneviscerate Haruo's Ayn Rand comment. For anybody intersted in some pith, it goes like this: Subject: RE: Review: A Nation Once Again From: harvey andrews - PM Date: 21 Dec 02 - 08:23 PM Meaningless poll hijacked by an interest group Subject: RE: Review: A Nation Once Again From: Haruo - PM Date: 21 Dec 02 - 08:34 PM Was it written by Ayn Rand? ;-) I don't think I know it. Haruo I got your back, Haruo. |
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22 Dec 02 - 03:39 AM (#852076) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: katlaughing A c'mon JimmyC and Ard! **BG** My mom used to sing me to sleep with that almost every night. It wasn't til I was an adult that I knew about the stupid movie! Also didn't know how corny it seemed to the Irish, but I still sing and my kids loved it growing up, too. I would think Imagine might've been in there, esp. over Cher. I cannot believe Cher was even included! Ebbie, BBC World Service is on NPR. Gives a different perspective on the day's world events. Didn't say a thing, that I heard, about a stupid music poll, though.:-) kat |
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22 Dec 02 - 06:21 AM (#852099) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Felipa Irish people around the world would listen to BBC world service, but I'm thinking the votes for "A Nation Once Again" were largely from non-Irish. From the runners up Indian subcontinent contingent obviously are a big part of the voting audience. Some of them would vote for an Irish patriotic song ...Indians used to study and admire Irish nationalists who gained independence from England. Voters from eastern European countries might also feel the song relates to their countries becoming nations once again. I'd rather hear Luke Kelly's rendition than "The Wolfe Tones" |
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22 Dec 02 - 06:40 AM (#852103) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: ard mhacha What Felipa says makes a lot of sense, poor oul Ebbie proving once again how bloody insular the US is. Personally I think it`s all a wind-up,how the hell can you vote for the Worlds favourite song?. Jimmy C I agree, Danny Boy would be known all over the world, and anyway think of the poor oul ajudicators having to give their verdict on such gems as, The muckin` of Geordie`s byre and My old mans a dustman. Ard Mhacha. |
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22 Dec 02 - 08:39 AM (#852126) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST Jimmy, I would have to add to your two songs, "The Isle Of Innisfree". This is one of the greatest and most beautful songs of Ireland and immigration. It's to be included along with "Danny Boy" in a new series on BBC Northern Ireland in the New Year. The programme is about great Irish songs, "Innisfree" will be sung by Brian Kennedy. Trish PS you might like to read some stuff in this website I came across recently. http://www.stoneandfarrelly.com |
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22 Dec 02 - 10:42 AM (#852181) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Dave the Gnome Doesn't surprise me in the slightest that an Irish song won. The BBC 'World Service' was not, as previously suggested, any attempt to say that this is 'The world' but an attempt by the BBC to bring British radio to British, including Irish, ex-pats all over the world. Considering that the Irish are probably the best travelled of any people inhabiting the British Isles (Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!) it is no real wonder that they are the ones listening most to the world service. There are one or two songs that I thought would have been more popular amongst the Irish ex-pat voters but I am not amongst that group so I cannot know their views. The inclusion of so many songs from countries previously in the British Empire only goes to show how people living there still feel Britsh! Bohemian Rhapsody is no surprise as that came out as number one in BBC radios top of the last 50 years poll as well. Cher does surprise me but I am no big fan so I guess I should not say anything;-) I suspect any such survey by the equivelent US, Australian, German or Patagonian 'World Service' would result in a US, Australian, German or Patagonian patriotic song in the lead! (Nationalities chosen at random - pleased do not read anything into them!) Cheers Dave the Gnome |
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22 Dec 02 - 10:46 AM (#852183) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Dave the Gnome Oh - and I should point out that the difference in meaning between the US 'World Series' and the BBC 'World Service' can provide yet another shining example of the two countries divided by a common language... |
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23 Dec 02 - 10:10 AM (#852477) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Declan As they say in Irish Republican circles vote early and vote often. One person registering votes could win this poll for any song of their choice. Its meaningless. But its got a few good conversations about folk songs going in a few pubs I've been in over the run in to Christmas, so what harm. |
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23 Dec 02 - 12:33 PM (#852601) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Jimmy C Guest, Many thanks for the link to the site about the author of "Isle of Innisfree" it's really too bad that he did not live to hear his son's recording. This is one of the "Irish Stage Songs" that I actually like, I suppose being an immigrant myself may have something to do with that. Merry Christmas |
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23 Dec 02 - 12:53 PM (#852616) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Rick Fielding Well, I just love a poll that names Roger Taylor and John Deacon as THE members of Queen! Cheers Rick |
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23 Dec 02 - 01:12 PM (#852628) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: katlaughing Despite Ard's claim of US bloody insularity, we hicks out here in Cawl-ah-ra-duh seem to listen to the BBC World Service a lot. And, gee, we'uns are pretty sure it does not purport to be a world dominion. (Is it okay if I use them big words?) I think we may also know the bloody US World Series has nothing to do with NEWS. One more question: do we have to have Irish ears in order to listen? Where can I order some of them online? katiamanisland |
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23 Dec 02 - 01:12 PM (#852629) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST Speaking of The Queen...I agree this hilarious "world music" poll is for the colonies, with the Cher song thrown in for the southern queen community. Haruo, some of us [haughty sniff] appreciated you interjecting an objectivist view. And speaking of ridicuous "world music" polls in the Obscurantist and Obtuse Music Poll category, I would like to nominate the hilarious 2002 fRoots poll. |
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23 Dec 02 - 01:45 PM (#852652) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim Trish; do you have the details, dates, etc when that BBC NI programme is scheduled for broadcasting? I'd like to try and arrange to have it taped. Re the Poll: a piece of nonsense, "The West's Awake" should have won it! |
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23 Dec 02 - 01:46 PM (#852654) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Haruo Leprechaun, thanks for restoring my pith, and you too, GUEST, [veddy non-non-U drawl] for appreciating my objectivity. Haruo |
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23 Dec 02 - 01:55 PM (#852661) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: ard mhacha Kats, Sorry about that broad sweeping stupid statement, but forgive me I was thinking of poor oul Bush. Ard Mhacha. |
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23 Dec 02 - 01:58 PM (#852664) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast It has been suggested that people were emailing each other to canvass for the winner. This is, of course, true. I received about half a dozen such emails myself. It is also implied that some people voted more than once. Possibly. If you voted at home and then at work. You could only vote once on any one telephone line. So even if there were ten people with access to one computer, they had only one vote. So, was there a certain amount of "vote rigging"? Possibly, but compared to the election that put Bush in power it was open and honest. And this one had an amusing result. |
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23 Dec 02 - 04:23 PM (#852742) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: katlaughing Tsk, go on wid ye, Ard...I'se pullin yer leg anyhow, tho I was also defending our Ebbie, an erudite womon after my own heart. I do understand about Bush, but I am afraid you have more charity than I...I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for him in anyway.:-) Wouldn't that be something, if we in the US voted by a phone call? Belfast is right, it would be better than we got this last time! |
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24 Dec 02 - 02:25 AM (#852961) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath OK folks (and folkies) the cat is out of the bag on this one. It IS as belfast sez. I was emailed by my radical republican friend who told me that there was a great campaign to flood the BBC with the Wolfe Tones version of "A Nation Once Again" votes. It was a bit of www guerilla action. When I sent in my vote ANOA by the WT was already at 12th. This was on the first day of voting. Said friend was made aware of the climb to 12 and she, having access to a huge email list, redoubled her efforts. Cheating?, why of course! Every so often it becomes necessary for ordinary people to behave in extraordinary ways. It is what keeps our leaders honest. Goldang, I love this world! CB |
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24 Dec 02 - 05:36 AM (#853030) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: shanty_steve I too received an e-mail urging me to vote for this song, although not from republican friends. I even heard people on the radio urging us to vote for it, just to stop 'Candle in the Wind' from winning!. Its just that it seems to appeal to the Irish sense of humour to subvert polls such as this. I remember that at the end of 1999, Time magazine was holding a poll on the person who had the most impact on the 20th century. I received e-mails urging me to vote for a guy called Ronny O'Brien. Ronny was a young Irish soccer player who had been signed up by Juventus in Italy, but who had never got to play a match with them (and still hasn't!). I believe that Ronny was doing very well in the Time poll until the organisers disqualified him. Anyway, from looking at the BBC top 10, it appears that most of the songs were there as the result of a campaign. Stephen |
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24 Dec 02 - 05:43 AM (#853033) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,JTT It's actually a good song, though the Wolfe Tones' version is pretty awful - they're a shouty kind of a band. It starts: When boyhood's fire was in my blood I dreamt of ancient free men Of Greece and Rome who bravely stood Three hundred men and three men... (a reference to (respectively) the Spartans at Thermopylae and Horatio on the Tiber bridge defending Rome from the forces of Clusium). By the way, Dave the Gnome, "British people abroad, including Irish" is inaccurate - it's a bit like saying "Canadians abroad, including New Yorkers". |
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24 Dec 02 - 08:12 AM (#853069) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford Actually the BBC World Service is not intended for ex pat Brits, although it is obviously listened to by them. It is widely respected as the most independent and objective of the foreign service radio stations (Voice of America etc.) It has always refused to promote the British Government line in news reports. The government considered shutting it down over its reporting of the war in Suez in 1956. It broadcasts in dozens of languages. Isn't it a little bit sad that some small minded interest group found it important to use the amusing, truly global, poll to make their little point? In 1982, 2nd Batallion The Parachute Regiment lost many men ,including the Colnel, When the World Service broadcast the goverment announcement of their imminent attack on the Argentine garrison at Goose Green. The Argentinians were able to vastly reinforce and surprise was lost. |
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24 Dec 02 - 11:09 AM (#853151) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,ex-pat at work Regardless of the poll, A Nation Once Again is a powerful piece of writing by Thomas Davis (1845). A classic from the 1840's being revered in 2002, how great is that? It is a pity he died so young, who knows what other beautiful songs he may have composed. As Derek Warfield, of the Wolfetones, said to me last September, Davis was not here long but it was what he did with his time on earth that was important. Slainte, Ollie |
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24 Dec 02 - 11:11 AM (#853153) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath yes, yes, yes! we are a naughty bunch certainly! I deliberately witheld an additional bit of info in my response which I will share now. There were three "boxes" to select 1. the song 2. the performer (and "various" was an option) and 3. Why?... my answer was "800 years". The BBC article mentions attempts to spam and use "interest groups". Either they are truly dense or they didn't consider the vote for ANOA to be spam or from influence groups. Probably because there was a "one phone line, one vote" aspect to it all. I voted once, could have voted half a dozen times but didn't. So perhaps it is a legitimate win after all and there are just a lot of people out there who like "shouty bands" and the song "A Nation Once Again"! It was NOT mean spirited by the way. Just cheeky. CB |
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24 Dec 02 - 11:37 AM (#853167) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim Wasn't there a similar "plot" last year to get Keith Wood, Ireland's rugby captain, elected as BBC Sports Personality of the Year?! |
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24 Dec 02 - 07:25 PM (#853336) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Strupag It's all a bit sad that, firstly, such a poll is taken serioulsy, and secondly, that a group of Irish/Irish ex-pats choose a song about aspirations of nationhood. I thought the Irish had achieved the status of being "A Nation Once Again" a long time ago! Now if you had chosen something like Tommy Sand's "Your Daughters and Your Sons" that would have been something. Nationhood is not always equated to freedom. |
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25 Dec 02 - 02:04 AM (#853445) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: TonyK There were only 150,000 votes cast and they were split among 6,500 songs. The poll was a bit lame. Tony K |
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25 Dec 02 - 01:27 PM (#853606) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Den So does this mean "Alsation once again" is the world's greatest parody??? |
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25 Dec 02 - 01:28 PM (#853609) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Den Oops lost me cookie. |
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27 Dec 02 - 04:42 PM (#854223) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Eire32 While I find it interesting that so many people have such to say about this lovely song, saying it is "sad" because the Irish have already "achieved the status" of being a Nation is downright uninformed, to be kind. How can you possibly assert that the Irish are a "Nation Once Again" when the north eastern 6 counties are being held hostage by Blair and Paisley? How can a country and a people (and I do passionately include the Protestants in the northeast in this) be united if there are still borders within the one island that create false separations? Two currencies and two governments does not make a "Nation Once Again." A lesson in civics, history and land usage is in order my dear "Strupag." To Coyote Breath (guess who this is!?) and Belfast: While I agree with Tony K that the poll was a bit ragged being so very spread out among so few votes and so many songs, Belfast is right; you could not vote multiple times unless you had multiple computers at multiple locations. SO... small numbers aside, this vote was about as legit as you can get. And wasn't it really about keeping "Believe" by Cher out of the top spot? How is it rigging to ask your friends to all vote? Isn't that what democracy is about? Doing what people you agree with do to try and effect no change whatsoever? I am pleased with this song's place, though agree that the Wolfe Tones version is not as nice as the version I heard myself in Lenadoon on St. Pat's Day last year. Rather more rousing with 300 men, women and children belting it out with feeling. Slan, -Eire32 |
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28 Dec 02 - 11:29 AM (#854542) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford Of course it is rigging. The poll was intended for World Service listeners and it was taken from them. Not a great crime, but why push your prejudice in this way I also get annoyed when so called Guests exploit these threads for their own purposes, but at least they must read them. |
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28 Dec 02 - 04:42 PM (#854686) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath Oh yes, I meant to say it's a good rigging that can focus on an issue such as the wee north being at last part of a Nation once again. No certainly, the republic divided from it's geographic whole is not a Nation once again. Perhaps a Notion Yet Again. Even so, Ireland will only be a nation once again and once and for all when the people create that nation. And THAT means ALL the people, orange and green. It is both my prayer and belief that such a thing will come to pass and within my lifetime. CB |
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28 Dec 02 - 07:36 PM (#854744) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: The Pooka Mine too, CB. / Now, who was it who wrote "Three Quarters of a Nation Once Again"? (Along, I think, with "God Save the Southern Part of Ireland":) Big Tim - "...a piece of nonsense, 'The West's Awake' should have won it!" LOL! Spot on!! *Much* better song. A few days ago I read a quote from one of the (decommissioned??) Wolfetones -- Derek? -- to the effect that the Irish, and Diaspora Irish, 'had a good little campaign going'. O to be Sure. :) It didn't hurt to have the Beatles vote (and others' too) split up among so many nominees from the same group. T'anks be to Gawd for Mere Pluralty Winners./ Now, if the poll had been done by the Single Transferable Vote system, as for, e.g., the Dail -- well, we'll never know, will we. Like Sinn Fein (their political wing), the Wolfetones might not have gotten too many transfer votes... Declan - "As they say in Irish Republican circles vote early and vote often." Yup. And, I see by the papers the Republic is going all-electronic-voting-systems, next time around. Woo woo... / Katlaughing, if you liked Florida, yer gonna LOVE internet voting in actual elections... / "Now the time is coming fast, and I think it's almost here..." -D. Behan |
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30 Dec 02 - 12:24 PM (#855324) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast What is a little surprising is the response to the results of this poll. A few people have reacted in a rather immoderate and ill-tempered fashion. The poll was hijacked. Anyone who had ever been in a vehicle that had been hijacked would be a little more careful in his use of that ludicrous metaphor. Those who voted weren't really entitled to vote. If you don't listen to the BBC World Service for a certain number of hours every day you were cheating when you voted. I'm not too sure who invented this rule but it wasn't created until after the result was known. Those who voted for the winner are petty, narrow, backward-looking and just plain wrong This is undoubtedly true. And people who vote for the wrong things simply shouldn't be allowed to vote. This should be the privilege of those who are better educated, have more understanding, and think rather like me. |
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30 Dec 02 - 02:57 PM (#855425) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford Belfast, that is how metphors work. What do you say when someone murders a favorite song? Of course there were no rules about who could vote. It was an informal bit of fun. But what does that say about the humourless hordes who called each other up, Hey, a station you never heard of is having a vote. We're all going to....... I still think they are a bit sad. |
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30 Dec 02 - 03:05 PM (#855432) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,chicago Thomas Davis was a patriotic and progressive thinking Irish Protestant, as were many of the greatest heoes of Irish nationalism.( Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, Erskine Childers and Parnell to name a few.)I am sure that he would be proud to know that his stirring lyrics written 160 years ago continue to call attention to his as yet unrealised dream. |
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30 Dec 02 - 10:47 PM (#855736) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: ex-pat Well said Guest from Chicago. Too many people have got caught up in modern politics and, apparently, have missed the point. Thomas Davis was a visionary, a United Irishman, May he REST IN PEACE. |
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31 Dec 02 - 05:34 AM (#855817) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Declan Technically Thomas Davis was a Young Irelander. The United Irishmen weren't formed until well after his death. I have heard that (Glasgow) Celtic supporter's clubs had a lot to do with the spreading of the word on this poll and the winnijng of it by the Wolf Tones. The WTs owe much of their current popularity with the current young generation in Ireland with their association with Celtic. Good old Wolf Tones helping to keep sectarianism alive on both sides of the Sea of Moyle (Northern Channel)! |
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31 Dec 02 - 12:08 PM (#855991) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath OMIGAWD! is it REALLY called the Sea of Moyle? That is flippin unreal! And if any wonder why I would say that, consider. Moyle was my mother's maiden name. Moyle is her side of a rather extended and totally strange family from the Mauston area of Wisconsin and earlier from Gweek in Cornwall. I am truly stunned! The Moyles are all Methodists (well, some are Mormons, too). Mother loved the music of Ireland and never considered herself Cornish or English but of Irish descent. I think she would have gotten a giggle out of ANOA winning. The Sea of Moyle! I'll have to tell my cousin Susan about THAT! CB |
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31 Dec 02 - 04:01 PM (#856190) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton A BBC World Service Poll? Which one for goodness sakes! Is there only one? I would have probably voted for John Denver's Country Road which is played in almost every country in the world. Is there a hint of politics involved here on behalf of the BBC? Maybe if someone polled Irish radio, the most popular song in the world might well be "Rule Brittania". :) Frank |
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31 Dec 02 - 04:06 PM (#856193) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton BTW, I like the song and enjoy singing it in certain situations. I'd love to see unity in Ireland. For this, I'll vote for Tommy Sand's songs. Frank |
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31 Dec 02 - 04:27 PM (#856213) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim I'm in lecturing, but not hectoring, mode: again! Belfast: "hijacking" now has a more general meaning. CB: surely you're familiar with Thomas Moore's "Silent Oh Moyle"? Declan; Young Ireland, 1848. United Irishmen, 1784?-1803? (Not the other way around!) Wolfetones: crap! |
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31 Dec 02 - 04:31 PM (#856219) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: katlaughing No, Pooka, no! Not like Florida!!**BG** Saints and sinners preserve us from all that! |
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01 Jan 03 - 07:28 AM (#856501) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: ard mhacha Tim, Keith Wood was nominated as the Worlds best Rugby hooker by the Rugby Worlds sporting press, and for the benefit of our US catters, this is not to be confused with Hugh Grants nominee from the streets of the US. And let us not forget Princess Anne who was voted tops in the horse of the year. Ard Mhacha. |
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01 Jan 03 - 08:20 AM (#856512) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST Anyone who voted for Princess anne as Horse Of The Year was spot on!! |
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01 Jan 03 - 09:57 AM (#856553) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim I think "Nation" once vied with "God Save Ireland" as unofficial national anthem before ""Soldier's Song" was adopted (in 1926?) "A good song is worth a thousand harangues" "Music is the first faculty of the Irish" "We will endeavour to teach the people to sing the songs of their country that they may keep alive in their minds the love of fatherland" -Thomas Davis. |
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01 Jan 03 - 12:28 PM (#856632) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast I am certainly grateful to those who pointed out that the word "hijack" was not being used literally but as a metaphor. However they might have guessed that I was aware of this if only because I described it as a metaphor. My point was that it is a ludicrous metaphor. I believed that I had made this clear by using the phrase "ludicrous metaphor". There is no connection between what happened here and a hijacking. To pretend that there is a connection is ludicrous. |
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01 Jan 03 - 01:39 PM (#856670) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim In an earlier post on this thread I asked for details about an NI folk music broadcast: I don't know if this is the same one but the Radio Times reports that on 10 January on BBC 4 is "Musical Traditions: Northern Ireland has one of the richest song traditions in the British Isles. This documentary considers the influence of the home countries on northern song". |
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01 Jan 03 - 04:59 PM (#856814) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford Belfast, I acknowledged your metaphor post, just challenging your description of it as ludicrous. |
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02 Jan 03 - 05:36 AM (#857097) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Declan Big Tim, Thanks for the correction. I was getting my centuries mixed up ! I definitely agree with your last point. And yes CB its Gaelic name is Sruth Na Maoile, usually translatted as the Sea of Moyle, although Sruth is literally translated as a channel or stream. |
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02 Jan 03 - 12:40 PM (#857300) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath Gee Big Tim! I actually downloaded that song a little bit ago but didn't read it carefully! (obviously) I thought it was about a river. Mom did say something about a river. I have since looked up Moyle and find it to be a district of County Antrim. It looks as though Ballycastle might be Moyle's principal town. My mom and sister visited England about 6 years ago. They went to Cornwall and to Devon. They never got to the North. She said that it was lovely country and there had been a John Moyle farm near Tolvan Cross which I guess is an old church or something? I can't find Tolvan on the map but what maps I have aren't detailed. Is Moyle one of the Antrim "glens"? CB |
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02 Jan 03 - 04:00 PM (#857370) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim Hi CB! I got that book that you recommended a while back. Very interesting to say the least. Thread drift coming up ... "Moyle, Sea of [Irish. Sruth na Maoile, 'stream of the bare, rounded summit']. Archaic and poetic name for the narrowest part of water between Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Mull of Kintyre, usually known as the North Channel. When Northern Ireland was redistricted [sic] in 1974, the voting unit immediately adjacent to the North Channel, formerly in County Antrim, became known as Moyle" - Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, by James MacKillop, Oxford University Press, 1998. "SILENT OH MOYLE - this lyric is based on the legend of Fionnuala, the daughter of Lir, who was transformed into a swan by her jealous stepmother Aoife. In this disguise she was condemned to wander for hundreds of years over certain lakes and rivers until the coming of Chrisianity to Ireland when the legend of the Mass-bell would signal her release. Moore took this well-known Irish legend and turned it into a political allegory" - Dear Harp of My Country; the Irish Melodies of Thomas Moore, by James W. Flannery [tenor], published by J.S.Sanders and Company, Nashville, 1997. (A book with two CDs of most of Moore's greatest songs). However, Mary O'Hara's version of the song is untouchable, in my opinion. I don't think Moyle is one of the Antrim Glens, will check later. |
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02 Jan 03 - 06:18 PM (#857490) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar I got an e-mail from a friend urging me to vote for ANOA, but although I enjoyed the caper I couldn't bring myself to do it because the song, through its association with the Wolfe Tones, has become an obnoxious expression of barrel-of-porter republicanism. Nevertheless, I get some quiet satisfaction from the fact that it won on the BBC's World Service, whose signature tune is "Lillibulero", a well-known Ulster protestant/anti-catholic/sectarian chant. |
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03 Jan 03 - 12:54 PM (#857813) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim I'm sure the BBC use of the tune is quite innocent, probably adopted before 1969, now so well established that they have decided to stick with it. As an Irish Catholic, I certainly take no offense at the use of the tune, which has a very interesting and very long history, the tune dating from 1540 and the words from 1687, depending on which scholar you believe. "Lillibulero", or "Lilliburlero" as it is more usually spelt, is indeed a derogatory anti-Catholic parody but it has to be seen in its historical context, The Williamite Wars. Anyway, the republicans also use a version of it as a slogan "tiochfaidh ar la" - "our day will come"! CB: the 9 Antrim Glens are: Glentaisie, Glenshesk, Glendun, Glencorp, Glenaan, Glenballyeamon,Glenarriff, Glencloy and Glenarm. Its beautiful country. You might enjoy this book "A Dictionary of Ulster Place Names" by Patrick McKay. Institute of Irish Studies, Queens University, Belfast, 1999. And, "Irish Place Names" by Deirdrie and Laurence Flanagan, Gill and Macmillan, Dublin, 1994. The closest I could get, after only a very quick look I must admit, to "Tolvan" is "Tolvin", a townland in County Tyrone. |
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03 Jan 03 - 03:01 PM (#857905) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford The World Service has dropped Lillibolero as it's tune. Keith. |
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03 Jan 03 - 04:11 PM (#857965) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim Thanks for that info Keith - I have never actually listened to BBC World Service in my life but knew that they used the tune. Check out the beautiful instrumental version of "Lilliburlero" (the tune is brilliant, the lyrics are just a bad joke) by "Na Casaidigh" on their album "1691", issued in 1992 on the Gaellinn label. |
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04 Jan 03 - 03:46 PM (#858668) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast I hadn't noticed the disappearance of Lillibulero from the World Service. It never annoyed me. It's a fine tune and I doubt if anyone outside of folk music circles knows the words though they can be found in O'Lochlann's (Sp?) Irish Street Ballads. The WS version was played in the key of G and for insomniac guitar players, before the invention of tuners, was a convenient was of checking that they were still in concert pitch. (The theme tune for "The Archers", in the same key, serves the same purpose.) But I recall that in the early 70's Graham Greene (or was it Robert Graves – I don't know how I could possibly confuse the two) wrote a letter to some paper or other protesting against its use. To revert to an earlier topic, on the question of metaphors, it is, as usual, a matter of opinion, but as regards "murdering a song" I think we've all been guilty of that crime. |
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05 Jan 03 - 09:05 AM (#859119) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Felipa Keith, I was listening to the world service yesterday and on various days in the past week; Lillibulero is still the theme tune. They play the air, not the words. |
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05 Jan 03 - 11:22 AM (#859180) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford Hi Felipa, I tend to listen late night-early morning UK. I have not heard Lillibolero for a long time. They play a piece of orchestral music I don't recognise before bulletins. They never did play it with song. When do you listen and where from? Keith. |
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05 Jan 03 - 11:44 AM (#859193) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Malcolm Douglas BBC World Service FAQ: Signature Tunes |
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05 Jan 03 - 02:19 PM (#859280) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: banjomad (inactive) Wolf Tones are the worlds worst Irish showband. In general Irish music and song is great, the Wolf Tones represent the dregs. Dave |
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06 Jan 03 - 12:40 AM (#859573) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath Oh darn! I had hoped it was a glen but I guess it needs "glen" in front of it. I always liked the poetic "glens of Antrim" references in songs and stories. Doesn't Henry Joy start out with a line about the Antrin Glens? No my mom and sister never got out of Cornwall so Tolvan (or vin, who argues with a mom!) Cross was in Cornwall. A learned friend tells me "cross" probably meant 'crossroad'. So perhaps Tolvin is a place where roads crossed?!? At any rate it is in Cornwall. CB |
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06 Jan 03 - 05:04 AM (#859628) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Keith A of Hertford Re World Service theme. I don't know what is going on. I listened carefully to the announcement before the bulletin at 0400 GMT today. They did not say "This is London". They said they were the BBC World Service and listed a number of international cities, each spoken by a person with the appropriate accent. They then said BBC World Service and played about 7 notes of something that was not Lilli B. Perhaps it's a time of day thing. Irrelevant to the thread anyway.Sorry. Keith. |
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06 Jan 03 - 01:06 PM (#859911) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Felipa Keith, I was listening in Holland last week |
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06 Jan 03 - 01:07 PM (#859914) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Felipa in daytime mostly |
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06 Jan 03 - 02:58 PM (#860003) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Big Tim The origins of "lilliburlero", the word, are obscure: may be derived from an Irish (Catholic)password from the 1641 rebellion: "buallaidh ar la", a variant of "tiochfhaidh ar lar" - "our day will come". (I'm not an Irish speaker, so this is second-hand). |
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07 Jan 03 - 08:43 AM (#860591) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast By chance I was listening to the World Service last night (or early this morning) and there it was. Just before the 2.00a.m. (GMT) news bulletin, the strains of Lillibulero. But it was not there at the 3.00 bulletin. As for the meaning of the phrase, it has of course been discussed before. A Thread On The Meaning Of Lillibulero It has been suggested that a current Republican slogan, Tiocaidh ar lá, is somehow related. This new slogan is more likely to have been influenced by the slogans of the American Civil Rights Movement (We Shall Overcome) and the Castroist's Venceremos. And it has just occurred to me that "slogan" is one of the few words in English derived from a Celtic language. Is that what we mean by thread creep? |
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07 Jan 03 - 03:46 PM (#860912) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Coyote Breath I got in a small amount of trouble with our local newspaper when I signed an ardent letter about events in the North "signed" with the name Chuck E. Arlah. They refused to print it (the editor called me at home) because they knew it was not my name. The newspaper's policy is to print any signed letter (one CAN request one's name not be displayed) but no letter unsigned or signed with a pseudonym. They publish on Wednesdays and Fridays. They printed my letter on the Friday AFTER March 17 (a Wednesday, that year) when I had wanted the letter printed. I couldn't argue with their policy since they insist on people taking responsibility for their statements but the fact they KNEW it was me was a bit disconcerting. I said to print it with my name and they did so. CB |
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14 Jan 03 - 08:36 AM (#866599) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast I'm told that the BBC World Service, like many posters to this thread , is unhappy with the results of the poll. So they're having another poll! At any minute I expect to hear a high–pitched whine, "It's my ball and I'm not playing with you any more! I'm going home!" |
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14 Jan 03 - 08:47 AM (#866610) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: ard mhacha Belfast you are correct about Lillibulero, I have heard it within the past couple of days, Ard Mhacha. |
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14 Jan 03 - 08:59 AM (#866620) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: belfast And it's very annoying at 2 o'clock in the morning to have to sit in the passageway just to stop the radio from marching from the livingroom into the kitchen because it claims that this is a "traditional route". |
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13 May 10 - 10:10 PM (#2906492) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: GUEST,Pauline A bit late to this thread... Guys, get a sense of humor. It was a funny Irish thing to do a bit of mischief...I voted and I often listened to BBC world service when I'm abroad ;) It also relates to a further piece of mischief in 1901 when Maud Gonne was taking 300 school children to Tara, the sacred hill of Ireland to teach them about their history. The owner of the land had a bombfire on the Hill to be lit to celebrate the New King of England, which she decided was much better lit in honor of Ireland... So they did, dancing around it singing 'a nation once again' ....much to the disgust of the British landowner and subsequently the policeman. |
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13 May 10 - 11:28 PM (#2906515) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Seamus Kennedy Someone revives a moribund thread after 7 years...shoulda let it lie there. |
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13 May 10 - 11:28 PM (#2906517) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Seamus Kennedy Shit! Now I've refreshed it. Damn! Did it again. |
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14 May 10 - 05:58 PM (#2907104) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: mousethief Never heard of it. |
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14 May 10 - 06:05 PM (#2907115) Subject: RE: The world's favorite song - A Nation Once Again From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies) Actually Maud Gonne was a fantastic figure, worthy of remembering. |