10
POPSOne of the Best Dance tunes, IMO. The most previous gift that the Irish brought to America was our music. The best thing that you gave us back was our own music, refined and distilled and reinvigorated. The proof of this distillation was RIVERDANCE, which extracted every drop of Celtic blood on the planet, even the Chinese. Along the way there were Irish music bands from the UK like the Pogues and Dexy's Midnight Runners, proving that Irish music is in the genes no matter where you are born. 20 years on and the Pogues are #1 for Christmas with "Fairytale of New York". Personally, I could not play even a tin whistle but I was compensated and blessed with a heart and feet able to recognize good dance music from the walze to rock to Irish.
3
POPSPlanxty live "Arthur McBride" 30 years on
Planxty was an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting of Christy Moore (vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitars), Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, hurdy-gurdy, harmonica) and Liam O'Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle). The name Planxty comes from a word used by the classic harper Turlough O'Carolan in many of his works, and is thought to mean a tribute to a particular person ("Planxty Irwin", for example, being a tribute to Colonel John Irwin of Sligo). "Planxty" is believed to be a corruption of the Irish word and popular toast "sláinte", meaning "good health". Others claim that the word is not Irish in origin but comes from the Latin "plangere," meaning to strike or beat. It is also believed that its origin may stem from the Irish phrase "phlean on ti" meaning "from the house of". During the penal law era of Ireland's history songs sung through Irish were outlawed and it is believed that the use of the phrase Planxty fo
5
POPSNine Inch Hails: "Steal IT" Steal my Music "A few months ago, Trent Reznor (frontman of the band Nine Inch Nails), was in Australia doing an interview when he commented on the outrageous prices of CDs there. Apparently now his label, Universal Media Group is angry at him for having said that. During a concert last night, he told fans, '...Has anyone seen the price come down? Okay, well, you know what that means — STEAL IT. Steal away. Steal and steal and steal some more and give it to all your friends and keep on stealin'. Because one way or another these mother****ers will get it through their head that they're ripping people off and that's not right.'"
2
POPSThe BOSS: Mrs. McGrath - Anti-War song ... When I left my two fine legs behind A big cannon ball on the fifth of May Tore my two fine legs away" "Oh, Teddyboy," the widow cried "Your two fine legs were your mothers pride Stumps of a tree won't do at all Why didn't you run from the big cannon ball?" Chorus "All foreign wars I do proclaim live on the blood and the mothers pain I'd rather have my son as he used to be Than the King of America and his whole navy" Chorus Bruce Springsteen Album "We Shall Overcome" I think the Segal collection, his best ever, IMO. An old Irish song with its best ever version by the Boss - Mrs Grath. I cannot separate the images of those Iraq mens' broken bodies from this song. I've always loved his music so I'm somewhat biased but I believe this has been his best ever. Jacob's Ladder Erie Canal My Oklahoma Home Shenandoah Old Dan Tucker are just a few of his best. I'm not sure about using ClipMarks to promote music. There may be a better way? Anyone miss
0
POPS'Bard of Armagh' Tommy Makem Dies in US. Clancy Bros fame
President Mary McAleese offered her condolences to Mr Makem's family. "In life, Tommy brought happiness and joy to hundreds of thousands of fans the world over," she said. "Always the consummate musician, he was also a superb ambassador for the country, and one of whom we will always be proud." Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Seamus Brennan said he had learned of Mr Makem's death "with great regret". "He was a multi-talented artist whose abilities went beyond music, with other skills as a storyteller, actor, songwriter and poet. I wish to pass on my condolences to Tommy's family, relatives and friends at this sad time and hope that they can take comfort from the fact that his music is a wonderful legacy that will live on for generations to come," he said. "Tommy was truly a music legend in his own lifetime. Now, with his passing, he has left behind a rich and enduring legacy of music, song and story to be enjoyed and appreciated by this generation and generations to co