The Irishmen and women have always held a soft spot in my heart. In context of the last few days, weeks, months even, I do feel that I am sharing their famed luck. No shamrocks or nothing, I swear.
Even though she is tempting...
And because of it.. actually, no, I'd loved her and them even before this, I'd like to introduce a couple of Irish weaknesses I have. Their modern music is really underrated and two exponents of the form I particularly favour are Sinead O'Connor and The Pogues.
This is Exhibit A, Sinead infusing an old Irish rebellion song with her own brand of Celtic rock. "Oro se do bhaetha abhaile" translates into "Hurrah, welcome home".
Just to compare, here's a more traditional treatment by The Dubliners.
Another band that's really done something for the Irish music scene from the mid-eighties are The Pogues. Celtic punk is their genre, but don't turn away with wrinkled nose upon hearing 'punk'. It's like no punk you'll have ever heard. The very traditional, intrinsic (stereotypical, even) sounds of Ireland are pristinely preserved by The Pogues. But there is a little bit of wild in there. You couldn't expect any less of a band whose name came out of the anglicization of the Irish for "Kiss my arse." But why don't you hear for yourself?
Knock yourselves out, wee lads and lassies.
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