I have to give credit to a blogging friend for making me aware of one of the best songs I have heard this year. Mind you, it’s not s new song, but this was the first time I heard it.
Clive is from England, and every Tuesday he posts Tuesday Tunes, and for me, it’s been a weekly music lesson. Clive and I are about the same age, but he was way ahead of me getting into music, and he is a walking encyclopedia of music. I highly recommend his web site.
Anyway, one of the songs he posted that really caught my attention was Galway Girl. The video shown below is performed by Irish musicians Sharon Shannon and Mundy. The song was written and originally performed by Steve Earle (who also has an outstanding version of the song on YouTube).
But it’s hard not to have a smile on your face while watching this version, performed live in Galway:
That song made me want to include one more Irish song, and after much searching, I came across a cover of the great U2 song, With or Without You, performed by the Irish band, Celtic Crossroads. The singer/harp player is Lisa Canny, and she has an incredible voice…
Listening to this music makes me proud of my Irish roots…
*image from Celtic Life International
Looking at the first video makes me sad. I miss seeing people, strangers, standing close together and having fun 😦
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but offers hope for returning to such joyous occasions in the future…
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Yes, still leaving me a bittersweet feeling 😄
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for sure…
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Galway Girl is a brilliant song. And anything U2 is worth listening to imo.
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I can’t disagree with you!
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Great shares, Jim. The last one is beautiful.
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thanks, Robbie. glad you enjoyed them…
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That is a fantastic street celebration in the first video. Ah, those pre-pandemic days. You are right to be proud of Irish music and your heritage. But here’s the real test – If you can dance to Irish music I’ll be really impressed. 😄
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not even close; or even any desire to do so 🙂
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Irish dance seems to be invading pop culture. I’ve seen Tik Tok videos with fancy footwork dance moves that appear to be based on Irish jigs. My feet can’t move like those dancers but it is fun to watch.
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I think with enough practice, given your love of salsa, you could dance the Irish jig!
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I’m a big fan of Clive’s Tuesday Tunes. He puts a lot of thought into his selections, and he always seems to come up with those little known facts that are fun to learn.
My mom’s side is Irish (Haggerty), so I like that connection too. Great post, Jim!
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Thanks, Pete!
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Clive is one of my music teachers, and he’s never failed to disappoint. It helps that we seem to have the same tastes.
Irish music is certainly better than Irish food… 🙂
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I’m half Irish, and this is just like being back in that beautiful country. thank you fro sharing this
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I’ve been there twice, but want to go back again… It is lovely, the people and places…
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yes, it’s a place with a magical feel –
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Both wonderful songs and well shared. Ms. Canny’s singing of the U2 cover is amazing!
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thanks, Brad! glad you enjoyed it…
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I love Irish music too. Friends of mine are in an Irish band. They sing The Galway Girl, and many others of course. But Van Morrison is my favourite, though he’s from Belfast, as is my Hub.
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van Morrison is great. How nice to have friends in an Irish band!
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It is. They are very talented.
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Many thanks for the plug, Jim – that probably explains the 25 visits from the US that hit my blog while I was asleep! I’d not heard that version of the U2 song, and you’re right: it’s lovely and she has a wonderful voice. Great song too, from the days before Bono began believing his own hype 😉
If you’re exploring Irish roots, do you know of Paul Brady or Christy Moore – both well worth a look. I’m assuming you’ve already come across the likes of Van Morrison, Clannad and Enya. So much good music has come out of Ireland. A favourite of mine is the version of Man Of Constant Sorrow that Sharon Shannon did with Jackson Browne: it’s beautiful.
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as always, thank you for expanding my musical horizons with some Irish music suggestions. I can’t wait to check them out!
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They are both singer-songwriters who have had long careers, but two very different voices though! I saw Paul Brady when he was just beginning: part of a band called The Johnstons who were the support act for the English folk-rock band Steeleye Span, early 1972 I think.
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Why I am not surprised you saw one of them in concert? 🙂
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I guess you know me well. I’d bought their debut album, which was a nice folkie thing, a bit like Peter, Paul and Mary. It was a real bonus getting them as the support act.
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Very nice. A lively tune, followed by a slow ballad. The first tune had a country music feel to it, although I think American country music has borrowed quite a bit from the Irish.
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I think Steve Earle probably gave the first song that country feel. And bluegrass certainly has strong celtic roots…
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Jim, thanks for sharing some of your music discoveries. There is a bit of Irish in me from my mother’s side of the family.
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I guess from Clive to me to you!
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A beautiful version of the U2 track…so haunting… Loved it!
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it was excellent!
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I like the take on Galway Girl. An Irish folk inspired band I like is The Tossers. Very Pogue like. This is one of my favourites: https://youtu.be/QAafAcJWBZM
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I have never heard of the Tossers – but that is a great song you shared.
“We had dreams and songs to sing”…
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You must be a Celtic fan too, Jim. Mon the hoops!
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can’t be a Celtic fan; they are in the same division as the Philadelphia 76ers…
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Must be the Celtics you mean. I mean the one and only Celtic FC, greatest football team in the world etc. Some may soccer. I can’t use that word….
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Also… mon the 76ers!
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🙂
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oops, my parochial view of the world kicking in again! Yes, of course I am a Celtic FC fan – how could I be otherwise?
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Cheers jim!
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