Mar 172010
As you probably already know all of us here at 9b are not actually at 9b at the moment. We are in Austin, TX at SXSW and hopefully quite pickled by the time you read this. Since St. Patrick’s day falls on a Wednesday and somehow Wed. has become Top 5 day around these parts we asked the leprechauns that run this place while we are away to throw this one up for you today. Oh yeah…a topic…How about your TOP 5 IRISH SONGS. You can go with songs about Erie, songs in Gaelic, or songs by Irish singers. I know there’s someone out there that likes ‘em but could we skip U2 if at all possible? You know I love you all…come find me at SXSW…
romeosidvicious
I have to admit I don’t know many Irish-related songs, though “Seven Nights In Eire” by Reckless Kelly comes to mind.
This is one of my favorite Irish tunes. “The Foggy Dew” by the Chieftans w/ Sinead O’Connor.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/jm5m1r
While listening to your mix while that uploaded my eras found that it shares musical DNA with the Black 47 tune.
Honorable mention: “Barroom Hero” from the Dropkick Murphys, from back when they were good.
Just pick any five from the My Bloody Valentine’s album “Loveless” and we’re good.
Much like polka and jungle, I enjoy listening to traditional Irish music occasionally, but I don’t know who any of the musicians are and I’ve no doubt that I often hear songs of these kinds “for the first time” again and again.
Here’s a few favorites –
Flogging Molly – Factory Girls
A departure for the normally punk band that captures a good story of the working folks of Ireland.
Parting Glass – various but I like Shaun Davey’s version from Waking Ned
A great song and if you ever find yourself in an Irish pub in Ireland and people start taking turns singing you could do worse than to start up this tune. It’s a classic and just might get that girl in the corner on the fiddle’s attention.
Steve Earle – Galway Girl, probably a good pair with Reckless Kelly’s song mentioned above
Whiskey in the Jar – Thin Lizzy
Who knew Thin Lizzy was Irish? The Boys are Back in town band pulled out this traditional song well before Metallica made it a commercial hit in the states.
Dirty Old Town – covered by everybody from the Dubliners to the Pogues to Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Still another nice traditional tune that most people are happy to apply to their own dirty old town.
Hope you guys are having a hell of a time in Austin!
1. Galway Girl by Steve Earle
2. When Irish Girls Grow Up – Iris Dement and Dolores Keane
3. Drunken Lullabies – Flogging Molly
4. Whiskey on a Sunday – Irish Rovers
5. Whiskey in a Jar – Thin Lizzy
Honorable mention is “Red is the Rose” by Nanci Griffith and the Chieftans, even though it’s originally a Tommy Makem song.
Song that makes me THINK of Ireland/things Irish, but that I don’t really understand: “Fater” by Richard Buckner.
How about something by the Pogues? For something a little darker, I would pick “Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six” about, um, “being Irish at the wrong place and at the wrong time.”
I’ll also throw in a few more Pogues’s songs: Irish Rover and Thousands Are Sailing.
Fields of Athenry – it’s an old one, so lots of folks have done it. i’ve heard it both acoustic and electric, and either way, it’s a powerful song.
There Were Roses – sad tune by Tommy Sands. The version I liked was on this old Celtic comp cd I had years ago. Can’t find it now but I believe the version on there was a cover by one of the popular Celtic groups at the time.
Fisherman’s Blues – The Waterboys (they count as Irish right?)
A Jig and Two Reels – The Bothy Band
Whiskey In the Jar – Grateful Dead on the SMR set where they are just fooling around in the studio and Jerry breaks out that song.
Here are 5 of my favorites:
“Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues
“What’s Left of the Flag” – Flogging Molly
“Whiskey, You’re the Devil” – The Pogues
“Comeback Girl” – Republic of Loose
“Siobahn” – The Tossers
If you want bass playing with your trad-rish music there’s the Prodigals “Open Reel”
Mick Jagger with The Chieftains doing “Long Black Veil”
Maybe some Great Big Sea, even though they’re Canadian.
And local-boys-made-good Jackdaw, who may or may not be together any more.
I’m drinkin’ the 5th.
1. “If I Ever Leave This World Alive” – Flogging Molly
2. “Fairytale of New York” – Pogues
3. “A Fine Lass You Are” – Tossers
4. “Tobacco Island” – Flogging Molly
5. “Rebels of the Sacred Heart” – Flogging Molly
Yeah, I’m pretty one-dimensional in my knowledge of Irish music.
Played a whole set of Irish songs on Tuesday night at midnight and then again when the bar opened on Wednesday. We did a bunch of the songs mentioned here but my favorite is and I suspect always will be “The Parting Glass”.
Danny Boy…Johnny Cash
The Unicorn Song…Brobdingnagian Bards
Creep…(Radiohead cover)Darby O’Gill And The Little People
Red Haired Mary…Foster & Allen
Salty Dog…Flogging Molly
I love Austin! It rocksGreat Place to liveLove it here!Why move anywhere else? Add me on facebook if you’re in Austin because I would love to keep up with Austin happenings!
after posting I thought of two more
The Rake At The Gates Of Hell…THE Pogues
Isle Of Inisfree…Celtic Women
Best pogues songs have to be “if I should fall from the grace of god” and “body of an American” but they are all good. Also agree with ” if I ever leave this world alive”, that’s my favourite fm song at the moment.