St. Patrick's Day with Brian Kennedy

As I have said before, I come across music in the oddest of ways sometimes. Recently, I was checking out links about Kian Egan, a former member of Westlife, who is releasing a solo album. I found out he just won 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here', and is also a mentor on the show 'Voice of Ireland'. One of the other mentors on the first season of the show was Brian Kennedy, who I vaguely remembered as a backup singer for Van Morrison. So I decided to check him out, and soon found myself fascinated by his solo music. I also learned he had come out, and is now an out and proud Irishman! And, I have to say, a yummy treat to look at, as well as to hear.

I am particularly fond of his Pop music, but since this is St. Patrick's Day, I thought I might decide to go with some of his traditional Irish Folk now, and give you some of his Pop at some future date. Kennedy has certainly given me enough material, having released 'On Song' in 2003, and 'On Song 2: Red Sails in the Sunset' in 2005. 'The Bohemian Girl' is an opera by Irish composer Michael William Balfe that opened in 1843. The best known song from the opera is "I Dreampt I Dwelt in Marble Halls", which has been recorded by some of the best names in Irish Folk. Kennedy recorded the song for his 2003 release. This is Brian Kennedy with the great Sinéad O'Connor singing "I Dreampt I Dwelt in Marble Halls".

"The Fields of Athenry" was written in the 1970s by Irish singer/songwriter Pete St. John. The song speaks to the time of the Great Irish Famine of the 19th Century. It talks about a man who steals food for his starving family, only to be caught and sentenced to prison in Australia. While the song is fictional, it was certainly possible during the time. This is Brian Kennedy singing "The Fields of Athenry", as it appears on the album 'On Song'.

"The Homes of Donegal" is an Irish ballad written by songwriter Seán McBride in 1955. McBride was a school teacher, and wrote the lyrics set to a melody around since the 18th century. While many sang the song, it was singer/songwriter Paul Brady who is most closely associated with the song. So it is not surprising that when Kennedy recorded the song for his 'On Song' album, he did it as a duet with Brady. The is the result, the recoding of "The Homes of Donegal" by Brian Kennedy, featuring Paul Brady.

In closing, I thought I would offer up this lovely live performance captured by a fan. The song is "Carrikfergus", also off the 'On Song' album. It is named after a town in Northern Ireland, so it is no wonder the Belfast native sings the song. The song is lovely and romantic, and Kennedy sings it with such authenticity, I cannot resist it. This is Brian Kennedy singing "Carrickfergus" as a London cafe in 2009.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! For more about Brian Kennedy, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, and 'follow' him on Twitter. Neither of the 'On Song' albums are available in the online stores. I know, what a bummer! You can find it as an import on Amazon. I'm keeping an eye on ebay to see what comes up. In just a short time, I am already amassing quite the collection.

When Irish Ladies Are Singing

Clockwise: Celtic Woman, Sinead O'Connor, Enya, and Moya Brennan.

To get an early start on the St. Patrick's Day festivities, I thought I would allow some of the more recent Irish voices to come out to play. I understand I am a couple of days early, but wanted to do this nonetheless. Yes, I know, Saturday nights are usually the place for ladies singing torch songs from at least 50 years ago, but just for tonight, I thought I would invite some great singers who have been in a recording studio more recently than that. And I will start with Celtic Moan, a group of four vocalists and one fiddler, all Irish lassies, to capitalize on the 'Celtic' craze begun by Michael Flatley and 'Riverdance' so many years ago. The show, which first toured the United States in 1996, and officially opened on Broadway in 2000. The show focused on Irish dancing, and hence, showcased Irish music. Celtic Woman was put together to tour in Ireland, the UK, and world-wide. They became very popular, and soon were seen in fundraising specials for PBS. They were so profitable, they also spawned Celtic Thunder, the male version first seen in 2007. Here is Celtic Woman singing "Danny Boy".

Now, there is no way I could speak about Irish music without bringing in a favorite of mine, Sinéad O'Connor. Yes, she has done a fair share of Pop songs in her career, but Sinéad has always been very proud of her heritage, and recorded some great traditional music as well. On her album 'Sean-Nós Nua', she recorded some great songs, including the next song up, "Her Mantle So Green". The song is a beautiful but heartbreaking story of a young soldier going off to war, leaving behind the young girl he loves. This is Sinéad O'Connor singing "Her Mantle So Green'.

Many consider Moya Brennan the 'First Lady of Celtic Music', from her time as the lead singer and driving force behind the great band, Clannad. The band combined the more traditional sound of Celtic music with the Pop of the time as they took new themes and wrote songs that sounded like they could have been sung in Irish pubs for decades. Their sound was so authentic, so real, they were almost irresistible. I still remember the first time I heard them, when they released "In A Lifetime" with the boys of U2 in 1986, some 28 years ago. I love their version of "Siúil a Rún", a traditional Irish song. The title can be translated as "Go, my love", or even "Walk (away), my love". For, off their 1976 release 'Dúlamán', this is Clannad singing "Siúil a Rún".

My final entry for the post is from Enya, a woman who made a career out of combining the Celtic sound with New Age inspirations. Her sound was unique and yet very Irish, and was playing on the radios all around the world. What some didn't know that she was born Enya Brennan, and started her career in the family band, Clannad. That is right, she is Moya's sister. In 1988, Enya released her first solo album, 'Watermark'. While "Orinoco Flow" was the breakthrough hit off the album, I liked the song "Na Laetha Geal M'óige". The title translates to "The Bright Days of My Youth", a wistful look back to a time when the singer was full of hope and innocence. This is Enya singing "Na Laetha Geal M'óige".

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

St. Patrick's Morning with Sinéad O'Connor

Is there a better way to start out any St. Patrick's Day than with the gorgeous voice of Sinéad O'Connor? In keeping wiht my Sunday morning tradition, I will offer up some songs that are somewhat spiritual, starting with her cover of "I Don't Know How To Love Him", a song from the 1970 rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar'. It has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It is the song written for Mary Magdalene, who some might say is the original hooker with the heart of gold, taking a look at her feelings for the son of God.

The next song was also written in 1970, but under very different circumstances. "Rivers of Babylon" is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians. Dowe and McNaughton took inspiration from a few Bible verses for the lyrics, and wrote the music. Listen as Sinéad sings "Rivers of Babylon".

Both songs can be found on Sinéad's 2007 album, 'Theology'. The double album set, recorded in both Dublin and London, can be purchased from iTunes. To learn more about Sinéad O'Connor, including her tour dates, visit her official website.

Sunday Songs

Album covers from featured artists, clockwise: Blondie; Morrissey; Billy Porter; and Sinéad O'Connor.

In picking the songs which feature the work "Sunday" in the title, I simply went to my iTunes, typed in 'sunday' and wondered what would come up. To my surprise, 48 entries appeared, so some thought needed to get put into it. I decided to go with four songs, each from different decades. And while I was tempted to toss in Etta James' "Sunday Kind of Love" or Julie London's "Sunday Blues", I opted to go with other songs from other times. And I will start with the earliest selection, a favorite of mine. In 1978, a bunch of amazing things happened. I graduated from Smyrna High School, and went off to college in Reading, PA. And a Punk band released an album that changed the way some heard music, and what people thought about women rockers. It was, of course, Blondie, who released their breakthrough album, 'Parallel Lines'. The album was still churning out hits in 1979, like "Heart of Glass" and "One Way Or Another". Sandwiched in between those two singles was the delicate and beautiful "Sunday Girl".

You can purchase 'Parallel Lines' from iTunes and Amazon.

To leap into the next decade, it feels like I have little choice but to go with a song that the 'Mo' in Emo, the always blue Morrissey. Through his time with the Smith's and on to his solo career, Morrissey cornered the market on teenage angst, and put it into so many great songs. Here he sings "Every Day Is Like Sunday" from the 1988 album 'Viva Hate'.

You can purchase 'Viva Hate' from iTunes and Amazon.

Is there anyone out that who doesn't love Sinéad O'Connor? I mean, come on, really? Her voice is just so very special, and she has an amazing way to communicate the common struggle we all face. And wow, that voice. In 1992, Sinéad released the album 'Am I Not Your Girl?", with some great songs. Here she sings "Gloomy Sunday" off that album.

You can purchase 'Am I Not Your Girl?' from iTunes and Amazon.

I have had a wonderful crush on Billy Porter for a while now. And when I was trying to decide on the entries for this post and saw his name, I knew I would regret not including him. His voice is brilliant - soaring and glorious, carrying so much depth as it does. For the last entry, here is Billy Porter singing "Sunday" from Stephen Sondheim's great 'Sunday In The Park With George'. It is off Porter's 2005 album 'At The Corner of Broadway & Soul'.

You can purchase 'The Corner of Broadway & Soul' from iTunes and Amazon.

Hope your week is special!

Modern Torch

Clockwise: John Barrowman; Sinéad O'Connor; Boz Scaggs; and Dave Koz.

Normally on Saturday nights, I offer up a salute to some of the great ladies of Jazz from the 1930s and beyond, singing songs of love and loss. Great torch singers brought a whole life of experience that filled the songs with such weight, so much depth. This week, I thought I would point out it wasn't just the singers of yesterday who could deliver the goods, using the material that remains timeless. And I will begin with a song by the great Cole Porter. He wrote "After You, Who?"for the 1932 musical The Gay Divorcee, featuring the great Fred Astaire. While "Night And Day" might have been the huge hit from the show, Porter was never one to throw away an opportunity to impress. Here John Barrowman sings "After You, Who?" and reminds us all how important love is.



The song can be found on the album John Barrowman Sings Cole Porter on iTunes and Amazon. Next up, there is a stunning performance of a song written by the great team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Originally written for the 1940 show Pal Joey, "Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered" has been sung by the greatest names in the music business. Here I offer you a wonderfully vulnerable vocal from the amazing Sinéad O'Connor.



This song can be found on Sinead's album Am I Not Your Girl? on iTunes and Amazon. While the next song might not be as old as the others, it certainly is every bit as popular. In 1961, a film was released that had everyone talking. While not a musical, it did have a song that was sung by the lovely star of the film, Audrey Hepburn. Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini wrote "Moon River" for Hepburn's vocal range, and to be a character piece in Breakfast At Tiffany's. It was recently recorded by Dave Koz, who plays his saxophone to perfection. Koz is joined on "Moon River" by Barry Manilow, both on piano and vocals.



You can find this duet on Dave's album At The Movies on iTunes and Amazon. And finally, we have a stunning song with music by J. Fred Coots and the lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. "For All We Know" was released in 1934, and was immediately on the list of songs all the greatest singers wanted to be singing. In 2003, Boz Scaggs relased an album of Jazz standards, and included his own very special version of "For All We Know".



You can find a recording of this song on Boz Scaggs' album But Beautiful on iTunes and Amazon. It is really a great collection. Hope you enjoyed tonight's selections, and you are having a great weekend.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Sinéad O'Connor

It is certainly St. Patrick's Day, so "Éirinn go brách" and all that. In truth, the phrase was one of national pride, proclaiming "Ireland Forever" in Gaelic. So, while celebrating the day, I thought it only right to go with one of the most celebrated of Irish singers in the last 30 years, Sinéad O'Connor. She has done a great deal of Pop music through the years, but today, I will focus on the traditional music she has so beautifully produced.

"Molly Malone" was first noted in 1883, when it was published in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was also published in London in 1884 as a work written and composed by James Yorkston, of Edinburgh, with music arranged by Edmund Forman. This fabled story of a beautiful young Fishmonger who hawked her wares in Dublin before falling victim to a fever, is a wonderful tale, although in truth, no real proof of the woman can be found. Save in this beautiful song.



"Paddy's Lamentation" is an Irish song dating back to the 1860s. It is often referred to as Paddy's Lament. The subject matter is the fundamental futility of war, making a perfect song for Sinéad to sing.



"Óró Sé do Bheatha 'Bhaile" is a traditional Irish song, that came to be known as an Irish rebel song in the early 20th century. The title translates as "You are welcome home." In its original form, "Séarlas Óg" (meaning "Young Charles" in Gaelic), the song refers to Bonnie Prince Charlie and dates back to the third Jacobite rising in 1745-6. The Gaelic phrase is often translated to mean "you are welcome home." In the early 20th century it received new verses by the nationalist poet Padraig Pearse and was often sung by IRA members and sympathizers, during the Easter Rising. It was also sung as a fast march during the Irish War of Independence. Here, it is sung by O'Connor with a folkish joy.



The earliest version of "The Moorlough Shore" was found in a broadside in the Bodleian library, dated 1886. It tells the story of a young man who extolls the beauties of the countryside and the girl he has fallen in love with. She refuses his advances on the ground that she already loves a sailor. She will wait for her true love for seven years. In frustration the boy leaves his childhood home and sails away, still praising the girl he loves that lives by the Moorlough Shore.



"She Moved Through the Fair" was first collected in Donegal by poet Padraic Colum and musicologist Herbert Hughes, and published by Boosey & Hawkes in London in a work entitled Irish Country Songs in 1909. It is beautiful coming from Sinéad.



There is something incredibly, well, funny about the fact that the lyrics for the great "Irish" ballad "Danny Boy" was written by Englishman Frederic Weatherly. The music is credited to Irish lass Jane Ross of Limavady, who collected the melody, the "Londonderry Air", in the mid-19th century from a local fiddle player. The meaning of the song has long been discussed, from being a song song by a parent to a son going off to war, to an older person singing about the their past in Ireland. Here is Sinéad's remarkable cover of the song.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Kiss Me, I'm Irish Day!

Yes, it is St. Patrick's Day. And I love me some Irish music, and thought it was a fantastic chance to put some out there. I've never been to Ireland, although some in the family have, to visit relatives who still live there. Hope to get the chance someday. Above are some beautiful pictures of the country I found online. Gorgeous!

So, here are some of my favorite Irish singers. In deciding to do this post, it took me forever, for I was having a field day going through a variety of artists and songs. Finally, I pared the list down to include Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs, Bono, Van Morris and the Chieftains. Honestly, I had a great time listing to this before I finished off the post, Even when I went back. That means I really like this one! First, I'll start with Ronan Keating, who really does have a lovely voice which is well-suited to singing traditional music.

Ronan Keating The Wild Mountain Thyme



Ronan Keating Carrickfergus



Van Morrison & The Chieftains - Celtic Ray



The Chieftains & the Corrs - Instrumental



The Chieftains & Sinead O'Connor - The Foggy Dew



The Corrs & Bono


So Happy St. Patick's Day!

Billboard Top 5 - 1990

I'll be honest, I changed my source for the Billboard Top 5 songs because the songs that were in the last one just didn't make sense to me. This new source, well, it makes more sense, at least for the most part. I can tell you that 20 years ago, three of these top 5 were part of my record collection, and songs I listened to on a regular basis. That could not be said of the former source material, so rightly or wrongly, I am switching it up. And might have to revisit at least 1989, if I get a chance, cause that list, well it was causing me to struggle a bit.

Twenty years ago, I was working my but off in New York City as a freelancer, working long hours when I was in town, and traveling a great deal for the projects. I spent a lot of that time listening to my Walkman or Diskman, whichever I had at that time. Music was definitely starting to shift, as New Wave was fading, Pop was on a bit of a resurgence, but there was a new rock sound that was bubbling up from the Pacific Northwest, which was just coming together as we entered the new decade. Seattle was the home of Grunge music, and the scene was alive there, but not yet hit the rest of the country or really starting to hit the charts - yet. In 1990, the #5 song of the year was a fantastic R&B song from the amazing Janet Jackson, sister to the King of Pop. Escapade was the third single from Janet's breathtaking album Rhythm Nation 1814, which you can rest assured is in my collection. It was also the third single to hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from the album, and it had a great video. Here it is.



Starting in the 60s, drag balls were held and the competition was fierce betwixt and between a variety of 'fashion houses' in the gay community in New York City. The majority of the balls were held in Harlem, and the competitors were the drag queens (and occasionally drag kings). The houses were African American and Latino American, and they competed in what were essentially fashion shows, trying to capture the 'realness' of certain looks. The events are best chronicled by a great documentary released in 1991, Paris Is Burning. Out of these competitions came a strong style of dancing that emphasized and magnified expectations of femininity. The dance was called Voguing, and was said to be established and perfected by Benny Ninja of the House of Ninja. Ninja has become best known for his participation on Tyra Bankss' show America's Next Top Model, which has been employing drag queens to teach women how to be models for the last 7 or so years. And it was on the skirts of the Harlem drag queens that Madonna rode to the #4 song of the year when she released Vogue.



In 1990, Mariah burst on to the music scene with the release of of her eponymous debut album on the Columbia label. The album was held controlled closely by the President and CEO of the label, Tommy Mottola. It was later discovered that his interest might have been more than just artistic integrity, as Carey and he would marry in 1993. But the first single from the album, Vision of Love, quickly soared up the charts on the strength of Mariah's amazing voice and vocal histrionics. Her popularity grew quickly, although if I were being honest, and at the risk of having my gay card pulled [once again], I have to admit I have never been a big fan of Ms. Carey's, as I found her vocals to be rather over the top and self-indulgent. But Vision of Love was the first of tree straight singles that were certified as Gold selling singles for the up-and-coming star.



The #2 spot belongs to a rather stunning Irish lass, whose style and ability to speak her mind angered people from the Pope to Frank Sinatra. But when she sang Nothing Compares 2U, Sinéad O'Connor had the world stopping and listening to her. The video for the song featured to singer shot in a tight close up, with her beautiful big eyes and closely cropped hair, kept the world's attention at the beginning of the year. O'Coonor took a little-known B-side written by Prince and made it the second ranked song of 1990. Here is the video for Nothing Compares 2U.



I have to admit that I just don't remember the #1 song of 1990, even after checking out the video. Nor do I really remember the singer, Stevie B. But the top song of the year was named Because I Love You (The Postman Song) and sung by the aforementioned Stevie B. And I just don't know what else to say about it, save that it could be my least favorite #1 since I started doing this lists. So here is the video.

Jay Brannan in the UK

As the talented singer/songwriter prepares for a tour of the UK, he released some new videos on YouTube I thought I would share with you. If you would like to check out the tour dates, click to my post here. Both songs are covers of Sinead O'Connor songs, and exceptionally good. The first is Troy, released in 1987.



The other is from the 1990 release I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. No, it is not Nothing Compares 2U, it is Black Boys On Mopeds. Enjoy.

Dark Monday - Red Hot + Blue

Twenty years ago, the album Red Hot + Blue was released. It featured the music of American musical theater legend Cole Porter and some of the top acts of the day, all to raise money and awareness for AIDS research. The album contained 20 cuts, and I found 17 videos for those cuts, and for the next several weeks, will be running them in this Monday night spot. The album was thought of as a fundraising tool, it also allowed the artists involved great freedom with their interpretation of Porter's music, making for a wide variety of styles on the album. We shall go through the album in the order that is on my CD, which I did purchase at the time.



Porter was an amazing talent, and some consider him one of the best LGBT songwriters, if not THE best. He started his Broadway career in 1915, when one of his songs appeared in a Broadway Revue. He was just 24 years old. He went on to write songs for the theater like Lets Do It, Let's Fall In Love, What Is This Thing Called Love, and Anything Goes. Despite having a whife of 35 years, most believed him to be gay, and the marriage one between two dear friends who gave one another space and freedom, while gaining both wider acceptance in the greater world at large.

I've Got You Under My Skin was written in 1936 for the MGM musical Born To Dance. Frank Sinatra had a hit with his version, as did the Four Seasons, better known today from Broadway's Jersey Boys. On the album, it was performed by the incredible Nenah Cherry, who retitled it Under My Skin. I loved her take on it, which was very new and fresh [at the time], and oh-so-appropriate for the song.



In The Still Of The Night was written for another MGM musical, this one named Rosalie. Originally published in 1937, the song was covered by countless artists, but the most well-known would be the Doo-Wop group Dion & the Belmonts. On the album, it was covered by The Neville Brothers, featuring the incredible voice of Aaron Neville.



You Do Something To Me was written in 1929 for the show Fifty Million Frenchmen, although more people know it from the cover versions. Everyone from Frank Sinatra to Ella Fitzgerald had sung the song, and on this album, it was the Irish singer Sinead O'Connor who did the duties, and her version is pretty amazing!



The next track was Begin The Beguine, covered by Salif Keita. While a video was made, I was unable to find it. The song was written in 1935, and appeared in the Broadway show Jubilee. Keita is an Afro-Pop singer/songwriter from Mali, and definitely put his own spin on the song. Love For Sale followed, a song that first appeared on the Broadway stage in 1930 in a show called The New Yorkers. It was covered by Billie Holiday in 1945, and Harvey Fierstein in the movie version of Torch Song Trilogy. Here it was covered by Fine Young Cannibals with a rather sultry version. Unfortunately, this is one of two songs that did not have a video.

Written in 1939 for the musical Du Barry Was A Lady and sung by pin-up girl Betty Grable, and later added to the 1956 film High Society, sung by Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, Well, Have You Evah was classic Porter. On the album, it is performed to perfection by Debbie Harry & Iggy Pop.



Hope you enjoyed this, and I look forward to bringing you more in the coming weeks!