Dark Monday • Éirinn go Brách-dway

Left: Barbra Streisand, and right: Anita O'Day.

On January 10, 1947, the original Broadway production of 'Finian's Rainbow' opened at the 46th Street Theatre, in New York City. The hit show had lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and music by Burton Lane. The show told the story of an Irish father and daughter who move to the American South to bury a pot of gold, hoping it would grow. And, of course, the leprechaun that followed them. Two months later, another original Broadway production opened March 13, 1947, at the Ziegfeld Theatre. 'Brigadoon' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. It is a story of a group that stumbles upon a Scottish town that only appears once every century. Of course, love blooms when strangers meet. What do these two productions have in common? Aside from the year 1947, they both have songs that Barbra Streisand made into a medley that is gorgeous to hear. She sings "How Are Things In Glocca Morra" from 'Finian's Rainbow' and "Heather on the Hill" from 'Brigadoon', to make a lovely aural experience. This is Barbra Streisand with her recording of the songs.

Another of the great songs from 'Finian's Rainbow' became an instant classic, with vocalists putting their time in the studio to be a part of the fun. One of those voices could be counted as one of my favorites for the Jazz singers. Anita O'Day teamed up with with the Oscar Peterson Quartet to record "Old Devil Moon" from the Broadway hit. It appeared on her 1957 album, 'Anita Sings the Most'. This is Anita O'Day and the Oscar Peterson Quartet singing "Old Devil Moon".

And since it is St. Patrick's Day, I have to add "Éirinn go Brách" people!

Secret Garden featuring Brian Kennedy • You Raise Me Up

Left: Secret Garden members Rolf Løvland and Fionnuala Sherry. Right: Brian Kennedy.

As tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, I thought I would bring you a classic favorite from an unexpected source. While most are familiar with a "You Raise Me Up" when sung by either Westlife or Josh Groban, I thought I would bring in the song as performed by Secret Garden. At the center of Secret Garden are Fionnuala Sherry and Rolf Løvland, instrumentalists who meld Celtic and Nordic Folk music to create some amazing results. That would include the song "You Raise Me Up", with lyrics by Brendan Graham and music by Rolf Løvland. The duo invited Irish vocalist Brian Kennedy to lend his considerable talents to the recording session, and, as you might expect, something special happened. This is "You Raise Me Up" by Secret Garden and featuring Brian Kennedy.

Sadly, while it might be the original recording, it was not the best selling. Westlife had that honor in Europe and elsewhere in the world, and Josh Groban in the United States and other countries around the globe. "You Raise Me Up" can e found on 'The Best Of Secret Garden 20th Century Masters - The Millemmium Collection', available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.

St. Patrick's Day 2013

Clockwise: Feargal Sharkey; The Pogues; Mary Black; and The Corrs.

Last night I focused on traditional Irish singers, but tonight I am taking a look at some Irish singers that fit into a more contemporary description, who normally make Rock and Pop music. While I was tempted to once again include Sinéad O'Connor, I opted to let her music posted this morning to be her contribution to the holiday. I will start off with one performer I followed since the late 1970s, when he was the lead singer of the punk band The Undertones. The band was amazing, and I was sad when they broke up in 1983. But lead singer Feargal Sharkey made a few Pop albums before he retired as a performer to working in the industry, with jobs from developing artists to running a record label. In 1992, Feargal was still working on a solo career, and he released the album 'Songs From The Mardi Gras'. On it, he included this version of "She Moved Through The Fair", a traditional Irish song.

The Pogues came together in 1982, ready to take the Punk world by storm. They had their own spin on the music, making a Celtic Punk that fused traditional Celtic sounds with the Punk sensibilities. And they were never afraid to take on some traditional Irish music, as they did on their 1988 release, 'If I Should Fall From Grace With God'. They recorded a medley made up by the traditional songs "The Recruiting Sergeant/The Rocky Road to Dublin/The Galway Races". Listen and enjoy.

The Corrs were a family act formed in 1990, with sisters Andrea, Caroline, Sharon joined by brother Jim Corr to make some great music. Their op sound was certainly flavored with their Celtic roots, with songs like "Breathless" and "Dreams" making the late 1990s and early 2000s a great time for their careers. At this time, the band is on hiatus, as the members look to solo projects and their families. But in 2005, the band released the album 'Home', a collection of traditional Irish songs. Among the songs was the beautiful "Old Hag".

Mary Black was born to a musical family, her father a fiddler and mother a singer. In fact, her siblings are also musically inclined. In 1975, Mary began singing with some groups, mostly making Folk music. After several years, Mary struck out on her own, fusing her traditional background with strong Pop sensibilities. Her popularity grew in Ireland, and soon she was touring not just her homeland, but around the world. With this exposure, Black gained popularity in the United States as well. With the release of "A Song For Ireland" in 1998, it seemed like the country has a new song to get behind. Enjoy Mary Black singing "A Song For Ireland".

Hope you had a great St. Patrick's Day.

Lovely Ladies of Ireland

Clockwise: Mary O'Hara; Ruby Murray; Bridie Gallagher; and Lisa Hannigan.

While I know that St. Patrick's Day is not until tomorrow, I thought it would be fun to do a little research, and bring some Irish vocalists to the blog. I must admit, my collection of Irish singers consists of U2, the Corrs, Sinéad O'Conner, Van Morrison, Chris Keys, and Clannad, so research was in order. So I set off doing searches with Google, and one of the first names I came up with was the lovely Mary O'Hara. She began her climb to fame in Sligo, Ireland, also the home of Westlife. In the early 1950s, O'Hara was still a teen, but appearing on Irish television and radio, and winning music competitions. She played the harp, and had a stunning voice, perfect for singing some traditional Irish music. In the mid1950s, she married and moved to the United States, only to have he husband die 18 months later. Distraught, she joined a convent, and was out of music for more than a decade, only to go back to music. She was immediately popular in Ireland, and soon was popular all over Europe again. Here she singing the traditional song "Danny Boy", accompanying herself on the harp.

Ruby Murray was first discovered in Belfast at the age of 12, appearing on television to sing. But she went back to school full-time for two years, when child labor laws no longer applied. By the time she was 10, she was singing weekly on television, and started a fun of hit songs. While the 1950s were her best years on the charts, she continued making music and touring live for the next few decades. He died in 1996. Much of her music revolved around her Irish roots, like her gorgeous version of "Cockles and Mussels (Molly Malone)", the traditional Irish favorite.

Unlike the other ladies in this post, Lisa Hannigan is currently making music, having only been active for the last decade or so. Lisa first gained noticed as a member of Damian Rice's band, before embarking on her solo career in 2007. She has released two albums to date, both getting great notices in the press. But I discovered her when she sang with the legendary Irish band The Chieftains, performing the traditional ballad "My Lagan Love". It is stunning, and once I heard it, I could not resist the urge to post it.

Bridie Gallagher was also known as "The Girl From Donegal", for it was true, and it was also the name of one of her early hits, released in 1958. From the mid 1950s to the turn of the century, Bridie was making music, being extremely popular across the British empire, selling out shows in Ireland, England, and Australia. While she wasn't on the charts in the last few decades of the last century, she was still touring and making people happy. She retired in 2000, and lived in Belfast. She passed in 2012, and taken back to Donegal to be buried. She will long be remembered as someone who loved to sing songs that focused on her homeland, including her 1959 hit "Moonlight in Mayo".

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Omnia • Fee Ra Hurri

The band Omnia bills themselves as a "neoceltic pagan folk" band, and they are based in The Netherlands. I couldn't think of a more interesting way to kick off the St. Patrick's Day festivities. The band members have come from many of the countries of the European Union, working together to create their unique blend of sounds, kind of Jethro Tull meets The Chieftains while taking crystal meth. The music is kinds incredible, and the energy magnificent, and the video would not allow me to look away. Enjoy watching this live clip of Omnia playing "Fee Ra Huri", off the album 'Live On Earth'.

I readily admit I only discovered this bad a few days ago while looking for clips to use for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Otherwise, I am not sure I would have been cool enough to find them. Here is a second song off the 'Live On Earth' album, "Sheenearlahi".

You can purchase 'Live On Earth' from iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about Omnia, you can visit their official website. You can also 'follow' them on Twitter, or 'like' them on Facebook. And enjoy your St. Patrick's Day 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!