My understanding, from what I’ve read, is that he qualified to box in Golden Gloves competition (which many kids do) but he was not a champion.
Loren
About Mr. Flatley and his shows:
I would’t ever consider doing what he does. I don’t mind some show stuff, and I don’t mind some fusions and all that, but most of the stuff he has done has been way over the top in some regards.
But I certainly have a huge admiration for him…
As a former classicaly trained pianist, I feel the same way about Liberace. (flatly has way more skills than Liberace, by the way)
I always hated how gaudy Liberace played and all those stupid outfits and glitter and glam. The thing I hated the most is how all the people who don’t really know anything about music think he’s (was) the greatest and say things like, “if he’s sooo bad, how come so many people love him?!?” And in their own way, they’re kind of right. They want to see a show, not talk about double cranns. A show is what they get. Eyeliner and all!!
But you have to respect the career they made for themselves. Just like Kenny G. (why is he in the jazz section???")
How about Enya?
It’s all marketing.
It’s a show. It is live.
It is not pre-recorded.
Flatley is a great dancer.
Flatley is a great flute player.
The fiddlers are great fiddlers.
All the dancers are great dancers.
It’s something other than the pure drop- a show.
At times it is over the top. You certainly don’t have to like it.
As Seamus Tansey would say, “To Hell with the Begrudgers.”
no one is saying the people aren’t great dancers and musicians. It’s his taste that I’m putting down. and it’s “flatly” terrible.
How can you tell me that there’s no difference between Liberace and Claudio Arrau? Or The Backstreet Boys and the Silver Platters? Or Wallpaper and a Monet? “The show” should be in the music. If I wanted glitz, I’d go to a fashion show.
I do agree with you, as I make a living playing in a band that plays music I hate and have to watch clubbers booty grind all night long. It’s a paycheck. But There’s something different when a real session is going on.
(edited for better articulation)
I too made my living playing in a band for years- in fact we were together over twenty years. I didn’t hate the music, although at times I got bored. Sometimes I felt we were praised when we didn’t play particularly well and at other times I felt we were unfairly ignored. It wasn’t about us, though - it was about entertaining. Putting on a show. It wasn’t a session.
My wife and I went to a big show at the Glor, in Ennis, a few weeks ago. Some of the people who played there were Matt Molloy, Sean Keane, Paddy Moloney, Paddy Canny, Matt Cranitch, Liam O’ Floinn, Joe Burke, Peadar O’Riada. The Kilfenora and the Tulla ceili bands. It was a good show. But not as good as when I heard Tommy Peoples all by himself. That was something.
Not to belabor the point - but it’s hard to criticize somebody as good as Flatley, and his excellent fiddlers and dancers. You might not like it. It’s a bit too glitsy for me too. I even feel that way about The Chieftains these days, to tell you the truth.
But it’s still a great show, innit?
Absolutly. My working band isn’t Irish music either. It’s a variety band. hip hop, funk, rock, pop, top 40. I know what you mean. Some of the places I play on the Jersey shore pack in 1200 people. I sometimes make believe they’re actually there to “listen” to our music. But they love it, they dance, drink, and go home happy after a week of hard work.
Take care,
Lee
For a lot of the people in the show, it’s probably a similar experience. It’s a chance to make money playing tunes and travel the world. They may not really be into the music, but it is a fun experience. My favorite part of the clips is actually the close up of Flatley next to Cora Smyth. She is looking at him the entire time with this sort of bemused, “you are such an idiot” look on her face.
B
Exactly the look Richards used to give Jagger on stage. I’m sure they loved their music, and at it’s best it was very, very good. But the performance situation is something else entirely. On “the big” stage, music is product.
The way I look at it is this: the musicians get to work in their field, no one’s getting hurt, the audience is happy. Everybody wins.
Moral: For theater, go to big shows. For music, go to the clubs, or better yet, make it yourself.
very nicely put crooked. i kind of like that “chicken dance” that Jagger does. hehe. See you on whistlethis.
Lee (acidhead)
BrendanB says
They may not really be into the music… My favorite part of the clips is … the close up of Flatley next to Cora Smyth. She is looking at him… with this sort of bemused, “you are such an idiot” look on her face.
Of course they’re into the music. It’s absurd to suggest they could play like that and not be totally into the music, fer crissake.
Why would any serious musician think Flatley is an idiot? World-class dancer, world-class flute player, and worth about $50,000,000 to boot. Cora Smyth knows this and respects him, even if you don’t.
The Great Rafferty and Matt Molloy each say that Michael Flatley is a great guy and a true gentleman. That’s enough for me.
what happens when you take the best of wwf pro wrestling and mix it with itm?
Yes, but this is where the true experts on these and other matters reside David, you should know that by now.
Loren
a tell glass of juicy juice 
sorry.
e.
ok, the guy can play. his air was a bit too cheesy for me, but i thought the stuff on youtube and the show’s site was a lot better. however, dont say that no one gets hurt! i got hurt. i had trouble sleeping last night, with images of his twitching eyebrows and hidden smirks while playing. in my sleep-deprived delirium, i really thought i was ruined for life. having recovered, i can say i’ve never seen something so funny as when the girl whips off her shirt to show an american flag bikini top.
Ah the day that happens to a flute player you know yer playing is really hitting the spot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MQx5_E-aQg&mode=related&search=
Here is another great Flatley clip.
Thank you, CF.
Uh-oh, a big IMO … whether it’s your style or not, don’t think the guy couldn’t play rings around most of us with one hand tied behind his back in a session, either, and I bet he’s been to enough as a lad to know the drill just fine.
And, although Riverdance is not my cup of tea, I suspect anyone who’s made a dime in some aspect of Irish music in the last, say, 10 years might owe at least a small thank you to Flatley and the whole Riverdance phenomenon – as over the top as it is, it introduced a fairly small corner ofculture to the world at large and sparked (sparkled? ) significant interest in return.
I mean … thanks to Riverdance, we’ve got more little girls at feis and fleadhanna (whether we like the wigs or not), which means we’ve got more feis and fleadhanna, period, which means we need a few more musicians to play at them, which means there might be a nice session at a feis or fleadh near you, which means there might be more interest in the music in general, which means more and better players, not to mention bands, performers, recordings, and instrument makers …
Basically, it’s created a demand for what we love to do. Nothing wrong with that in my book.
True, it’s sort of like going to Disney World to learn about China, but it is an introduction, nonetheless. And there’s some good fallout from it, too – fallout we all all benefit from. Meanwhile, a few more people get serious about the culture and history and get involved.
Finally (and maybe I don’t have the best taste either), “rockin’” music is rockin’ music, infectious for all but the most jaded who are playing it at the time. I’ve done the “Enya-ey” harp & flute type gigs, and when the music gels it’s wonderful, doesn’t matter what we’re playing. Same for my weird hybrid Bluegrass experiment (more cowbell!). When we settle into just the right groove in the Blackberry Blossom, whistle and all, I don’t CARE what we’re playing. I just care that it feels good, feels fun, and seems to feel good to the listener, too. And if you don’t like it, you just don’t listen or watch. But if you do, then hey, have fun, and thanks!
So bottom line, I get just as much juice from a lovely corny moment as I do from a really great traditional session (which is my preferred hangout) where everything comes together. It’s the coming together, the “music of the spheres” that makes it wonderful.
No, what’s really hard is when you have to do that show night after night and it’s NOT gelling.
But when it does? I don’t think you worry too much about what you’re playing or who you’re playing it with. You’re too busy having fun and riding the wave because alas, it’s going to end all too soon.
K, I’ll shut up now. 
ya were dead on 'till that last bit, eh? 