It wasn’t t oput her down I am in a way quite fond of O Conor’s singing. There has been a shower of interviews and publiciy here in which she is really coming down on traditional music as being stale and dead, giving herself the credit for finally reviving it and giving it new life. Terry is very much into trad singing and dancing and he is a piper too. He feels strongly about this and reacts to all of that.
It is unfortunate that a lot of people will see Sinead OC as a traditional singer. Taht she is not, far from it, a fine singer in her own right she is not at all close to being a trad singer, I always thought her version of She moved through the fair which she has been doing for years compares very poorly to renditions by singers fro mthe tradition.
Like instrumentalists from other disciplines do not often grasp traditional music, it is a mistake to think that any good singer can walk in and sing trad songs and be considered a trad singer. Different forms demand different skills.
Lee, I too like Anthea Lawrence! I’ve listened to her stuff over and over again at mp3.com.
I’ve really enjoyed all the responses on this thread-- thank you to everyone. I’ve been able to find a few of the suggestions, and have been listening intently.
Well that upsets me to hear that about Sinead…ultimately she is pretty self serving.
Along similar lines however, I’m curious about Dolores Mary O’Riordan Burton of the Cranberries. I read on her site that she was raised with traditional Irish music and I’m wondering if she has ever attempted anything traditional that maybe never made it across the sea?
I agree 110 per cent with Peter. Terry Moylan as the “Quarrelsome Piper” columnist in An Píobiare expressed similar views about how Sharon Shannon was wrongly becoming established by people who knew nothing about the music as some kind of reference standard by virtue of appearances on TV shows like The Late Late Show. Though at least Sharon has never been reported as expressing the kind of arrogant nonsensical views attributed to the suede-headed one with the lovely eyes.
Sinéad’s performance of “She moved through the fair” is dire. Its only redeeming feature is the spine-chilling impact it has when associated with the sound track of the film “Michael Collins”. I haven’t bought her new album, and don’t plan to.
To learn traditional singing, go back to the old field recordings from earlier in the 20’th century that are available from John Moulden’s Ulstersongs web site. Listen to the originals.
Elizabeth Cronin - IRISH LILTS AND LOVE SONGS
Sarah Makem and Annie Jane Kelly - THE MAY MORNING DEW.
Cecilia Costello (recordings made by Peter Kennedy, 1950-52)
THE MOUNTAIN STREAMS Brigid Tunney, Paddy and Michael Gallagher
If you listen to that audio program about Joe Heaney,
you will hear Cathy Ryan describing how
she learned songs from Joe.
That interview and program about Joe
Heaney is a good introduction to
the subject of traditional singing for those
who want to learn more about it.
In the first response to your question,
Peter Laban answered with some singers
that can be found on a various artists CD.
go to: http://www.irishinmontana.com and
type in the SEARCH box,
A TREASURY OF IRISH SONG.
You’ll get a CD that includes
Maighread Ni Dhomhnaill
Triona Ni Dhomhnaill
Aine Ui Cheallaigh
and more. The price is $15.49 US.
The track was My Lagan Love. I am not the trad police and enjoy much of the recent Irish singing, like Mairead Ni Mhonaigh (Mary Mooney, I can’t spell it in Irish…), or Karen Casey, Susan McKeon, Cathy Ryan.
But this track by Sinead is pretty crappy for what it is. It is flat and uninteresting a pop track. It’s got some stupid gituar licks in the back ground, sounds canned and simplistic. The harmonies are really boring and there is not much interest in her Singing (and there is some of her older stuff I could listen all day, just for her singing). This here is pretty awful. And I won’t even mention the Ahaaaa-haaaaa-aaaaah background singers…
The whole things sounds plodding.
Anyway, there you have my uninformed opinion.
/bloomfield
[ This Message was edited by: Bloomfield on 2002-10-25 08:01 ]
Alice, thanks for your suggestions! I will definitely check all of that out…by the way, I enjoy your own singing! I have a few of your songs on my MP3.com radio station, Songbird Pub.
RE Sinead O’Connor’ recent, I have been meaning to add My Lagan Love to my mp3 page for over a year… haven’t gotten around to it, but now that she has butchered it I almost don’t want to put it on there. Ah, well. I think I will do eventually just so people have something to compare it to.
Connie Dover has one of the most beautiful voices . . . not all her music falls under trad however(she also features a few folk songs on each of her album). Her pronunciation is perfect and clear and her voice rings like a bell.
She deserves a mention on this board!
On 2002-10-19 04:05, Peter Laban wrote:
…
It is unfortunate that a lot of people will see Sinead OC as a traditional singer. Taht she is not, far from it, a fine singer in her own right she is not at all close to being a trad singer, I always thought her version of She moved through the fair which she has been doing for years compares very poorly to renditions by singers fro mthe tradition.
I’m no Sinead fan, but saw and heard her recording of The Foggy Dew, and have to say that it is the only recording of this song I’ve ever liked. She sent shivers up my spine with it. Is there a rendition by a more accepted trad singer you would recommend to compare against? (I had formed a hatred of this song after hearing it done too many times by thoroughly incompetent singers)
My vary favourite “Celtic” compilation is Datgan (or, “Celtic Tales & Tongues” if you’re stateside). It has singing in Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh and Breton by Lillis O Laoire, Mairi Smith, Julie Murphy, and Annie Ebrel, respectively. I think it’s one of the finest collaborations ever to come out of trad music. On some pieces, Lillis and Mairi sing together, and on others, Julie and Annie. One of the nice things about this particular recording is that the singing is very traditional, yet the singers are relatively young.
Other favourites singers to date are:
Gearoidin Breathnach
Aine Bean Ui Laoi
Caitlin Ni Dhomhnaill
Roise na hAmhrain
Elizabeth Cronin (mentioned earlier)
Just in case you’re after men singers as well, Darach O Cathain has a beautiful album out.
Aoife Clancy? Where’s she on this list? She’s absolutely phenomenal. Have some of her stuff with Cherish the Ladies, and saw her live with John Whelan and Lawrence Nugent…that was a heck of a concert. Anyway, she’s quite good, have a listen.
-kel
I just bought an el cheapo CD at Music Wherehouse this weekend ~ May or may not be strictly trad, but it’s Clannad Landmark and the singer is Maire Brennan ~ I am especially in love with the second track, “Fado” But to me, the whole CD is beautiful, I’m happy I found it.
Mary
Andrea, if you need yet another female singer with a very beautiful voice singing traditional songs in Irish see my posting under “Recordings of Airs?”.
Just wanted to thank those who mentioned Delores Keane, with the description of her contralto voice. I was not familiar with her (being new to traditional music). With so many recommendations I splurged on a few CD’s I encountered. LOVELY. There are not very many contralto singers who become popular especial with this type of music. Being in that range myself I am treasuring these CDs. Thanks to all who suggested her.
