I ran across this modern sounding jig and wondered how it appeals to the traditionalists? I don’t know how to play fiddle but this sounds very intricate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQGJ7hVqfIE&feature=channel_video_title
thoughts??
A couple of things, Rachel:
First off, it’s a song, and basically a plugged-in Irish-Pubby rock song, not a jig per se. Yes, there’s a jig-type “hook” (as I call it) that pops up now and again, but the hook’s not a complete tune, so I don’t call it an actual jig as such (it may be exerpted from a tune I don’t know, however). It’s a nice hook with a bit of excitement to it. As to intricate, though, it’s pretty much par for the course so far as Irish-style dance melodies can go. I’ve heard tougher.
Putting on my traditionalist hat, I wouldn’t even listen to it. But fortunately I can take it off, and the song is engaging and well done for what it is. But asking what a traditionalist thinks of it is kind of fruitless, really, as this song by its nature can make no pretense at even seeming “traditional” in the true sense. It’s kind of like asking a career carnivore what he thinks of a well-made salad that has real bacon bits in it. Not the most perfect analogy, but I hope you get the idea.
Just to be clear, I’m in one band that breaks from tradition all the time, myself. But the boys and I come from places (humble, to be sure) in the ITM tradition itself, and we don’t confuse ourselves as to what we’re about when we’re doing the other thing no matter how traditionally inspired it may be. One is not the other, and not being the other, it’s hard to give valid opinions on one when asked to do so from the standpoint of the other whichever the direction. If you had an actual jig for us to evaluate on a strictly melodic basis, then a traditionalist would have something to chew on; in this case, though, it’s just a matter of whether what we hear is our cup of tea. 
Half a jig, half a jig, half a jig onward … In the regional style of County Riverdance.
Publicist or fan-gurl? We speculate, you decide.
And I love the message of the song: It’s St. Patrick’s Day and everyone’s wearing green. But I’m self-absorbed enough to be sure that my love life is more important. So I’ll wear black in an Irish pub, toast a good old Amerkan instead (USA!), and stalk my girlfriend. Good stuff.
At the start of the tune the fiddle, in jig time, goes 8 bars and repeats. So it’s half a jig, either newly composed or borrowed. I agree with Nano – doesn’t sound particularly difficult.
Not particularly my type of music, but whatever.
After a quick peek at their website, they don’t have a fiddler. They do have a few keyboard players though. And with that in mind, it’s quite easy to hear that it’s not really a fiddle being played.
Say it ain’t so! 
I know, I know, I should have told you to sit down before I hit you with that. Hope you didn’t break no hip or nuthin’ when you fell over. 
Okay, waidaminnit. You know someone who knows me, right? C’mon. 'Fess up. 
Must… resist… urge to… joke… about… peoples’ mothers…
Phew. Think I got it under control now, so I’ll say that I don’t know anyone who knows you personally, but I know people who know some people…
My reputation supercedes me.
He got that from me.
But not that. I’m not a toasty sort. Well…um…er…
It’s the latest in roleplaying foreplay, MTGuru. Haven’t you heard?
Sorry Jäger, it IS a real fiddle, only strongly processed - in the very beginning you can hear the fiddler plucking the strings to check the tuning. Also you hear the bowing which cannot really be imitated by a keyboard.
The overall musical idea of this song strongly reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQKTa-Ogop4
which was recorded 24 years ago, before Riverdance changed the world of Irish music…
Love it, except for the missed rhyme. (Glass doesn’t rhyme with Cash).
How about “Let’s raise a glass to everything crass”?
Me needing to nitpick, that is called oblique (or “slant” or “forced”) rhyme. Totally legit, at least in an academic sense. I’m just sayin’, is all. Just so’s you know. There will be a test.
I have a recording of my grandfather playing a similar-sounding jig in the 1930s. Something like this:
Only kidding, guys - sorry. It’s minutes old.
Nice wee piece of mischief, Nigel. Your explanation fell on another page, so I couldn’t see it while I was listening to the clip and looking at your score and thinking, looks like the same tune… hmm.
It was coincidence that my second post fell on the second page - I’m very sorry for acting on my michievous temptations.
And zither-playing monkeys fly outta my butt. 