Someone requested this song "Galway Girl" yet again last Sunday.
I informed them that we did not do C and W stuff, and that it was a toss up between "Galway Girl" and "Pretty Little girl from Omagh" as the worst song ever written, even if it did take about two minutes to write.
It is a terrible song, and yes the whole of Ireland, being C and W mad, are enthralled by it.
Its far from Steve Earles best song.
He's a hugely talented writer.
One of my favourite artistes.
Check out Copperhead Road or The Hard Way - two of his early albums or Washington Square Serenade - his newest work.
What? ALL Country music is horrible?
Gillian Welch
The Louvin Brothers
Steve Earle
Alison Krause
Norman Blake
David Grisman
Clark Kessinger
Mark O'Connor
Commander Cody And the Lost Planet Airmen
Hank Williams
Byron Berline
Jimmy Rogers
Patsy Cline
Bob Wills
Ralph Stanley
Emmylou Harris
Earl Scruggs
the Flying Burrito Brothers
Hank Wangford(!)
Frank Hutchinson
Hazel Dickens
Etta Baker
Bill Keith
Johnny Cash
Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers
Freakwater
The Carter Family
Willie Nelson
Béla Fleck
No Ottery, it is not all horrible. I even have recordings by Mary Chapin Carpenter, one (the least county one) by Nancy Griffiths, Kris Kristofferson, and Hank Williams.
What is horrible is Irish C and W bands singing "My lil' ol home in Dun Ganyon" complete with terrible southern US of A accents.
I thought Commander Cody was Archbishop of Chicago through the 1960's and unlike most Illinois politicians, he got out of town before they could send him to jail.
Glad to hear there are others who wonder how a third-rate country song became so popular just because it contains the word "Galway".
I do like genuine country music, in particular Ottery's list from Hank Williams - Ralph Stanley.
that list includes some old-time and some bluegrass, and maybe even some newgrass. when I think of C&W, I think of classics like "drop kick me jesus through the goalposts of life" and "thank god and greyhound she's gone" - am I wrong about this?
airport, the question was:
"BTW - whats wrong with Country Music?????"
not
"BTW - whats wrong with Country & Western Music?????"
Try reading the thread.
Having said that, aren't those 2 C&W songs you mention fantastic?
Not everything you like has to be cool.
I Like:
Lous Prima
Billie Holiday (Young)
Louis Armstrong (Young again)
Rod Stewart (Yes, young again)
Cecilia Bartoli
Gregory Isaacs
The Waterboys
Richard Thompson
Bobby Womack,
Leonard Cohen ....
amongst many others
including
Llan De Cubel
Lau
Paddy Keenan
John Wynne
Marcus O'Murchu
Harry Bradley
Yes, I hate C&W music. Sorry. To each their own. If you like it, by all means, have at it. It gives me rashes and hives though. Serious doses will actually induce allergic shock and I have required hospitalization upon occasion due to serious exposure.
...so you can imagine what a challenge this is for me, living in Florida and all.
...but, at least I don't live in Ireland where it's taking over, apparently. (ho ho ho)
Modern popular American C/W music is horrible! It usualy has little or no melody. The lyrics are dumb as hell and the music is uninspiring to say the least! Being an American I can't stand when American bands sing with fake Irish accents, or even worse a fake Shane McGowan accent, I can't imagine what Irish people sound like singing in fake southern American accents. As for American country musicians-why do they all have to sing with that stoooopid accent anyway ?! They're certainly not all from south of the Manson Nixon line. I guess it's the difference between ' music' and 'show business'. I've always liked the former and disliked the latter.
To wrap things up I don't know this Steve Earle but the song sucks....
“Modern popular American C/W music is horrible! It usualy has little or no melody. The lyrics are dumb as hell and the music is uninspiring to say the least!”
Crikeys! That’s a very broad indictment, innit?
Country & western was originally a record and radio programming category and it referred to two styles of music – country (mainly Southeastern US rural music) and Western (mainly Texas and midwest) – that shared an audience. Today, it’s pretty hard to know what somebody means by country & western music anymore. I suspect most people who “hate” country or C&W are referring to the slick productions of Nashville studios from the 1950’s and 60’s and subsequent imitations – music that’s as different from traditional grassroots country music (and it’s modern lineage) as Riverdance is from Tommy Peoples.
Bob himself-you are right and that's why my post says 'modern popular American C/W music' and I mean specifically What's on the radio right now on country pop stations in America. I believe that most forms of music, including Irish trad, lose a lot of what's important because of commercial success. Modern blues has little in common with Robrt Johnson or Son House. I think if most people came upon Woody Guthrie singing in a coffe house they'd leave to go find the angst ridden anorexic 16 year old singing about ...God knows what!
Ah, country pop. Don't like much of it myself. Mostly it sounds like a variant of Southern Rock without the balls, if you'll pardon the expression.
FWIW, I've heard Sean Keane singing an American style country song and I thought he sounded great. For my money, some people can pull it off without sounding phony. The Beatles and the Stones certainly found widespread acceptance imitating Southern American black singers.
I haven’t spent much time following pop music since, oh god, the 60’s. I heard lots of the radio hits, but bought very few albums and never went to pop concerts. As a result, I did not know that Van Morrison wasn’t American until about fifteen years ago. Should I be admitting this?
Maybe it's because I grew up at a time when practically all of the pop singers were imitating ethnic voices not their own.
Hi i can tell from reading the comment not to many like this song, but would anyone who does know where i could find the notes for Galway Girl to play on the Button Accordion. Thanks
Probably doesn't...but! I have faith that YOU can figure it out. Can't be that hard... come on now give it a try I bet you can do it!
If drugged up long haired, pimple faced, pot smoking morons can copy, note for note, songs like 'By Tor and the Snow Dog' by Rush you should easily be able to pick out this melody! Give it a try! I know you can do it. And when you figure it out and can play it, come back here and say 'Thanks, you were right that wasn't too hard".
What is the deal...
What is the deal...
...with Steve Earle?
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by timmy!
Re: What is the deal...
He's Texan.
Does he play bodhran?
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by RockyRoader
Re: What is the deal...
How do ya mean, "whats the deal" with him?
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: What is the deal...
This guy?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Earle
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: What is the deal...
is it to do with 'The Galway Girl' song?
recorded with Sharon Shannon on his 'Transcendental Blues' album, 2000 _ nearly the whole of ireland is stone mad about it
. . . but it IS a class piece of work with growing anthem status and i like it
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by hungry grass
Re: What is the deal...
Am I the only one that can't stand that song?????????????
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by Free Reed
Re: What is the deal...
Someone requested this song "Galway Girl" yet again last Sunday.
I informed them that we did not do C and W stuff, and that it was a toss up between "Galway Girl" and "Pretty Little girl from Omagh" as the worst song ever written, even if it did take about two minutes to write.
It is a terrible song, and yes the whole of Ireland, being C and W mad, are enthralled by it.
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by bodhran bliss
Re: What is the deal...
Its far from Steve Earles best song.
He's a hugely talented writer.
One of my favourite artistes.
Check out Copperhead Road or The Hard Way - two of his early albums or Washington Square Serenade - his newest work.
BTW - whats wrong with Country Music?????
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: What is the deal...
It's horrible?
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: What is the deal...
I mean, it's horrible, that's what's wrong with it.
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: What is the deal...
What? ALL Country music is horrible?
Gillian Welch
The Louvin Brothers
Steve Earle
Alison Krause
Norman Blake
David Grisman
Clark Kessinger
Mark O'Connor
Commander Cody And the Lost Planet Airmen
Hank Williams
Byron Berline
Jimmy Rogers
Patsy Cline
Bob Wills
Ralph Stanley
Emmylou Harris
Earl Scruggs
the Flying Burrito Brothers
Hank Wangford(!)
Frank Hutchinson
Hazel Dickens
Etta Baker
Bill Keith
Johnny Cash
Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers
Freakwater
The Carter Family
Willie Nelson
Béla Fleck
All Horrible eh?
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by Ottery
Re: What is the deal...
No Ottery, it is not all horrible. I even have recordings by Mary Chapin Carpenter, one (the least county one) by Nancy Griffiths, Kris Kristofferson, and Hank Williams.
What is horrible is Irish C and W bands singing "My lil' ol home in Dun Ganyon" complete with terrible southern US of A accents.
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by bodhran bliss
Re: What is the deal...
Steve Earle has always been popular in Ireland - its nothing to do with Galway Girl in particular.
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: What is the deal...
Hi BB,
that was sort of aimed at SWFL, not you(!)
Would concur with you on Irish C&W/Showband music, though I haven't had to sit through any for a while ....
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by Ottery
Re: What is the deal...
I thought Commander Cody was Archbishop of Chicago through the 1960's and unlike most Illinois politicians, he got out of town before they could send him to jail.
Unique way...he died
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by zippydw
Re: What is the deal...
Sharon Shannon's Galway Girl is a really fun piece of music
# Posted on February 3rd 2009 by zippydw
Re: What is the deal...
Glad to hear there are others who wonder how a third-rate country song became so popular just because it contains the word "Galway".
I do like genuine country music, in particular Ottery's list from Hank Williams - Ralph Stanley.
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by oldstrings
Re: What is the deal...
While I agree that there is a lot of great C&W music, I must diagree with Ottery's list if he means C&W with certain artists.
I note at least a few on the list who are NOT C&W, or at least did not make their names in the genre.
My twa farthings, FWIW.
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by Piece
Re: What is the deal...
My objection to C&W is that it has infiltrated the Clare FM trad podcast. It really doesn't belong there....
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by leoj
Re: What is the deal...
that list includes some old-time and some bluegrass, and maybe even some newgrass. when I think of C&W, I think of classics like "drop kick me jesus through the goalposts of life" and "thank god and greyhound she's gone" - am I wrong about this?
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by airport
Re: What is the deal...
airport, the question was:
"BTW - whats wrong with Country Music?????"
not
"BTW - whats wrong with Country & Western Music?????"
Try reading the thread.
Having said that, aren't those 2 C&W songs you mention fantastic?
Not everything you like has to be cool.
I Like:
Lous Prima
Billie Holiday (Young)
Louis Armstrong (Young again)
Rod Stewart (Yes, young again)
Cecilia Bartoli
Gregory Isaacs
The Waterboys
Richard Thompson
Bobby Womack,
Leonard Cohen ....
amongst many others
including
Llan De Cubel
Lau
Paddy Keenan
John Wynne
Marcus O'Murchu
Harry Bradley
Got a label for that lot?
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by Ottery
Re: What is the deal...
Sorry,
forgot to mention John Prine (Who married The Galway Girl) and Guy Clark in there ....
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by Ottery
Re: What is the deal...
Incidentally, Galway Girl has had a bit of a resurgence lately thanks to it being used in a Magners Cider TV advert.
Anyway, for what its worth, I love Country Music - I made a living playing it in the 70's.
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: What is the deal...
....and I sang it with an American accent. Its called showbiz.
Same reason that someone from Cork or Kerry will sing Seven Drunken Nights in a Dublin accent!!!!!
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by Dennis Regan
Re: What is the deal...
Yes, I hate C&W music. Sorry. To each their own. If you like it, by all means, have at it. It gives me rashes and hives though. Serious doses will actually induce allergic shock and I have required hospitalization upon occasion due to serious exposure.
...so you can imagine what a challenge this is for me, living in Florida and all.
...but, at least I don't live in Ireland where it's taking over, apparently. (ho ho ho)
# Posted on February 4th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: What is the deal...
Modern popular American C/W music is horrible! It usualy has little or no melody. The lyrics are dumb as hell and the music is uninspiring to say the least! Being an American I can't stand when American bands sing with fake Irish accents, or even worse a fake Shane McGowan accent, I can't imagine what Irish people sound like singing in fake southern American accents. As for American country musicians-why do they all have to sing with that stoooopid accent anyway ?! They're certainly not all from south of the Manson Nixon line. I guess it's the difference between ' music' and 'show business'. I've always liked the former and disliked the latter.
To wrap things up I don't know this Steve Earle but the song sucks....
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by shanty
Re: What is the deal...
John Prine is a LEGEND, his words are so good I never think of him as Country.
And he married a Donegal girl, from Ardara I think. Well he is always in Ardara, the only person you see.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by bodhran bliss
Re: What is the deal...
“Modern popular American C/W music is horrible! It usualy has little or no melody. The lyrics are dumb as hell and the music is uninspiring to say the least!”
Crikeys! That’s a very broad indictment, innit?
Country & western was originally a record and radio programming category and it referred to two styles of music – country (mainly Southeastern US rural music) and Western (mainly Texas and midwest) – that shared an audience. Today, it’s pretty hard to know what somebody means by country & western music anymore. I suspect most people who “hate” country or C&W are referring to the slick productions of Nashville studios from the 1950’s and 60’s and subsequent imitations – music that’s as different from traditional grassroots country music (and it’s modern lineage) as Riverdance is from Tommy Peoples.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Bob himself
Re: What is the deal...
Bob himself-you are right and that's why my post says 'modern popular American C/W music' and I mean specifically What's on the radio right now on country pop stations in America. I believe that most forms of music, including Irish trad, lose a lot of what's important because of commercial success. Modern blues has little in common with Robrt Johnson or Son House. I think if most people came upon Woody Guthrie singing in a coffe house they'd leave to go find the angst ridden anorexic 16 year old singing about ...God knows what!
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by shanty
Re: What is the deal...
Ah, country pop. Don't like much of it myself. Mostly it sounds like a variant of Southern Rock without the balls, if you'll pardon the expression.
FWIW, I've heard Sean Keane singing an American style country song and I thought he sounded great. For my money, some people can pull it off without sounding phony. The Beatles and the Stones certainly found widespread acceptance imitating Southern American black singers.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Bob himself
Re: What is the deal...
I haven’t spent much time following pop music since, oh god, the 60’s. I heard lots of the radio hits, but bought very few albums and never went to pop concerts. As a result, I did not know that Van Morrison wasn’t American until about fifteen years ago. Should I be admitting this?
Maybe it's because I grew up at a time when practically all of the pop singers were imitating ethnic voices not their own.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Bob himself
Re: What is the deal...
Hi i can tell from reading the comment not to many like this song, but would anyone who does know where i could find the notes for Galway Girl to play on the Button Accordion. Thanks
# Posted on June 26th 2010 by Candyfloss
Re: What is the deal...
Hope this helps you--
http://66.216.73.96/discussions/display/19726/comments
# Posted on June 26th 2010 by shanty
Re: What is the deal...
Probably doesn't...but! I have faith that YOU can figure it out. Can't be that hard... come on now give it a try I bet you can do it!
If drugged up long haired, pimple faced, pot smoking morons can copy, note for note, songs like 'By Tor and the Snow Dog' by Rush you should easily be able to pick out this melody! Give it a try! I know you can do it. And when you figure it out and can play it, come back here and say 'Thanks, you were right that wasn't too hard".
you're welcome!
# Posted on June 26th 2010 by shanty