I know this isn't really a question relating in anyway to sessions but I am trying to locate an upbeat version of Fields of Athenry. Its for a St Patricks day celebration and I know there was one released a few years ago but I can't remember who did it. Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Don't know about upbeat but there was a very "out of tune" version by a party of Celtic supporters who were staying at the Central Hotel on Saturday. They "mingled" with the C(K)eltic Connections crowd with fairly good humour-much to the relief of the hotel management. :>))
I've heard an upbeat version of this too but I'm not sure who did it. Maybe the Pogues or similar?
this probably is n't the one you mean but in the '80s beret-wearing rockster brook shiels did a very up tempo version of it in a somewhat rory gallagher mode with screaming geeeetars and all.i liked it anyway
best wishes
That's one of those expressions I never understood: "something is as something does." I've never gotten around to asking someone to explain it ... until now.
Sorry, dinjosra. Though the ballad stuff isn't exactly my cup od tea, I thought your band sounded like fun (and I also like some of Simon's victims on American Idol.)
"She Moves Through The Fair" is another of my favourites. I'm surprised the song wasn't used in a beer commercial, given the number of inebriated singers who've embraced it. *hiccup*
yeah, our band hasn't exactly won over the hearts of the snobbish, the boring, or people that have a hard time with others enjoying themselves, but we're a huge hit with the hearing impaired, the mentally challenged and most children under 6.
omigod!
Did I write that? I'll never log on after coming back fom the pub again - well, not till tonight, anyway...
I didn't mean to vilify your band - I just don't like what you did with that song, sorry again!
Of course, there's always the parody on this song---which I nicked from Mudcrap Cafe. Here it is.
FIELDS OF ATHENRY (alternative version)
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are singing it again
If I hear it one more time, I think I'll lose my mind
I'm so fed up with the Fields of Athenry
cho: Oh no the Fields of Athenry
If I hear it one more time I think I'll die
It's such a boring song it goes on and on and on
I'm so fed up with the Fields of Athenry
From within the prison wall I heard a young man calling
Mary why do you think I'm here
In here we all agree transportation'll set us free
Free from the Fields of Athenry
By a lonely harbour wall I saw the last star falling
As the prison ship sailed out against the tide
Hold on that girl did say I'm coming with you to Botany Bay
To escape from the Fields of Athenry
@parody @Irish @transportation
filename[ ATHENRY2
XX
oct00
Do you mean the one that was released in the charts some time ago? Found the following article on it. Might give you a lead to the version you're looking for.
"Pete St. John and Paddy Reilly probably never imagined it but that classic song of theirs, 'The Fields of Athenry' could yet be one of the big dancefloor hits of the year, writes Padraig Burns.
Adopted in recent years by football supporters, here in Ireland and in Glasgow by Celtic fans, 'The Fields of Athenry' has been re-mixed at the Westlink Studios, Castlebar, by Ronan Courell with vocals by the bar staff of Cox's Bar in Castlebar.
Its success and popularity has shocked the crew and after just two weeks 'The Fields' has shot up to Number 6 in the Irish Dance Charts. Now, the man behind the project, Castlebar based disc-jockey, Johnny Oosten, has plans to release the C.D. into that hot-bed of football followers, Celtic Football Club.
"We have been contacted by a Scottish record company who want to release it there. Obviously, they are only too well aware of the tremendous support there is for Celtic in the country and they believe that this new version of such a popular song could really catch on," he said.
Johnny, who is a resident deejay at Cox's in Castlebar, has had previous success with his version of the 'Lonesome Boatman'. "I talked it over with Dermot Cox and Brendan Galvin (Bar Manager) and we decided to give it a go. It was new to all of us but it's been really enjoyable so far."
I know this doesn't answer the original question, but I thought someone had to step in and defend the song. Mind you, I've only been around ITM for a little less than 3 years, but Fields of Athenry is one of my faves. When I was in Galway a few years back going to school, I was part of the ITM club on campus, and we would have a session in De Burgos, and often stay well past closing. One of my nicest recollections is kinda being in that really mellow state (no drugs involved-- I know what people are thinking ), and hearing one of my Irish mates sing the song as a sort of close to the session. Whenever I hear the song now, I just kind of close my eyes and envision myself back in that setting that I loved so much. Anywho, so there's my defense of the song. Not a strong defense, but that's as best as I could muster for being up at 7 AM.
Now you've all stopped patting yourself on the back for your superior taste lets get back to what real people like.
I get asked to play this tune on GHB at Irish funerals regularly usually at the graveside, and the effect is very powerful.
I've actually grown to love playing it.
I guess overfamiliarity breeds contempt. The trouble with being inside this music is that we view it completely differently from those outside listening in, who can't comprehend why we would rather play Maudabaun Chapel, when we could be playing the Trumpet Hornpipe(!)
Personally I'm fond of Fields of Athenry, but maybe I wouldn't if I didn't have a friend who sings it so beautifully. She also sings Sweet Sixteen, Teddy O'Neil, Bunch Of Thyme, and other 'sentimental' songs so affectingly that you would have to be a dolt not to be moved by them. I guess that was why I was so negative about the soundclip mentioned above. (Not that that excuses my rudeness)
LOL -- Hey, I don't pay attention to her, although I think a mild bleach bath would be wise for anyone who does...a friend told me the other day that she realized suddenly that even after seeing Spears all over the rags at cash registers every single week for ages, she can't recall what her face actually looks like, because that's never what the focus is on...
I suspected as much.
Now, what would be an acceptable Irish song to you?
Maybe this is a generational thing. You see, for me, songs like the above, although they are not 'folksongs' as such, are part (a fairly small part maybe) of my mental background static of Irish music. Or maybe it's just the way I was brought up - I always thought of those tunes as being 'old people's tunes' or parent's tunes. But I'd quite like to reclaim them really.
*grin* Well, Mark, isn't that sort of what Denis's band is doing with it? Making it their own?
Really, I think there's a difference between "sick and tired of hearing a song" and "that's a terrible song". And also a difference between "I hate sentimental songs, I think they're drivel" and "everyone ought to hate sentimental songs, because they're drivel".
I rarely go to places where I'll hear songs like Rose of Tralee and Danny Boy and Fields of Athenry, and I don't sing, so we can't accomodate requests for them, so I haven't ever gotten the chance to get tired of them. I know two or three singers that I'll always love to hear sing, even the aforementioned songs.
Zina, I've got no real gripe with Denis's band. I just had in my mind my friend singing 'The song that dare not speak its name' the night before (mind you, she could sing 'I've a hole in my bucket, Dear Liza,' and have you weeping into your beer) , when I stumbled in from the pub and clicked on their version, and hearing it done like that was almost shocking.
What I meant about sentimental songs being mental background static for me was that they were what my father used to sing to himself if he was happy, and I guess they form a very basic cornerstone of my perception of Irishness in music, if that doesn't sound too pretentious.
But I think he should keep his top on.
"The Fields Of Athenry" (and similar standards) have been done to death. Too many bad singers (often cocky) access their talents via the aforementioned song and it has become hackneyed. I do like 'Irish songs' such as "The Cliffs Of Doneen" and "Pat Murphy's Meadow", but "The Fields..." melody, in my opinion, isn't remotely enjoyable after repeated listens.
There are two ways to fix a hole in your bucket. One with your clothes on and one without.....ok, that's the last naked reference I make tonight. I'm going out for a beer(s) anyone else thirsty?
It's dangerous to try to fix a hole in your bucket with your clothes off. Last time I had to wait for ages in casualty, and then they all laughed when I said I'd got stuck in the hole after slipping in the shower.
Fields of Athenry
Fields of Athenry
I know this isn't really a question relating in anyway to sessions but I am trying to locate an upbeat version of Fields of Athenry. Its for a St Patricks day celebration and I know there was one released a few years ago but I can't remember who did it. Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Melodymaker
Re: Fields of Athenry
Don't know about upbeat but there was a very "out of tune" version by a party of Celtic supporters who were staying at the Central Hotel on Saturday. They "mingled" with the C(K)eltic Connections crowd with fairly good humour-much to the relief of the hotel management. :>))
I've heard an upbeat version of this too but I'm not sure who did it. Maybe the Pogues or similar?
John
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Fields of Athenry
this probably is n't the one you mean but in the '80s beret-wearing rockster brook shiels did a very up tempo version of it in a somewhat rory gallagher mode with screaming geeeetars and all.i liked it anyway
best wishes
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by biggus dave
Re: Fields of Athenry
try hearing the version posted on www.halfthebottle.com (on the recordings page) by a band called "Shilelagh Law" they're a devilishly handsome group.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
*snort* Hey, no advertising there, Denis. ;)
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Fields of Athenry
sorry...that was a shameless plug......and we're really not that handsome.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
LOL -- hey, handsome is as handsome does...
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Zina Lee
Handsome is...
That's one of those expressions I never understood: "something is as something does." I've never gotten around to asking someone to explain it ... until now.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by grego
Handsome is
i.e., "something is as something does, not how something looks." OK, I get it now! Thanks David.
Sorry for the interruption, I'll let you get back to the Fields now...
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by grego
Re: Fields of Athenry
The dropkick murphys did a version recently on thier 'blackout' album. It's not really upbeat though, more of a punk slant.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by weefreefidler
Re: Fields of Athenry
I'd *so* love to hear the original words of that against a 100% reggae backdrop .... Now That's What I Call Music (92) !!
Haven't heard the Pogues or the Popes since Shane McGowan last spoke a coherent sentence ...
Jim
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Worldfiddler
Re: Fields of Athenry
Dreadful bloody song. It's up there with "Danny Boy".
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Fields of Athenry
I agree with BowHand.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Fields of Athenry
dinjosra, I listened to the clip.
sorry, that's bloody appalling.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
ROTFL... ITM Idol has arrived, and Ottery is Simon!
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by grego
Re: Fields of Athenry
Sorry, dinjosra. Though the ballad stuff isn't exactly my cup od tea, I thought your band sounded like fun (and I also like some of Simon's victims on American Idol.)
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by grego
Re: Fields of Athenry
"She Moves Through The Fair" is another of my favourites. I'm surprised the song wasn't used in a beer commercial, given the number of inebriated singers who've embraced it. *hiccup*
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Fields of Athenry
Try it as a march as I have occasionally heard it played by the odd Orange F***-the-Pope flute band. Would that be upbeat enough for ye?
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by LongNote
Re: Fields of Athenry
yeah, our band hasn't exactly won over the hearts of the snobbish, the boring, or people that have a hard time with others enjoying themselves, but we're a huge hit with the hearing impaired, the mentally challenged and most children under 6.
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
omigod!
Did I write that? I'll never log on after coming back fom the pub again - well, not till tonight, anyway...
I didn't mean to vilify your band - I just don't like what you did with that song, sorry again!
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
Of course, there's always the parody on this song---which I nicked from Mudcrap Cafe. Here it is.
FIELDS OF ATHENRY (alternative version)
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are singing it again
If I hear it one more time, I think I'll lose my mind
I'm so fed up with the Fields of Athenry
cho: Oh no the Fields of Athenry
If I hear it one more time I think I'll die
It's such a boring song it goes on and on and on
I'm so fed up with the Fields of Athenry
From within the prison wall I heard a young man calling
Mary why do you think I'm here
In here we all agree transportation'll set us free
Free from the Fields of Athenry
By a lonely harbour wall I saw the last star falling
As the prison ship sailed out against the tide
Hold on that girl did say I'm coming with you to Botany Bay
To escape from the Fields of Athenry
@parody @Irish @transportation
filename[ ATHENRY2
XX
oct00
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Fields of Athenry
Mind you, sometimes parodies are even more wearing than the originals after a while. :>))
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Fields of Athenry
Do you mean the one that was released in the charts some time ago? Found the following article on it. Might give you a lead to the version you're looking for.
"Pete St. John and Paddy Reilly probably never imagined it but that classic song of theirs, 'The Fields of Athenry' could yet be one of the big dancefloor hits of the year, writes Padraig Burns.
Adopted in recent years by football supporters, here in Ireland and in Glasgow by Celtic fans, 'The Fields of Athenry' has been re-mixed at the Westlink Studios, Castlebar, by Ronan Courell with vocals by the bar staff of Cox's Bar in Castlebar.
Its success and popularity has shocked the crew and after just two weeks 'The Fields' has shot up to Number 6 in the Irish Dance Charts. Now, the man behind the project, Castlebar based disc-jockey, Johnny Oosten, has plans to release the C.D. into that hot-bed of football followers, Celtic Football Club.
"We have been contacted by a Scottish record company who want to release it there. Obviously, they are only too well aware of the tremendous support there is for Celtic in the country and they believe that this new version of such a popular song could really catch on," he said.
Johnny, who is a resident deejay at Cox's in Castlebar, has had previous success with his version of the 'Lonesome Boatman'. "I talked it over with Dermot Cox and Brendan Galvin (Bar Manager) and we decided to give it a go. It was new to all of us but it's been really enjoyable so far."
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by DG
Re: Fields of Athenry
I know this doesn't answer the original question, but I thought someone had to step in and defend the song. Mind you, I've only been around ITM for a little less than 3 years, but Fields of Athenry is one of my faves. When I was in Galway a few years back going to school, I was part of the ITM club on campus, and we would have a session in De Burgos, and often stay well past closing. One of my nicest recollections is kinda being in that really mellow state (no drugs involved-- I know what people are thinking
), and hearing one of my Irish mates sing the song as a sort of close to the session. Whenever I hear the song now, I just kind of close my eyes and envision myself back in that setting that I loved so much. Anywho, so there's my defense of the song. Not a strong defense, but that's as best as I could muster for being up at 7 AM.
~~Jason
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Jason G
Re: Fields of Athenry
Now you've all stopped patting yourself on the back for your superior taste lets get back to what real people like.
I get asked to play this tune on GHB at Irish funerals regularly usually at the graveside, and the effect is very powerful.
I've actually grown to love playing it.
TTFN
PP
# Posted on February 2nd 2004 by Pied Piper
Re: Fields of Athenry
I guess overfamiliarity breeds contempt. The trouble with being inside this music is that we view it completely differently from those outside listening in, who can't comprehend why we would rather play Maudabaun Chapel, when we could be playing the Trumpet Hornpipe(!)
Personally I'm fond of Fields of Athenry, but maybe I wouldn't if I didn't have a friend who sings it so beautifully. She also sings Sweet Sixteen, Teddy O'Neil, Bunch Of Thyme, and other 'sentimental' songs so affectingly that you would have to be a dolt not to be moved by them. I guess that was why I was so negative about the soundclip mentioned above. (Not that that excuses my rudeness)
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
Please save us from real people, PP :>))
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Fields of Athenry
What, you mean, like, McDonalds, and soap operas, Pied? Okay, everybody, Brittany Spears all around! And Janet Jackson's right breast, of course.
Yi yi yi.
John, that parody is hilarious. *grin*
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Fields of Athenry
Hey, Ottery...I'll still buy ya a pint (or ten).....by the end of the night we'll have you singin just like us.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
Get it right Zina, it's *Britney*! For goodnees sake woman, don't you know anything?
:~}
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Fields of Athenry
LOL -- Hey, I don't pay attention to her, although I think a mild bleach bath would be wise for anyone who does...a friend told me the other day that she realized suddenly that even after seeing Spears all over the rags at cash registers every single week for ages, she can't recall what her face actually looks like, because that's never what the focus is on...
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Fields of Athenry
I'd gladly take off my top to hear Zina sing "Athenry"
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
LOL -- Denis. Keep. The shirt. On. LOL
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Fields of Athenry
Thanks dinjosra. Though I wouldn't be doing you any favours by singing with/at you!
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
It dosn't matter what context the song is performed in. It's awful.
Next!
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Fields of Athenry
Bowhand, I wonder what do you think of The Snowy Breasted Pearl, Slievenamon, Rose Of Tralee?
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
I never heard of "The Snowy Breasted Pearl".
"Slievenamon " - not as mucky as "The Fields...".
"The Rose Of Tralee" - the work of Satan.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Fields of Athenry
Re: "The Snowy Breasted Pearl"
I located the lyrics via Google. I don't think it'd be my cup of tea somehow.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Fields of Athenry
I suspected as much.
Now, what would be an acceptable Irish song to you?
Maybe this is a generational thing. You see, for me, songs like the above, although they are not 'folksongs' as such, are part (a fairly small part maybe) of my mental background static of Irish music. Or maybe it's just the way I was brought up - I always thought of those tunes as being 'old people's tunes' or parent's tunes. But I'd quite like to reclaim them really.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
*grin* Well, Mark, isn't that sort of what Denis's band is doing with it? Making it their own?
Really, I think there's a difference between "sick and tired of hearing a song" and "that's a terrible song". And also a difference between "I hate sentimental songs, I think they're drivel" and "everyone ought to hate sentimental songs, because they're drivel".
I rarely go to places where I'll hear songs like Rose of Tralee and Danny Boy and Fields of Athenry, and I don't sing, so we can't accomodate requests for them, so I haven't ever gotten the chance to get tired of them. I know two or three singers that I'll always love to hear sing, even the aforementioned songs.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Fields of Athenry
I still want to take off my top.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
*smirk* Some things should stay your own, Denis -- no sharing!...LOL
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Fields of Athenry
damn
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
Zina, I've got no real gripe with Denis's band. I just had in my mind my friend singing 'The song that dare not speak its name' the night before (mind you, she could sing 'I've a hole in my bucket, Dear Liza,' and have you weeping into your beer) , when I stumbled in from the pub and clicked on their version, and hearing it done like that was almost shocking.
What I meant about sentimental songs being mental background static for me was that they were what my father used to sing to himself if he was happy, and I guess they form a very basic cornerstone of my perception of Irishness in music, if that doesn't sound too pretentious.
But I think he should keep his top on.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
"The Fields Of Athenry" (and similar standards) have been done to death. Too many bad singers (often cocky) access their talents via the aforementioned song and it has become hackneyed. I do like 'Irish songs' such as "The Cliffs Of Doneen" and "Pat Murphy's Meadow", but "The Fields..." melody, in my opinion, isn't remotely enjoyable after repeated listens.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by BowHand
Re: Fields of Athenry
There are two ways to fix a hole in your bucket. One with your clothes on and one without.....ok, that's the last naked reference I make tonight. I'm going out for a beer(s) anyone else thirsty?
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by dinjosra
Re: Fields of Athenry
It's dangerous to try to fix a hole in your bucket with your clothes off. Last time I had to wait for ages in casualty, and then they all laughed when I said I'd got stuck in the hole after slipping in the shower.
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Ottery
Re: Fields of Athenry
When I worked at a hospital, the really amusing and fun excuses were the ones people would come up with in re: to vacuum cleaner incidents...
# Posted on February 3rd 2004 by Zina Lee