Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
I don't think that there's an exact equivalent in English of many Yiddish words (shlemiel, kibitz, shnorrer, etc).
The book The Joys of Yiddish gives the following definitions of shmaltz
1) cooking fat, melted or rendered fat, usually chicken
2) "corn", pathos, maudlin and mawkish substance; excessive sentimentality; overly emotional mush; sugary banality.
3)Luxury, wealth, good luck: "He fell into a tub of shmaltz, that's how lucky he is!"
LIke many Yiddish words in English shmaltz can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb.
This reminds me of the time I was playing uilleann pipes on a movie score and the conductor/composer told me to "shmutz it up" which I took to mean play it less pristine, but rather "dirty it up" a bit.
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Schmaltzig is a German word meaning...kitschy, soppy...actually just think of Daniel in his jumper and you're there.
...Was looking the the Brtish Album charts a few weeks ago, just to see what the young peeeple were listening to these days and the bould Daniel was NUMBER 17...probably a reflection of the demographics who actually still buy "records" as much as anything else.
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Q: What's has twenty four feet and no teeth
A: The front row of a Daniel O'Donnell concert.
Daniel is not everybody's cup of tea but I have yet to see punters camping out overnight to get into an ITM concert and in fairness he brings a lot of happiness to many people. No...I'm not a fan but I like some of the 'cheesy crap'
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
I've always heard Schamltz used. I thought it was a univeral, timeless concept.
I somehow recall one day in my vast liturgical training, hearing about a great prophet who wrote "Praise God with drums and dancing, with harp, tambourines and 12 string lyre". Following a clap of thunder and bolt of lightning, from a cloud came a booming voice.
"Let There be Schmaltz".
The prophet then got together wit hNoah and had planned the first musical cruise ship tour of the Holy land for this boat Noah was building.
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
The literal translation of Schmalz is "lard" btw. In German it is used for pieces of music whereas Kitsch is applied to objects like decoration, paintings etc. I think corniness is an adequate translation for Schmalz. Personally I'd say "sentimental rubbish".
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
kuec--isn't schlager-musik synonymous with schmalz? Or maybe it's just that schlager is considered by some to be schmalzy?
I'm only mildly surprised that there isn't a term in Irish to describe overly sentimental, maudlin music. Don't really know much of the sean nos, but there are a lot of English-language songs (and instrumental music) that convey wistfulness and loss. I guess when you have a lot of that, it's hard to draw a line as "too much."
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Schlager can be schmalzy, but also cheerful like Oompah. Find me a word for "Stimmung" - music to get the whole pub/ concert audience to "schunkel"....
Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
A: Daniel O'Donnell
Daniel O'Donnell is apparently touring New Zealand again. According to advertising he is Ireland's favourite entertainer. Is this possible?
He might just be New Zealand's favourite entertainer... for those blue rinse Kiwis. Or maybe not...
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Brown Creeper
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Surely time for a revival of that joke about Daniel O'Donnell, Ian Paisely Margaret Thatcher, the IRA kidnap team and the gun with two bullets....
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by sergeant fox
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Surely, but surely, you mean Blarney ?
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
I love that one about the two bullets, though I have it as Daniel O'Donnell, Ian Paisely and the Pope.
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by ...
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Why would the IRA kidnap the Pope?
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
It's just a slightly different version ... it involves a desert island
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by ...
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
"sh*te", I think...
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
cheesey crap
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by iwerzon
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
bhlonaige
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by gam
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
"According to advertising he is Ireland's favourite entertainer"?
Nah, wee bit past it - probably Jedward these days ...
Seriously, you don't think the ordinary folk of Ireland have much time for the diddley, do you?
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by the wounded hussar
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
I don't think that there's an exact equivalent in English of many Yiddish words (shlemiel, kibitz, shnorrer, etc).
The book The Joys of Yiddish gives the following definitions of shmaltz
1) cooking fat, melted or rendered fat, usually chicken
2) "corn", pathos, maudlin and mawkish substance; excessive sentimentality; overly emotional mush; sugary banality.
3)Luxury, wealth, good luck: "He fell into a tub of shmaltz, that's how lucky he is!"
LIke many Yiddish words in English shmaltz can be used as a noun, adjective, or verb.
This reminds me of the time I was playing uilleann pipes on a movie score and the conductor/composer told me to "shmutz it up" which I took to mean play it less pristine, but rather "dirty it up" a bit.
Anyhow "cheesy crap" comes very close!
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Richard D Cook
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Schmaltzig is a German word meaning...kitschy, soppy...actually just think of Daniel in his jumper and you're there.
...Was looking the the Brtish Album charts a few weeks ago, just to see what the young peeeple were listening to these days and the bould Daniel was NUMBER 17...probably a reflection of the demographics who actually still buy "records" as much as anything else.
Still though, the man is a phenomenon.
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by del_c
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Q: What's has twenty four feet and no teeth
A: The front row of a Daniel O'Donnell concert.
Daniel is not everybody's cup of tea but I have yet to see punters camping out overnight to get into an ITM concert and in fairness he brings a lot of happiness to many people. No...I'm not a fan but I like some of the 'cheesy crap'
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Free Reed
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
I was a Val Doonican man myself....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x76tT_oCeI&feature=related
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Johnny Jay
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
"Hello there!"
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by Weejie
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
I've always heard Schamltz used. I thought it was a univeral, timeless concept.
I somehow recall one day in my vast liturgical training, hearing about a great prophet who wrote "Praise God with drums and dancing, with harp, tambourines and 12 string lyre". Following a clap of thunder and bolt of lightning, from a cloud came a booming voice.
"Let There be Schmaltz".
The prophet then got together wit hNoah and had planned the first musical cruise ship tour of the Holy land for this boat Noah was building.
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by zippydw
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Did they give Berlusconi the gig?
# Posted on November 28th 2011 by nicholas
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
The literal translation of Schmalz is "lard" btw. In German it is used for pieces of music whereas Kitsch is applied to objects like decoration, paintings etc. I think corniness is an adequate translation for Schmalz. Personally I'd say "sentimental rubbish".
# Posted on November 29th 2011 by kuec
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
kuec--isn't schlager-musik synonymous with schmalz? Or maybe it's just that schlager is considered by some to be schmalzy?
I'm only mildly surprised that there isn't a term in Irish to describe overly sentimental, maudlin music. Don't really know much of the sean nos, but there are a lot of English-language songs (and instrumental music) that convey wistfulness and loss. I guess when you have a lot of that, it's hard to draw a line as "too much."
# Posted on November 29th 2011 by fidkid
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Schlager can be schmalzy, but also cheerful like Oompah. Find me a word for "Stimmung" - music to get the whole pub/ concert audience to "schunkel"....
# Posted on November 29th 2011 by kuec
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Mother Macree should cover it.
kuec, would that be as in
I Wish I Could Schunkel Like My Sister Kate?
# Posted on November 30th 2011 by oldstrings
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
Anything with "Oul Oireland" in it!
# Posted on December 1st 2011 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
And played to the tune of Danny Boy
# Posted on December 3rd 2011 by zippydw
Re: Q: What would the equivalent Irish expression for Schmaltz?
That's no Schmaltz, it's a Schmazurka.
# Posted on December 3rd 2011 by Bren