Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
There is presently a discussion about this topic on another site which I visit, although it is mainly in relation to Scottish music. You can have a "quick nose" to see what they think.
To my dismay, the consensus seems to be that the Scottish music scene *does* require idols. So, I thought that I'd ask the same question here just to see if you reached different conclusion. Of course, it maybe depends on what your definition of an "idol" is. If we're talking about pop star, hollywood actor, or famous footballer status, then my response is emphatically "No, we don't need or want such a thing in traditional Music". On the other hand, there are very many excellent musicians who deserve our admiration and respect but I think they can have that without us falling at their feet and fawning over them.
I'm wondering too if there might be different views from "gigging musicians" as opposed to those of us who are quite content to play in sessions for our own enjoyment--although I realise that many of you out there do both.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I like to do both myself. Playing for my own enjoyment is so much fun, but I also love to share this awesome music with others who haven't heard about it.
I don't know if "idol" is exactly the right word to use. Whether we want it or not, though, there are people that should be admired out there. I have my fiddle heroes: Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes, Oisin Macdiarmada, Liz Carroll. These are all excelent musicians that should be admired, and there is much that can be learned from such good musicians. Of course, we should not fall at their feet! I respect and admire them, not worship them!
And also, one person's idol could be another's nightmare musician.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
should there be such thing like "there should not be ..." ??? - I see some idols in irish music - musicians which I´d like to have as teacher one day just for a week or a week end, or musicians who just left the building and joined the heavenly ceili band, or these who played lately in a music hall not far from my hometown, or these who made a few outstanding recordings I can´t stop listen to for days month or longer ... it would be a sad world without all these.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
i think there's more than a few 'idols' if that's what you want to call them in this music and they'll not be known to many people.and they would n't think of themselves as such.of course there's people you respect as well.
then again if you need idols it's come to a pretty poor pass.
by the way,there do seem to be loads of guitar heroes though...
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
idol does sound like very tacky, but if you are starting out on an instrumnet then it is usually because you heard someone play that really woke up the ears! It is great to have players who, when you hear play, inspire you to play.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Andy Irvine was one of my heroes too, Keiron. There's still lots of musicians I really admire out there. I agree that it's important to have players who can inspire you. There's others that excite me and I love watching them perform live. However, I would hate it if our musicians/singers were constantly in the public eye, a "Posh and Becks" scenario where their every movement was reported on television and the tabloids but their music was forgotten.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I would hope that the aforementioned "idols" would not want to be recognised as "idols", merely as good musicians. There are probably other musicians out there who are just/nearly as good, it's just you idolators haven't heard them recorded or met them yet.
Aren't they only idols in the eyes/ears of an idolator? No one is perfect in the eyes of everyone.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I like to think of the people whose playing I most admire as something to aspire to. To truly 'Idolise' would suggest to me that I may need a couple of sessions with a psychologist! (maybe I need that anyway!)
I have just returned from the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and classes with the great Irish Harper, Grainne Hambly! I do aspire to be as good a player and as gifted a teacher as her!! But idolise her? Mmmmm ...... I have her CDs and her books and would travel to Ireland to be taught by her again but I think that's because she is so inspiring!! I flit like a buterfly - next week I will be back to wanting to be Wendy Stewart again!!
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
This doesn't really answer the question in anyway, but it's funny that the question for this thread come up b/c just the other night I got thinking about the idea of an "Traditional Irish Music Idol" on TV (following in the footsteps of "Pop Idol", "American Idol", etc.). I think it's fair to let Simon Cowell decide upon the next great IT musician ;). Anyway, just a random thought.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
OK. I'm happy to admit that this discussion is a load of rubbish but I had been quite surprised that the notion had been taken seriously elsewhere. That's why I asked the question originally. Actually, a "good question" is no guarantee of a sensible answer around here, anyway, but I suppose it helps.
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
With Irish Traditional music, there are so many different styles of playing and one persons' style may turn someone else on, it may turn another person off. I have Idols but they might do other peoples' heads in
Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
There is presently a discussion about this topic on another site which I visit, although it is mainly in relation to Scottish music. You can have a "quick nose" to see what they think.
http://www.footstompin.com/forum?threadid=13497
To my dismay, the consensus seems to be that the Scottish music scene *does* require idols. So, I thought that I'd ask the same question here just to see if you reached different conclusion. Of course, it maybe depends on what your definition of an "idol" is. If we're talking about pop star, hollywood actor, or famous footballer status, then my response is emphatically "No, we don't need or want such a thing in traditional Music". On the other hand, there are very many excellent musicians who deserve our admiration and respect but I think they can have that without us falling at their feet and fawning over them.
I'm wondering too if there might be different views from "gigging musicians" as opposed to those of us who are quite content to play in sessions for our own enjoyment--although I realise that many of you out there do both.
John
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
The idol that can be spoken of is not the true idol
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Just a person
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I like to do both myself. Playing for my own enjoyment is so much fun, but I also love to share this awesome music with others who haven't heard about it.
I don't know if "idol" is exactly the right word to use. Whether we want it or not, though, there are people that should be admired out there. I have my fiddle heroes: Kevin Burke, Martin Hayes, Oisin Macdiarmada, Liz Carroll. These are all excelent musicians that should be admired, and there is much that can be learned from such good musicians. Of course, we should not fall at their feet! I respect and admire them, not worship them!
And also, one person's idol could be another's nightmare musician.
-Max
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Max Becher
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
well..... there's The Blue Idol....
-Pádraig
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Pádraig
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
My wife calls me an idol, bone idol.
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by len
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
should there be such thing like "there should not be ..." ??? - I see some idols in irish music - musicians which I´d like to have as teacher one day just for a week or a week end, or musicians who just left the building and joined the heavenly ceili band, or these who played lately in a music hall not far from my hometown, or these who made a few outstanding recordings I can´t stop listen to for days month or longer ... it would be a sad world without all these.
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by crannog
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
i think there's more than a few 'idols' if that's what you want to call them in this music and they'll not be known to many people.and they would n't think of themselves as such.of course there's people you respect as well.
then again if you need idols it's come to a pretty poor pass.
by the way,there do seem to be loads of guitar heroes though...
...and nice one,LiamOg (LOL)
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by biggus dave
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
To each their own if someone wants an idol they can have one that is my opinion.
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Unseen122
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
idol does sound like very tacky, but if you are starting out on an instrumnet then it is usually because you heard someone play that really woke up the ears! It is great to have players who, when you hear play, inspire you to play.
ks
http://www.chinatogalway.com/
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by KS
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Andy Irvine was one of my heroes too, Keiron. There's still lots of musicians I really admire out there. I agree that it's important to have players who can inspire you. There's others that excite me and I love watching them perform live. However, I would hate it if our musicians/singers were constantly in the public eye, a "Posh and Becks" scenario where their every movement was reported on television and the tabloids but their music was forgotten.
John
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Nah, come on John - surely no one could ever seriously think of styling themselves as some sort of lord of irish dance music?
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Q
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I'd Flatley refuse to believe that,
# Posted on April 10th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I would hope that the aforementioned "idols" would not want to be recognised as "idols", merely as good musicians. There are probably other musicians out there who are just/nearly as good, it's just you idolators haven't heard them recorded or met them yet.
Aren't they only idols in the eyes/ears of an idolator? No one is perfect in the eyes of everyone.
# Posted on April 11th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
I like to think of the people whose playing I most admire as something to aspire to. To truly 'Idolise' would suggest to me that I may need a couple of sessions with a psychologist! (maybe I need that anyway!)
I have just returned from the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and classes with the great Irish Harper, Grainne Hambly! I do aspire to be as good a player and as gifted a teacher as her!! But idolise her? Mmmmm ...... I have her CDs and her books and would travel to Ireland to be taught by her again but I think that's because she is so inspiring!! I flit like a buterfly - next week I will be back to wanting to be Wendy Stewart again!!
# Posted on April 11th 2004 by Mostlywind
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
This doesn't really answer the question in anyway, but it's funny that the question for this thread come up b/c just the other night I got thinking about the idea of an "Traditional Irish Music Idol" on TV (following in the footsteps of "Pop Idol", "American Idol", etc.). I think it's fair to let Simon Cowell decide upon the next great IT musician ;). Anyway, just a random thought.
Jason
# Posted on April 11th 2004 by Jason G
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Oooooh, this gets my goat. What a load of shite
# Posted on April 11th 2004 by llig leahcim
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Happy Easter, everyone. :- )
# Posted on April 11th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
It gets my goat too.
# Posted on April 12th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
OK. I'm happy to admit that this discussion is a load of rubbish but I had been quite surprised that the notion had been taken seriously elsewhere. That's why I asked the question originally. Actually, a "good question" is no guarantee of a sensible answer around here, anyway, but I suppose it helps.
Let's forget about it and enjoy the music.
# Posted on April 12th 2004 by Johannes J
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
Can I have my goat back now?
# Posted on April 12th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Are there or should be idols in Irish Traditional music?
With Irish Traditional music, there are so many different styles of playing and one persons' style may turn someone else on, it may turn another person off. I have Idols but they might do other peoples' heads in
# Posted on April 14th 2004 by andrewtay123