I am playing in a band, and most of our stuff is ITM, but I want us to play some pop songs that my friends know and then bring out a tune within them. So one I have chosen which works well is Elvis Presley's "Love me Tender."
Any suggestions for other pop songs that have a ghost within that could be released?
Sticking to an Elvis theme, "Heartbreak Hotel" seems adaptable to this sort of tomfoolery.
Ever since Chet Atkins and the Chieftains had a go at it together, I have heard the odd person at a session working it into tunes or vice versa in a sort of A-G modal kind of way.
I've just posted Elanor Rigby on this site, De Danaan's adaptation of the Beatle's song. Frankie Gavin beat you to it! I have to say, 'Love Me Tender' sounds a bit cheesey for this sort of treatment. How about fast forwarding to something like The Byrds? Mr Tamourine Man, Eight Miles High, for example? The difficulty is that many Irish tunes are modal, and most pop songs are not, so the atmosphere is difficult to transfer. Look through the Best of the Bee Gees (is this really me saying this?!) many of their songs are instantly recognisable, and if I remember right, some are in minor keys that might suffer the treatment you suggest.
A footnote to the comment just posted! I've just remembered that I bought a De Danaan CD about two years ago called 'Welcome to the Hotel Connemara'. They did exactly what you're trying to do. So Frankie gavin really did get there before you, and I reckon he's cleaned up!
There's a group in the San Francisco area called "Wake the Dead" who have at least one CD (Buckdancer's Choice)which integrates traditional Irish reels and jigs with Grateful Dead tunes. It actually sounds pretty good and not contrived.
Some wag asked for a Rod Stewart song at our Friday session. We played I Am Sailing but without the words. It was bearable but a bit boring after 1 minute, a bit like playing only part A of a tune.
Rod's early records had some melodic mandolin parts; I'm thinking of his version of Dylan's "Only a Hobo" or "Gasoline Alley". In fact you might say that his albums "An old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down" and "Gasoline Alley" had a few Celtic ghosts lurking within among the bluesy bits.
Paul MacCartney's "I Will" has popped up in a few sessions too.
If you look at major melodic pop/rock groups such as the Beatles, Oasis,& Travis you will find a lot of Irish lineage. All four Beatles had at least one Irish parent or grandparent, Gallagher brothers of Oasis are from Irish parents and Fran Healy of Travis also has irish background. I believe this may have something to do with the way they weave melodic content into a generally non-melodic form.
Norwegian Wood makes a fine waltz, works fine with droned instruments. Patrick Bouffard Transept from France (I know, not exactly ITM) deal with it that way and it sounds very fine...
I once heard the Irish version of the Beatles' 'Let it Be', done as if it was any other Irish folk song (you know, with the lovely wavering voice of nearly all Irish female singers). It sounded quite good once you got over the surprise, but nowhere near as good as the original.
Beatles rule!
sometimes it has been possible to work a secular tune into the music at mass, I managed the Fields of Athenry one week, the priest spotted it!I suppose that this is the wrong way round working a traditional tune in elsewhere.yours worzel
yes hopefully it's all just a big porridge really..
Separation and Distillation vs. Integration and Innovation is The numberONe musical argue.. (um, I meant discussion) between Pete and myself while lurking round our domestic abode.. he's the purist, I am the hodge-podge maker
so, with Love Me Tender I would like to pause pregnantly, and then rip into a set of jigs, starting with the same key that you've set Elvis' tune.......
We adore Danny Boy, Bunch of Thyme and Maggie, played as foxtrots in the style of Elvis - just to take the piss out of "punters" that ask for them. Brushes on the snare drum are compulsary, of course.
The Canadian group The Paperboys are masters at inserting traditional reels in the middle of pop songs as instrumental breaks. Examples I can think of are "I've just seen a Face" with the reel "Coast of Austria" stuck in the middle as a refrain and a reel I recognize but can't put a name to used as part of "All along the Watchtower". You can hear an MP3 of that wild one at their website at:
BTW, it's nice to hear a re-make that actually sounds different from the original. It makes me crazy these days -- isn't anyone putting out any originals anymore?
Bren, Ringo Starr was of 'pure' English stock. Re. Dave's query - how about "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones? - substitute sitar for banjo! Or something from the Waterboys, perhaps?
Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
I am playing in a band, and most of our stuff is ITM, but I want us to play some pop songs that my friends know and then bring out a tune within them. So one I have chosen which works well is Elvis Presley's "Love me Tender."
Any suggestions for other pop songs that have a ghost within that could be released?
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by dave73
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Maybe you should just let them Rest In Peace
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
I would but I have an insatiable Satanic urge to rattle old bones around occasionally.
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by dave73
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Sticking to an Elvis theme, "Heartbreak Hotel" seems adaptable to this sort of tomfoolery.
Ever since Chet Atkins and the Chieftains had a go at it together, I have heard the odd person at a session working it into tunes or vice versa in a sort of A-G modal kind of way.
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by Bren
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
I've just posted Elanor Rigby on this site, De Danaan's adaptation of the Beatle's song. Frankie Gavin beat you to it! I have to say, 'Love Me Tender' sounds a bit cheesey for this sort of treatment. How about fast forwarding to something like The Byrds? Mr Tamourine Man, Eight Miles High, for example? The difficulty is that many Irish tunes are modal, and most pop songs are not, so the atmosphere is difficult to transfer. Look through the Best of the Bee Gees (is this really me saying this?!) many of their songs are instantly recognisable, and if I remember right, some are in minor keys that might suffer the treatment you suggest.
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by petemay
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
A footnote to the comment just posted! I've just remembered that I bought a De Danaan CD about two years ago called 'Welcome to the Hotel Connemara'. They did exactly what you're trying to do. So Frankie gavin really did get there before you, and I reckon he's cleaned up!
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by petemay
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
"Words" by the Christians is based upon "The Women of Ireland" by Sean O'Riada.
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by Henk Bos
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
How bout 'The Riddle' by Nick Kershaw? It's even got a 'man of Aran' in it somewhere...
# Posted on June 27th 2004 by Q
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Metallica did a version of "Whiskey in the Jar" Hmmmmmm one of the better versions of that song and I still couldn't listen till the end.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Michaelalan
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
There's a group in the San Francisco area called "Wake the Dead" who have at least one CD (Buckdancer's Choice)which integrates traditional Irish reels and jigs with Grateful Dead tunes. It actually sounds pretty good and not contrived.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Jiml
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Weeeellll, some of them more not contrived than others. (I have the first one. I get it out every now and again for the jokiness of it.)
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Some wag asked for a Rod Stewart song at our Friday session. We played I Am Sailing but without the words. It was bearable but a bit boring after 1 minute, a bit like playing only part A of a tune.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Cath
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Rod's early records had some melodic mandolin parts; I'm thinking of his version of Dylan's "Only a Hobo" or "Gasoline Alley". In fact you might say that his albums "An old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down" and "Gasoline Alley" had a few Celtic ghosts lurking within among the bluesy bits.
Paul MacCartney's "I Will" has popped up in a few sessions too.
If you look at major melodic pop/rock groups such as the Beatles, Oasis,& Travis you will find a lot of Irish lineage. All four Beatles had at least one Irish parent or grandparent, Gallagher brothers of Oasis are from Irish parents and Fran Healy of Travis also has irish background. I believe this may have something to do with the way they weave melodic content into a generally non-melodic form.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Bren
Norwegian Wood makes a fine waltz, works fine with droned instruments. Patrick Bouffard Transept from France (I know, not exactly ITM) deal with it that way and it sounds very fine...
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by tradivarium
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Check the recording of Norwegian Wood that Tim O'Brien did with Paddy Keenan, John Williams, and Kevin Burke. Fun stuff.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Half the stuff the corrs do is folkish anyway, but then their music isn't really pop...
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Folkie Junkie
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Or traditional, for that matter.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
I once heard the Irish version of the Beatles' 'Let it Be', done as if it was any other Irish folk song (you know, with the lovely wavering voice of nearly all Irish female singers). It sounded quite good once you got over the surprise, but nowhere near as good as the original.
Beatles rule!
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Joe CSS
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
sometimes it has been possible to work a secular tune into the music at mass, I managed the Fields of Athenry one week, the priest spotted it!I suppose that this is the wrong way round working a traditional tune in elsewhere.yours worzel
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by gummidge
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
yes,you're in good company with a fair few of the medieval/renaissance lads there as they too would sometimes work a secular tune into a mass setting or two;josquin's 'l'homme armée' springs to mind.boing...
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by biggus dave
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
yes hopefully it's all just a big porridge really..
Separation and Distillation vs. Integration and Innovation is The numberONe musical argue.. (um, I meant discussion) between Pete and myself while lurking round our domestic abode.. he's the purist, I am the hodge-podge maker
so, with Love Me Tender I would like to pause pregnantly, and then rip into a set of jigs, starting with the same key that you've set Elvis' tune.......
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Try I THINK OF YOU by the Merseybeats. A really good tune which could sound traditional if you arranged it accordingly.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
How about "Juliet" by The Four Pennies, Geoff?
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
See, I'm as old as you.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will try a few in the next week.
NOrweiegn wood has got to be a goer
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by dave73
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
We adore Danny Boy, Bunch of Thyme and Maggie, played as foxtrots in the style of Elvis - just to take the piss out of "punters" that ask for them. Brushes on the snare drum are compulsary, of course.
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Hrrrmmphh! Old??? Moi?
I like Beethoven too ....doesn't mean I was around in the early 19th Century!!
OK! I was around in the 60s. But I was VERY young.
John J you are right about Juliet ... a lovely melody. I can hear it now on pipes and low whistles
# Posted on June 28th 2004 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Do you recall the song on the B side of "Juliet" by The Four Pennies?.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
flip side of Juliet was Tell me Girl.yours gummidge
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by gummidge
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
If we're getting really "nerdy" about all this, Juliet was actually the "B" side of "Tell me girl" but it ended up as the hit.
See http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirf/fourp.htm
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Alatn recorded Dylan's "Girl from the North Country". I wouldn't consider Dylan as "pop" although his stuff is usually classified as such.
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by Agnes Nutter
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
The Canadian group The Paperboys are masters at inserting traditional reels in the middle of pop songs as instrumental breaks. Examples I can think of are "I've just seen a Face" with the reel "Coast of Austria" stuck in the middle as a refrain and a reel I recognize but can't put a name to used as part of "All along the Watchtower". You can hear an MP3 of that wild one at their website at:
http://www.paperboys.com/tenure.htm#
All their music is very cool, tremendous to see them live, their energy is exhausting.
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by ScottC
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Musical Priest.
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
BTW, it's nice to hear a re-make that actually sounds different from the original. It makes me crazy these days -- isn't anyone putting out any originals anymore?
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Oh, and don't forget about the Prodigals, either, if you want rock with reels and jigs and such.
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Bren, Ringo Starr was of 'pure' English stock. Re. Dave's query - how about "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones? - substitute sitar for banjo! Or something from the Waterboys, perhaps?
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by BowHand
Re: Pop songs with a celtic ghost within
Oh yeah! I forgot to mention "The Battle Of Evermore" by Led Zeppelin; not a drum or electric guitar in earshot.
# Posted on June 29th 2004 by BowHand