My twin brother Clifford and his wife Tracy are scheduled to have their second baby boy, Grayson Sawyer today. So if all stays according to the doctor's schedule then I would like to dedicate this Entertainment Monday to my new nephew Grayson. =) Welcome to the world!
This Entertainment Monday is a bit of a hodgepodge of more modern Irish music and a link to music my father loved. So while Grayson and his brother Tristram will never get to know their grandfather, our lives are built upon the lives of those who came before us, and as such, the men that Grayson and Tristram grow into will be influenced by their grandfather and his ideals as passed down to them through my brother Clifford.
On this special day, perhaps the music shared here might represent a small link between the past, the present and the future.
While I am primarily of Russian decent, I am in truth quite the mutt when it comes to my family lineage. My great grandmother on my father's side of the family was Irish, and the small part of me that is of Irish lineage always enjoys listening to some traditional Irish music this time of year. Well, the rest of me likes it too, in truth. My father loved listening to the Irish born lyric tenor, John McCormick. This youtube clip wishes everyone a Happy St. Patrick's day for 2014, so I would like to just kick that up one year to 2015.
Another fine traditional Irish folk tune as sung by John McCormick is It's A Long Way To Tipperary!
One of my favorite Irish singers when I was a teenager was Enya, whose 1991 Album Shepherd Moons really vaulted her into the public spotlight. Songs like Book of Days and Carribean Blue are just some of the wonderful music sung by Enya.
My sister Heather and brother in law David's wedding song was the now classic Fairy Tale of New York by the Irish band The Pogues with Kristy MacColl.
So whether you're of Irish heritage or not, I hope all will enjoy this St. Patrick's Day and take a little time to appreciate some of the wonderful culture and heritage of Irish music.
Congratulations on a new nephew. I enjoyed your Irish theme post, it was interesting to listen to the different Irish singers out there. I learnt It's a Long Way to Tipperary when I was a child. It is a song that is usually sung around ANZAC day which is a day that honours fallen Australian and New Zealand soldiers. It use to be about soldiers who died in the World Wars but now it's for all veterans. I heard that during the world wars, recruits use to sing that song when they were marching to catch the train to go to war. I find it sad that not all of them come back.
ReplyDeleteI remember you telling me about ANZAC day before and the ANZAC biscuits I believe. >.< It's weird how it's so easy to become American-Centric living in America and while feeling a great deal of pride for those who have lost there lives fighting for our country, not often given pause to consider all those who have given their lives from other countries, whether allies or adversaries. It's definitely a sad thing how our War and Aggression is such a constant in our World's history. ='(
ReplyDeleteAnzac day is coming this Saturday so I expect to hear the Tipperary song in the marches.
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