Irish
Music
Generally speaking, " Irish Music " is called " Celtic Music ". However, The word " Celt " doesn't mean only Ireland, so I say " Irish Music " on this page.
If you've listened to Irish music, you might have felt like "Dear ". It should have been the first time, but not like that. Always folk music has joy and sadness with historical background, which is a way to identify themselves. Irish music Irish people were always controlled by other nations and patient under adversities, but they have been loving nature and living positively. After they began to emigrate to U.S.A. , they brought Irish music and which formed country music, and mixed up with African American music and also formed blues. Blues is the base of jazz, rock and so on. Therefore, Irish music can be said to be a roots of present music. Sensitive youth of Europe were influenced by R&R and jazz and developed them. Especially, people who had Celtic blood might have been influenced deep, because in fact, a famous group was born from them. They are " The Beatles ". Today, U2 would be most famous in Irish bands, and their music hardly sound like to have any relation with Irish music, but I think their music's root must be Irish music. and I feel Irishness in their lyrics.
What is Irish music? I will explain it very easily and like to say it's not so easy to explain. The best way to know what it is is just listening to music in real. If you like to know about it more specific, please check here.
Irish
Traditional Music
Singing
Sad stories of emigrants and legends are many in lyrics Mostly they are sung in Gaelic..
Famous artists: C.Moor, Dubliners, B. Mary, ....etc.
If you are interested in Irish traditional tunes and lyrics, please visit here.
Instruments
Irish traditional music is played with fiddler, whistle, flute, uillean pipe, banjo, guitar and so on.
Famous Artists: the chieftans, Altan...etc.
You can listen to real Irish traditional music in Tokyo, check live schedule and places.
Rock
and Pops
U2 is one of popular rock bands and most famous Irish band. Today U2 is like a symbol of Dublin.
U2 music doesn't sound like Irish music but we can find Irishness in lyrics. Enya is also famous singer
and made "Celt" popular and famous. The corrs's music is the very join of Irish traditional music and
pops. As a vocal group, we should not forget Boyzone and Westlife. Boyzone must be famous as leaders
to have revived boys bands and Westlife is not as popular in Japan yet as overseas, but you might know
" Against All Odds" collaborated with Mariah Carey. They made a great record such as most of their new
work got # 1 in U.K. and their album goes to platinum easily. Their songs take you to Ireland. New artist such as Samantha Munba, JJ72, Atomic kitten,Bellefire and more are following in pops and rock.
Enya The Corrs
Westlife Boyzone
Samantha Munba bellefire
U2
© copyrighted 2001 by Chizuko M