Here s a ditty that many of you might enjoy. I might have posted it before so forgive me.
The New Age Celtic Band (Tune: McNamara’s Band)
My name is Seamus Kelly and I come from Co, Cork
It was only yesterday that I landed in NewYork
I’ve played the fiddle all my life I craved to hear a tune
That is why I went into the Emerald Isle Saloon
I saw a piper on the stage all plugged and amplified
The singer had a phony brogue the crowd was stupefied
The flutes and fiddles were painted blue and they jumped and rolled around as the bass and synthesizer made a river full of sound
CH:
Oh the bodhrans bang the bouzoukis twang the fiddles blast away
the dancers twirl a half naked girl the pipes they moan and bray
From the pubs of San Francisco clear to Egypt’s rolling sands
A pox to Irish music are these new age Celtic bands
So I turns to McNamara and I asks what do you think
he said this kind of music it would drive a man to drink
What ever happened to a grand old jig or a simple Irish reel
Now every night this Celtic shite it makes me toss a meal
Its Celtic this and Celtic that Celtic music too
Theres Celtic tea and Celtic Brie and Celtic Buga-loo
If my parents they are Celtic then what does that make me
Do you think they came from Celt-land just across the Celtic sea
Now you’ve heard my simple tune that I chose to put in verse
I’ll finish up this ditty with an ancient bardic curse
May the pipers bags all turn to rags their chanters loose their tone
The flutes and whistles fill with muck the bodhrans turn to stone
The fiddlers bow warp out of shape the singers voice will break
The synthesizer players hand will turn into raw steak
the dancers feet won’t keep the beat their shoes will fill with sand
I curse all those who freely choose to join a Celtic Band
I think it’ s highly condescending. Dont like it at all, no. For someone high up enough on the food chain to be known as a valid, respected source for info & material on the instrument, it seems awfully closed minded. too much so. elitist even. so you dont like the current sthick- so what: you think some juvenile limerick will make it go away? Furthermore there are some damn fine pipers that’ve paid their dues to the penniless trad world you so champion & are now able to pull in a few bob with mass appeal work, to ears that wouldnt have heard this pipe ever, so how much skin is that off your back really?
In fact how many orders for your practice pipes are directly due from folks listening to the pipers in the bands you’ ve just publicly, and permanently, despised?
You just dropped quite a bit in my estimation mr pat sky. what a shame.
PS copyright ??? what a load. Who’ d pay $55 to register that?
Almost moved to change my user name after reading this, but there’s nothing “new age” about me (and anyway, what’s in a name?).
Enjoyed a chuckle at the sentiment expressed, which mirrored my reactions to many of the “Irish” pubs around the world. Booking my balcony seat at the Muppet Show later today.
Er … OK. You don’t think your points should stand, then? I thought you expressed them rather well, and it seems a shame that that viewpoint is now no longer represented.
