"If God Will Send His Angels" Scene

Finally...I finished my scene for my "Across The U2niverse" concept.

Here's the background of the scene:

The protagonist, David (that guy who looks strangely like me) just got done having a conversation with his best friend, Jess. They both kind of have a romantic interest in each other but neither has said anything to the other about it. Both are seniors in high school and Jess gets upset when David puts off making any sort of decision for what he is going to do the next year (Jess mostly wants him to come to the same school as her). He has applied to colleges but half of him does not even want to do. Jess accuses him of living only in his own technological retreat-world. This scene depicts David trying to make sense of things as he deals with what to make of the technological world that he is ever becoming more fascinated with--it's 1997, he has just gotten a laptop (a supreme rarity at that time for a high school student), and he is discovering the wonders of the Internet, AIM, and other related phenomena.

I have a feeling the idea makes a lot more sense in my own head...I hope this video at least communicates something that relates to what I just described.

Irish Music at the Ark

What I remember most about the performance, and it seems most people in the class agree, was how young the performers were. Before the show, I was looking around at the audience, and almost everyone was over the age of 50. That told me that 1) This was going to be a boring show and 2) I probably wouldn't like it. Thankfully, neither of those things turned out to be true.

My past history with "real" Irish music doesn't go very far beyond PBS specials that my parents and grandparents made me watch, and all of these shows emphasized on the historical side, and how Irish music was. What I really loved about this performance is the large emphasis that the group placed on how Irish music is.

Sure, there were old songs, and historical background to accompany them, but there were also a lot of innovations, crossovers, etc. and I really think that the group's desire to perform this music authentically and well shone through, making for a great performance and a great reflection of what Irish music is.

Fintan and Irish Dance

Sorry for the late post! I wanted to explore why Irish dance has made such an impact in America. Fintan talked about how traditional Irish dance wasn’t extremely popular in Ireland, but became a success in the US. America is such a diverse, heterogeneous culture; a true hodge-podge of different cultures and traditions. As such, I think many Americans seek out characteristics/customs of their unique heritage in an attempt to identify with their native culture. In a sense, I believe this is some of the appeal of traditional Irish dance in America. Irish-Americans may feel more connected to their native land by watching Irish dance. They may think of Irish dance as “authentic,” because the tradition is originated directly from Ireland. Fintan also describes the dance as an expression of displacement, which speaks to the offspring of Irish immigrants. For native Irish people, this form of dance may not seem as novel, and probably seems rather archaic. For Irish Americans, it is a mode for connecting with their ancestry and heritage. I know this rings true for my family and home community. The people in my community practice Irish customs, such as traditional dance and involvement in the Catholic Church, to feel connected to Ireland and to their heritage.

Irish Bands

After Sara played the Dropkick Murphy's song, "Shipping up to Boston," I've been listening to it constantly for the past two days and trying to analyze the lyrics. Besides the Irish melodies of this band and their associations with Boston (which is one of the most Irish cities in America) their isn't anything particularly Irish about them that I can find. The lyrics to "Shipping up to Boston" seem to have no Irish meaning (or even any meaning in general) that I can find. So what makes this band so Irish and what draws people to them? The only explanation that I can think of to this question is the sound of the band. The dropkick murphy's have a distinct Irish sound to them that reminds me of Irish folk music. Now, most people are no longer interested in Irish folk music so why would so many people be drawn to this band? The answer to this question is the murphy's new twist on Irish folk music, turning it from a soft sounding music to a loud and metal like music that is more appealable to music audiences today.

Stealing My Own Thunder

Not that anyone's going to read this by the time I give my presentation in a few hours...but I'm kind of giving away part of my presentation...Bah! Oh well...

U2 has, in a way, always had the idea that they do not want to sound quite like anyone else. That's why they've reinvented themselves about a dozen times in thirty years. More on this in a bit...;)

Seriously, though, U2's real roots are themselves. Their inspiration is whatever they want it to be. It's not predetermined. U2 is very particular about what music they put out--they have hundreds of songs basically stuck in the archives that leak out here and there that are really good but that they don't want to release because they are not about fulfilling a set profile on each album--they are about forging into new territory.

Traditional Irish bands are rooted strongly in being Irish. It's what they fall back on. In one sense it's just as wonderful as U2's desire to always be changing, this being strongly rooted in tradition. It's hard to find something as rich as a tradition like that on your own. It's resting on the shoulders of a giant--whatever way you want to take that.

I feel like I more or less said what Natalie said...but that's basically what it is.

The Night My Social Interaction Skills Were Shattered

Like others have mentioned, our night at the Ark was a wonderful experience. I, along with most other people, have been exposed to Irish music before, be it on Pandora radio, St. Patrick's Day inspired car commercials, or my friend's dance recitals. Hearing it live, however, proved to be completely different, and soaking up the musicians' energy was an exhilarating feeling.

That said, the musicians themselves were probably the most surprising part of the night. As I said in class, I didn't expect them to be Irish. I know, the idea of a traditional Irish band made up of Americans seems ludicrous now, but it made sense at the time. It was probably some of the themes we've talked about in class that made me feel this way, like not fully relating to a culture because one grows up with it or Ireland's insecurities. To me, it made more sense for a group of rugged, elderly American men to be playing the music, nostalgic for the "good old days" in a country they've most likely never been to. The fact that young, energetic Irish musicians are genuinely excited to play their country's music was shocking but almost refreshing; it's rare, after all, to find young Americans playing traditional music with so much enthusiasm. I mean, these musicians travel the world playing their music, songs they've probably grown up with. I, on the other hand, have come to loathe certain songs I felt were forced upon me as a kid. If anything, the concert made me feel less touristy and romantic for being interested in traditional Irish music and culture. If it's still relevant to the youth of the country, it must not just be a tourist trap.

It's late and I'm rambling, so I won't get into one of the most embarrassing moments of my life that took place after the music. I won't mention making extended akward eye contact with the cool Chicago piper or blushing obviously while being introduced to the cool Irish musicians. No, I'm not going to swallow my pride that much tonight. For the record, though, I still feel socially awkward.

Celtic Crossroads: Awkward Encounter/Awesome Night

Despite our incredibly awkward  picture-taking experience with Celtic Crossroads after the show, I still had a fabulous time. I think something that particularly surprised me was that we were actually nervous to take a picture with the band afterwards...because they were awesome. They were young and hip and immensely talented. They were also very, very proud of their culture. One of the things we discussed in class on Wednesday was how they were almost apologetic for the one band members who were from Chicago and Denmark. But at the same time, I felt that had these members not fully embraced the Irish culture and learned everything possible about the instruments they played, and had both deep passion and deep respect for traditional Irish music, they would have never been in the band. You could tell by watching these guys that passion was a must. They were young and energetic but they were committed to these instruments and what it meant to the culture. 

I think something else that surprised me was how deeply moved I was by the music. I’m not Irish and have no explicit connection to the music in any way shape or form, and yet I could feel the power behind the instruments. The harp solo especially—I closed my eyes during it and could picture images of Ireland, images of a land that wasn’t mine, but, as possessed through their powerful music, was most definitely theirs.

I also thought it was amazing how versatile they all were. They all played at least two different instruments, a couple of them did some outrageously amazing dance moves, and it seemed as though there was nothing the lead singer couldn’t do. They also seemed to understand that their audience may not have the same connection as they do with the music, but they were more than willing to help us make some kind of connection with it and enjoy it both for its beautiful sound and its deeper meaning. 

Celtic Crossroads

I really enjoyed the Celtic Crossroads performance. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I agree with what was said in class about the age of the musicians surprising me; I didn't expect them all to be so young. Their multiple talents were very impressive as well, everyone playing at least two instruments, some singing, some dancing. They seemed like a fun, exciting bunch of people. I guess I wasn't really expecting that, but like I said, I didn't really put a whole lot of thought into what to expect from the group.

I thought their song choices were interesting. They played a good mix of traditional and modern music. They described the modern songs as influenced by other regions of Europe. Hungary stands out to me as one they mentioned because one of the songs they played sounded very Hungarian, using Irish instruments. I thought it was interesting that the newer music is sort of a combination of musical styles from different regions. I was also interested by the fact that they played an American song. I can see why they did so, since they were in America and they were appealing to the audience, but I didn't really think it was necessary. They're an Irish music group, so the people coming to see them should be expecting Irish music, right? They shouldn't have to play an American song to cater to the audience. I mostly bring this up because it seemed like Cotton Eyed Joe was one of the most enjoyed songs of the concert. Everyone in the Ark seemed to really enjoy it--I include myself in that--some even considering it a favorite part of the concert. Even though I enjoyed it, in my mind it should have secondary importance to the more authentic music they played. But I find myself wondering if I'm making way too big a deal out of it. That's entirely possible. I think it does tie in, though, to what we discussed in class about the apologetic nature of the group when it came to their non-Irish members. There was this assumption that everyone had to be Irish to be in the group and that their music was supposed to be Irish, and I seem to be perpetuating the latter. The presence of non-Irish musicians certainly doesn't detract from their performance, but does it detract from their authenticity? I'm not sure.

The Irish Dance

First, I am not really surprised that such a great dance was born out a sort of oppression. Fintan says “that dancing was about avoiding communication, but instead became a way of escape”, which many forms of expression are. If we look at writers such as Emily Dickerson or someone like Sylvia Plath and even Maya Angelou, who all are great poets, they all have been through such great tribulations in their life and it shows in their poetry. Also, Fintan talks about how the dance was not really popular in Ireland but when it got over in American it was a hit. This is something else that doesn’t surprise. An “Irish Dance” will not be necessarily popular in its own land, simply because no one has approved it. For example, if an artist wants to really be known as a great artist, they will have to expand beyond their city and their region, and go outside of the United States, and that is how you know that you’ve made it. So, by the dance expanding outside of Ireland, it is a sign that the dance has been approved. I think it seems to be popular among Irish immigrants simply because the dancing is a part of their heritage and in the United States they get to express it. Finlan states that when the government banned the dancing, immigration increased. Now that these immigrants are in the United States, they finally get to express it.

Celtic Crossroads

The Ark is a great place, but it is not popular among college students because it tends to tailor its shows toward the older generations. That is why I was surprised that a group like Celtic Crossroads was featured there. The musicians and dancers were much younger than I expected, not because young people do not play Irish music, but because of where they were playing and who they were playing for. The majority of the audience had the gray hair and wrinkles of older parents and grandparents, who often listen to music from when they were young. Perhaps I am wrong to stereotype though. I also enjoyed the modern twist they put in their music. Looking back, I should not have been so surprised that the audience liked it too, even though they were older. Clearly they can recognize talent no matter what kind of music it plays. I was expecting something a bit more traditional, but it was very interesting how they incorporated a wide range of styles into their show.

I also noticed that Celtic Crossroads kept to the theme of loss in their lyrics, which has been a common motif throughout the class. Even the American song they chose to perform was about loss. The lyrics are “If it hadn’t been for Cottoneyed Joe, I would’ve been married a long time ago. Where did you come from? Where did you go? Where did you come from Cottoneyed Joe?” The suffering and loss in this song, as well as one of the others they sang, is masked by upbeat music and a joking tone, as if they are laughing at themselves to keep from feeling sad. This is an interesting way of dealing with one’s feelings, and it is uncommon for Americans to deal with their feelings in this way. Perhaps some of our music would be less whiny and annoying if our artists used this technique.

Tradtional Music and Irish Bands

Sorry for the late entry, apparently it never posted. But anyways, I wanted to discuss the Celtic Crossroads performance which I found way more entertaining than I expected it to be. I had envision a group of older men playing older traditional Irish music. I did not expect as much energy from the group, nor did I think that they would be so young. Everyone in the group was I'm guessing only in their 20's and though the music was traditional, they put their own twist on it to make it more mainstream. This could be related to their relatively young age, which I guess could make them more relatable to younger crowds. I also found it interesting that almost everyone in the group played multiple instruments, sang, and danced.
I was trying to relate this performance in some way to my final project, so that I could maybe incorporate it into my research. This idea of the traditional band like the Celtic Crossroads relates my idea as to why Irish traditional music has become so mainstream and accepted in society. However, this band has not been as widely recognized as those of The Pogues or Flogging Molly, for example. This could be due to the fact that they have not yet had enough coverage, or gained a large enough loyal following. But it could also be related to the fact that their music has maintained almost complete traditionalist sound, while other bands have incorporated more of an rock/punk sound into their music which may make them more relatable to both Irish and American culture.

Celtic Crossroads

Celtic Crossroads was really amazing! There were great songs, great rhythm, and a surprising outfit changes by the lead singer! As said in class, i was surprised by the group dynamic and their age. I didn't expect them all to be in their mid-twenties. From my little experience with Irish dancing and music, i expected a family of eight, all varying in different heights and talents. 

I thought it was interesting that the lead singer said more than once, that Ireland is just a small dot in the Atlantic/ just a small country compared to america. They reiterated over and over again about their rich culture, coming from such a small land. They seemed to be defending their title and reputation, but in the end, the music (and dancing!) was very enjoyable!

Celtic Crossroads: Crossing Barriers

The first thing that surprised me about Celtic Crossroads was that it was a group of young, lively, charismatic youth. They were very knowledgeable, seemingly, about American culture and they had a way of creating comfort and ease while trying to cross barriers that often stand in between American and Irish culture. The speakers, particularly the girl who played the bag pipe had a very laid back air about her, as if she was so comfortable with the culture that she was presently surrounded by and she had a way of making the audience feel at home and gain a sense of familiarity with the Irish culture.
The musicians in themselves were very, very talented. Even if one didn't like the style of music, you could not deny that mastery of skill that these musicians possessed. They played good music, and they seemed to have the basic knowledge of what creates a good show regardless of genre or audience. I was also surprised to see an older crowd packed into the small room to see this young, hip, Irish music playing group. The group seemed as though it would pull in a particular crowd, one that is younger and more appreciative of pop culture. However, I was impressed that they played songs that people of all ages and cultures could relate to. Not to mention their personalities were very down to earth and they were seemingly a bit mature for their age.
It surprised me a bit that the girl in particular seemed to embrace some of the most typical stereo types of the Irish culture, such as drinking, dancing on tables, and just knowing how to "have a good time". Because I always viewed these stereotypes as something that Americans ignorantly imposed on the Irish, I somewhat expected to see natives that tried to dispel the stereotypes and who genuinely did not fit them. I have a greater respect for the music aspect of Irish culture after seeing the band play such a wide array of music because I recognize the Irish influence in a wide variety of American music. I've always had a fascination with Irish dance, and now that I've seen it up close I have the impression that all Irish people dance really well. I suppose I just want a reason to believe that it's not as hard as it looks after all, if the entire people of a culture can do it!