No, Danny Boy....

[ccga3359]

What a poor excuse "Because it was written by an Englishman". Music has no borders with each person takeing away his own thoughts and emotion. Music is the one thing left without politics. Ask that a song not played because it's heard ad nauseum - fine, but because of political B.S. is simply childish.

[macwilkin]

What a poor excuse "Because it was written by an Englishman". Music has no borders with each person takeing away his own thoughts and emotion. Music is the one thing left without politics. Ask that a song not played because it's heard ad nauseum - fine, but because of political B.S. is simply childish.

Spot on, Grant. I wonder how big the outcry would be if the tables were turned?

Perhaps someone should play a Burns song for this publican on St. Patrick's Day, or at least one particular verse:

Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a' that)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth
Shall bear the gree an' a' that
For a' that an' a' that
It's coming yet for a' that
That man to man, the world o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that*

Emphasis mine.

Regards,

Todd

[The Ulsterman]

What a poor excuse "Because it was written by an Englishman". Music has no borders with each person takeing away his own thoughts and emotion. Music is the one thing left without politics. Ask that a song not played because it's heard ad nauseum - fine, but because of political B.S. is simply childish.

I agree totally, Danny Boy is a beautiful tune, and song, and because it was written by an Englishman should be no reason whatsoever to ban it on St Patricks day,...i mean,..wasn't St Patrick originally from Wales?
I would personally ring out Danny boy at any chance, and will no doubt give it a rendition on 17th March regardless.
I must say though,...i always thought that Danny Boy was about a son who was sent away to France during WW1....but what do i know?

On a similar note,....one of the most beautiful tunes i have ever heard played by a pipe band, or lone piper, is Highland Cathedral, should the Scottish pipe bands stop playing it because it was written by two Germans?
Just my opinion.
Neil.

[pipesndrumsnun]

Uh oh, I can just see it now! Riled Religous go on Rampage!

[Mac y]

Is Danny Boy overplayed, or played at the wrong moments? Sure, but I would ask those who are now bored with it to give it another chance. To find that version that is out there, or do one yourself for that matter, that makes it special. There are plenty times when the national anthem is hard to sit through. We know it and probably heard it done better, but then you hear someone belt it out and you get that feeling in your gut and say "that's how it should sound"-at least according to you.

I think it is a great song, and the lyrics being added later don't take away from it at all. It can be about whatever you want it to be in the end. The fact that an Englishmen wrote the now famous lyrics should not be imortant but I realize it may be harder for some to let that little bit of fact slip by.

I would recommend a hard to find documentary done by PBS call Danny Boy: In Sunshine or in Shadow. It goes through the history of the song from the Londenderry Aire music to the later addition of the lyrics. There are some good impromptu reditions done by Ronnie Drew-that should make the hair on your neck stick up-and Shane McGowan among others. And they dont seem to mind singing the "Englishman's" words.

[Colin]

Sorry AA, but I will always have a soft spot for Danny Boy. It was my grandfather's favorite tune and the one song sung at this memorial 18 years ago.

However I will go along with Amazing Grace as it has become to new bagpipers what Stairway to Heaven is to new guitarists.

[auld argonian]

Okay...I have nothing against the tune..it's a beautiful melody...if you've ever seen the movie Brassed Off, one of the most touching parts of the film is when the colliery brass band plays it outside their fallen director's hospital window...it gets me entirely verklempt just like the part where they sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" under Babe Ruth's hospital window in The Babe Ruth Story.

I'm just kinda fed up with the abuse and overuse of the song...and if Dennis Day is listening from the afterlife, yeah...I mean you, buddy.

But here's the Brassed Off scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKDYE6ZGUV8

...you will, no doubt, recognize several very familiar faces.

And if you need to cheer back up after that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU

...damn, I love youtube!

Best

AA

[Amoskeag]

Okay...I have nothing against the tune..it's a beautiful melody...if you've ever seen the movie Brassed Off, one of the most touching parts of the film is when the colliery brass band plays it outside their fallen director's hospital window...it gets me entirely verklempt just like the part where they sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" under Babe Ruth's hospital window in The Babe Ruth Story.

I'm just kinda fed up with the abuse and overuse of the song...and if Dennis Day is listening from the afterlife, yeah...I mean you, buddy.

But here's the Brassed Off scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKDYE6ZGUV8

...you will, no doubt, recognize several very familiar faces.

And if you need to cheer back up after that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU

...damn, I love youtube!

Best

AA

I needed both of those today.Thanks
Bob

[ccga3359]

24 hours later and I'm still put off about this. I think it no coincidence that the barman chose March as the month to ban this song and because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. The is a little ditty that is quite popular south of the border entitled "Star Spangled Banner". I'm curious if this song is banned during the month of July as the tune is originally an English drinking song composed by Englishman John Stafford Smith. Kudos though to Francis Scott Key for his updated powerful lyrics. Getting off the soap box now.

[macwilkin]

24 hours later and I'm still put off about this. I think it no coincidence that the barman chose March as the month to ban this song and because the lyrics were written by an Englishman. The is a little ditty that is quite popular south of the border entitled "Star Spangled Banner". I'm curious if this song is banned during the month of July as the tune is originally an English drinking song composed by Englishman John Stafford Smith. Kudos though to Francis Scott Key for his updated powerful lyrics. Getting off the soap box now.

You're not the only one, Graham.

T.