Irish rebel music

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Irish rebel music is a sub genre of Irish folk music, with much the same instrumentation, but with lyrics predominantly concerned with Irish nationalism, and especially the struggle for independence from British rule.

The tradition of rebel music in Ireland dates back many centuries, dealing with historical events such as uprisings, describing the hardships of living under oppressive rule, but also strong sentiments of solidarity, loyalty, determination, as well as praise of valiant heroes.

As well as a deep-rooted sense of tradition, rebel songs have nonetheless remained contemporary, and since 1922, the focus has moved onto the nationalist cause in Northern Ireland, including support for the IRA and Sinn Féin. However, the subject matter is not confined to Irish history, and includes the exploits of the Irish Brigades who fought for both France and Spain, and also those who fought during the American civil war.

Over the years, a number of bands have performed "crossover" music, that is, Irish rebel lyrics and instrumentation mixed with other, more pop styles like hip hop. Bands like Seanchai and the Unity Squad perform hip-hop-influenced music.

Republican Prisoners have used music as a form of protest during the conflict in Ireland.

Irish rebel music has occasionally gained international attention. The Wolfe Tones' version of A Nation Once Again was voted the number one song in the world by BBC World Service listeners in 2002.[1] Many of the more popular groups recently such as Innisfáíl from Donegal, fronted by the inimitable Hughie McGarvey from Ranafast. Saoirse, éire Óg, Athenrye, Shebeen, Mise Éire and Pádraig Mór are from Glasgow. The Bog Savages of San Francisco are fronted by an escapee from Belfast's Long Kesh prison who made his break in the September 1983 "Great Escape" by the IRA.

The parody band Ding Dong Denny O'Reilly and the Hairy Bowsies satirize this musical genre with songs such as The Craic We Had the Day We Died For Ireland.

Music of this genre has often courted controversy with some of this music effectively banned from the airwaves in the Republic of Ireland in the 1980s. More recently, Derek Warfield's music was banned from Aer Lingus flights, after the Ulster Unionist politician Roy Beggs Jnr compared their songs to the speeches of Osama bin Laden.[2] However, a central tenet of the justification for rebel music from its supporters is that it represents a long-standing tradition of freedom of speech.

Contents

[edit] Irish rebel bands

Boston's Irish Rebel Band Erin Og

  • ADELANTE {Scottish band}
  • Athenrye {Scottish band}
  • Barleycorn (band)
  • Battering Ram
  • Black 47
  • Blarney Pilgrims
  • The Bleeding Irish
  • The Bog Savages
  • Charlie & the Bhoys {Scottish band}
  • Christy Moore {Irish singer}
  • The Clancy Brothers {Irish band}
  • Derek Warfield (formerly of the Wolfe Tones)
  • Éire Óg
  • Gary Óg
  • Innisfáil
  • Irish Brigade (band)
  • Jimmy Carton {Canada}
  • Mise Éire
  • The Paddywagon Band
  • Paddy Rooney
  • Padraig Mór
  • Pangur Bán
  • Rebel Hearts
  • Saoirse (band)
  • Seanchai
  • Shebeen {Irish band}
  • Slievenamon {Irish band}
  • Music of Mark O'Neill
  • Spirit of Freedom
  • The Unity Squad
  • Ten Second March
  • The Dubliners {Irish band}
  • The Exiles
  • The Foggy Dew
  • The Wakes - Glasgow Irish Band
  • Wilderness 1916 {Irish band}
  • Wolfhound (band)
  • Wolfe Tones
  • The Ravens (Irish band)
  • The Village Folk

[edit] Irish rebel songs

[edit] Sunday Bloody Sunday

U2's 1983 hit, Sunday Bloody Sunday, contrary to popular belief, is "not a rebel song" as lead singer Bono would say during their War Tour before they played the song. Its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot at civil rights marchers. The song describes, not that Northern Ireland should become its own nation or that The British Empire continues to rule. The song suggests that they find a solution to this dispute without the violence that follows.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Worlds Top Ten | BBC World Service
  2. ^ Wolfe Tones pulled from Aer Lingus flights | Ireland | BreakingNews.ie

[edit] See also

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_rebel_music"
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