![]() I don’t need to say a lot about this song – it does the talking, and then some, VERY LOUDLY! THIS IS THE STUFF OF WHICH ANTHEMS ARE MADE… An Emotional Fish, a radically alternative rock band signed to U2’s Mother Records in 1989, and lead by the avant-garde Gerard Whelan (aka Jerry Fish of Mudbug Club fame), exploded onto the charts scene in spectacular fashion in June 1990, with this next song. Next up is the big one – my Anthem of Anthems. Never released as a single – track 6 of the 1990 album Paradise in the Picturehouse This is one of the big songs of my gen, and is always sure to get a crowd to it’s feet. This song has everything thrown in, it’s a right rakish musical hotch-potch: not strictly rock, not totally agit, a bit right of alternative, a bit punky for indie, and all that with a touch of brass shoved in for luck. One of the most successful live acts of the 90’s, it’s only fitting that the video I’ve selected, is of a live performance from Electric Picnic ’08. Kicking off the 90’s, we have a very different type of band, and, a very electrifying song! The Stunning, an Irish rock band formed in 1987, have split many times over the years to work on other projects such as, The Saw Doctors, The Walls, even Riverdance, but, happily they are back touring again. You wanted her to have a happy ending….but will she bury the past? Musically it stood apart from everything else in the charts that year – the distinct vocals & overlapping harmonies, the melancholic strings, the looped 4-chord acoustic guitar riff and the bombastic bass drum.īut it was the lyrics that struck a chord with the listeners with their sorry tale of Mary, her abusive boyfriend and wasted life. From the Double Platinum selling album “Songs for the Tempted”, the Top 10 hit single “Mary” became one of the most played songs on national radio. Wrapping up the 80’s for us are a band from Northern Ireland who set the charts alight with this corker in 1989. A softly sung, gentle rock tune, it combines light piano chords with a stronger guitar sound for some punch, but the overall effect is an easy pleasant sound, and, a very memorable song that ticks all the right boxes. Lead vocals by Nick Kelly, you’ll probably pick up a touch of Ricky Ross and the Deacon Blue’s here – the two have often been compared. First up is a particular favourite of mine, from a band that came on the scene in the Mid-80’s – The Fat Lady Sings. Nearing the end of the 80’s now, we have two of the most of the enduring rock / indie songs. It’s only Christmas, when this has started to get airplay on national radio. “Fairytale in New York” is the musical signal that our festive period has begun. ![]() Both give the song the emotional quality it deserves without falling into soppy sentimentalism. ![]() The vocals & lyrics, however, might be a tad different to what you’re expecting!īehold, the Irish number one Christmas song, of all time, A song tinged with sadness, (even moreso since McColl’s untimely death) it is held with fond affection by both the Irish and home and the diaspora in America.Ī tale of love and disappointment, of faded dreams and jaded hopes, the fag-hag Mc Gowan vocal compliments the richness of Kirsty McColl’s warm yet edgy tone. If lilting balladesque soft pop is what conjures up images of Ireland, then musically, the next offering will be right up your street. ![]() We finished off Anthems P1 with the wonderful Dubliners “collabing” with The Pogues: so for the sake of continuity, we are kicking off P2 with the Pogue-ish scoundrels duetting with yet another big name from the 80’s the late, great, Kirsty McColl (yep, Kirsty “There’s a guy works down the chipshop swears he’s Elvis” McColl). ![]()
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