Happy fourth everyone. Two videos came across my Facebook this morning that I "shared" to my page. Whitney Houston's the National Anthem and Don McClean's American Pie.
American Pie a classic American song has its roots for me somewhere else, Ireland. I have a fond memory one night in Cork sitting in Turners Cross Tavern with some wonderful friends and a great love. It was my last night before I was going back to the US. Like many nights at Turners Cross , the evening would wind down with the remains of the bar singing with the local musicians. The Irish call it a "Session" . Kinda of a Kareoke without the video system, no teleprompter to feed you the lyrics. I chose to sing Leaving on Jet Plane , Uncle Connie sang I left my heart in San Francisco and the rest dedicated American Pie to their American friend bound for the USA the next day. I was right up there singing loud as can be during the chorus and a scattered few lines " 3 men I admire most , the father son and holy ghost". But I barely knew any lines from the 8 minute song. But not the Irish, they knew the WHOLE SONG , WORD FOR WORD. Sean stepped in, then Denis, then Eddie and Billy and finally the rest Ritchie, Maeve, Katherine and Mags. My Irish friends knew more American folk songs than I or my friends back in the USA ever did. I remember a funny bit Eddie Izzard did about how Americans can get a little hazy in the middle of the American National Anthem, but they looked good and pulled it off. 70% how you look, 20% how you sound, 10% what you say.
Is this true ? How many classic American tunes can you sing ? So today at the end of the evening, after the fireworks and we are finishing up the last of the beer , sit around the fire, toast a marshmallow and sing some good ole American Tunes. Make the Irish proud !
Let me start you off....
Long long time ago..//http://youtu.be/Y0Y_XRiJsCI
Eddie Izzard's bit on the National Anthem
http://youtu.be/MwpuJoIvMyA
and in case you want someone to sing along with you,
here is Whitney's version
http://youtu.be/xS-R7SM_-M4
American Pie a classic American song has its roots for me somewhere else, Ireland. I have a fond memory one night in Cork sitting in Turners Cross Tavern with some wonderful friends and a great love. It was my last night before I was going back to the US. Like many nights at Turners Cross , the evening would wind down with the remains of the bar singing with the local musicians. The Irish call it a "Session" . Kinda of a Kareoke without the video system, no teleprompter to feed you the lyrics. I chose to sing Leaving on Jet Plane , Uncle Connie sang I left my heart in San Francisco and the rest dedicated American Pie to their American friend bound for the USA the next day. I was right up there singing loud as can be during the chorus and a scattered few lines " 3 men I admire most , the father son and holy ghost". But I barely knew any lines from the 8 minute song. But not the Irish, they knew the WHOLE SONG , WORD FOR WORD. Sean stepped in, then Denis, then Eddie and Billy and finally the rest Ritchie, Maeve, Katherine and Mags. My Irish friends knew more American folk songs than I or my friends back in the USA ever did. I remember a funny bit Eddie Izzard did about how Americans can get a little hazy in the middle of the American National Anthem, but they looked good and pulled it off. 70% how you look, 20% how you sound, 10% what you say.
Is this true ? How many classic American tunes can you sing ? So today at the end of the evening, after the fireworks and we are finishing up the last of the beer , sit around the fire, toast a marshmallow and sing some good ole American Tunes. Make the Irish proud !
Let me start you off....
Long long time ago..//http://youtu.be/Y0Y_XRiJsCI
Eddie Izzard's bit on the National Anthem
http://youtu.be/MwpuJoIvMyA
and in case you want someone to sing along with you,
here is Whitney's version
http://youtu.be/xS-R7SM_-M4
