The Red Brick Times

"Don't take it personally. It's business." An observation by Scottish singer/songwriter Dick Gaughan. Musically, I place him with Archie Fisher, Stan Rogers, and Ewan MacColl as the best contemporary solo producers of celtic tradition, as well as unrepentant rabble-rousers and curmudgeonly resisters of creeping societal rot. (Here, stick thumbs in ears, wiggle fingers wildly, jump up and down, cross eyes and make rude noises. Optional: wiggle posterior in society's face, if so inclined.)
Posted 9:32 AM by Andy (3) comments

       Comments:

Andy, be careful who you're calling "Celtic". The Scots and Irishmen I know are very likely to ask you "What da feck is dis "Celtic" bollocks?" They identify as either Scots or Irish even if they grew up in London or Liverpool. The traditions are similar and even share some tunes, but are very distinct from each other. The Welsh, Cornish and Brittany celts are genetically, linguistically and musically different from the Irish, Scots, and Manx celtics. Thanks to the Romans, the Danes(who probably were actually Norwegians), the Anglo-Norman Brits and the Roman Catholic church the pastoral celts never got to form a recognizable pan-Celtism which could be transmitted down the generations so that concept is pretty modern.

Just remember what they say, "You can always tell an Irishman, but you can't tell him much."

# posted by  A. O. : September 25, 2006 1:26 PM
 
Yeah. We're bastards all (thanks to the rapacious Romans and Dane-wegians). But we'll always have bagpipes. Or: If you can't stand the beat, get out of the ceili.

# posted by  Andy : September 25, 2006 6:24 PM
 
Ah, but it is the kilts for which I am grateful.

# posted by  Terri S : September 28, 2006 7:27 PM
 
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