Regular readers of this blog know that I love being part of a family. That's probably a big reason that this song strikes a chord with me.
"Irish Heartbeat" was written by Van Morrison, who hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He recorded it with an Irish folk band called The Chieftains, and I have to say that their version is pretty darn good. You can find it here on YouTube.
But my favorite "cover" of the song is this one by a Scotsman named Billy Connolly. Technically, Connolly and Morrison are both "Scots-Irish": Van-the-Man's ancestors emigrated from Scotland to Ulster, while Billy's went the other way. Connolly (who was born in Glasgow on M's birthdate!) is mainly famous as a stand-up comic and a movie actor, but IMHO, his rendition of "Heartbeat" raises "pretty darn good"-ness to a whole new level. If skirling Scottish bagpipes and rattling snare drums make your hair stand up, this is the version for you:
April on Substack
8 months ago
1 comment:
Thanks for the clips, Buddy! We’re fans of both the Chieftains and the multi-talented Mr. Connolly, who always has something entertaining to say,like:
“My definition of an intellectual is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture without thinking of the Lone Ranger.”
Post a Comment