LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL is an escape from the monotony of life and daily trials and tribulations. Employing CELTIC WOMAN's songs as title to my posts, I draw observations and opinions on a personal level. Join me as I tread the language that communicates to all...MUSIC.
Grainne O' Mally, is an Irish pirate queen and the chief of her trading clan, who was also known as Granuaile. She is an important figure in Irish folklore and a historical figure in 16th century Irish history.
Mairead of Celtic Woman
I can only imagine what a character Granuaile might have been by the way Mairead ran and leapt. And how can you not like this fiddling? If she is of this world, why can she fly? This is the most unreal performance I've ever seen.
From your mountains grand, and all through this land,
You are beautiful to me.
And… O, America you’re calling,
I can hear you calling me:
You are calling me to be true to thee,
True to thee… I will be.
And I will answer you, and I will take your hand,
And lead you… to the sun:
And I will stand by you… do all that I can do,
And we will be…as one.
O, America you’re calling…
I will ever answer thee.
The influx of European immigrants to the United States began few decades after the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, after that, immigration did not stop. In fact the United States is called the melting pot of all races because of the diversity of its population. Who is not attracted to the American Dream? There is a thin line separating patriotism and ambition for a better life, for someone who had gone through the difficulties just making both ends meet.
Despite the imperfections of America, the song believed in standing by Her through the good times and the bad. Where am I in this song? I will ever answer thee.
Like a picture, a song can have more than one meaning. Indeed interpretations are subjective. A very good example is the Orinoco Flow by Enya. My first taste of New Age Musicwas in the 90's when I heard Enya's Orinoco Flow. I thought it was Latin or Italian until I heard the "sail away" part. Scrutinizing the lyrics, it appeared that somebody is just enjoying the thought of sailing as he made reference to numerous places to navigate including Avalon, which only existed in a mythical Arthurian legend.
Just when most everybody thought Orinoco is the river which flows across South America, people behind the song claimed everything was just a metaphor of their journey to Orinoco Flow's success. Orinoco was the name of the studio that produced Enya's album. The words "We can steer, we can near, with Rob Dickens at the wheel" refer to Rob Dickens, the head of her record label. The Ross and dependencies line is not actually the area of Antarctica claimed by New Zealand but is the co-producer and the people around his organization. The song catapulted Enya to her stature now. As of 2009, she had sold 70 million albums, making her the most popular Irish female performer. With that, New Age Music had come a long way. Initially, vocals were minimally used. Mostly, electronic and acoustic instruments were utilized. As it evolved, vocals have become more common.
The intention of New Age Music is one atmosphere of inspiration, optimism, and relaxation.For starters, they may find it redundant and monotonous, but the purpose of repetitive melodies and words is to create a feeling of hypnosis. When I was still working in CLDH, people from the Businessmaker Academy will always play New Age, particularly Enya's, during workshops and group dynamics. It set the tone for a healthy discussion and creation.
Where there are gatherings and activities this song will continue to play. As for me its effect is never the same.It has has taught me lessons I took for granted two decades ago - my history and my geography. I did not even notice Cebu was mentioned in this song. I feel a sense of pride and I could only be grateful to Roma Ryan, Enya's primary lyricist. Now watch Enya and Celtic Woman as we sail away!
Enya
Celtic Woman
Let me sail, let me sail, let the orinoco flow,
Let me reach, let me beach on the shores of Tripoli.
Let me sail, let me sail, let me crash upon your shore,
Let me reach, let me beach far beyond the Yellow Sea.
From Bissau to Pilau -- in the shade of Avalon,
From Fiji to Tiree and the Isles of Ebony,
From Peru to Cebuhear the power of Babylon,
From Bali to Cali -- far beneath the Coral Sea.
From the North to the South, Ebudae into Khartoum,
From the deep Sea of Clouds to the Island of the Moon,
Carry me on the waves to the lands I've never been,
Carry me on the waves to the lands I've never seen.
We can sail, we can sail, with the Orinoco flow
We can sail, we can sail...
Sail away, Sail away, Sail away...
We can steer, we can near with Rob Dickens at the wheel,
We can sigh, say goodbye Ross and his dependencies
We can sail, we can sail...
The Voicewas the winner of theEurovision Song Contest 1996, performed in English by Eimear Quinn, who represented Ireland. Themusic and lyrics were composed by Brendan Graham. It has the components of Irish music - inspirational, spiritual, earthy. The singer portrays herself as "the voice" which watches over the world, describing "her" effects on the elements, such as the wind, the seasons, in a similar way to Mother Nature. Quinn's interpretation is fresh, however, there are few instances where she is out of breath and a little off key. Nerves are evident especially when the song soars. But then this is a competition and sometimes psychology may work for or against you. Anyhow, she went home with the bacon. See how enthralling the lyrics are:
I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name
"Listen, my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice, I will remain
I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow
Ne'er do I sleep thoughout all the cold winter long
I am the force that in springtime will grow
I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace
Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice
I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice, I am the voice
I am the voice, I am the voice
Eimear Quinn
Lisa Kelly and Mairead Nesbitt of Celtic Woman
Lisa Kelly of Celtic Woman did a better interpretation of the song. Smooth singing, and charming mannerisms, made the performance worthy of a second, third, and more looks. Lisa captivates as she is in constant embrace with her audience. For a better future, we do not have to sing the way she does, though. We just need to do our own little part. Each little act of goodness will cascade until we reach our journey to hope and healing.
There is a picture of how the earth would look like in 2050. In that image, earth is non-recognizable. I will be entwined with the soil by then, but my little contibution for a better planet will benefit our children, and our generations to come.
Chloe Agnew was only 15 or 16 years old when she sang this song, but she already did a magnificent job. Pure, clear, and effortless singing. How can she ever go wrong? This was just an indication of what is to come and what she would become. She is now twenty one and developed into one of the voices ofCeltic Woman. Who would think that this young woman is a self-proclaimed rocker by heart as she sings in a heavenly manner:
Intro: Walking in the air, floating the sky...
Floating in the air...
We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
We're holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills, the forest and the streams
Children gaze open mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We're surfing in the air
We're swimming in the frozen sky
We're drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep
We're walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
Chloe Agnew of Celtic Woman
Walking in the Airwas composed by Howard Blake,and the soundtrack of the TV film, The Snowman.This is an animated adventure about a young English boy, who made a snowman one Christmas eve, only for it to come into life that night and take him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. Even without the images of the film, Chloe's singing entirely tells the story. Children and old alike will surely love the song's feel of freedom and magic.
Angelic voice plus arrangement and orchestration at its finest equals a work-of-art.
Ireland has produced a number of known artists. Inspite of the dominance of pop music and culture, the ability to break the world market without losing its heritage is a trademark of this country's performers. This is true with U2 and Enya, two of the most popular Irish singers. Such style is also evident with Bob Geldof, The Corrs, The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor,Westlife, and the ensemble Celtic Woman . There is almost always a touch of their origin in their musicality.Apart from dancing, just every Irish seem to at least know how to sing or play an instrument. The latter is a part of the Ireland's school curriculum. Small wonder why every singer in this country is also a musician.
I learned how to play the guitar when I was in grade school. Then, it seemed like taboo for someone like me in a male-dominated society, to play an instrument like that. These days? Just every school girl seemed to have been influenced by Sheryl Crow and the more popular Taylor Swift. I am striking a parallel with CelticWoman'sMairead Nesbitt. Forty years ago, she may not have enjoyed the freedom and acceptance that she is reaping now as an instrumentalist, especially fiddling, which I regard as a higher level of performing. Gone were the days where exceptional talent could belong only to a male species.
Witnessing how this fleet-footed, dimunitive lady play, is like witnessing a thunder bolt of lighting from the sky! She fiddles then dances like a swan, no like a butterfly. She is a powerhouse of emotions. She personifies both Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, and Shakti, the goddess of energy. She does not need to open her mouth to elicit a response or to be understood. Her emotions and fiddle are her words. Her body language is just a beauty to behold. Her presence in Celtic Woman gives a different facet to the group. As she performs Butterfly, an Irish traditional tune, I imagine the amount of discipline and training she poured before she got to that point. When I saw her perform in Lord of the Dance, it blew my mind! Is this even a mortal? There is just one more thing I ask of this being - sing a few lines!
Lord of the Dance
Mairead of Celtic Woman
It may no longer be a myth. Immortals are just here on earth, mingling with the humans.
Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears was written by Brendan Graham, who also did the lyrics of Josh Groban's You Raise Me Up. The song revolves around Ellis Island, which served as the route for millions of immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954. Graham's song is so melancholic, that if you are not moved by it, you are either dead or obtunded. I have this nagging pain in my chest everytime I hear this song:
Celtic Woman
On the first day on January,
Eighteen ninety-two,
They opened Ellis Island and they let
The people through.
And the first to cross the treshold
Of that isle of hope and tears,
Was Annie Moore from Ireland
Who was all of fifteen years.
CHORUS:
Isle of hope, isle of tears,
Isle of freedom, isle of fears,
But it's not the isle you left behind.
That isle of hunger, isle of pain,
Isle you'll never see again
But the isle of home is always on your mind.
In a little bag she carried
All her past and history,
And her dreams for the future
In the land of liberty.
And courage is the passport
When your old world disappears
But there's no future in the past
When you're fifteen years
Chorus:
When they closed down Ellis Island
In nineteen fourty-three,
Seventeen million people
Had come there for sanctuary.
And in Springtime when I came here
And I stepped onto it's piers,
I thought of how it must have been
When you're fifteen years.
Today the island, largely artificially created through landfill, is situated on the New Jersey side of the Upper New York bay. The natural portion of the island, part of New York City, is surrounded by rest of the island in Jersey City. For sometime Ellis Island was subject to a disputeof who really has jurisdiction over it - New York or New Jersey. Then came a 1998 Supreme Court decision ,which found most of the island to be part of New Jersey.
My family had gone through its own Ellis-Island-experience, although not as difficult as Annie Moore's or the few percentage who were declined. The chorus lines are very true to me. The American dream is for everybody who would like a better life for his family. The hard part is to go through the process. There will be no shortcuts.
We left our countryin 2006, full of hopes for a better future. With the hope came along the fears, of rejection and failure. Will we ever succeed? What is in store? There was a sense of liberation from a difficult life, but along came a feeling of ambivalence. Will I ever see my country and my loved ones again? I never really stopped thinking of home since I got here. My refuge are the tears that I cry. The isle of homeis always on my mind. With that constant torment I will find solace in Celtic Woman's voices.
