2 years, 2 months ago
Irish mariachis??? Combine the music of St. Patrick's Day w/ Cinco de Mayo, and whaddaya get? "San Patricio", by The Chieftains!
The venerable Irish group released their album of Mexican music (with an Irish flair) today! Made with world music maestro Ry Cooder, and featuring tracks with Arizona native Linda Ronstadt, ranchera superstars Los Tigres de Norte and others, this'll get you moving on any of our multi-cultural drinking holidays!
Check out the track with Los Tigres here: http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627043570711829
So, will this prompt Mexican Step (on the) Hat dancing in your local pub or cantina???
Check out the track with Los Tigres here: http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627043570711829
So, will this prompt Mexican Step (on the) Hat dancing in your local pub or cantina???
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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Firstly, as an Irish native, I have to say kudos for bigging up the Chieftains!
I am by no means an expert on the genre, but they really are the kingpins of Irish traditional music. They keep quite a low profile here at home, they're workmanlike, they just keep their heads down and produce work that is consistently well regarded.
The Chieftains have collaborated with other artists in the past (Sting, The Corrs etc.) but when I spotted an article about this collaboration with Ry Cooder a month or two ago, I was intrigued by the historical dimension.
It turns out the album's theme is the story of some Irish immigrant conscripts in the Mexican-American War who, because of discrimination, deserted, and ended up fighting for the Mexican side.
To quote the youtube video below :
“Formed as the San Patricio battalion under Mexican leadership, they fought bravely for a people with whom they shared a common religion and cultural experience. To the Americans they were traitors, but to the Mexicans they were heroes.”
The Chieftains, Cooder and some of Mexico's top traditional musicians / artists have collaborated here to bring this story back to life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54PDlicm_94
As well as paying tribute to this group of men (most of whom lost their lives after being convicted of treason in the aftermath of their capture), it looks like the collaboration has produced a really unique record.
I'm pretty sure it did inspire some Mexican Step Hat dancing somewhere last week!
I am by no means an expert on the genre, but they really are the kingpins of Irish traditional music. They keep quite a low profile here at home, they're workmanlike, they just keep their heads down and produce work that is consistently well regarded.
The Chieftains have collaborated with other artists in the past (Sting, The Corrs etc.) but when I spotted an article about this collaboration with Ry Cooder a month or two ago, I was intrigued by the historical dimension.
It turns out the album's theme is the story of some Irish immigrant conscripts in the Mexican-American War who, because of discrimination, deserted, and ended up fighting for the Mexican side.
To quote the youtube video below :
“Formed as the San Patricio battalion under Mexican leadership, they fought bravely for a people with whom they shared a common religion and cultural experience. To the Americans they were traitors, but to the Mexicans they were heroes.”
The Chieftains, Cooder and some of Mexico's top traditional musicians / artists have collaborated here to bring this story back to life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54PDlicm_94
As well as paying tribute to this group of men (most of whom lost their lives after being convicted of treason in the aftermath of their capture), it looks like the collaboration has produced a really unique record.
I'm pretty sure it did inspire some Mexican Step Hat dancing somewhere last week!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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