Tag Archives: Sinéad O’Connor

Anything Goes

One of popular music’s wittiest and most renowned songwriters was born on this day back in 1891. Cole Porter was responsible for such compositions as I Get a Kick Out of You, I’ve Got You Under My Skin and Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye. The likes of Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra were amongst those who popularised his songs in the days before the advent of rock ‘n’ roll transformed the role of the songwriter. I’ve chosen Sinatra’s swinging version of Anything Goes along with his friend Sammy Davis, Jr’s equally rhythmic take on Too Darn Hot. The next three interpretations are from the 1991 Red, Hot + Blue tribute to the composer. Finally, What Is This Thing Called Love? was one of the standards that Norwegian jazz singer Solveig Slettahjell performed on her second album, Silver: Slow Motion Quintet from 2006. “How strange the change from major to minor. Ev’ry time we say goodbye”

Anything Goes – Frank Sinatra

Too Darn Hot – Sammy Davis, Jr

Don’t Fence Me In – David Byrne

Well Did You Evah! – Deborah Harry & Iggy Pop

You Do Something to Me – Sinéad O’Connor

What Is This Thing Called Love? – Solveig Slettahjell

How Does It Feel, Bob?

Barack Obama’s first official visit to Ireland came and went yesterday. It was certainly a success as the US president knocked back a pint of Guinness in the village of Moneygall and got to show off his command of the Irish language in Dublin. Another famous American who has been a regular visitor to these shores in recent years celebrates his 70th birthday today. In the early sixties, Bob’s music had been used to soundtrack the Civil Rights Movement in the US. Dylan’s championing by the movement was not something he encouraged, though he was present at the march in Washington on August 28th, 1963, when Martin Luther King delivered his powerful I Have a Dream speech

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Greetings From Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore


I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy St Patrick’s Day. My own name is Pat, my late father’s was Paddy and my youngest nephew is called Patrick. So, here are a few songs from Irish singers about Pats, Paddys and Patricks as well as one “sung” by a Pat. I’m planning to spend the day absorbing myself in Irish culture. I’m not sure exactly what that’s going to entail, but I’ll let you know how it turns out


Uncle Pat – Ash

Poor Paddy – The Pogues

Paddy Rolling Stone – Shane MacGowan

Rock and Roll Paddy – Shane MacGowan

Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore – Paul Brady

Paddy’s Lament – Sinéad O’Connor

St Patrick’s Day – Damien Dempsey

The Jumbo Breakfast Roll – Pat Shortt