Tag: nathancarter

The Music Sparkle.

New Music.

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.2 Comments

We have some fantastic new Summer tunes from my favourite Irish Country music stars. I’m waking up each morning humming one of these, the tunes are so catchy and the video’s are excellent.

First up is the lovely John McNicholl with his song “The Brightest Road” written by Derek Ryan.  I was lucky enough that on the release day, June 22nd, when it was number one in the Irish country charts and number five here in the UK country charts, to hear it performed live as John was appearing in Birmingham that evening.  It was like a huge party at the dance as we all celebrated the single being number one.  So proud of John and happy for him to reach the number one spot, a fantastic song.

 

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Next up is Michael English with his summer tune “Then it’s Love”, I absolutely love this. Unfortunately Michael didn’t sing this one at the concert I attended at the end of April (that’s another blog post I need to do), the video is very summer like. I find myself singing this one almost all day long, I really need to learn more of the lyrics though than just the chorus, I’m driving folk crazy repeating the same thing over and over 🙂

 

Derek Ryan just keeps rocking out those hits, here he is with another country/pop type of tune “Hayley Jo” which has got folk dancing up and down the country, he really is just pure class.  I really like this one, I just can’t work out who is Hayley Jo in the video?

 

My last selection for today is from our homegrown, Irish country music superstar Nathan Carter.  Self penned with his singer/songwriting manager John Farry “Give it to Me” is a sure fire summer hit for Nathan.  Great song, fun video and Nathan Carter, what’s not to love?!!!

I hope you have enjoyed these fab four summer hits from some of my favourite Irish music stars.  I have a few more to share which I will leave for a future post.

With love and music sparkles xx

The Music Sparkle.

New Music.

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.4 Comments

It’s been ages since I posted any new music video’s from our fabulous Irish music stars and we have had some great new music releases over the past month or so.  There are one or two included which date back to the end of last year and which I didn’t get an opportunity to include on my blog.

First up is a couple from Nathan Carter.  Last year Nathan held his first Arena concerts, one in Dublin and one in Belfast.  Both were sold out and the Belfast concert has been voted as the Arena Concert of the Year by voters for the SSE Live Awards.  I recently purchased the Live DVD of the Dublin show and it is absolutely fantastic.  Mam, Dad and myself sat and watched the concert and we all sang along. As I had only seen Nathan live in concert in Birmingham the week before I was really buzzing.  Below is an extract from the show with the Glen Campbell Medley.  Also below is the video to Nathan’s latest song written by Nathan and Don Mescall.  Released for Valentine’s Day it has a lovely message of eternal love with a connection to Alzheimer’s. Just beautiful.

Derek Ryan is one of Ireland’s most successful singer/songwriters of the current time. His latest release is a fun offering “Down on your Uppers”.  I think he could write a song about anything!

Lisa McHugh had a huge hit last year with “Girl with a Fishing Rod”.  This is her latest release “Country Girl”.  It took me a few plays and I really quite like it now.  Of course the video’s help, I love to see the story unfolding.

Michael English is another fabulous singer/songwriter and last year Michael filmed his first Live DVD at the INEC Killarney.  The night was a fantastic success and seeing the clips on his weekly TV show and on other shows, it looks like an amazing night with big bands, Irish Dancing and a great mix of music.  Below is the video for “Ten Guitars”.

I hope you have enjoyed this small selection of music, more to follow…

The Music Sparkle.

New Music.

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.3 Comments

Our fabulous Irish Music stars have a host of recently released new music, these are very popular songs already and are featuring on the various Country Music shows on Keep it Country TV and also on the various internet radio stations.

The second single from the forthcoming new album “The Fire” and filmed in and around County Carlow (where my Dad is from), this is another sure fire hit for Derek Ryan.

I can’t help but feel this one was released a little late in the season as the children are now back at school.  Once again Nathan Carter pulls a hit out of the hat.

What can I say about the latest offering from the fabulous Michael English.  You’ll definitely want to get up and dance.  Taken from the forthcoming live DVD filmed in Killarney, I cannot wait to see the whole DVD, a must for my Christmas list.

I really enjoy Gerry Guthrie singing, he has developed his own identifiable sound.  This is a great track and a lovely video.

Robert Mizzell has a wonderful voice. Originally from Louisiana and now living in Ireland, Robert is extremely popular.  I’ve not seen him live yet but I hope he will tour the UK.  This is a beautiful song and video.  All proceeds to Marie Keating Foundation.

http://www.mariekeating.ie

I hope you have enjoyed my selection of the latest releases, no doubt I’ll sharing more in the next few weeks…

@aurorasparkles

 

The Music Sparkle.

Summer in Dublin.

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.2 Comments

No, I’m not in Dublin at the moment, not physically anyway.  We watch so much Irish TV here at home and listen to Irish Music so often and also Mass from Knock Shrine via their webcam, I think our home is a tiny province of Ireland here in England.

Nathan Carter sang the brilliant song “Summer in Dublin” at his recent gig at the 3 Arena in Dublin and it is a fabulous version of the song. Well done Nathan Carter!

This brings back so many memories as I do remember a Summer in Dublin when the original recording of this song was out by Bagatelle.  I remember buying the single, on vinyl, in the record shop in Tipperary Town after hearing it on the radio. (I still have the record).  Then we had a few days in Dublin visiting family and I can clearly remember walking by the Halfpenny Bridge on a hot summer afternoon, there was a lot of traffic and the cars had the windows down.  They must have all been tuned into the same radio station, as Bagatelle filled the Summer afternoon with their words…”and the Liffey as it stank like hell, the young people walking on Grafton Street, everyone looking so well…”

Isn’t it strange the things that stick within our memory and how the lyrics and music bring it right back to life for you.  When I first watched the clip of Nathan singing this I was able to sing along to every word even thought I hadn’t heard the song for years.

They were happy, uncomplicated and carefree days and I do remember that Summer in Dublin.

 

@aurorasparkles

 

 

The Music Sparkle.

It’s Friday!

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.14 Comments

In the words of Derek Ryan…It’s Friday!  This is one of our favourite Irish country tunes and Mom and I sing it each Friday and we sing along to the video when we watch it on You Tube.  Another favourite is from Michael English “Friday at the Dance” made especially enjoyable as my cousin is in the video (such a name dropper).

So, as it is Friday evening, it is pouring with rain here in Birmingham and I’ll admit, fairly chilly for a Summer evening, I decided to share with you some of my favourite, get you on your feet, Friday night, Irish country music songs.

Mam and I will be singing along to this one as Dad joins in when he can.

Yee Haw!!

An absolutely wonderful gentleman, with a great heart and a fabulous voice.  I love the Irish dancing in this video…Let’s Dance!

My favourite Irish country song of last Summer – just love the Summer vibes all over this video.

Thankfully I’ve had many a good night out in Temple Bar on my visits to Dublin, a great song from Nathan Carter.

A fantastic toe tapper, get up and move it tune from Lee Matthews.

I hope you have enjoyed my selection of Friday night Irish Country songs and I hope too that they have uplifted your inner sparkle and put a spring in your step.  Turn the music up and keep it country.

The Music Sparkle.

A Little New Music.

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.5 Comments

As you know I love Country Music and I love Irish Music which means that I also love Irish Country Music.  We regularly watch Keep It Country TV and the pleasure it brings to my parents is fabulous.  As well as the newer songs and artists, which I have to admit, Mom has a great eye and ear for the talent, we have been introduced to American Country Artists and sometimes we hear the old songs, the songs of bygone days in Ireland which my parents remember well.  You Tube is also a regular in our home, we really think there isn’t anything you can’t locate on You Tube.  Any song from the past that my parents think of, we can locate someone singing it on You Tube!

I thought I’d do a little round up of the latest Irish Country releases and share them with you.  You may already be a fan or perhaps I will introduce you to some of the fabulous talent currently taking the country music world by storm.  I hope you enjoy.

First up is Lisa McHugh and “Girl with a Fishing Rod” – very catchy song and I just love this video.

Derek Ryan is the most amazing singer songwriter, we have so many of his albums, all filled with his own compositions and a few covers.  I’ve seen Derek three times, twice at a dance and once in concert – excellent nights out.  This latest song is another huge hit for him and captures the magic of a festival night where he is appearing.

This is my song of the summer – such a happy video, everyone is smiling broadly and the sheer enjoyment of the dancing is plain to see – absolutely love this.  Michael English is another fabulous singer/songwriter.  Michael also has his own show on Keep it Country TV, Monday night at 11pm, repeated on Sunday afternoon at 5pm.

No round up would be complete without the fantastic Nathan Carter, I’ve now lost count of the times I have been to see Nathan perform!  This is a real chill out, summer holiday vibe kind of song and I have found myself “na na, na na na na na” at random times throughout the day.

This is a beautiful song from Johnny Brady, a wonderful sentiment and sang with real meaning.

I hope you have enjoyed my selection of the latest Irish music releases; I think Cliona Hagan and Michael English both have new singles coming out soon so some more new music coming soon.

 

The Music Sparkle.

Musical Dreams and Keeping it Country.

Dawn - The Sparkle Diaries.3 Comments

Recently I have been lucky enough to attend the gigs of three of my favourite Irish singers, John McNicholl, Nathan Carter and Derek Ryan. I grew up listening to Irish country music, Mam says I was trying to sing long before I could talk and used to pull myself up in my cot to wiggle to the music, long before I could walk. My uncle was in an Irish Showband and after playing in Birmingham on the night of my christening, the whole band arrived at my parents flat and played all night. 

I was always singing around our home, my parents used to ask why I couldn’t learn my schoolwork like I could learn the top twenty. I suppose I just loved songs and singing. Visiting my family in Tipperary as a teenager, my cousin and I were allowed to the dancehall in Dundrum to see the Irish Showbands on a Friday night. Tony Kenny, Red Hurley and my absolute favourites, Gina, Dale Haze and The Champions.  Once home I would pretend I was Gina, I sang to their records, bought a tambourine like Gina and our lounge was my stage.

  
When I was 19 an Irish music promoter telephoned to call me for an audition but my parents didn’t tell me, for three years!!! I was mad as hell but looking back I can see they were looking out for a very niave young girl.

As life moved on, I grew away from my roots and started to go clubbing, I loved dance music and dancing but I hardly ever sang. I lost touch with the top twenty, with my roots, my culture. Life was work, work, work and dance music. Dancing on a Friday night released the stress and pressure of the week. Housework was done to dance music, that trance beat had an euphoric affect on me and still does. A little bit of Swedish House Mafia is good for the soul.

Three years ago I joined the choir at Mass. I love it, it has compleltely enriched going to Mass for me. I always enjoyed singing the hymns but being part of the choir is just awesome. Around the same time, Mom was reading the Irish paper and seen John McNicholl so we decided to look him up on YouTube. Within a flash I was right back to my roots, I think it was lying asleep, like Sleeping Beauty, ready to be awakened by a handsome man, John McNicholl was that man!!

From there we discovered the other new, exciting and fabulous singers and now we listen to Irish Country Music all the time. We watch Irish Country Music shows on TV and when I can I attend the dances and concerts when our favourites are in town.

Last year I decided to have some vocal coaching, to see if I do actually have a voice. I love it!! I love it with a passion. Singing and songs have again taken over my mind and with life as it is currently, this is a huge escape from the anxieties, stresses and worries of the day. I have learnt so much about pitching, resonance, different voices, breathing…I am once again dreaming of being on that stage singing my heart out.

Below are some pictures of me with my gorgeous Irish music stars, I think you’ll guess my favourite 😉 Look their music up on You Tube, they are so talented, each different to the other and all brilliant.

Thank you for reading my blog 😀

   
Derek Ryan.

 
John McNicholl.

  
Nathan Carter.

  
Making dreams come true 💖