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Gael Force - An Irish Celebration of Song
![Gael Force - An Irish Celebration of Song]()
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Price: $5.75
Price subject to change!
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786305133285
Format: Color
ISBN: 630513328X
Label: Music Video Products, Inc.
Manufacturer: Music Video Products, Inc.
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Music Video Products, Inc.
Release Date: 1998-09-29
Running Time: 100
Studio: Music Video Products, Inc.
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Customer reviews of Gael Force - An Irish Celebration of Song
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Songs for Ireland
Comment: Gael Force
I saw this for the first time on PBS during a fund raiser, and it was constantly interrupted by pledge pleas. I've wondered for years if I could ever find a copy, and here it is! This is a marvelous condensation of a week-long celebration of Irish music in Dublin featuring some of the best contemporary (as of 1997) performers. Along with some of my favorites, the program includes bands and individuals with whom I was not familiar - and who joined my list of favorites as a result of their appearances here.
I can't put the disk in the player without watching three tracks in particular. The Canadian family band Leahy plays with the Chieftains with such unbridled energy that one feels exhausted when they're finished. The nine brothers and sisters play a charging medley in B minor that finishes with one of the girls leading off with a hard shoe volley and the rest of the siblings joining her three and four at a time. By the end it sounds like they're about to make the roof collapse, and the applause as they take a bow is even more deafening. Like another reviewer, I bought this disk largely on the strength of my memory of Christy Moore's "City of Chicago". For years I've been wandering around singing the chorus - the only part of the song I could remember - and hoping I could hear him sing it again. Apart from the sheer power of his words about the Great Famine in 1847, the amount of music he creates with his single guitar and his affecting voice is amazing. Near the end fiddler Ashley MacIsaac plays "Tullochgorum" with the Chieftains. He looks stark, raving, barking mad and from his facial expression the music seems to be ripping from his very soul, but his ability is phenomenal and flawless. The crowd goes as mad as Ashley looks when he starts step-dancing without breaking stride in his incredibly energetic playing.
The most frustrating thing about Gael Force for me is that it is a condensation. I would dearly love to see the full performances from Sharon Shannon, Altan, De Dannan, and some of the others. I had never seen Eleanor Shanley, but I loved her a cappella performance of "Still I Love Him", the Irish lament of the devotion of a wife to her neglectful and emotionally abusive husband. She clutches her silent guitar all through the song, and her voice is so powerful that I found myself wishing that I could see the rest of her set. Afro Celt Sound Machine delivers a wonderful blend of the two styles of music and left me wanting more as well.
Some of the tracks seem somewhat out of place. Brian Kennedy is an Irish singer who is simply doing American rhythm and blues - fine for what it is, but a little anomalous for a program of mostly traditional and folk-based music. Sinead O'Connor has a strong voice and one of her songs, "He Moved Through the Fair", is traditional. Her version is a little louder and shriller than I like - I'm used to hearing the song sung in a low, quiet delivery - but it's evocative nonetheless.
This is simply my assessment based on my personal tastes. Others will enjoy these passages as much as I did those mentioned above. I recommend this DVD for anyone who enjoys Celtic music.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Worth it for Christy Moore's "City of Chicago" Alone!
Comment: My sisters and I grew up listening to the Clancy Brothers at my Irish grandparents' place and I've loved Irish music ever since. I remember my (Irish speaking) grandmother lining us girls up and trying to teach us to jig (she despaired at our posture but we were enthusiastic!) This DVD is terrific! I immediately recognized a few of the old songs ("Still I love him" and "Song for Ireland," both beautifully sung by Eleanor Shanley and the great Mary Black respectively) and some of the artists, as well (The Chieftains and Christy Moore.) I've always had mixed feelings about Irish fiddling (I cracked up when I learned the Russian word for violin - talk about an onomatopoeia: "skreep-ka!") but the fiddling on this DVD is superb - full of energy and life! So many great artists! Definitely get this one!
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Five Star Performances - just not enough of them!
Comment: There are some things I'll never understand. Gael Force was a week long extravaganza of some of the most talented Celtic artists on the planet. From over 21 hours of content, the producers chose to capture 100 minutes of it on DVD?!
Still, THERE ARE TEN PERFORMANCES (of 24 total) THAT WILL POSITIVELY ASTOUND YOU, and that's not an overstatement. They alone are worth this DVD's purchase price. The remainder are all solid - nothing you'll "fast forward" through. And you'll probably watch this DVD a few times each year, for a very long time to come.
I can heartily recommend it to ANYONE, regardless of musical tastes. I have shared Gael Force with MANY friends, who have immediately ordered their own copy. You will NOT be disappointed!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Uneven
Comment: There are wonderful entertainers here, but these are not their best performances. Celtic woman or ragus are more balanced and deserve repeat viewing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: WONDERFULL
Comment: This DVD is simply wonderfull . All the selection is under the most irish music spirit . Great .
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Editorial Reviews:
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Recorded at Dublin's Point Theatre and introduced by Emmylou Harris, Gael Force combines stunning live performances, beautiful melodies, and virtuoso playing from Ireland's greatest musicians and performers. Songs: 1. Introduction
2. The Dublin Reels--The Chieftains
3. Changing Your Demeanor--The Chieftains
4. B Minor Medley--Leahy with the Chieftains
5. Thank You for Hearing Me--Sinead O'Connor
6. Donegal Reels--De Dannan
7. Maggie--Maura O'Connell
8. Newgrange--Clannad
9. In a Lifetime--Clannad with Brian Kennedy
10. Whirl-y-Reel--Afro Celt Sound System
11. Ride On--Christy Moore
12. City of Chicago--Christy Moore
13. Still I Love Him--Eleanor Shanley
14. Mouth of the Tobique--Sharon Shannon
15. All the Lies That You Told Me--Frances Black
16. The Boxty Set--Altan
17. Crazy Love--Brian Kennedy
18. I'm Going to Set You Free--Nomos
19. Song for Ireland--Mary Black
20. Rosina Medley--Carlos Nunez
21. Hard Times--De Dannan with Mary Black, Maura O'Connell, Eleanor Shanley, and Tommy Fleming
22. Believe It if You Like--Sinead Lohan
23. Tullochgorum--Ashley MacIsaac
24. He Moved Through the Fair--Sinead O'Connor
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