The High Kings bring a wealth of talent to music and music-making. The group includes the younger generation of great musical Irish names like Clancy, Furey and Dunphy as well as the incredibly talented Darren Holden.

Far from belting out Irish songs that are much loved, The High Kings bring their own unique take to these songs and their harmonies are the essence of delicousness.

I couldn’t but think of the talent of great sportsmen and women as I watched the High Kings perform. It just oozes from them in that apparently easy style that one equates with greats like Henry Shefflin, Rory McIllroy, Venus and Serena Williams, Katie Taylor, Ruby Walsh and so many more.

The High Kings are a  group to catch in 2013 and I was delighted to hear that they are planning to return soon to Waterford  ~which has such meaning for them all ~ in the not too distant future.

“The Rocky Road to Dublin”

Lyrics:

In the merry month of June
from my home I started
left the girls of Taum
nearly brokenhearted
saluted me father dear,
kissed me darling mother
drank a pint of beer,
my grief and tears to smother
then off to reap the corn,
leave where I was born
cut a stout blackthorn
to banish ghosts and goblin,
brand-new pair of brogues,
rattling o’er the bogs
frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.
1-2-3-4-5

In Mullingar last night,
I rested limbs so weary
started by daylight
next morning bright and early
took a drop of the pure
to keep me heart from sinking
that’s the Paddy’s cure
when he’s on the drinking
see the lassies smile,
laughing all the while
at me darling style,
would set your heart a-bubblin’
asked me was I hired,
wages I required
’til I was almost tired
of the rocky road to Dublin.

Chorus:
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!

In Dublin next arrived,
I thought it such a pity
to be so soon deprived
a view of that fine city
decided to take a stroll
all among the quality
bundle, it was stole
in that neat locality
something crossed my mind
when I looked behind
no bundle could I find
upon me stick a-wobblin’
crying for a rogue
said me connaught brogue
wasn’t much in-vogue
on the rocky road to Dublin.
1-2-3-4-5

Chorus

From there I got away,
me spirits never failing
landed on the quay
just as the ship was sailing
captain at me roared,
said that no room had he
then I jumped aboard
a cabin found for Paddy
down among the pigs,
played some funny rigs,
danced some hearty jigs,
the water ’round me bubblin’
off to Hollyhead
wished myself was dead
or better far instead
on the rocky road to Dublin.
1-2-3-4-5

Chorus

The boys in Liverpool,
when we safely landed
called meself a fool,
I could no longer stand it
blood began to boil,
temper I was losing
poor old Erin’s Isle
they began abusing
hooray me soul, says I,
let the shellaillagh fly
some Galway boys were nigh,
saw I was a-hobblin’
with a loud array,
they joined me in the fray
and soon we cleared the way
on the rocky road to Dublin.
1-2-3-4-5

Chorus 2x

As heard in the end credits of Guy Richie’s 2009 “Sherlock Holmes”, The Rocky Road to Dublin by The Dubliners:

Great stuff. And if you haven’t seen the movie yet, at least treat yourself to the fantastic end credits designed by Danny Yount with music by Hans Zimmer. ]]> http://angelonmars.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/sherlock-holmes/ Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:48:06 +0000 angelonmars http://angelonmars.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/sherlock-holmes/ I recently saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie.

I have never read any of the Sherlock Holmes book but I do plan on reading them now.

In a nutshell, the basic plot of the movie is Sherlock Holmes is trying to discover what Lord Blackwood (who was ‘resurrected’ after his hanging for murdering four girls and attempting to kill a fifth through the means of ‘practical magic’) is trying to accomplish through the means of ‘black magic’. Of course, everything that occurs has a base of logic and science behind it.

Robert Downey Jr.’s  portrayal of Sherlock Holmes was brilliant, even winning a Golden Globe for it. His Sherlock Holmes wasn’t the usual clean cut, organised detective, rather a funny, sometimes unclean, moody man that anyone could really relate to.

Dr. Watson wasn’t merely a sidekick, he saved Holmes’ life many times throughout the film.  His level of intelligence and deductive skills sometimes challenging Holmes’.  Watson was a war veteran and sometimes a gambler. His reluctance to join Sherlock in investigations was endearing but he always managed to redeem himself and help solve the mystery. Kudos to Jude Law for managing to pull off the interesting character in a way that he seemed real and lovable.

Holmes and Watson’s relationship was more of an interesting bromance rather than a hero and sidekick one. They were truly good friends and brothers, not by blood but by choice.  Sherlock sometimes felt that Watson’s impending engagement to a governess would place his friendship with Watson in peril and was almost forced to go meet his friend’s future fiancée.

Holmes’ romantic interest is Irene Adler, a seductive, compelling criminal from New Jersey. Irene helps the pair save the lives of all the members of Parliament and is saved herself by Watson and Holmes. A thrilling display of acting ability from the beautiful Rachel McAdams.

I was not impressed with Kelly Reily’s acting. She made her character Mary (Watson’s love interest) seem clingy and annoying when it was obvious that was not the way the character should have been portrayed. Her acting seemed poor in comparison to McAdams, Law and Downey Jr.

I immensely enjoyed the way Sherlock would explain his fighting moves in detail, describing how it would immediately effect the victim and how long physical and mental recovery would take.

I loved listening to ‘The Rocky Road to Dublin’ during a scene in which Sherlock participates in a boxing match. The song was lively, joyous and the Irish lilt endearing. It is an Irish folk song from the 19th century which is the same period that the movie is set in.

In some large action scenes the slow motion effects  were slightly overused but all in all the movie was interesting to watch, the plot developed quickly and didn’t drag on.

The movie is long, over two hours but it is still worth a watch in cinemas while you can.