Solved: 90's Celtic Pop Song.

Does anyone remember a song that played on pop stations in the 90's that had a very harmonic Celtic sound? The singer was female, and I think I remember some funky Celtic instruments at some point in the song - but no drums or guitar or anything normal like that.

It was very Braveheart/13th Warrior-ish.

I can't remember any of the lyrics, unfortunately... I just know that its folky Celtic sound seemed a little out of place on 90's pop stations. And it's not Enya. I know that much.

Try Clannad:

maybe Theme from Harry's Game or another of their songs perhaps?

"Nothing Compares To You" - Sinead O'Connor

is the first thing that comes to mind for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO8JW...eature=related

I listened to the Sinead O'Connor song, and several Clannad songs, and neither one fits. It's much faster than the Clannad song you suggested - about 110 BPM - and none of their other songs were right either.

I'm looking at the track lists of some "90's Celtic" albums and looking the songs up on YouTube, but any more ideas you guys have are welcome.

It's also not the Coors. They're way too rock-ish to have done this song. It's not Eleanor McEvoy either.

Definitely not the Cranberries. It's a lot less poppy than their stuff.

This is starting to make me wish there was a Song Identification forum filled with people who can read music, so I could just write down the notation, and they'd be able to identify it by the tune.

Loreena McKennitt?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcFB8V4kztI

Maybe this one: All about Eve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCuSo8q7HnI



or did you try "The Celtic Woman" ? But I am not sure if they already existed in the 90ies.

If i remember right, there was a song by Capercaillie that got played a lot..

Capercaillie - Coisich A Ruin,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd-SKuWIjA0

Yeah, that's from their 1991 album Delirium. But I was under the impression that the song was in English.

By the way, Capercaillie contributed to the soundtrack of the movie Rob Roy.
So... I don't know, could it possibly be something by Karen Matheson, like "Hard Earth" for instance?

Clannad and Capercaillie are one of my favourite bands, but I'm not so sure they're popular in the United States. Or am I wrong?

Unfortunately, none of the suggestions so far have been it.

I probably should have mentioned that the lyrics were English, although since it was played on US pop stations, that seems obvious.

There weren't a whole lot of drums, if any, in the song... if I remember correctly.

So I guess we're looking for an American artist/band then.

My guess was Loreena McKennitt, because her album "The Mask and the Mirror" reached #17 on the Billboard, and got certified double platinum in the US. Then again, I can't imagine any of her songs being played on a pop station.

The mystery remains.

I have a song called Runaway that might be it. I have no idea who its by...but you can search for it maybe? or I can send it to you.
also try Celtic Women.


good luck!


puravida
dj

Unfortunately, it's not "Runaway" by the Corrs, nor is it "The Mask and the Mirror" by Loreena McKennitt. Runaway is far too American pop styled, and the latter isn't it either.

I'd honestly be surprised if it were an American artist. It definitely sounds fairly traditionally Irish - just without the Celtic lyrics. Like I said, there isn't a whole lot of percussion in it, either. The vocals sound like either two harmonizing women with Alto voices, or one woman using a harmonizer. It really sounds like something that would have been in those "Pure Moods" compilations they sold on TV back in the 90's. Man, it's tough to describe a song with text. lol

Can anyone here read music, or even read note names written out? I could write down the tune if anyone here had some music-reading skill. I remember the entire tune of every instrument in the song, as well as the vocal track.

Originally Posted by TheNilvarg

Can anyone here read music, or even read note names written out? I could write down the tune if anyone here had some music-reading skill. I remember the entire tune of every instrument in the song, as well as the vocal track.

Let`s try!


Another suggestion: maybe it was a theme from Michael Flatleys "River Dance" ?

Holy crap.

After posting that, I went through the track lists of Pure Moods on Amazon. Just trying to remember that CD name sparked the idea to look up those albums.

I searched every Pure Moods track on YouTube.

And I FINALLY found it, after trying to figure out what this song is for like five years.

It's Loreena McKinnett's "The Mummer's Dance". This song is freaking beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcFB8V4kztI

I'm really grateful to you guys for all of your help.

EDIT: Wow, I feel like an idiot now. I see that someone posted a link to this song earlier in the thread. I must have just heard the beginning and didn't make the connection. Sorry I made all of you keep working when someone actually had the answer. lol. I feel bad now.

Nevermind - and Thank you for letting us know!


HAve a nice day.

I knew it!

Originally Posted by panselinos

I knew it!

Well done!

WTG panselinos, well done!

It is so funny that you asked this question, because I've had the exact same question for the past month. I am from New Jersey, but I've been working in Bermuda (in construction) since August 2008. I don't really like the radio stations down here but one day I was at work and somebody had a radio on and this song with "a hauntingly beautiful melody" came on the radio. Now I felt like I had heard the song back in the US, but never paid it that much notice. But what really made me notice it on this particular day was that another construction worker (a native Bermudian) who fancies himself as a singer locked in on the melody and sang it just about all day. He didn't know the lyrics or the title or evan the singer, but the melody was that catchy (and beautiful) that before long he had other people singing (humming) the melody. That was when I fully realized just how beautiful this song was. Now I am something of a musicologist. And when I hear something that I like, I just have to know who it is and the name of the song. Only this time I don't know where to begin because I don't know a single word or phrase of the song. But when I read your question, I thought that we might be looking for the same song.

Thanks for getting this question asked (and findable through Google), because the same thing was nagging in my head for some time. Not only did I find the song because of your hard work, but now I've found some more music of hers to explore! THANKS!