# Amateur analysis of Celtic Woman's blandness **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997 "2009-01-12T22:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/1 "2009-01-12T22:48:57Z")
Now, I do not know how often they sing “traditional” or traditional-inspired Celtic songs, as I do not listen to them on account of their blandness, but this has happened more than once: They are singing an ostensibly Celtic song, but instead of something like this this (notes all the same length, 3 to a bar, tune totally made up): ```auto x x x x x x x x x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx ``` They would sing/play something like this: ```auto ``` ``` x x x x x ``` x x x x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx ```auto With the two high notes taken down one note. Or perhaps not a note, it's been so long since I've had musical training I'm not sure if it's the key, tempering, or the actual notes that differ. All I know is that those types of notes are lower and it sucks as much as elevator music. This is totally unfun and bland to my ears. Since it wouldn't appear to me that the more traditional-sounding construction would be grating on the average PBS-viewing public's ears, my only explanation is that they hate themselves. ``` ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/2 "2009-01-12T22:50:33Z")
I don’t get your notation but I do agree they sound very bland. They’re hugely successful though and I am not so I’ll shut up. The High Kings are a band from the same ‘factory’ that are vaguely edgier, more like the Dubliners, still shit though. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/3 "2009-01-12T23:00:57Z")
They’re part of the wider “Celtic” trend - a denatured Scots-Irish-Welsh cultural artifact for deracinated Scots-Irish-Welsh white folks seeking some misty remnant of roots in a multicultural era that, they rightly sense, doesn’t include them. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/4 "2009-01-12T23:05:54Z")
Their music is pleasant if not exciting. I like to watch them though and am quite comfortable doing so with the sound down. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/5 "2009-01-12T23:10:00Z")
> [@photopat](#): > > Their music is pleasant if not exciting. I like to watch them though and am quite comfortable doing so with the sound down. There is that, but the microphones get in the way… ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/6 "2009-01-12T23:11:09Z")
Who the devil is Celtic Woman? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/7 "2009-01-12T23:25:16Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Who the devil is Celtic Woman? She’s like Burning Man, only blue. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/8 "2009-01-12T23:30:04Z")
I consider them to be in the vein of Liberace and Lawrence Welk. Apparently there is an audience who wants music that has technique without passion. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/9 "2009-01-12T23:36:06Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I consider them to be in the vein of Liberace and Lawrence Welk. Apparently there is an audience who wants music that has technique without passion. And as a musician, I actually am part of that audience at times. I actually respected the professionalism of the 1970s Welk orchestra of live, seasoned LA studio men. But in subsequent years (Yanni, John Tesh…) it became all polish and no leather, if you will. CW, AFAIK, are part of that generation. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/10 "2009-01-13T00:02:37Z")
I can’t read the OP’s notation (letters, give us letters!) but I wanted to mention that I made my poor mother seriously sad and upset when I saw her watching these guys and teased about how corny they were. I honestly didn’t know she was watching very seriously–I thought she was flipping through channels. My poor mom and her jerk of a son. But holy cow, how can she stands it? -Kris ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/11 "2009-01-13T00:11:34Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > And as a musician, I actually am part of that audience at times. I actually respected the professionalism of the 1970s Welk orchestra of live, seasoned LA studio men. But in subsequent years (Yanni, John Tesh…) it became all polish and no leather, if you will. CW, AFAIK, are part of that generation. I have a certain respect for it, too. I know it takes years of practice to get that technique, and years more to get the polish. But if you can play Rachmaninoff while smiling for the camera, or finish a two-hour concert looking like you’re on your way to the prom, then you’re not trying hard enough. You don’t have to all be Bruce Springsteen, but I’m just not artistically moved by anyone who works so hard to make it look so easy. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/12 "2009-01-13T18:22:54Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I can’t read the OP’s notation (letters, give us letters!) but I wanted to mention that I made my poor mother seriously sad and upset when I saw her watching these guys and teased about how corny they were. I honestly didn’t know she was watching very seriously–I thought she was flipping through channels. > > My poor mom and her jerk of a son. You utter bastard. 😉 Or is that another insult to your mom? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/13 "2009-01-13T19:01:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I have a certain respect for it, too. I know it takes years of practice to get that technique, and years more to get the polish. But if you can play Rachmaninoff while smiling for the camera, or finish a two-hour concert looking like you’re on your way to the prom, then you’re not trying hard enough. You don’t have to all be Bruce Springsteen, but I’m just not artistically moved by anyone who works so hard to make it look so easy. Yeah, I feel the same way..part of the appeal of music performance is seeing the performer work for it. And, in the words of Tina Turner (maybe it was Ike): _But there’s just one thing You see, we nevah evah do nothin Nice… and easy We always do it nice… and rough_ ---
**Author:** ![Sweetums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Sweetums](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweetums)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/14 "2009-01-13T21:17:32Z")
Yeah, but Máiréad Nesbitt, the fiddle player is really hot. 😉 ``` Oh come on, you know someone was going to say something like that. I now return you to your discussion of musical merit. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/15 "2009-01-13T21:26:32Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I don’t get your notation but I do agree they sound very bland. They’re hugely successful though and I am not so I’ll shut up. The High Kings are a band from the same ‘factory’ that are vaguely edgier, more like the Dubliners, still shit though. Our PBS TV stations often have fund-raising events. For a week or so, special shows will be interrupted by earnest folks asking us to send money! Celtic Women is just the sort of band that shows up at those times; several times during the week, in fact. I found them fairly harmless. What do you think of [these guys](http://www.thepriests.com/)? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/16 "2009-01-13T21:27:17Z")
That’s the kind of music I just don’t get at all (but then, I don’t get living in the suburbs, either, so I realize the problem is mostly mine). It has nothing to do with age - my grandparents listened to edgier stuff. It has to do with, as far as I can tell, the total appreciation of technique as opposed to expression or passion or beauty. Because the only thing being expressed is professionalism. ---
**Author:** ![vison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47774/32.png) [@vison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vison)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/17 "2009-01-13T21:29:07Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > . . . . > What do you think of [these guys](http://www.thepriests.com/)? Why don’t we have a : puke: smiley? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/18 "2009-01-13T21:51:38Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > With the two high notes taken down one note. Or perhaps not a note, it’s been so long since I’ve had musical training I’m not sure if it’s the key, tempering, or the actual notes that differ. All I know is that those types of notes are lower and it sucks as much as elevator music. It’s both the actual notes and also the intonation that are involved, and by extension, the key. The tuning is straightjacketed into 12-note equal temperament, or a close approximation thereof, once you’ve got any kind of synthesiser involved in the accompaniment, even more so than it would be only by guitars. The alternative and non-fixed tunings which are a characteristic of ‘more traditional’ folk music are perhaps part of what you’re yearning for here. With this in place, it’s possible to simplify the sounds of typical fiddle tunes into very basic Dorian harmonies using a handful of chords. Yeah, not my cup of tea 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/19 "2009-01-13T22:33:11Z")
> [@Beware of Doug](#): > > deracinated Scots-Irish-Welsh white folks seeking some misty remnant of roots in a multicultural era that, they rightly sense, doesn’t include them. Uh, not to get off-topic, but I’d be hard-pressed to think of a way in which people of Celtic heritage are “not included” in the “multicultural era” (which seems a misnomer to me anyhow). This very thread indicates otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997/20 "2009-01-13T23:11:32Z")
Gimme the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem. But they are easy on the eyes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-analysis-of-celtic-womans-blandness/480997.md?page=2)