# If I like Loreena McKennitt (and it just so happens that I do) who else might I like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674 "2004-12-08T02:56:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/1 "2004-12-08T02:56:33Z")
I love her vocals, the concepts of her songs, the often mid-eastern influence on her music, etc… I’d love to add more of this sound to my collection. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/2 "2004-12-08T03:06:49Z")
I’d suggest [Lisa Gerrard](http://www.lisagerrard.com) and her old/returning band **Dead Can Dance**. She’s not as accessible as Loreena’s material, but she definitely has similarities. There is an almost other-worldly quality to her voice that is unlike any other that I’ve ever heard. I’d suggest the Dead Can Dance live album [Toward the Within](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002MV0/qid=1102475146/sr=8-6/ref=pd_csp_6/104-4544735-6603951?v=glance&s=music&n=507846), her solo album [Duality](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000062VG/qid=1102475193/sr=2-3/ref=pd_ka_b_2_3/104-4544735-6603951), and her collaboration with Patrick Cassidy [Immortal Memory](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000D1C6T/qid=1102475193/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-4544735-6603951?v=glance&s=music). There are soundclips from all tracks on the provided links to see if they are up your alley. My favorites are “Shadow Magnet” (Duality), “Song of Amergin” (Immortal Memory), “Sanvean” (Toward the Within), and “Yulunga (Spirit Dance)” (Toward the Within). Or you could just go for **Enya** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/3 "2004-12-08T03:13:28Z")
Thanks- I’d never heard of her but I love the sound bytes. (Is the Patrick Cassidy from above the “son of Shirley Jones” P.C.?) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/4 "2004-12-08T03:16:15Z")
Heh, no 🙂 I guess he’s a pretty famous classical composer in Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/5 "2004-12-08T03:18:52Z")
You may also like the irish choir group Anuna. They have some really fun stuff. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/6 "2004-12-08T05:13:40Z")
Browsing the music downloads on [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), I came across [“Å Ná (Arcane Chant)”](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006RVX1/qid=1102482665/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl15/104-5309208-8480736?v=glance&n=507846) by Suzanna Reeves. (I think that has only a 30-second sample; I know the full song is available elsewhere on Amazon). It has a Celtic/Gaelic quality to it kinda like Loreena McKennitt. You might like this one. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/7 "2004-12-08T05:23:08Z")
I second **Dead Can Dance**. You also might want to look up a little froup calle **Trespassers William**. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/8 "2004-12-08T05:36:42Z")
Korn. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/9 "2004-12-08T07:11:46Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I’d suggest [Lisa Gerrard](http://www.lisagerrard.com) and her old/returning band **Dead Can Dance**. She’s not as accessible as Loreena’s material, but she definitely has similarities. There is an almost other-worldly quality to her voice that is unlike any other that I’ve ever heard. I’d suggest the Dead Can Dance live album [Toward the Within](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002MV0/qid=1102475146/sr=8-6/ref=pd_csp_6/104-4544735-6603951?v=glance&s=music&n=507846), her solo album [Duality](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000062VG/qid=1102475193/sr=2-3/ref=pd_ka_b_2_3/104-4544735-6603951), and her collaboration with Patrick Cassidy [Immortal Memory](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000D1C6T/qid=1102475193/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-4544735-6603951?v=glance&s=music). I’m a huge fan of both Loreena McKennitt and Dead Can Dance. My favorite DCD albums are _Aion_ and _Into The Labyrinth_. I do like the live album, _Toward the Within_, recommended by **interface** , but for some reason i prefer the studio recorded versions of the same songs, maybe because i had those albums first. I also like Lisa Gerrard’s work on the soundtrack to the movie _Gladiator_. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/10 "2004-12-08T07:52:04Z")
I can’t comment on Loreena McKennitt since I’ve only heard a couple songs of hers, but if you decide you like Dead Can Dance you might want to check out a couple of the following: Vas Mari Boine Persen Marta Sebestyen (ummm…I know there are some other folks who should go in this list, but it’s late and I’m blanking on them) Some of the ethereal/darkwave/gothic stuff like you might find on compilations put out by the Projekt or Cleopatra labels ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/11 "2004-12-08T14:04:09Z")
Dangit, I thought I was gonna get to recommend Dead Can Dance. _Spiritchaser_ is probably my favorite album by them, but they’re all pretty wonderful. _A Passage in Time_ is a relatively early “best of” album of their work. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/12 "2004-12-08T14:17:50Z")
> [@Hunter Hawk](#): > > I can’t comment on Loreena McKennitt since I’ve only heard a couple songs of hers, but if you decide you like Dead Can Dance you might want to check out a couple of the following: > > Vas > Mari Boine Persen > Marta Sebestyen > (ummm…I know there are some other folks who should go in this list, but it’s late and I’m blanking on them) > Some of the ethereal/darkwave/gothic stuff like you might find on compilations put out by the Projekt or Cleopatra labels I ditto the “Vas” recommendation. The singer, Azam Ali, has her own solo CD out as well; it too is excellent. PS. When Loreena starts touring again (supposedly next year?) I urge you to go, you will love it! ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/13 "2004-12-08T14:33:54Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Korn. I have 2 Loreena McKennitt CDs and 2 Korn CDs in my car CD holder right now. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/14 "2004-12-08T15:41:20Z")
Maybe early Clannad, before they went all pop-like. Anyone know why the big hiatus in McKennitt’s career? She had a string of very successful albums and then pretty much just stopped after the live double album came out in '97or '98. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/15 "2004-12-08T15:53:49Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Maybe early Clannad, before they went all pop-like. > Anyone know why the big hiatus in McKennitt’s career? She had a string of very successful albums and then pretty much just stopped after the live double album came out in '97or '98. Her live-in fiance, Ronald Rees, his brother and a close friend drowned in a boating accident in Lake Huron in 1998 and since then she’s done very little. Her _Live in Paris & Toronto_ CD was a benefit performance for boating accidents. I hope she’ll release something new soon and resume touring. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/16 "2004-12-08T16:21:17Z")
As ever for such questions I will recommend [Allmusic](http://www.allmusic.com/), one of the best resources on the web, which will provide a list of similar artists, influences, followers and song writers whose work she has performed. ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/17 "2004-12-08T22:08:35Z")
You might want to try [Lorenza Ponce](http://www.lorenzaponce.com/). It isn’t Irish music, but some of it sounds similar to Loreena to me. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/18 "2004-12-08T22:42:22Z")
Connie Dover. ---
**Author:** ![Aitara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aitara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aitara)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/19 "2004-12-09T03:33:20Z")
Some others that you might like: Susan McKoewn Clannad Maire Brennan Enya ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674/20 "2004-12-09T04:58:24Z")
A little different than LM is [Jesse Cook](http://www.jessecook.com/)… He doesn’t come from the Celtic background. but has a World Music influence, especially on his last album “Nomad”. I think it would make you think of “The Book of Secrets”. There is amazing musicianship in both camps, and as well, both are Canadian! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-like-loreena-mckennitt-and-it-just-so-happens-that-i-do-who-else-might-i-like/278674.md?page=2)