Whatever about the Obama presidential visit the choice of performers for the concert to entertain the president leaves a lot to be desired.
Before he arrives in College Green at the heart of Dublin on Sunday, the expected massive crowd and world media will listen to the best in Irish entertainment
Except it won't be.
When President Clinton went to Belfast in 1995 there was one electrifying moment when Van Morrison came on stage and played 'There'll be days like this."
It was a magical moment, one that will stay with the hundreds of thousands who witnessed it as a huge few minutes of symbolism as Northern Ireland inched towards peace.
That was then-- now Obama has Jedward and Westlife headlining.
How sad is that? Jedward are the pride of the teenybopper set, essentially harmless and good fun but with about as much talent as I have at singing and dancing.
Their main claim to fame appears to be their fantastical hairstyle, quiffed in a Teddy Boy look that drives the young females wild.
Then there is Westlife, a manufactured boy band who have made millions by being bland.
They will hardly stir the souls of the tens of thousands who will gather tomorrow for President Obama's speech and if Obama happens to arrive while either are playing he'll probably think he wandered into a teenybopper convention.
Really Ireland could have done much better.There is no dearth of fabulous musical talent and Obama will draw a crowd anyway.
Instead we have a talentless twosome and a vanilla boy band as Ireland's opening act for the most important man on earth while the world's media looks on.
Sad that.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.dani1995 | May 25, 2011, 02:06 PM EDT
After reading this article I have been left appalled by the writer’s attitude towards the entertainment of the event. I have been a westlife fan for many years and would like to point out that they are not only successful in the UK and Ireland but are extremely popular globally. Only recently they performed sell out gigs in Dubai and Muscat and are now planning to visit Indonesia. They have won record of the year countless times and sold out Croke park (third biggest stadium in Europe) twice. These are facts the author of the article failed to mention when accusing the group of being “bland.” Jedward may not be the best acts in Ireland, in fact their voices and songs are fairly weak, however, they did just represent their country in the Eurovision and did fairly well taking the political voting into account. Therefore I see no reason why Ireland should be ashamed of either act. As for the remark made about Van Morrison, this performance took place over 15 years ago, musical genres have altered and developed since then and we cannot expect acts like this to perform in these events any longer. Also the presidents musical tastes are unknown to the media therefore we should not judge his choice in entertainment by his importance.
dani1995 | May 25, 2011, 01:39 PM EDT
After reading this article i am left appalled by the writers attitude towards the entertainment of the event.
aoibhinn | May 25, 2011, 09:46 AM EDT
Agree Niall. A few wounded 15 year olds on here.
cillowen | May 23, 2011, 05:51 PM EDT
say it isn't so that such zeros are consdered for entertainment.
mayoman | May 23, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
MMLeprechaun: Kindly tell us what you mean when you write: "oh come on, take your head out of the sand and see what is happening with that man!" Pray tell; what is happening with that man?
MMLeprechaun | May 23, 2011, 11:20 AM EDT
Sounds like whoever picked the opening act knew exactly what they were doing...if the boys are as bad as quoted to be--but then they couldn't be as bad as the act that follows!!! "Most important man in the world....." -- oh come on, take your head out of the sand and see what is happening with that man!!
esatdigiwank | May 23, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT
woundedkneecap- did it ever occur to you that we Don't like harp music?
CitizenWhy | May 23, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
It would have been so much better to have two incredibly talented young writers of great original songs greet President Obama: Harry and Alfie (watch on YouTube) from Dublin, secondary school students. Alfie is totally fluent in Irish and a ranked step dancer.
The Waltons | May 23, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
How apropo. A talentless twosome for a talentless president.
mrkennedy | May 23, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT
This article doesn't surprise me a bit since NIALL is a strong Obama LOVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Truthfully... | May 23, 2011, 06:42 AM EDT
WHY?????????????? THIS IS INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Towngate | May 23, 2011, 05:05 AM EDT
NIALL,a Chara: Dear God! - you have hit an all-time low with this Post! Just a few questions pop up: Were Westlife and Jedward booked as 'Warm-up acts' for somebody? I don't think so! ~ Why hold a concert in the(enclosed)Dublin Streets when they are usually held in the O2 arena or openair venues like Marley Park? It is,of course a ploy to make it appear that the fans who will come to see these popular entertainers, will be thronging the streets of Dublin to see and hear Obama read his speech from his shameful Auto-cue! These lads are an example of modern popular Irish performers and fans today,and if all the 'untalented' people in Ireland paid taxes on earnings of several million Euro every year - the country would soon be out of debt and paying its own way! ~ ~ ~ They are being shamefully hi-jacked and duped by Irish and American authorities to suit their own ends. The 'talentless twosome' you describe; when joined by Obama; will be renamed 'The Talentless Threesome', and finally for you to state that he is "the most important man on Earth", is obscene! He is no such thing. A Militarally powerful bully in charge with plans for World Domination and demanding compliance with its own so-called 'moral standards and values' on threat of cowardly military obliteration, is NOT the same as being 'Important'. Far from it!
Ajreaper | May 22, 2011, 10:47 PM EDT
Niall, come on now 8th in Eurovision and apparently they'd beat you in a talent contest so clearly they are right to warm up the crowd for a speech by a president of the U.S. ;)
mhichil | May 22, 2011, 06:56 PM EDT
ireland , whos got your soul???
mhichil | May 22, 2011, 06:55 PM EDT
ya do better with the Rubberbandits!
kinvara7 | May 22, 2011, 05:58 PM EDT
@WoundedKnee: 'Todays Irish' as you put it, haven't lost all links to their culture and traditions: think of the amazing harpist, Moya Brennan; Irish dance brought to a world audience by Riverdance; the GAA and the Irish hurling final. In every parish there are Gaelic sports being played; Irish dancing has probably never been as popular; Irish music is also as popular as ever. Irish culture is a constantly changing thing and our country would be very poor if it confined its activities or styles to purely Irish forms. Westlife are Irish singers and they have some fine songs; they might be pop ballads but it is just nonsense to say they have no talent. As for Jedward, say what you will O'Dowd but they're entertaining and they might keep the mood upbeat when it rains.
TaraBrown96 | May 22, 2011, 04:37 PM EDT
If I were you I'd keep your stupid opinions to yourself since no one gives a crap! Jedward would beat you in a talent competition any day and came 8th in Eurovision so you really have no right to say they are talentless! So just shut up yeah?
sirpeter | May 22, 2011, 03:33 PM EDT
Jedward are for kids.Silly
PaulaMarie | May 22, 2011, 03:05 PM EDT
I disagree wholeheartedly. As an American who follows Jedward, they are perfect for the father of two young girls. They are wholesome and good clean roll models for kids, who by the way, LOVE THEM! In addition, as a mother and grandmother as well, I find them extremely entertaining!!!!!
OldSarge | May 22, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT
This article sums up Obama's term in office. I suggest they sing "Hit the road Jack". that's what the American voters will be singing at the next election.
Jamcelt | May 22, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT
I agree wholeheartedly with the author's sentiments. We Can do a LOT better than this.
antoman | May 22, 2011, 09:45 AM EDT
Culture for woundedknee/georgyboy in America would involve seeing Jedward wearing their trousers at half mast,hat askew and reciting poetry quickly to the sound of a repetitive beating drum.They are exubriant,full of life and energy and the kids apparently love them.Not my cup of tea but best of luck to them.
billie061 | May 22, 2011, 07:57 AM EDT
Woundedknee, You are so wrong our culture is very much alive and kicking as is our music my grandson of 5 is learning Irish dancing and how to play the tin-whistle as part of his school day, next time you visit let me know and I will forward you a list of where to go. Where I live in Wicklow we have several music festivals a year plus 2 trad nights a week where anyone can join in either singing or bring along their instrument to play.Our Irish national t.v. station Tnag is all Irish speaking inc music, filim and drama. As was evident at the Irish-dancing competition last month not all 15 yr olds are brain-dead with pop-music.
WoundedKnee | May 22, 2011, 07:15 AM EDT
Point well made, O'Dowd. But it just backs up what I've said on this site and elsewhere. Today's Irish have lost all links with their tradition & culture. You almost never hear Irish music on Irish radio or TV. In more than a dozen years of going to Ireland I have NOT ONCE heard the Irish harp on radio or TV, despite it being one of the great emblems of Irish gaelic culture. Instead what passes for culture is domnated by the tastes of 15 year old kids.
billie061 | May 22, 2011, 06:27 AM EDT
Have to agree, thou my 5 year old grandson got to meet his idols Jedward in Jan and they were brilliant with the kids, and very nice boys, but not appropriate for Mr Obamas visit, we have so much good talent its a shame.