Like most of the free world, I got caught in the storm brought on by Celtic Thunder. It was omnipresent on PBS during this month, and I must confess that while I did not see the whole thing in one setting, I caught all of it by sitting through one part or another a dozen times.
The CD and DVD arrived on March 18, and I downloaded them right away on iTunes. The collection begins with "Heartland," a brooding orchestral piece with breathy Gregorian chants that successfully sets the mood for this Celtic show.
It's a brilliant masterstroke from musical director Phil Coulter, who has an uncanny ability to string divergent styles together as he sews a patchwork that is decidedly Celtic. I marveled at this when I took in his concert a few weeks back; he connected "Danny Boy" with Jimmy Durante before all was said and done.
Celtic Thunder is a showcase for not only Coulter's arranging, but for his timeless songs. The a capella George Donaldson's straight read of Coulter's "The Old Man" doesn't lose an ounce of the pain from loss that the composition delivers.
"Ireland's Call" is a rousing sports anthem penned by the composer, and it is the perfect vehicle for the talented voices in this vocal group. Paul Byrom's gorgeous read of "Remember Me" has an aching operatic quality that raises this chestnut to new heights. Of all the talent of Celtic Thunder, Byrom's booms the loudest.
Coulter's love affair with Mark Knopfler is no secret, and he honors the Dire Straits leader with the "Cal" instrumental and a stunning re-imagining of the classic "Brothers in Arms" that is sung by vocalist Ryan Kelly. The watery lead guitar washing over the orchestral drama underneath is sheer genius.
Mercifully, the CD lopped off the lame read by Keith Harkin of Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is." This sappy version, mixed with his airbrushed faux Farrah blonde mane and boy band looks, makes him the one you love to hate, until you get around to hearing him vanquish the Paul Brady's immortal "The Island."
When you hear him sing the excellent song "Lauren and I" and realize that he wrote it, however, you go back to hating him for being this handsome and this talented.
Sadly, the theatrical fireworks between Byrom and Kelly on "She's a Woman" were omitted as well. Why they excluded that to make room for the sugary version of the Eagles' "Desperado" is beyond me. In the hands of the orchestra and Ryan Kelly's boy band style, this grizzled beef jerky country tune is buried under layers of cotton candy.
Much has been made of Damien McGinty, at 14 the youngest member of the group. He shines on the Paul Anka classic "Puppy Love," a stroke of brilliance if ever there was one. Sure, the song is the schmaltziest thing ever written, but I bet Louis Walsh is kicking himself for not thinking of this when he peddled the pre-pubescent boys of Westlife and Boyzone.
Damien is a musical force to be reckoned with, but can anyone touch Donny Osmond's classic rendition? (Can you believe a music reviewer just said that with a straight face?)
Paul Anka, the Eagles, Phil Coulter, Paul Brady and a wee bit of puppy love wouldn't be in the forecast if you were trying to make Celtic Thunder, but it works under the watchful eye of Coulter. I can't wait to see this show when it makes the rounds in various cities this fall.