Bluegrass is good for you!

Just like Guinness, in fact (hence the title). And there is another - admittedly far-fetched - connection between them, as I first ever heard (of) bluegrass on a windy mountain in Ireland.

For the sake of those people who - like me until not long ago - have no clue what bluegrass is, I can offer a matter-of-fact definition from Wikipedia (you might do well to ask an American person too. It seems to be madly popular in certain parts of the U.S.).
Definition: bluegrass is a sub-genre of country music. It has its own roots in Irish (o' course), Scottish and English traditional music. Unlike mainstream country music, it relies mostly on acoustic stringed instruments such as mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle and upright bass, with or without vocals.

Now comes the personal part. Upon leaving Ireland last summer I got a music compilation CD from a special friend I had there. When I inquired about the content, she said it has some bluegrass on it as well as stuff from such diverse artists as Björk, Cat Stevens, Citizen Cope and The Flaming Lips (who are also great, by the way). After I asked for clarification on bluegrass she said something similar to what I mentioned above.

At first I listened to the CD quite often, partly for the illusion of still being close to the one who gave it to me (stupid idea, I know), and I really liked most of it. After some research I found out that what mostly qualifies as bluegrass on her CD are the songs by Old Crow Medicine Show, who are part of a recent bluegrass revival, although their music has been called by other names too.

Then came a big break ... until I had a song in my head a month or two ago. It went like "Rock me, rock me like a..." something. Couldn't recall the title, where I heard it or anything else and it didn't help a lot to google this "rock me, rock me like a" - except for finding a cheesy pop song on YouTube.

Quite accidentally (or maybe not?) this week an acquaintance - American guy living in Belfast after spending six years and getting married in Hungary - shared the following song on Facebook.

The band's name looked definitely familiar. I clicked to play the video and almost fell off my chair. The song I had in my head! I 'm quite certain I heard it on that mountain in Ireland with someone nearby. And what a stunning song it is. It kinda helps me through this week, I think. The video is clearly not for feminists, though.

And here's another Old Crow Med Show song which I knew from the CD Courtney gave me. I noticed at once that the harmonica kicks ass in it.




The video was made in New Orleans and it serves to raise awareness that the destruction caused by the hurricane is still there and it will not go away by itself.

All in all, these songs are great - whether they are bluegrass or not - and anyone who stumbles upon my blog, hope you'll enjoy them! :o)