Off Topic - The Superhoops music thread

kiwiqpr · Oct 3, 2015

"Viva la Quinta Brigada" (listed as "Viva la Quince Brigada" in later recordings) is a Christy Moore song about the Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War against Franco. The title was inspired by a Spanish song about the war, 'Viva la Quince Brigada'.
Moore wrote this song choosing to focus on the Irish socialist volunteers (who in later years became known as the Connolly Column) who were a small contingent within the 15th International Brigade.
The song was inspired by Spanish Civil War veteran Michael O'Riordan's book Connolly Column.
Moore said: “Without Michael O’Riordan I’d never have been able to write Viva la Quince Brigada. I must have performed the song over a thousand times and every single time I sing it I think of Mick and wonder how can I ever thank him enough. In Spain in 1983 I was reading his book, Connolly Column – the story of the Irishmen who fought for the Spanish Republic, and I began this song as I read on. The song was lifted entirely from his book.”[1]
Moore's original song title - which translates as "Long live the Fifth Brigade" - was a slip due to the similarity in Spanish between "quinta" (fifth) and "quince" (fifteen). The bulk of Irish volunteers served with the XV (Fifteen) International Brigade; the "Fifth Brigade" was not one of the International Brigades. The song later appeared listed as Viva la Quince Brigada as Moore corrected the mistake in subsequent recordings. Both titles are correct however, originally there were ten brigades in the Spanish army, the five international brigades were then added to the list making the 5th International Brigade the 15th Brigade of the Spanish republic.

Steelmonkey · Oct 3, 2015

Sooperhoop said: ↑

Click to expand...

Superb - Mrs Monkey is off to see him tonight! Saw him about 25 years ago at Wembley Arena, was support act to Happy Mondays!!

Sooperhoop · Oct 3, 2015

He started out as a very whimsical folky singer in the Mid 60s but clearly found LSD and other mid-expanding substances which resulted in some seriously spaced-out recordings, the best of which was this featuring a session guitarist by the name of Jimmy Page...

Sooperhoop · Oct 3, 2015

This was the Beatles first 'experiment' with psychedelia, from the 'Revolver' album which was a forerunner for the later 'Sgt Pepper'...

Steelmonkey · Oct 3, 2015

Sooperhoop said: ↑

This was the Beatles first 'experiment' with psychedelia, from the 'Revolver' album which was a forerunner for the later 'Sgt Pepper'...

Click to expand...

Revolver often gets overlooked by many, but it is a truly magnificent album, years ahead of many of the Beatles contempories - loved listening to it as a child, and still find some of it mesmerising to hear !

Saints_Alive · Oct 3, 2015

Steelmonkey said: ↑

Revolver often gets overlooked by many, but it is a truly magnificent album, years ahead of many of the Beatles contempories - loved listening to it as a child, and still find some of it mesmerising to hear !
Click to expand...

Yep, Revolver is my favourite Beatles album, I've even got a t-shirt with its' cover on it. It is definately a result of a band experimenting with drugs and trying to push boundaries. George Martin's contribution cannot be underestimated either.

Saints_Alive · Oct 3, 2015

kiwiqpr said: ↑

"Viva la Quinta Brigada" (listed as "Viva la Quince Brigada" in later recordings) is a Christy Moore song about the Irishmen who fought in the Spanish Civil War against Franco. The title was inspired by a Spanish song about the war, 'Viva la Quince Brigada'.
Moore wrote this song choosing to focus on the Irish socialist volunteers (who in later years became known as the Connolly Column) who were a small contingent within the 15th International Brigade.
The song was inspired by Spanish Civil War veteran Michael O'Riordan's book Connolly Column.
Moore said: “Without Michael O’Riordan I’d never have been able to write Viva la Quince Brigada. I must have performed the song over a thousand times and every single time I sing it I think of Mick and wonder how can I ever thank him enough. In Spain in 1983 I was reading his book, Connolly Column – the story of the Irishmen who fought for the Spanish Republic, and I began this song as I read on. The song was lifted entirely from his book.”[1]
Moore's original song title - which translates as "Long live the Fifth Brigade" - was a slip due to the similarity in Spanish between "quinta" (fifth) and "quince" (fifteen). The bulk of Irish volunteers served with the XV (Fifteen) International Brigade; the "Fifth Brigade" was not one of the International Brigades. The song later appeared listed as Viva la Quince Brigada as Moore corrected the mistake in subsequent recordings. Both titles are correct however, originally there were ten brigades in the Spanish army, the five international brigades were then added to the list making the 5th International Brigade the 15th Brigade of the Spanish republic.
Click to expand...

Haven't heard that before Kiwi, I love historical references in songs.

Here's The Clash's take on The Spanish Civil War..

Saints_Alive · Oct 3, 2015

Here are three songs from the criminally neglected The Men They Couldn't Hang...

The first is also about a fight against Fascism, but this was in London, with residents prostesting against a march by Oswald Moseley's Blackshirts through the East End in 1936.

This one is about a Mutineer about to be hanged duing the Napoleonic wars....

The last one is wounderfully, touching love song...