SiriusXM highlights CLXIX (St. Patrick's Day edition)

Eight holiday-appropriate selections heard today:

St. Paddy's Day Essential Pub Mix 

• The Rocky Road To Dublin-The High Kings (A lack of coordination didn't stop me from doing a few subtle kicks in time to these forthright, uptempo vocals.  The Irish Descendants recorded a similarly strong version.)

St. Paddy's Day Radio 

• Piping Solo/Garret Barry's (Live)-The Bothy Band (A midtempo bagpipe melody segues into an impressively rapid reel, earning appreciative rhythmic claps and cheers from the audience.)
• Siesta Set-Dervish (Brisk, dexterous fiddle playing and top-notch synchronicity between all players.)
• Nancy Whiskey-Gaelic Storm (Vocally, this could segue with multiple versions of "Rattlin' Bog."  The instrumental portion, if looped, would flow well into Emerson, Lake & Palmer's version of Aaron Copland's "Hoedown.")
• The Stride Set-Solas (A strong showcase for the dexterity of the band's instrumentalists.  I reacted similarly to a live version of "The Wiggly Jigs.")

The Village Presents Celtic Twilight 

• Nine Apples Of Gold-Karan Casey (An endearingly sung portrait of someone with a generous spirit.  We should all aspire to this level of kindness.)
• I Would Bring You Ireland (Live)-Nanci Griffith (A touching show of affection across many miles.)
• Let The Circle Be Wide-Tommy Sands (A welcoming way to say, "You're among friends here.")

Persistent earworm alert CDXXVI

I'm not sure if the version of a 1982 hit inhabiting my mind this morning actually exists.  In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I've been imagining an easy listening instrumental version of "What About Me?" by Moving Pictures, with the tin whistle as the lead instrument.  I've always been indifferent to the original version but not surprised that it was a hit.  Although the lyrics nobly address not getting a fair shake in society, the vocals strike me as calculated and somewhat overwrought.  In the rendition I've envisioned, however, the melody works better as a Celtic instrumental.  At a minimum, it's a more natural fit than the tin whistle version of The Clash's "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" I also imagined.

Segue suggestion XII

At this time of year, I like to segue "Play A Merry Jig" by Niamh Parsons with "Spring" by Cheryl Wheeler.  Both tunes share a seasonally appropriate optimism, compatible rhythms and vocals, and smooth, upbeat ways of welcoming St. Patrick's Day and the arrival of Spring.

A cross-cultural success

When I listen to Celtic music on or before St. Patrick's Day each year, "Fancy Waistcoat" by Niamh Parsons & The Loose Connections always makes my playlist.  Parsons sings it with the right amount of carefree joy, which is partially why it works so well.  The other essential ingredient is its blend of Celtic and Spanish styles.  Not every Celtic tune can pull off such catchy guitar, keyboard, and accordion backing.

I'm still looking for the right tarantella to segue with it, but until I find it, I'm content to hear "Fancy Waistcoat" as a standalone tune. 

Online radio sampler highlights CCXCIII

Seven standout tunes heard today:

KUPR (Placitas, NM)

• Cafe-Eddie Palmieri (Midtempo vocals, brass, and piano that could segue with various jazz renditions of "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy.")

KXLL (Juneau, AK)

• Raindrop Radio-Emily Wong (A relaxed piano groove set against a modern electronica backdrop with rain.)

WLUR (Lexington, VA)

• On A Bus To St. Cloud-Trisha Yearwood (The sentiments about which Yearwood sings tastefully here remind me of John Gorka's "I Saw A Stranger With Your Hair.")
• When You Say Nothing At All-Alison Krauss & Union Station (A perceptive tribute to the extent which nonverbal aspects matter in a relationship.)

WNMC (Traverse City, MI)

• See You Again-Rosie Flores & The Talismen (Earnestly sung heart-on-sleeve sentiments.)
• Bat Yam-Les McCann (This strong piano-anchored instrumental sports a solid, unhurried hook and plenty of room for the lead instruments to shine.  This is an ideal track for a late night slow dance jazz playlist.) 

WVEW (Brattleboro, VT) 

• Bumpin' On Sunset-Wes Montgomery (This sly, expansive instrumental is one of the best known jazz guitar melodies.  Brian Auger's Oblivion Express recorded a strong cover of it.) 

Segue suggestion XI

After iTunes shuffle mode insisted on playing "Carinval In Rio" by Judy Roberts for me twice in two days, it dawned on me how well it would segue with Average White Band's "Atlantic Avenue."  Both tunes feature vocalists singing about how pleasant the vacation destination of Rio de Janeiro is in a celebratory way without sounding too over-the-top.

I've never heard any radio station play either of these songs, so hopefully, this suggestion will nudge at least one noncommerical station programmer in the right direction.

FM dial scan highlights CCXCIX

Five selections that captured my attention today:

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Still Never Enough-Lisa Addeo (Bouncy smooth jazz piano with appealing saxophone punctuation.)
• Doodlin'-Horace Silver (One of the most memorable jazz hooks, with excellent synergy between Silver's piano playing and the rest of the ensemble.  Also recommended: Ray Charles's version.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Minor Inconveniences-Bebe Stockwell (This is about as universally relatable as song lyrics get.  Who doesn't experience irritants that are relatively trivial but vexing in the moment?)

KCFV 89.5 FM

• Cold Heart-Dua Lipa & Elton John (When hearing John's "Rocket Man" and "Sacrifice" in their original incarnations, I didn't imagine that they'd merge in a dance mashup decades later.  This reworking puts a fresh, modern sheen on both tunes.)

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2

• Manuel de Falla: Nights In The Gardens Of Spain: I. En el Generalife (Orchestra de Paris/Daniel Barenboim, conductor; Martha Argerich, piano) (The strings, in particular, capture the tense, mysterious nature of this first movement.)