Flash Packet Sings Sea Shanties

[deirosen]

In response to the person who wrote that "women would not have been allowed to sing any work shantie" ... I really don't think that it's a matter of being allowed or not, it's a matter of the context of these songs. Yes, they were sung in male dominated contexts, but that doesn't say anything about who was "allowed" to sing shanties. These days, when the songs are disconnected from their original context, I don't think it matters in the least who sings.

[helmuthoorn]

Would love to do what these people do, but unfortunately in this country they donot take care of their heritage, so - in spite of our big maritime history-there are very few authentic Dutch chanties left owadays.

[chengloki]

helmuth, I know what you men. Here in Hawai'i, in downtown Waikiki, it feels like your in downtown Tokyo. We have a rich seagoing heretage. But, the powers that be, ignore it. They even sold the "Falls of Clyde". I quit!! =Stefan=

[terrigar]

Get that bloody woman away from our shanties! A woman on a shanty is like a handbag on a stoker, damn fools!!

[sKEtLeZz]

don't be sexist

[Mastershayster]

Ha, you're funny.

[sespela]

This is perfect for a real sailor like me.

I'm a Norwegian deck hand sailing world wide on chemical tankers.

Beauty this is!

[hultonclint]

I really like how you guys sang "Rio Grande"!

"Codfish Shanty" is a little off in places (?), pitch n such

"Mingulay Boat Song"....I dunno, not really a "chantey" for my taste

"Old Maui" sounds great!

"Blood Red Roses" I like, but sounds weird with the woman's voice (apologies)

"Hieland Laddie" and "John Kanaka" are well sung

"New York Girls" needs more salt ;)

Thanks for sharing!!

[MonetteBooks]

Really good. Featured some of my favorites.

[Bobcatharrier]

I sing shanties and there are some women that can and others that just howl....she howls

[Postie1]

sorry, but just my opinion, but womens voices don't go well with sea shanties. But thankfully, they don't wear the stupid pirate costume, that part is refreshing to see.

[Turk510]

I almost hate to say this, but I have to agree - a woman's voice just doesn't sound right singing sea shanties. Having said that, I loved the video, it featured some of my favorite sea shanties. Thanks to whoever posted it!

[Postie1]

Oh, good point, I also wanted to say that I did enjoy the video. Regardless of my opinion, I think it's a good thing for "any" group to go out and perform the old shanties and keep a bit of that tradition alive.

[laalratty]

I disagree, I've heard of plenty of decent female shanty singers, it does depend on the voice though same as it does for the man. This woman sings at too high a pitch though.

[Postie1]

True, I did hear a French woman singing shanties several years ago that was quite good, but still, in shantie tradition, women would not have been allowed to sing any work shantie.

[viverra]

"would not have been allowed.."

Perhaps true of the Captain's wife this singer is portraying, but that there WERE women working sailors is increasingly well documented as more primary sources (rather than romantic dilettante writings) are examined.

Also check out the pirate captain Grainne (Grace O'Malley), who is very well documented.

[Postie1]

Your right, but, the "Captains Wife" would not have been allowed. Sorry I wasn't clear in my response. As for Pirates, sure there were women pirates, but I think for the most part, working shanties came from merchant and whaling ships, which "was" a predominately male oriented group.

[Tiranloblanc]

There's a certain degree of unreality in all of this. They wouldn't be sung by people standing around. They were work songs and sung only for that purpose - and those sailors wouldn't be out of shape, fat, old etc. Life is a series of compromises.

[speckspeck]

aye, and we lost a female sailor blown off the decks of a sailing ship as she assisted in battening down before a violent gust front hit, a brave lass now lies off the coast of Atlantic city. This happened 16 months ago and she was a college student in the maritime class.

[eightfingereddie]

do you have any videos featuring them in their 16th century garb?

[Phantomoftheopera17]

cute