Added: 4 years ago
From: brendanheard
Views: 259,641
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:
see all

All Comments (279)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • Comment removed

  • Dubliners version is better

  • egg

    

  • 22 dislikes are from metalheads who are mad because you can actually hear the lyrics

  • @NYyankee02 No, the dislikes are from people who enjoy traditional songs performed in a traditional fashion, and not this heinous marriage of the Backstreet Boys their beloved Irish music.

  • @dolofonos are you an moron? do you actually listen to traditional irish music? 1) this is a great representation of the music, just because it's not being sung in pub or traditional setting doesn't mean its not tradition. They have traditional instruments, they are great singers and they are just bringing their feel to the music. 2) The backstreet boys couldn't sing and made bad pop songs. There is absolutely no connection between the High Kings and the Backstreet Boys. Why don't you like it?

  • @NYyankee02 Because it's melodramatic garbage riding on the coattails of music people have already decided they like. If the lyrics were changed to something nobody had heard of then people could care less for this worthless trash. This is just another example of the Emperor's New Clothes phenomenon, and I won't pretend otherwise just so that some clown on the internet doesn't tell me I'm a moron.

  • Absolutely beautiful rendition!

  • This is good but I really enjoy watching him perform this live with the audience participating. He belts it out right at the beginning to get them involved.

  • top class stuff

    

  • Darren has some voice in the live concert. Truly exceptional singer.

  • cheesy

    

  • This is Awsome the best version I've heard :D

  • Beautiful, I grew up to this song blasted through my house during the 1970's while my parents laughed, sang along and kissed. Great memories

  • bravo, bravo nothing more to say!!!

  • any you people who likes these boys check out celtic thunder and celtic woman. Cant beat it

  • Aiaiai, I LOVE Darren's voice!! He's amazing!

  • This is how I have always wanted to hear this song done.

  • Someone made a comment about it being "choir like". Go see these fellows live. They are awesome. So lively, exciting and FULL of personality. More "Pub" like I guess you could say. LOVE LOVE LOVE these guys.

  • @Nomi1nomes If you dont get the point you dont know what youre talking about Irish music. I have seen them live, unfortunately

  • All I am saying is that these guys live were nothing like the video. If someone was turned off by the "choir like" vibe, maybe give them a chance live. When I saw them it was just them and their instruments at a small venue. It was lively and fun. I had never heard of them before then.. However, I understand with your experiences and knowledge of Irish music you disagree. That's cool. I'm no expert. I just know what my ears like. They also love The Irish Rovers. Any points for that? : -}

  • @Nomi1nomes Haha fair enough that does sound like good craic. The Irish Rovers, dont know too much about them (canadian arent they?) but what I have heard does sound a bit more honest than this stuff.... so yeah points for that. :-)

  • I get to experience this in two days..... YES

  • one the dubliners more "talk" not sing this song and it supposed to be a mournful song the woman he loves in this story is a hooker do you think you would be happy if the woman you loved was a hooker

  • Comment removed

  • Its ok, but I can't see this song being sung in a Pub at this tempo.

  • Find me a pub an' count me in

  • Correction. Not key modulation, more of a loud push. It's epic anyways.

  • The key modulation at the end sends shivers down my spine.

  • Awesome!!

  • I am so sick of people saying bad stuff about these guys!! They are amazing!

  • i like their stuff, but does everything have to be so choir like?

  • I saw this sang live by The High Kings on Friday evening in Cincinnati, OH - it was beautiful!!!

  • This is just awful, feckin overdone choirboys with their polished voices... the only things missing are a troupe of riverdancers and a few leprachauns lookin for pots of gold

  • @tony10396861 stop whining, srsly, this is really good..

  • @rsrwizardmag Im not whining i just think its shit

  • @tony10396861 Irish music doesn't need to be sang by husky men who drink and smoke a lot, high kings bring out the haunting side of Irish music which has been there for years as well.

  • @MickyKelly91 But theyre not haunting at all, just corny and hilariously overstaged

  • @tony10396861 dude this is wonderful =p

  • @OverlordMD Its awful it just epitomises what i dont like about the high kings. i mean some of their stuff is ok if you just listen and dont watch, but they really butchered this, its the worst version ive ever heard. Its so mournful and overdone and they managed to suck every last drop of fun out of the song. Good folk singers are a bit thin on the ground at the moment unfortunately though, so i suppose to their credit they are bringing these songs to a wider audience.

  • Good singing, but lacks the verve put into it by the Dubliners.

  • Yank friendly drivel, might as well be Boyz2Men....

    It has much to do with traditional Irish music as Darby O'Gill and the Little People has to Irish Cinema...

  • They sing with their voices, The Dubliners with their hearts...

  • luv it!

  • I tried listening to the Dubliners version of "the black velvet band"

    I switched back right away...

  • @Norsunset Try again this is shite

  • Luke kelly would turn in his grave if he heard this shite,

  • @theblueshell have to agree, sounds like g4 or whatever you call them tryna sing songs that are meant to be sung with a bit of ruggedness

  • @theblueshell shite?

  • Wow!

  • By far, the best version of this song I have ever heard. Definitely one for the memory book!

    Anyone know if they are planning a US tour anytime soon?

    @nilisus, while I agree that this is a pub song and pub songs are normally chaotic, this song screams lyrical to me. It is about a chaotic story, but the lyrical feel of this version, I think, melds perfectly with the story. Why not line up a chaotic storyline with a soft touch? It adds even more chaos to the song IMO.

  • @TBombWils i concur.

  • By far, the best version of this song I have ever heard. Definitely one for the memory book!

    Anyone know if they are planning a US tour anytime soon?

  • @kessta33 the song should be chaotic! The story the song tells is chaotic, and second, it's a pub song. While I do like what the High Kings sound like, they trade the sound of real Irish music for American glitz and glamour. The Celtic Women do the exact same thing. They turn it too much into a spectatcle for my taste. But that's just me. I like the chaotic feel, it feels more natural.

  • i love that song ty for posting it

  • In think the dubliners made this sound like a pub version, these guys bring an almost priestly aspect into it, personally I like the Dubs better on this one but the Kings are never disappointing either ;)

  • That's part of the charm of Irish folk for me, keesta. Let five groups do the same song and you get... almost five different songs. Lol. It keeps thing fresh no doubt.

  • Fine group. Darren and Brien are it for me. Great voices and cute as hell.

  • goin to see them in portlaoise in december

  • @athboyman are they worth the thirty three euro :O

  • @coletteconroy been to see them a few times. they are better live

  • This is a wonderful version... not one of their voices is poor, they are equally beautiful... wow, so amazing! <3<3<3

  • It was great! We wait them in Hungary.

  • Their vocals are fantastic... Really love these guys. I actually like it that they dare to change Irish songs a bit. And their performances aren't so overdone like Celtic Thunder. These guys are just relaxed and enjoy making music.. that's what counts.

  • whether you like this version or not you cant deny they at least thought about the composition of it. Would have been so easy to bang out the lyrics and sound like anyone else who has ever sung it.

  • The foreseeable future of Irish traditional and Folk music is in safe hands .....sleep peaceful Ronnie, Luke and Ciar'an...not the same, but safe and sound never the less....

  • D'Oh! Such a fine song and they turn it into such sob stuff! Don't they learned from Luke Kelly! The song has potential to be center piece of a dance concert.

  • D'Oh! Such a fine song and they turn it into such sob stuff! Don't they learned from Luke Kelly!

  • Comment removed

  • Have to say the guy singing at the start would be invited into my bed at every given opportunity! Gives me goosebumps

  • sounds too much like a lullaby

  • @rocknova I agree, they have slowed it down too much.

  • I was at their show last night in Dublin. Really great night, and live they are amazing.

    Loved Darren's voice all through the show. Cavan Girl was spellbinding.

    also liked Fields of Athenry and Whiskey in the Jar. Can't wait to see them again.

    Couldn't believe that I could meet them afterwards too and have my ticket signed.

    Oh....and see Darren and brian up close!! hee hee

  • oh god they ruined it

  • me mates and me were like putty in the piano players hands at Oxegen. He's a ride.

    

  • wow, this is a lot different than the Dropkick Murphys version. A lot slower and calmer

  • Wow ..a .beautiful rendition of the black velvet band . Thx

  • I love Darrens intro here. So polished and full of feeling. He is, in my opinion, the real all rounder of the High Kings. So much more to offer than the others. Thats not taking away from them in any way.

  • these boys sound great in concert or in your kitchen,carrying tradition into the future...carry on! i love it all...

  • wonderful, thank you for a bit of sun in a cloudy day.

  • the tempo for this song is always quicker but i do like wat dey ave done

  • thank you for posting

  • LOL

  • Of all the "Celtic" music that has been put out there in recent years, there is no question in my mind that these guys represent the music in the most professional, least cheesy and most talented way . It's breathes new life into all the songs and doesn't take away from the original intent one iota. Bravo boys Bravo !!!

  • @frangill46 U cant beat luke kellys version tho u gotta admit he was the best and is never forgotted rip

  • love this song

  • OK I've listened to a few of their versions of songs before and I didn't mind them but this one is just not impressing me at all. It is too boy band for me! The tempo is always quicker for this song.

  • @kobbsno10 - I'm actually not impressed by these lads at all... don't get me wrong, they've got great voices, but it's all too clean, too polished for me. Most of these tunes just sound way better when they're sung with a heart and soul to it, and these lads are far too commercial for that I'm afraid.

  • @Riddseh

    I prefer them to west life any day of the week. It is a commercial band no doubt about that.

  • @bighands69

    hehe, too true, compared to west life, they win hands down :-)

    As said, great voices, it's just that I prefer me folktunes a bit rougher around the edges ;-)

  • Darren is my favourite too american09mutt.

    Handsome as hell and appealing to the ladies. Especially the ones seated in front of me at the INEC last Saturday night. They couldn't stop talking about him.

  • WOW! I'm a musician living in Italy and these guys play in my house all the time...LORD TUNDERIN' YOUSE GUYZ BE GRAND!!!

  • very nice!

  • I have to say, Darren is my favorite, followed by Finbarr. They've all got beautiful voices though. I just prefer Darren's. :)

  • oh my gosh the last line had me in goosebumps!!! perfect harmony!!! :)

  • oh sorry, just read my comment , typos!! I do apologize .. My Sister lost her life serving Canada , I am a Medical Person .. but our Grandfather , he did say & sing Blue Velvet instead of Black Velvet !! But he followed all the rest of the song !!! God Bless you all !!! And may all your Eyes shine with with Diamonds & Keep singing !!!!

  • strange, our greatgrandfather sang this song to me & my twin sister !!, But he never said BLACK VELVET BAND , HE ALWAYS SAID THE BLUE VEVLET BAND !!! TO US ... WE LEARNED YEARS LATER , THE DIFFERENCE ,, BLUE WAS GOOD ( mind you I always He would kiss us & no answer , as we were sent off to bed & told not to be Nosey Parkers !! )

  • a lovely version ... thank you for posting

  • Darren is neither ugly or fat. The female reaction to him at their show in Ennis was proof of that.

  • While I disagree with most of the comment dogrady makes, I have to agree about the song. They have good enough singing voices, but it is possible to sing well and wrongly. This is one such case. Black Velvet Band just does not make a good lullaby, no matter how skillfully sung.

  • @KefkeWren This version is diffferent.  But then so are theones I listened to from the Irish Rovers, Dropkick Murpheys, Tommy Makem & the Clancys, Luke Kelly & the Dubliners and others. Don't think Celtic Thunder has even tried it yet. Each version has a different arrangement and different artists doing it their way. It doesn't make some wrong or bad, Just different! Some versions are polished, some from "good-ole-boys" doing it down & dirty. It's all personal preference of the listener!!

  • @KefkeWren Well put :)

  • wow cool but not as good bono u2

    fidio

  • Jeez, makes you yearn for Luke Kelly.

    No passion and far too much posing.

  • to be fair - ain't no-one ever going to compare to Luke. So they may as well do what they think is best. Not a very good version though. I did like what they did with Mairi's Wedding and The Rocky Road to Dublin.

  • There has always been a larger point to this song, how many of you understand the implications of being incarcerated in "Van diemans land"................

  • @eringobraugh59 I do...

  • So what you are saying is...You are deaf?!!!

    I saw them in West cork in July and Martin was, by far the weakest link. Out of time, out of tune and completely detached from the others. Brian has it. Darren has it. Finbarr has it. Martin....not so much.

  • I really thing Martin makes the group...His singing is immaculate

  • I really love their harmony, but still they sound a bit overproduced like all groups nowadays... too slick, it's not even close to what the real Irish songs are like in pubs. Really had to think of "Boyzone does The Dubliners"

  • i agree completely

  • No cause in pubs...were all drunk and cant sing for shit...

  • Darren is fair handsome in this.

  • These guys have just catapulted Irish music into 2010!!!

    Excellent harmony in all of their material not your standard rough voice but beautiful and unique as Christy Moore!

  • to be honest, the version by the dubliners, amazing as they are, seems relly chaotic. This has some sort of organisation in it.

  • @keesta33

    This is the "wuss" version; God bless The Clancey Brothers, Tommy Makem, and the Dubliners--

  • @keesta33 i love both versions. although the dubliners version sounds chaotic it has such a raw sound and luke kelly has so much passion in his voice whereas this is a lovely relaxed version

  • @keesta33 you think the Dubliners is chaotic? check out the Dropkick Murpheys version

  • @keesta33 organised in the sense that every note, every step, every smile even is choreographed? You think thats a good thing??

  • i like there voices but the song doesn't sound right like this.

  • I disagree. It is a lament isn't it?

    I've heard the Dubliners version. The song seemed too fast and... cheerful.

  • Take Darren out of this group and its ordinary. Their management knew exactly what they were doing when they got him. Brian to a certain extent also. But Darren has it.

  • Springs to mind

  • 1st time ive seen this band and im impressed,,,,cant understand how ive never heard of them before

  • Except that the Dubliners sound like toads that have had their vocal chords sent through a wood chipper. Face it, these guys have fantastic voices, regardless of your perception of their "lack" of stage presence.

  • I actually agree with previous poster. Don't get me wrong, they are all good singers. It just seems like he has that knack that connects with an audience more that at least 2 of the others.

    When I saw them, he certainly was leading the way.

    I amn not taking away from the other 3 in any way

  • Darren was fantastic at the INEC. He seems to carry this group a bit. The others have famous dad's but its kind of obvious why he is in the band. They do a good show.

  • I don't think he carries them at all. They all have fantastic voices and carry themselves well. I personally like Brian and Finbarr's voices at least as much as Darren's.

  • best band of all time

  • Darren- fantastic.

  • Love this ♥

  • Love their version of my favourite song. seen them in concert last night and the were amazingly awesome at not only this song but every sing song the sung and played!

  • For Tom ha ha

  • this version is okay, but the dubliners do it much better!!!

  • Darren,I love your vioce. It's so nice~~

  • this was also sung by a scottish group called scocha, which i hadnt noticed until now.

  • were has this version been all my life,excellent!!!!!!!

  • This is my Favorite song... <3 Favorite, definately! Thanks for the Vid. And I'll have to look up this band on iTunes...

  • Sadly, their music can`t be bought on iTunes Germany. But maybe maybe they will come to germany on Tour?

  • Darren certainly is a star. He sang Cavan Girl at the Olympia and just took everyones breath away. Really lovely voice and a smile that would warm the cockles of your heart. Or wherever needs warming!

  • this is the first time hearing them.i think they are great

  • amazing at the olympia last night.

    all gifted musicians and singers.

    Darren is a star.

  • I like the song sung this way, it's beautiful. And even if she did betray him, that's not to say he didn't really love her.

  • J'ai apprise cette chanson en cours de musique au collège. (Merci M. BONNAFOUS). C'est de bons souvenirs.

    Merci...

  • There is a great amount of skill here. I love the High Kings. Its not the original ballad type singing, but it still maintains a very... Celtic, rolling feel to it.

  • Sorry to say, but they turned a fabulous song into a tearjerker. Listen to Luke Kelly's version and you know how it it should be done.

  • I know what you mean they make it soun like a love song, when it's suppose to be about woman misleading a man, BETRAYED by the black velvet band

  • It"s actually supposed to be a very sad song, and you can"t get the emotion out of it when it's sung fast.

  • 5 star +++++

  • fukin amazin band any know wer they r playing nxt

  • Comment removed

  • I am in love with Darren Holden. Just had to be said.

  • I became a fan of this group this year, and have regularly visited their websites and facebooks. Jeez, the other 3 can only dream of what Holden has done up to now. Have to wonder though, if he's happy doing this.

  • puhleeeeze

  • having trouble spelling?

  • I second that longmuir77. They are all amazing but Darren definately has 'it'.

    Wish I'd seen him in Moving Out

  • I love the song but not this version, it's like some evil hybrid of Daniel O'Donnell and Westlife.

  • lol I like them but its NOT my favorite version either

  • Saw them at the Waterfront in Belfast last night.

    Star of the show in Holden. Out on his own.

    Dunphy is also very talented. Nice voice.

    They are both very appealing to the lassie's.

  • i remember my gran singing this song to me when i was young. i still remember the words. even though i get a bit o a riping for being 16 and listening to this.

  • they are good darren holden is a very good they are a good band

  • i could atch that video a billon times and cry AS MUCH AS I DID THE FIRST TIME.its so sad when they are like "and her eyes they shined like diamonds i tought of her as the queen of the land"

  • i luv the high kings and i dont care who says there crap i luv this song

  • brian dunphy<3

  • never heard anything beautiful than this.

  • this is beautiful..

  • i love this version of the song! <3

    i remember seeing them on pbs a few months ago

  • Pft...who cares if it is not true Irish music, still love this song.

  • I love how the comments section isn't filled with arguments and hatred, just appreciation of music.