Jimmy Shand - Bluebell Polka

[carl5wick]

"Schottische" is a Swedish dance, lots of hopping and folky, and the tempo is backed off a little. I don't know the language, though I am Swedish American, and I agree the word likely refers to Scotland (the Brave, Scotland the Free! SCOTLAND FOREVER !). To a Swedish dancer, it means a particular dance. I was playing for a dance (sax) and the folks had specifically asked for a Schottishe. We were prepared, started playing it, and they stopped us. We backed off in the tempo and it went fine.

[carl5wick]

Jimmy Shand was so great. He takes this slow, but it's a dancer's tempo. You can stomp and get your heel into the floor at this tempo. It's like a Swedish Schottische.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@carl5wick

Does "Schottische", mean "Scottish" by any chance??

I think you may have your answer there possibly! Slainte

[MrCoolDude77E]

Jimmy Shand is a LEGEND

[LBonthrone95]

Good, but his only fault is that he doesn't look like he is enjoying it at all.

[DonegalRaymie201]

@LBonthrone95

Christ, if that's my "only fault" at 86, then you have my permission to shoot me then & there!

Jimmy was a Legend! God bless ye, auld yin!

[tumshfibrox58]

@DonegalRaymie201 Well said!

[A1RUU]

Reminds me of the great Sammy Peoples

[flathanger]

Absolute legend! :)

[goinghomesomeday1]

Another nice version of the Bluebell Polka is the Gallowglass Ceili Band .  Slightly faster tempo (saxophone included), but real nice. However there IS only one person to play it and that is Jimmy himself.

[calboy64]

am scottish,,but you are right lol

[luipi5]

How to torture a Scotsman Glue his foot to the floor n put this record on :)

[ytpeterwright]

Dad played this a lot, think i've still got the old 78 which he bought , think it has a red label

[Kinlochbervie50]

i love the look he gives to the band at 1:49 to let them know that the song is due to finish!

[tottie7]

fabulous !!!played this at my dads funeral it was his favourite song x

[Funkmonkv1]

This is awesome!!

[HohnerMadJock]

greatest thing since slice bread invented , could only be Jimmy Shand

[seansco1]

takes me back to when my grandad would play , R.I.P Grandad !

[helen1948]

lovely music. :)

[schnefsky]

To all the accordionists on You tube doing this song, myself included, the real essence of Jimmy's unique sound was the LILT, the lively spring, the foot lifting bounce, that he gave this tune (and others). Even at the great age he was in this video, the spritely lilt is there....it's actually the most difficult element of copying this song. Think you can do it as well as Jimmy? Let me know...

[bsam20uk]

From the first note it's clear that we're hearing the master at work here. The definitive version of this song, no doubt about it.

[Bassmanbbn4]

I think hat Jimmy SHnd is one of the few (if not the only) artiste to have released records on 73 rpm, 33 rpm, CD and now MP3 files.

[patcloonan1931]

Jimmy shand Came to London in the 50s to play for the Irish - They went Bananas When he came - I think they turned over Paddy Wagans in the street - They loved him - I loved him When I was a gasur beag Wee lad in Canamara Ireland - & Will Starr also & Micheal Colman Fiddler - From Sligo R I P slan a baile -- Pat

[billyconnearly]

My Dad - Bill Nicol (Accordion) - knew Jimmy personally and he was nothing like the mild appearance on TV. He liked a laugh like all musicians and loved riding a high-powered motorcycle around Fife where he lived.

[Ishbella]

I grew up listening to Jimmy Shand music and have come to enjoy listening to it. I think what also makes it special to me is it reminds me of my Dad but also we are related to the Shands as he was my Gran's cousin. In fact my brother carries on the name of Shand.

[peg1949]

Such a pit there is so few videos of Jimmy, we are lucky to have to few we have to see the great man in action.

[RMCKIE]

I wish there was music like this these days and that Scottish Tv would show it.

[cathrob33]

@RMCKIE Try the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, brilliant! But sadly not enough on tv. Better live in a big auditorium anyway!

[saorsa74]

@keith6662

Keep swigging the buckfast, ya wee alkay troll.

[saorsa74]

A great Scottish legend....R.I.P Jimmy.

[keith6662]

@saorsa74 kop yer wack its jimmy shand and his pish poor band

[cullyvan]

and Roond and Roond and roond and Roond and roond and roond and up and doon , and roond and roond and roond and roond and off we go again

[Mulrankin]

a great musician, and lovely steady tempo all ways.

[alanpatey]

I am sitting in the dustball of Qatar. You cannot imagine what I feel about this. Next holiday I am going to Blair Atholl and will play Jimmy Shand until the cows come home. GREAT MAN GREAT TUNE. GOD BLESS SCOTLAND.

[silverdalesapphires]

His economic bellows work is legendary....hardly moves the left arm at all. I understand this was because the Shand Morino is left-heavy due to the unique Hohner technique of prising so much mechanism into such a small space. The guy was and still is, an inspiration to us all. There's an old joke that goes. "What's the greatest torture in the world?" Answer: "Nail a Scotsman's feet to a plank and put on a Jimmy Shand record!" lol!

[GuntherMalek]

@silverdalesapphires The left arm minimisation of airflow, is mainly due to severe wankers cramp.

Thankyou.

[0AZ909]

Veuillez me pardonner Breekie, pour mon lapsus dans le précédent commentaire !

Mais bien sûr, c'est une danse Ecossaise !!!

I am sorry !

Odette

[0AZ909]

Hello, Jimmy! You are a true specialist in Irish dancing and I admire you!

Your accordion gives so perfectly the rythm that we believe to hear the syncopated footstep of the dancers

Congratulations,

Odette

Salut Jimmy ! Vous êtes un vrai spécialiste des danses irlandaises et je vous admire !

Votreaccordéon rythme si parfaitement la musique que nous croyons y entendre les pas syncopés des danseurs !

Félicitations !

Odette

[BreekieMe]

@0AZ909

Irish dancing? He was Scottish!

[tottie7]

rest in peace jimmy brown love you dad

[tamyk007]

@tottie7 Yes, he played very nice.

[MrHugoStenberg]

Bra!!!! Hugo 5*

[Harlew]

I played drums on that tour,we had plenty of accordion players present,lol....

[goinghomesomeday1]

@Carl4Organ

Hello Carl - just wondering if you are Masonic.

Here Triune 333.

I'm reading The Jimmy Shand Story by Ian Cameron, brilliant book and a good insight into Jimmy Shand and his life.

Anyone who has not read it, you are missing a good treat.

[goinghomesomeday1]

Probably both - I smoke plug and gargle with usquebaugh

[patcloonan1931]

I grow up in Canamara . I loved Jimmy shand & Will starr . I was very young . I loved scottish music . Because They play it from the heart . soul Inner Spirit I call it . god bless muy bien ---pat

[crago111]

guys a legend, auchtermuchty...... wheres the foxes hat

[Bagpipe13]

wow

[Harlew]

I had the great pleasure of touring Australia and New Zealand with this beautiful human being in 1978,god bless you Jimmy Shand.Harald

[dhbkiller]

I Love This Tune So Much So That I Had My First Ever Accordion Lesson Yesterday And I Am Coming Up To 59. Many Thanks

Dave

[yambasz]

shandtastic

[5mullen]

Not sure why my comment was removed ... all i said that this song is played after every Dunfermline game (which it is)

[hadinton]

Great Tune my kind of music I've been a fan of Sir Jimmy for many years, and I'm sure now that He's passed on, he is in Heaven Entertaining them with his Music.

[RinceBox]

This is lovely - have never actually seen footage of him before. I love his little nod to both fellow accordionists to confirm the end of the tune. Thx for posting.

[clarebannerman]

Just beautiful. I love Jimmy Shand music ♪♫

[meandmymandola]

really briefly? Because English are more Germanic, the Vikings came and pushed the celts/ancient britains North and east and down into cornwall. Scotland didn't get as much Germanicness, so reasonably they see themselves more as Celtic than Englsh Germanic. They like every country want to preserve their heritage as unique, and make as much effort to be anti-english as anti-welch/french/american/Iri­sh/russian. And part of the unqiue scots language as well as Gaelic is part of this distinction.

[forreststephenharris]

All these years I thought he played a piano accordion.

[tashes75]

my da loves this thanks for it great !!!

[OscillateWildly]

Is that Robbie Shepherd?

[bealach]

Yes

[ThomasTrue]

Braw. Well done tae the man frae 'Muchty!

[MarkHarmer]

To Keginmillhill: Your comment about typing in strict tempo - there are some fun applications which allow you to use your computer keyboard as a musical instrument. The one I have allows you to use the computer's mdi sounds so you can also have bird tweets, helicopters or whatever, as well as musical sounds. Type "Batman Keybored" (without the quotes) into Googleand you'll find it. Have fun!

[terrygrif]

The great man himself! A credit to Scotland and an inspiration for all accordionists. We will not see his like again. Thanks for posting. Greetings from Ireland.

Terry

[ulsterstan]

BRILLIANT ,NONE LIKE HIM.

[jackiemcconnell]

@ulsterstan

Sounds like you`ve never heard of Will Starr, Like Jimmy Shand he was also a Scot and when Will died in 1976 aged 53 of Spinal Cancer, Jimmy attended his Funeral , He was asked to play a few tunes and declined saying he wasn`t good enough to play for Will. Don`t get me wrong Jimmy was one of the Greats on the accordian but the Master was Will Starr and even today scottish Accordian Players recognise that .

[bcstewart1000]

fantastic tune

[moonmusical]

Listen, this is fantastic stuff!! Thanks so much for posting. I love it, always:-) from Dublin.

[Madridense]

Factnotfictionpeople...

This is a truly false statement

and depends where in scotland (or Ireland perhaps?) those who are disparaging come from

if it is the central belt then they know little of the scottish musical heritage in any case north of Stirling they are certainly not disparaging.

[Factnotfictionpeople]

Thanks for your reply. I guess we (The English) have a bad track record with the Celtic peoples - but there again, maybe that's what made Britain Great........

Thanks again. :-)

[Factnotfictionpeople]

I wonder why so many Scots are so disparaging of so much of their own musical heritage - or do they blame The English for it all?

Any Scots want to reply please? I'd be glad to read your comments. :-)

Thank you.

[TARTANCAM]

in the words of the bard....''we are bought and sold for english gold..such a parcel o rogues in a nation''....away u and bile yer skanky heid ya hoor ye..wel blame uthe english for anythin we want tae...get it richt up ye

[Factnotfictionpeople]

WOT! Our Bill wouldn't write such a thing..........or was it YOUR bard? :-)

[TARTANCAM]

theres only one bard...and its no ur bill...he was an impostor

[Factnotfictionpeople]

Sounds a bit 'nationalistic!''..........but ours was first, surely? :-)

[bryandawkins]

To bad few people care for polka music any more

[MehefinHeulog]

utter charm, utter briliance

[ANWL]

Respect to the legend, 39 years after being in the charts with this and he could still do it. Respect also means not slagging him off for playing it a wee bit slower when he was 86.

[Bagpipe13]

quote, It will just be played at that pace and no faster, unquote.

[IanMathewson1]

This type of music is probably what I miss least of all being an ex-pat Scot.

[DonegalRaymie201]

No disrepect to Jimmy, but could ye be mair dour? God, Calvinism sure left its' mark!

[trunkeight]

The legendary master of the Strathspey! respect!

[queenievenus]

I remember dancing around the kitchen with my sister and our Mother when we heard this tune, my feet are even now tapping away,Very nice to hear .

[clarebannerman]

Reminds me of days long since past. One of the greats. Beautiful Scottish Music.

[killecrankie]

God bless you and keep you Jimmy Shand!

[JAPANESEPRICK]

Ah the Bluebell polka

the auld chucking out tune at East End Park every second saturday

Jimmy Shand Fife Legend

[RICNIC25473]

That man was a legend in his field

He was still a great player even in his old age

[km426]

man i cannot play the button accordion but i can play the keyboard one amazing

[heydolz]

Whenever i hear this i want to get up and dance--best ever at the accordian--

heyho lets go--lol

[jamiepaton5]

just walked out to this at my mates funeral, fuckin auld bastard, i laughed like fuck, moan the shand. i love wullie blyth. great guy.

[tuktukskagal]

My first ever scottish dance class was to jimmy shands music.i have loved scottish country dancing ever since.he gave a lot of people so much pleasure.Respect

[fantarule]

At The Start,is that Robbie Shepard(i'm not sure if thats how to spell his name)?

[bealach]

Yes, it`s Robbie Shepherd who has presented regular Scottish music programmes on BBC Radio Scotland for over 25 years.

[rolandratface]

Aye, an' the Beechgrove garden too. Good crack.

[lovelyangie5]

he used to do take the floor on mfr right?

[RobbieRobertson120]

Awesome, 5 stars. This is my idol in Scottish music. Thanks for posting this.

[hankaemil]

did he ever become a sir ?if why not.

[graham1281]

Yes he did he was knighted in 2000 and sadly died the same year. His first job was as a miner in 1926, but due to strikers, he was taken out of full-time employment. His first recording was a set of jigs in 1933. First performed on BBC radio in 1934.

The bluebell polka got to no. 20 in the charts in 1955. In 1962 he was awarded the MBE

1978 he appeared on this is your life.

[graham1281]

Thanks for posting. Great to see him in action again. I never got to see Jimmy playing live as I was always out playing myself any time he was nearby.

[rickayre1]

thanks for this the master at work.....

[praskovia13]

Great to see this on here, big ty for posting