18 August 2017 The most disappointing thing about Dua Lipa's 2024 album Radical Optimism was that it meant her excellent preceding album Future Nostalgia was the exception. Where she had infused the fresh and exciting 'Don't Start Now' and 'Physical' with character and energy, seemingly kicking on to a higher level and upping her game, … Continue reading Dua Lipa – ‘New Rules’ →

5 May 2017 The 15 weeks of 'Despacito' were finally overtaken by Kingfishr's 'Killeagh' in January 2026 as second only to 'Riverdance' on the all-time list of songs with the most weeks at number one in Ireland. 'Killeagh' had the power of local Gaelic football and hurling, a folk music resurgence and a prominent Late … Continue reading Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – ‘Despacito’ →

10 March 2017 Steve Earle's Galway Girl was from Dublin. Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl was from Limerick. Alliteration, rhythm and other mysteries of lyric writing were probably the forces prevailing over mundane accuracy in both instances. That said, fans of feminist and post-colonial theories will recognise the trope of a western male tourist or voyager … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ‘Galway Girl’ →

13 January 2017 Welcome to 2017, the year Ed Sheeran broke the Irish singles charts and they had to change the rules. It's also the year that, aside from a week's carry-over of 'Rockabye' from the end of 2016, only eight songs went to number one in Ireland; since three of them are his that's … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ‘Shape Of You’ →