Novels for Fun, and the Ultimate Song about Storytelling

[alanajoli]

Every time I hear the song Johnny Tarr by Gaelic Storm, I have to turn it up so I can listen to not just the music, but the style of storytelling that happens in the middle. If you've never heard it, you should see if you can find it on You Tube (as I'm sure it's there somewhere), or at least read the lyrics. The chorus is, to me, the epiotme of what storytelling is all about, so I'll quote it here:

And even if you saw it yourself, you wouldn't believe it
I wouldn't trust a person like me if I were you
No I wasn't there, I swear I have an alibi
I heard it from a man who knows a fella who says it's true

--

One more quick entry on reasons to like books. This one applies, for me, just as much to movies as it does to fiction: entertainment. There are times when I want to read or watch a movie because it's artistically pleasing, because it has such poetic prose or amazing cinematography that it's the artfulness that blows me away.

Most of the time, though, I just want something that's fun. Give me an entertaining story told with a good sense of humor, and while it may not be the next National Book Award or Emmy, if I've enjoyed myself when reading it, that gives me a satisfaction that a book or movie that is just artful (lacking the elements of good story and sense of humor) will never manage to accomplish.

Comments

I <B Gaelic Storm

[amieroserotruck.livejournal.com]

I actually debated adapting Johnny Tarr for storytelling class last summer (expand the lyrics into a told story, and use the refrain). For the same reason, too, I always loved that phrase. I ended up doing the song "Swing a Cat," though, so I could have more to the story and props than just drinking beer.

Re: I <B Gaelic Storm

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Ooooh.... who's "Swing a Cat" by?

Re: I <B Gaelic Storm

[amieroserotruck.livejournal.com]

Well, I used to think it was a traditional song, then I stumbled across this:
http://megdavis.tripod.com/swing.html

If you can find a recording by the Pyrates Royale, I highly recommend that version. The Corsairs have also performed it.

Re: I <B Gaelic Storm

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

The Corsairs! The best musical show at whatever Renaissance Festival they attend. (With the exception of maybe Tartanic, wonderful kilt-wearing pipers and drummers.) I've never heard of Pyrates Royale, but they sound right up my alley as well.

Thanks for the link!

Re: I <B Gaelic Storm

[amieroserotruck.livejournal.com]

Yea, another pirate music fan! I adore the Corsairs; they are my favorite musical act at the ren faire (I typically see them at Maryland). The Pyrates Royale are worth checking out; they put a more comic spin on things. MDRF has a pirate invasion weekend; this year was the first the Corsairs weren't there and I missed them. :(

Pyrates Royale website: http://www.pyrates.com/

Gaelic Storm

[exoder27.livejournal.com]

Yay, I love Johnny Tarr. And cool random fact, our (our being Common Shiner's) good band friends Craic Wisely is opening for Gaelic Storm when they play in Grand Rapids in May. How cool is that?

Re: Gaelic Storm

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

That's exceedingly awesome! Great spot for him, no?

(I just found the live journal link that lets me view recent comments and you've been all over here lately. Thanks! I've been keeping up with yours as well, although not commenting much lately. Given how excited I am to get comments, I may have to start posting to your blog more often.)

Re: Gaelic Storm

[exoder27.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm online all the time, and I'm a loudmouth, so that tends to lead me to comment quite a bit.

Love ya.