The Medusa Fora

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: U2 and Kila collaborate on Ronnie Drew tribute
Hotpress
17 Jan 2008
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U2, Simon Carmody and Kila have led a collaboration on a special tribute to Ronnie Drew, which was recorded in Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, over the past few days.

A huge number of high profile artists have pitched in to participate in the recording, which features the cream of Irish rock and folk music, as well as a number of international names. In addition to members of U2 and Kila among those who streamed into Windmill Lane to contribute over the two days of recording were Sinead O'Connor, Christy Moore, Andrea Corr, Shane MacGowan, Bob Geldof, Damien Dempsey, Gavin Friday, Jerry Fish, Paul Brady, Paddy Casey, Mick Pyro (of Republic of Loose), Mundy, Chris de Burgh, Ronan Keating, Eleanor Shanley and Mary Coughlan, as well as The Dubliners and The Chieftains.

Frames singer Glen Hansard recorded his vocals on a telephone from the Czech Republic. The record was produced by John Reynolds, engineered by Alastair McMillan and the session was filmed by John Kearney, the director of Once.

The song, entitled 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew', is a collaboration, written by the Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, with Bono, the Edge and the former Golden Horde singer and songwriter Simon Carmody. A friend and collaborator of Bono's, Carmody is central to the story of how the projectcame together.

"Simon seemed to think that Robert Hunter was a big fan of Ronnie," Bono told Hot Press. "Simon suggested that we get Robert involved in writing the song."

Hunter's lyrics provided the launching pad and the song was completed and demoed by members of U2, with Bono singing and Edge playing a Trez, a Cuban instrument given to him as a Christmas present by his wife Morleigh, on the demo, to achieve the appropriate folk flavour
Ronnie Drew is currently battling with cancer, which was the inspiration for – and inevitably gives added urgency to – what is a history-making project. "When you're fighting cancer you mood is critical," Bono says "We want Ronnie to know how much he is respected and loved."

As the night turned into morning on the second day of recording, with most of the musicians departed, producer John Reynolds laid down a couple of mixes for the remainder of the gathering to listen to. Bono, Andrea Corr, Moya Brennan and Simon Carmody all suggested modifications and changes.

As it turns out. 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew' is a fitting tribute to the performer who first became famous with The Dubliners, and was the singer on their 60s chart hit 'Seven Drunken Nights' among other classic recordings.

"It is an astonishing record," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes revealed. "The song is powerful and poetic, with a number of brilliantly crafted standout lines. But with Bono, Shane McGowan, Christy Moore and Damien Dempsey all taking verses, the performances are amazing. And Sinead, Andrea and Moya are wonderful on the chorus. It's a certain Number 1."
"It was a real privilege to be part of it," Moya Brennan said. "The atmosphere in the room was amazing."

Andrea Corr was equally enthusiastic. "I don't want to go home," she said. "It is such an amazingly beautiful song and such a wonderful idea. It is the kind of occasion that you'll remember all your life. It is lovely to have been part of it."

"Everyone has been brilliant," Simon Carmody said, "so generous and giving with their time and delighted to do it. It's been great fun."


Fort the full story, see the latest issue of Hot Press.

Is there an "expected" release date?

From U2 Log

According to our man on the scene ‘It went well. Mad hectic, but fun.’ The Pogues’ Shane McGowan apparently had some trouble getting into the country, forgetting his passport in the hurry.

Mark_Wafc wrote:From U2 Log

According to our man on the scene ‘It went well. Mad hectic, but fun.’ The Pogues’ Shane McGowan apparently had some trouble getting into the country, forgetting his passport in the hurry.

One could gues that Ireland is the only country he could enter without showing a passport.

Borderpolice: Passport, please.

Shane: Fuck off, I´m Shane MacGowan, you know what i mean.......?
i Forgott it, but i can sing Danny Boy!

BP: OK, enter.

Shane: Krrrchhhh Ksrrrrsssshhhh

Mark_Wafc wrote:From U2 Log

According to our man on the scene ‘It went well. Mad hectic, but fun.’ The Pogues’ Shane McGowan apparently had some trouble getting into the country, forgetting his passport in the hurry.

Did'nt think you needed a passport to get into Ireland, from the UK that is?

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment ... 68435.html
quote"..............
Cream of Irish music in tribute to Dubliner as he battles with cancer
By Richie Taylor
Friday January 18 2008

THE cream of Irish rock, pop and folk music have come together to record a tribute to legendary singer Ronnie Drew, who has been battling cancer for over a year.


U2, Andrea Corr, Christy Moore, Sinead O'Connor, Shane MacGowan and Ronan Keating are just a few of the big names on the brand new song, 'The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew'.

............end quote

read more & see some recent pictures of the man himself @link below

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment ... 68435.html

moose wrote:Is there an "expected" release date?

Sometime in March..

moose wrote:

Mark_Wafc wrote:From U2 Log

According to our man on the scene ‘It went well. Mad hectic, but fun.’ The Pogues’ Shane McGowan apparently had some trouble getting into the country, forgetting his passport in the hurry.

Did'nt think you needed a passport to get into Ireland, from the UK that is?

You didn't, but you do now I think its been like that for about 4/5 years now.

Here's the feature from Hot Press from a week or so back about the tribute song:

Here's to you, Ronnie Drew
Hot Press
28 Jan 2008
http://www.hotpress.com/archive/4381136.html?page_no=1

With Bono and Simon Carmody orchestrating it, and Kila minding the gap, the recording of a tribute to one of the most important and widely loved figures in the history of Irish music turned into a very special occasion indeed.

It began as an idea over a dinner among friends. Now it has mushroomed into one of the most special recordings in the history of Irish music – a collaboration between many of the leading lights of the current scene that pays special tribute to the great Ronnie Drew.

The recording took place in a wild flurry of coffee and creativity in Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, earlier this week. U2, Kila and a host of musicians, including Christy Moore, Shane McGowan, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr, Sinead O’Connor, The Dubliners, The Chieftains, The Fureys, Bob Geldof, and many more, took part. By the time it’s finished, the recording will feature the cream of Irish rock and folk music, as well as a number of international names.

The song, entitled ‘The Ballad of Ronnie Drew’, is a collaboration, which involves the Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, as well as Bono, the Edge and the former Golden Horde singer and songwriter Simon Carmody, himself a friend and collaborator of Bono’s, and central to the story of how the project came together.

“Simon seemed to think that Robert Hunter was a big fan of Ronnie,” Bono revealed. “Hunter is a fascinating character. He learned German to translate some of the works of Rainer Maria Rilke and his translations have become recognised as among the most faithful, and the best, by academics and experts – which is a very interesting story in itself.

“To be honest, I can’t quite remember how it all happened,” he added. “There was some vino involved, it has to be said, but – as far as I can recollect – myself and Simon were waxing lyrical about the great man. I think the idea was that we would all try and write a song for Ronnie to sing... but in translation, ‘a song for Ronnie’ became ‘a song about Ronnie’. Simon suggested asking Robert to get involved in writing the song. We contacted him and got through – and he was really up for the whole thing.”

“Me and Bono were just out having a meal and a bottle of wine, and talking,” Simon recounted, “and Bono had this idea about Ronnie Drew – like, why don’t we do a song for him? It was just a feeling, that it would be a nice thing to do something really joyful and up and positive.

“We were talking about lyrics and lyricists, the way you do, and I mentioned Robert Hunter. I was always a huge fan of the Grateful Dead, American Beauty and all of that, and Robert Hunter is just a genius lyricist. And there are so many folk references in the Grateful Dead’s work – you get a vibe off people and I sensed that he’d know all about Ronnie.”

And so it proved. “Bono has a whim of iron,” Carmody laughed. “When he gets an idea he delivers. His attitude was just: ‘let’s see if he’d be up for it’. Book a studio. Just do it. And it’s been incredible, the way it’s taken shape.”

Hunter’s agreement gave momentum to the plan. When his lyrics arrived via email, the U2 frontman and Carmody forged ahead with the idea of putting a record together that would celebrate the contribution of the man with the gravel voice to Irish music, adding lyrics, and finishing that part of the writing process.

“He’s like the King of Ireland, Ronnie Drew,” Bono said. “And we are his subjects.”

My partner Mairin Sheehy recounted the story of the mynah bird, told by Ronnie to Liam Mackey and Paddy Murray on The Murray And Mackey Show a few years ago. The punchline relates to the fact that a woman from the South Circular Road had taught the mynah bird that was in Dublin Zoo to greet everyone with a beard with the immortal words: ‘Hello Ronnie Drew’. The beard was his trademark.

“He doesn’t have the beard now,” Bono said, ruefully. “When you’re fighting cancer, your mood is critical... we want to let Ronnie know how much he is respected and loved. This is a big fight. He will win it, but like any fighter, its easier if there’s a crowd cheering.”

More than anything else, the point here is to celebrate. “Why not express a bit of emotion?” Carmody asked.

But first they needed a melody!

“Edge said to me – you’ve got the studio booked but you don’t have a song,” Bono recounted. “I said I have lyrics and an idea. So we went in and did a demo that we finished today. It’s not just good, or very good. I think it may even be great... we’ll see.”

There is no better advocate of U2’s work than the singer – and his boundless enthusiasm is infectious. It’s one of the reasons he has always been capable of bowling over the sceptics. His passion for what he and the band do is immense. When we spoke he was fresh from the demo session – the song finished, he was high on the feeling of achievement.

Understandably so. He invited us to the car and as we drove around Stephen’s Green with the song pumping from the speakers he switched between elaborating on the recording plans to singing along with crucial moments. “Here’s to you/ Ronnie Drew/ Here’s to you/ We love you/ Yes, we do/ Ronnie Drew,” he sang, improvising the counter-vocals that’ll likely run against the falsetto lead line in the finished version.

“I hope you young people realise you’re the first people in the world to hear it,” he said.

The demo has a lovely ballad-y sensibility, driven by Edge’s rhythm playing – “He’s playing a trez, which is a Cuban instrument, like a big mandolin,” Bono explained – but it also has a brilliant pop feel that will guarantee it instant mainstream radio play, certainly on Bono and Ronnie’s home turf – and probably further afield. It is hard to imagine that it won’t become one of the biggest downloads ever, and a No.1 single, in Ireland. And that’s just on the basis of the demo.

Bono leant into the back of the car. “I would love to hear Mick Jagger singing this bit,” he said and sang along in a Jagger-voice. As we navigated the Green, the street names were reeled off in the lyrics: “Leeson Street, Baggot Street and Stephen’s Green,” the familiar landmarks The Dubliners and Ronnie traversed in the O’Donoghue’s days being capped by imagining a new one, a statue to Ronnie on the Green – “the most fitting tribute that’s e’er yet been seen,” the song runs, or words to that effect.

“The response has been fantastic,” Bono revealed. “Every musician we asked has said yes. Glen Hansard is trying to get in from the Czech Republic to sing on it and he’s happy just to be in the chorus. That’s typical of the reaction. Ronnie is held in such high regard. Kila have agreed to be involved as a band, so it’ll be Kila and U2.”

Kila are brilliant, I observed.

“I love those guys,” he said, before adding: “It’s a small piece of history, but a piece of history nonetheless.”

And so it is.

I spoke to Simon Carmody mid-recording. “Everyone has been brilliant,” he said, “so generous with their time, and delighted to do it. John Reynolds is producing. The Dubliners were in this afternoon and they loved the vibe. Barney McKenna is still upstairs, playing away with the lads from Kila. Christy Moore came in, nailed it down perfectly in 25 minutes – he’s amazing. Damien Dempsey, Ronan Keating – there’s loads more coming in. It’s been really good fun.”

It promises to be a hell of a record – and a more than well-deserved tribute to one of the legendary, and enduring, founding fathers of the modern Irish music movement. “Here’s to you…Ronnie Drew/ We love you/ Yes, we do/ Ronnie Drew…”

One more time with feeling…

Thanks a lot for posting the article, Shaz! (As well as for the Shane interview in another thread.)
All it needs now is to get to hear the result of the recording...

I've just heard the first play of this song on the radio. I think it's terrible. Lyrics along the line of...

"Ronnie Drew we love you, we love you Ronnie Drew"

Shane's few lines are OK, but i couldn't catch the words first listen. The tempo and tune reminded me vaguely of "More Pricks Than Kicks".

Released this friday 22nd on download and next friday 29th on CD single.

It's never supposed to be a masterpiece I'm afraid. It's bloody charity after all.
Penned/recorded on one's knee..

Shane's few lines are OK, but i couldn't catch the words first listen.

Maybe that's why they are OK..

OK, hotpress has cupla words to add:

'The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew' release dates announced
18 Feb 2008
The U2-led tribute song to Ronnie Drew will be played simultaneously on a host of radio stations across the country tomorrow morning.
Full URL

you can listen to a preview here.
I don't like the chorus, weak lyrics and boring melody... Shane's voice sounds good, though

MacRua wrote:It's never supposed to be a masterpiece I'm afraid. It's bloody charity after all.
Penned/recorded on one's knee..

Shane's few lines are OK, but i couldn't catch the words first listen.

Maybe that's why they are OK..

OK, hotpress has cupla words to add:

'The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew' release dates announced
18 Feb 2008
The U2-led tribute song to Ronnie Drew will be played simultaneously on a host of radio stations across the country tomorrow morning.
Full URL

Both regional and national stations will play the song simultaneously after their 8am news bulletins tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

The song will then be made available as a digital download on Friday (February 22) and as a physical CD single the following week (February 29).

At the request of Ronnie Drew himself, all profits from the sale of the single will go to the Irish Cancer Society.

The lyrics to 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew' were written by Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead with Bono, The Edge and Simon Carmody, "The idea was that we would all try to write a song for Ronnie to sing, but then it changed to writing a song about Ronnie himself", said Bono. Speaking at the time of the recording, he said: "Ronnie is like the King of Ireland, and we are his subjects. This is a big fight for him. But like any fighter, it's easier if there's a crowd cheering".

Hotpress' Niall Stokes has described the recording as "a fitting tribute" to the Dubliners legend.

Fr. McGreer wrote: I've just heard the first play of this song on the radio. I think it's terrible. Lyrics along the line of...
"Ronnie Drew we love you, we love you Ronnie Drew"
Shane's few lines are OK

Shane's few lines are OK because they have the lyrics to "Easy And Slow".

It is indeed some lineup, i'm sure like none other seen in Irish music before.

Musicians:
U2 (Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jnr)
The Dubliners (Barney McKenna, Eamonn Campbell, John Sheahan, Patsy Watchorn) Kíla (Dee Armstrong, Eoin Dillon, Brian Hogan, Lance Hogan, Colm Ó Snodaigh, Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Rossa Ó Snodaigh)

A Band of Bowsies:
Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr, Sinéad O'Connor, Moya Brennan, Glen Hansard

Chorus in alphabetical order:
Billy McGuinness, Brian Kennedy, Bronagh Gallagher, Chris de Burgh, Christy Dignam, Duke Special, Eleanor McEvoy, Eleanor Shanley, Gavin Friday, Iona Green, Jack L, Jerry Fish, Joe Elliott, Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Mik Pyro, Mundy, Paddy Casey, Paul Brady and Ronan Keating

Has Sean Cannon left the Dubliners now then??