Sunday, December 13, 2009

Michael Londra's Celtic Christmas Show



My mom and I had tickets to see Michael Londra's Celtic Christmas show in Mahwah, NJ last night. But I've had a really rough week and didn't feel up to battling North Jersey traffic and wasn't sure if I could make it, though I had been looking forward to the show for months. I had a very serious family issue come up this week that I can't really get into at this time. I hope it will all turn out well eventually but it came as quite a shock. And I lost a beloved pet I'd had for 15 years quite suddenly Tuesday morning. She had been doing well and it was a terrible shock. I've always taken the death of my pets very hard. I can't say I've found much love in this world from people I've chosen to love and trust. The only true love I've ever really had were from my grandmother who is no longer with us, my mom, my daughter and my pets. So it was a very stressful week, full of tears and sleepless nights and I felt and looked just terrible. But I didn't want to miss this show so we decided to go.

I couldn't be happier that my mom and I made that decision. Michael's show was happy, lively and festive and it truly lifted my spirits. I've always known of the healing power of music and it was once again proven to me last night. Michael was lead singer of Riverdance on Broadway and has a hauntingly beautiful voice. His Irish wit and great sense of humor made the show a true delight. He interacts wonderfully with the audience, teaching them Gaelic and encouraging them to sing along. He said he judges states by their singing at his shows and said we did a great job. Well, of course, we did - New Jersey gave birth to Frank Sinatra, Frankie Vali & the Four Seasons and Bruce Springsteen, to name just a few - we rock! He tells tales of Christmas in Ireland and talks about his family. He travels with the fabulous band AnDochas. Their musical talent and sound is so glorious. Just try to keep your foot from taping while listening to them! And to top it all off, Michael has two amazing Irish step dancers traveling with him. Their feet just flew all around that stage. Michael said that he'd always wanted to be a dancer but unfortunately he's a dancer trapped in the body of a tree. Well, that may be so but I for one am not sorry about it because I much rather hear him sing.

And sing he did. He sang the beautiful song he wrote and which is the title song on his new album "Beyond the Star". He sang Silent Night (partly in Gaelic) and The Wexford Carol (he's a Wexford boy himself). And the beautiful Don Oiche Ud I MBeithil (please don't ask me to pronounce it!). He sang the beautiful Winter, Fire and Snow and he did such a wonderful job with Sting's Fields of Gold. And being a Riverdance boy, the show wouldn't have been complete without Lift the Wings. I wish YouTube had a video of him singing it so you could hear his version but I can't find one. But you can hear him sing Danny Boy on YouTube (which video has had almost 2,000,000 views!). As beautiful as that video is, I think he did an even more beautiful version last night - just brimming with emotion. Michael's website also has clips of his singing for you to enjoy.

Michael's A Celtic Yuletide Christmas tour still has quite a few shows coming up. So check out his schedule, buy some tickets and buy his albums Beyond the Star and Celt (both beautifully arranged and produced by the very talented Steve Skinner) and have him touch your soul and lift your spirits as he has mine and so many others.

Thank you, Michael and all those involved in last night's show, for a truly enjoyable evening.

8 comments:

Catwalk Creative Vintage said...

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of one of your beloved pets. It always hits hard because we love them so much. Try to console yourself knowing that you provided them with the most loving and caring home while they were here. We will see them again I'm sure. :)

As for the concert. I'm so pleased you went along. There's nothing like music to lift the spirits. It's a wonderful thing. Keep your chin up Marjorie. I hope that little Belle is doing well.

Unknown said...

Thank you, Louise. I'd like to post a blog about Patches and the love she gave me for so many years but my heart's just too heavy right now. And there's this other family issue that's thrown me for a total spin. Little Belle is doing very well. Dickon is depressed and wouldn't even eat this morning - he's missing Patches, too. I plan on playing Michael's Christmas CD all day today. His voice is so beautiful and such a pleasure to listen to.

Unknown said...

It is so hard to lose a pet, as they become more family than pets, and it truly is a bereavement when they go. The concert sounded wonderful! Suzie. xxx

Unknown said...

It's terribly hard, Suzie. I fall apart even if I find a dead bird in the yard so losing my loving companion of 15 years is heart rending. The concert really helped that night.

ChezChani said...

So sorry about your kitty. I know just how you feel. I always say, nobody will ever love me like my little Izzy. Or really any of my kitties.

Glad you made the show and I sure hope your family situation takes a turn for the better. Take care!

Unknown said...

Thank you, Elayne. Patches' loss has left a huge hole in my heart.

Giovanna said...

So sorry to hear about the lose of one of your pets. It must be really hard. Hope you feel better soon and think that you gave them so much love.
xoxo
Giovanna
www.bohomarket.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Thank you, Giovanna. While my heart still breaks at her loss, I know she had a good life. And that's all we can give them in the end. Hopefully, I'll see her again one day.