Well, it's August. Last year was the Summer of Love, but I'm not sure how this summer's been shaping up. Let's see... okay, so the Apollo 11 crew are back on Earth, Elvis is performing live again for the first time in years, the first letters from the Zodiac killer are published in a number of California newspapers? I guess it's quite eventful, but not nearly as fun as things were this time last summer. Anyway, here's Joe Dolan to soundtrack all that.
Make Me an Island - Joe Dolan (peaked at Number 3)
I'd never heard of Joe Dolan, but he's apparently a big name in his native Ireland, the only artist to reach Number 1 in the Irish charts in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Which I guess makes him sort of like the Irish version of Cliff Richard. His success was tied up with showbands, which I'd also not heard of, but these were apparently bands that played various local venues around Ireland, from the 1950s onwards, playing a mix of big band music, country, rock and roll and even the odd ceili tune. There would always be a lead singer, and often there would be little comedy skits worked into shows. At the height of the era, there were literally hundreds of these bands touring around Ireland, so I guess it makes sense that it could be a viable route to stardom - as it seems to have been for Joe.
So what does the result sound like? If I were feeling uncharitable, I'd describe this as budget Tom Jones. It's got a lot of the same things going on: it's a big, swing waltz, very dramatic, with lots of brass, it's in a minor key, with a big modulation to the major as Joe hits the chorus. If you liked Delilah, you'll probably like this. If you didn't, this may not be for you. I will say that the vocals are a bit different, they're a little higher than Tom's typically are, and there's a wobble to them, a bit of vibrato that gives it a slightly more operatic feel. But it's not a huge difference, the whole thing is very Tom Jones-ish.
I'm enjoying the lyrics, though, they're interesting, as Joe sings about how different eyes, different sighs, different girls every day / Different names, different games, took my breath clean away. This is somebody who's had quite the life, and quite the romantic history, you get the impression. And yet, something has changed, he's fallen for somebody who's changed him fundamentally, you have caught me, you have taught me, and I'm different now. Which in turn leads to our chorus, Joe begging his love to take me and break me, and close all your windows and doors / Shut me off, cut me up, make me an island, I'm yours / Take me away from the world, take me away from the girls / Take me and break me and make me an island, I'm yours. Which is impressively messed-up, outright asking your love to "take you and break you" and cut you off from the world just so that you can't cheat. There's a real lack of confidence there in Joe's own ability to resist temptation. That or he just likes it when his love treats him mean. Honestly, I kind of prefer that theory, that Joe's just a freak. Huge, if true.
It's been nice getting a glimpse of what's going on in a corner of the world we don't often visit, I'm pleased that Ireland had such an active musical scene. Personally, I think going to see a showband would have been a hoot - the big band energy, the mishmash of mostly American music, the odd ceili tune, it just sounds like a fun mix. No strong feelings about Make Me an Island specifically, that all said. It was fine. It sounded like a Tom Jones hit, but not in a bad way. And part of me did appreciate how abject Joe sounded in his attempt to prove his commitment to his love. But I don't think this is essential listening, sorry Joe.
An t-amhrán is fearr acu ar fad: Make Me An Island
Mike Hazlewood overlijdt op 6 mei 2001 in zijn slaap aan een hartaanval tijdens zijn vakantie in Florence, Italië. Hij is pas 59.
Continue reading Mike Hazlewood (1941-2001)
