Ireland Into the Mystic: the Poetic Spirit and Cultural Content of Irish Rock
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IRELAND INTO THE MYSTIC: THE POETIC SPIRIT AND CULTURAL CONTENT OF IRISH ROCK MUSIC, 1970-2020 ELENA CANIDO MUIÑO Doctoral Thesis / 2020 Director: David Clark Mitchell PROGRAMA DE DOCTORADO EN ESTUDIOS INGLESES AVANZADOS: LENGUA, LITERATURA Y CULTURA Ireland into the Mystic: The Poetic Spirit and Cultural Content of Irish Rock Music, 1970-2020 by Elena Canido Muiño, 2020. INDEX Abstract .......................................................................................................................... viii Resumen .......................................................................................................................... ix Resumo ............................................................................................................................. x 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1. Methodology ................................................................................................................. 3 1.1.2. Thesis Structure ............................................................................................................. 5 2. Historical and Theoretical Introduction to Irish Rock ........................................ 9 2.1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2. The Origins of Rock ...................................................................................................... 9 2.1.3. Rock as Music and Culture ......................................................................................... 14 2.1.4. The Cultural Identity of Irish Rock ............................................................................. 16 2.1.5. Theoretical Approaches on How to "Read" Lyrics ..................................................... 19 3. Mythology and the Celtic in Irish Rock Music ................................................... 24 3.1.1. Historical Context ............................................................................................... 24 3.1.2. The "Celtic Revival" of Irish Rock ..................................................................... 26 3.1.3. Use of Myth and the Celtic in Celtic Rock ......................................................... 29 3.2. Horslips: "The Mythologising of Irish Rock" ........................................................ 31 3.2.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 31 3.2.2. The Táin (1973) ................................................................................................... 34 3.2.3. Dancehall Sweethearts (1974) ............................................................................ 39 3.2.4. The Book of Invasions: A Celtic Symphony (1976) ............................................. 44 3.2.5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 50 3.3. Thin Lizzy: "Telling the Legends of Long Ago, Playing the Melodies So We Might Know" ............................................................................................................. 51 3.3.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 51 3.3.2. Phil Lynott: Rock 'n' Roll Bard ........................................................................... 51 3.3.3. Thin Lizzy (1971), New Day (1971) and Shades of a Blue Orphanage (1972) .. 54 3.3.4. Vagabonds of the Western World (1973) ............................................................ 60 3.3.5. Jailbreak (1976) .................................................................................................. 64 3.3.6. Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1978) ..................................................................... 69 3.3.7. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 73 3.4. Gary Moore: "The Darkest Son of Ireland" .......................................................... 74 3.4.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 74 3.4.2. Early Albums....................................................................................................... 75 3.4.3. Wild Frontier (1987) ........................................................................................... 76 3.4.4. After the War (1989) ........................................................................................... 91 3.4.5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 93 3.5. Chapter Conclusions ................................................................................................... 94 4. Sociopolitical Awareness in Irish Rock Music .................................................... 95 4.1.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 95 4.2. "On The Dole Queue Too Long": The Outburst of Irish Punk ......................... 100 4.2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 100 4.2.2. "Television Screen" and the Emergence of Irish Punk ..................................... 102 4.2.3. Stiff Little Fingers and The Undertones ............................................................ 104 4.2.4. The Boomtown Rats .......................................................................................... 109 4.2.5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 113 4.3. "Flowers of Fire": Sociopolitical Issues in U2's War and The Joshua Tree.............................................................................................................................114 4.3.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 114 4.3.2. War (1983) ........................................................................................................ 117 4.3.3. The Joshua Tree (1987) ..................................................................................... 123 4.3.4. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 137 4.4. Chapter Conclusions ................................................................................................. 138 5. The Cultural and Artistic Impact of Women in Irish Rock Music ................ 140 5.1.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 140 5.1.2. The Position of Women in Irish Popular Music: Recent History ...................... 141 5.1.3. Case 1: Sinéad O'Connor................................................................................... 148 5.1.4. Case 2: Dolores O'Riordan ................................................................................ 149 5.1.5. The "Confessional Songwriting" Myth ............................................................. 151 5.1.6. Female Vocal Technique in Irish Rock ............................................................. 156 5.2. "The Phoenix from The Flame": Sinéad O'Connor as an Example of an Uncompromisingly Transgressive Irish Female Artist ........................................ 157 5.2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 157 5.2.1.1. Image and Gender Identity ............................................................................ 159 5.2.1.2. Songwriting and Composition ....................................................................... 160 5.2.1.3. Performance and Singing Style ..................................................................... 161 5.2.2. The Lion and the Cobra (1987) ......................................................................... 163 5.2.3. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990) ........................................................ 166 5.2.4. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 176 5.3. "A Different Way to Be": The Artistic Individuality of The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan ............................................................................................................................ 177 5.3.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 177 5.3.2. Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993) .................................... 178 5.3.2.1. Gender, Body and Image in "Pretty" ............................................................. 181 5.3.3. No Need to Argue (1994) .................................................................................. 185 5.3.3.1. Sectarian Violence and Hatred in "Zombie" ................................................. 188 5.3.3.2. Audiovisual Analysis of the "Zombie" Music Video .................................... 195 5.3.3.3. Exile, Belonging and Longing in "So Cold in Ireland" ................................. 203 5.3.4. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 211 5.4. References to William