(no subject)

[primroseburrows]

Okay, I'll admit that Ashley MacIsaac is very, very good at what he does. But "almost single-handedly brought fiddle playing back into popularity in Canada"?

What about Natalie MacMaster?

Canadians? Whaddya think? jlm1779? Cause, like, Natalie's everywhere. What does Rolling Bloody Stone know, anyway?

*stepdances*

Comments

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Isn't Ashley MacIsaac a lot more *cough* historic than Natalie? No doubt that she's more popular now (with good reason!), but I remember my mum had one of his cds more than a decade ago, and even then he was well known.

Geekout comment, ignore if you wish *g*

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

According to Ashley's discography, his first album was released in 1992 (wow, he was only 17!). Nat's first was in 1993, although she had a self-produced release in 1989 (at 16--what do they feed these kids!?).

Ashley's 28, Nat's 30. They're contemporaries. It might be that Ashley caught on earlier than Natalie did, though. His music is more eclectic, with all the rock-and-roll stuff he does.

I'll give that they've both contributed. I think Nat's brought the genre even further, though, without compromising her roots, which I really do think Ashley's done. I don't judge him for that; it's just that I like the more traditional fiddlers. And, I'm not dumping on Ashley at all. I was just wondering where Rolling stone got its info.

My crush on Natalie has nothing whatsoever to do with my reasoning. Really. *whistles innocently*

Re: Geekout comment, ignore if you wish *g*

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Am obviously totally confused *g* Probably because I've never listened to one of Ashley's songs in memory, just Natalie. Even though I heard of Ashley long before I'd ever heard of Natalie.

And dude. The Rankins rock ;)

Re: Geekout comment, ignore if you wish *g*

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

They so do.

[starflowers.livejournal.com]

Ashley MacIsaac is... Well, the reason he's more well known and all that, or the reason he's brought fiddle playing back into popularity more than Natalie MacMaster, is because people who've never heard of a single other fiddle player in their lives, will hear of him, because he's like... the OASIS of fiddleplaying. He's always pissing off one sect of society or another (most recently I believe, it was blaming Asian women for sars in Toronto), and he's always throwing some sort of fit somewhere... Natalie MacMaster, I've heard of her, but... I couldn't tell you a single thing about her. But I've never heard either of them play.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

They're both good. And yeah, Ashley gets his name out by being an arsehole, I think. Also, his addition of rock styles, yadda, makes for a wider fanbase. He's said it himself; LA radio stations just aren't gonna play jigs on a regular basis. Still, the talent is there.

I have Ashley's Hi, How Are You Today?, and I listen to it occasionally. I have almost all of Nat's in one form or another (except her latest--*adds to Amazon wish list*). Her fiddleplaying hurts to listen to sometimes, it's so darned beautiful. Not to mention she's very gracious to her interviewers, actually posts recipes on her website, and is doing her darndest to plug traditional Cape Breton music wherever she can.

You should hear her. Go on, you know you wanna. *g*

[starflowers.livejournal.com]

Welllll I do live in Nova Scotia... and before i moved here, I hadn't heard of either, and I heard of Ashley first and then Natalie and I thought they were both girls and kept mixing them up and thought they were the same person for the longest time hehehe.

But I DO love fiddle music, which I've been hearing SO much more of in the three years I've lived in the maritimes (it certainly beats the Alberta old country that they seem to play so much of hehe). So I'll see if I can find some of hers to listen to.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I find it amusing that Country in Cape Breton isn't what Country is everywhere else (at least not here in RI!). I like it better, actually. 'Cause it's not like any of OUR Country stations ever play The Rankins.

*packs up, moves to Mabou*

[tarimanveri.livejournal.com]

YOU have a Natalie MacMaster icon. You posted about Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster *faints*.

I've heard Ashley MacIsaac live, and he's very good, but I think Natalie MacMaster is a much better ambassador for Cape Breton music. Whatever Ashley MacIsaac has done, it's mostly been through notoriety. Single-handedly? Nah.

I mean, there's Natalie, there are people like Richard Wood, and the Rankin Family (who I listened to well before I'd ever heard of Natalie MacMaster), not to mention other groups like the Barra MacNeils, Slainte Mhath, etc, etc.

I also think that CBC's Nova Scotia Kitchen Party did a lot to popularize fiddle and especially Cape Breton fiddle, although the trend had already started.

*plays fiddle.*

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I hear the Kitchen Party on a Boston station occasionally, when I can get it. I wish it were on a station closer.

The Barra MacNeils were here a while ago, but there was a conflict and I couldn't go. *curses* I adore them. They're so darn dedicated to what they do.

Geh. I know I was a Caper in a previous life. *wants life back*


*offers hand* Nice to meet you, btw. *g*