Celtic Woman Forum
The Shows => Toured 2023. Canceled => Toured 2023 => Topic started by: celtic4life on January 28, 2023, 11:31:09 PM
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I was going through YouTube tonight and noticed that there's no more David Downes ladies anymore. All the ladies now in the lineup joined after the David Downes Era.
Tara is the longest member now, and she came in during Destiny.
As I bet everyone does when they search Celtic Woman on YouTube, you go down a deep rabbit hole of videos. I ran across the 10th anniversary tour from 2015. The tour was amazing. Having Meav, Lynn, and Alex as guest on the tour made it the best one. I can't believe it's already almost the 20th already. Another 10 years. WOW. I really hope the 20th anniversary tour helps top or in line like the 10th anniversary!
Something to think about...
I remembered Ebha joined at the end of the 10yr tour, which makes her being with the group for only 4 years. 2015-2019. Megan has been with the group this year for 5 years, 2018-2023. That makes her staying in longer than Ebha. It doesn't feel like she's been with the group for that long.
Then I thought about Susan. Now she joined in 2012 for the Believe tour, but she's been full member until 2018 and then a understudy up to 2022. There has not been a tour she has not performed in. She understudy Mairead during Ancient Land when Mairead was out due to health. She understudy Chloe during Celebration 15yrs tour when Chloe had other duties. Then she filled in again this last tour in place of Chloe and again for Megan at the end of the tour. So I would say she's still a member and has been for the last 10 years.
Ok, now this post has gone way off topic. You see how I can easily go down a rabbit hole.🤣
So what are your thoughts about the all 2nd generation (post David) group? Is this now a new generation? Can we say there's no connections to the original group
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I like to think that we are now in a third generation:
First: Age of David (2005-2013)
Starting lineup: Chloë, Lisa K, Orla, Meav and Mairead N.
Final lineup: Susan, Meav, Lisa L and Mairead N.
(Mairead C is not on any albums or PBS Specials that David has produced)
Transition Period (2013-2015)
Lineup: Susan, Mairead Carlin, Mairead Nasbit + Someone Else (Lisa L, Lynn, Meav, Alex and Eabha during the Fall X Tour)
Second: Age of Gavin that began with Destiny (2016-2019)
Starting lineup: Susan, Mairead Carlin, Eabha and Mairead Nasbit.
Final Lineup: Megan, Mairead Carlin, Eabha and Tara
Meav and Alex also participated in this era as special guests.
Transition Period (2020-2021)
Lineup: Megan, Mairead Carlin, Chloë and Tara + Susan
Third: Age of Daragh (2021-20XX)
Starting Lineup: Megan, Muigen, Chloë and Tara + Susan
Final Lineup: Megan, Muigen, Susan and Tara (Christmas Cards)
Current lineup: Megan, Muigen, Hannah and Tara
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Reading this topic and looking into Ênio's post reminds me of a random fun fact: Chloe is the only Celtic Woman member to have performed with almost all the other members throughout the years, with the exception of Éabha and Hannah.
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Now about the topic (sorry LOL), I do think that the group changed it's style enough to justify us spliting its history into 'eras'.
For an example, the group only has male backup singers/dancers nowadays instead of a choir; we used to have 8 choir members (4M/4F) till Isle of Hope where it was made 6 members (3/M/3F) - a very sutil change but still -, then at the european Believe tour it was reduced again very noticeably to 4 members (2M/2F) which remainded until X Tour. From Destiny onwards, we barely have male singers on tour, sometimes only 2 of them. Where am I going with this? Well, it influentiates a lot the arrangements of the songs, where we have a choir on the studio/PBS special version of a song then on tour it's removed (like in Faith's Song), reduced to a few voices or played on a background track being emulated by 3 people doing 20 voices.
Another thing is that the Celtic Woman act is very less 'theatrical' than before. If you watch the old tour videos on Youtube eg, you can see much less interactions with the audience, song preludes and Medleys (The Sky & The Dawn & The Sun, Newgrange, Orinoco Flow, SFTH: Walking The Night/The World Falls Away etc), a playoff section (Finalle Mo Ghile Mear) and the design of the set was very extravagant and bold, full of lights and fog or wathever. This isn't a Gavin era thing specifically, but it was accentuated here; the show is more and more in touch with the audience, the set design is way more simplistic and sometimes darker - like it focus a lot more on the girls. The choir thing reflects this point as well.
In general I think there are somethings that saddens me nowadays and others that are way better. Seeing the girls telling stories or just chatting with us is awesome; it isn't like you sat for 90mins straight to see an act where the members doesn't even acknowlege the existence of an audience apart of a 'thank you' - there was even a meme of Mairead Nesbitt being mute until the Christmas special. I cannot forget the band numbers like Tip tap Toe or, even better, The Kesh Inn, where all of the members interact directly with the girls. But I do miss those big drums/percussion kits, the big choir, those luxurious and creative sets etc.
As of the girls, they are always gorgeous in every sense of the word. Particularly, the latests ensembles attract me more, the Ancient Land one is my favorite.
In conclusion, yes I do think it's a whole different thing now, altough it shares the same formula. It's not all a negative thing, but enough to piss some old school fans and create a whole new fanbase (while I acknowlege the die heart fans that doesn't give up easily like us wink wink).
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Well, this is true! I hadn't stopped to think about it, but Chloe is, in fact, the one who performed the most with the other girls. ;D ;D ;D
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Now about the topic (sorry LOL), I do think that the group changed it's style enough to justify us spliting its history into 'eras'.
For an example, the group only has male backup singers/dancers nowadays instead of a choir; we used to have 8 choir members (4M/4F) till Isle of Hope where it was made 6 members (3/M/3F) - a very sutil change but still -, then at the european Believe tour it was reduced again very noticeably to 4 members (2M/2F) which remainded until X Tour. From Destiny onwards, we barely have male singers on tour, sometimes only 2 of them. Where am I going with this? Well, it influentiates a lot the arrangements of the songs, where we have a choir on the studio/PBS special version of a song then on tour it's removed (like in Faith's Song), reduced to a few voices or played on a background track being emulated by 3 people doing 20 voices.
Another thing is that the Celtic Woman act is very less 'theatrical' than before. If you watch the old tour videos on Youtube eg, you can see much less interactions with the audience, song preludes and Medleys (The Sky & The Dawn & The Sun, Newgrange, Orinoco Flow, SFTH: Walking The Night/The World Falls Away etc), a playoff section (Finalle Mo Ghile Mear) and the design of the set was very extravagant and bold, full of lights and fog or wathever. This isn't a Gavin era thing specifically, but it was accentuated here; the show is more and more in touch with the audience, the set design is way more simplistic and sometimes darker - like it focus a lot more on the girls. The choir thing reflects this point as well.
In general I think there are somethings that saddens me nowadays and others that are way better. Seeing the girls telling stories or just chatting with us is awesome; it isn't like you sat for 90mins straight to see an act where the members doesn't even acknowlege the existence of an audience apart of a 'thank you' - there was even a meme of Mairead Nesbitt being mute until the Christmas special. I cannot forget the band numbers like Tip tap Toe or, even better, The Kesh Inn, where all of the members interact directly with the girls. But I do miss those big drums/percussion kits, the big choir, those luxurious and creative sets etc.
As of the girls, they are always gorgeous in every sense of the word. Particularly, the latests ensembles attract me more, the Ancient Land one is my favorite.
In conclusion, yes I do think it's a whole different thing now, altough it shares the same formula. It's not all a negative thing, but enough to piss some old school fans and create a whole new fanbase (while I acknowlege the die heart fans that doesn't give up easily like us wink wink).
I agree 101% with you! Although it's not my competence to speak since I've never been to a girls' show, I only watch the videos on YouTube, but even seeing it through the smartphone cameras of others, it's notorious how much production has been "reduced" from a few years ago. Susan says in an interview on the 10 Year Tour, that The CW has evolved a lot over the years, adding more interactions, costumes, dancers, bagpipes, and much morebagpipes, and much more.
And speaking specifically about the stage designs... That, for me, is the worst aspect of Gavin's reign. Destiny was completely dark, VOA was similar to Destiny's, except on the European tour, where the set was very similar to the Emerald Tour; the American Ancient Land tour was even OK, but nothing compared to the old ones, because when Ancient Land came here to Brazil and Europe, they used a set that was worse than Destiny's (in my opinion): completely simplistic, dark... In the end, Celebration was what reminded me the most of the old days, with its special effects, curtains, and beautiful lights. On the other hand, in Postcards, I had the impression that they took off the magic of Celebration and just used the structure.
Remembering that this is my opinion and that I have never been to a CW show, my opinion is based only on what I see in the videos and photos.
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Oh yes, of course, guys, I just commented on it for commenting. I do not think that I am blaming the CW managers for having diminished the decoration budget. I know that in 2016, they were in such a complicated financial situation that David filed a lawsuit against them. I just commented for commenting, okay?
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So whom selected Mairead Carlin was it David Downes? Was David still in charge of after HFC with the tours leading on to the X Anniversary? If he didn't then I wonder who led to Emerald Tour having some of the songs changed to whether solo or duet....
Had David stayed on I could imagine that phenomenal choregoraphical duet version of Si Mo Maheimo I would have made it into a special I would imagine!
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So whom selected Mairead Carlin was it David Downes? Was David still in charge of after HFC with the tours leading on to the X Anniversary? If he didn't then I wonder who led to Emerald Tour having some of the songs changed to whether solo or duet....
Had David stayed on I could imagine that phenomenal choregoraphical duet version of Si Mo Maheimo I would have made it into a special I would imagine!
Yeah, David remained as the MD until X. From X onwards we had Gavin and Méav.
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So whom selected Mairead Carlin was it David Downes? Was David still in charge of after HFC with the tours leading on to the X Anniversary? If he didn't then I wonder who led to Emerald Tour having some of the songs changed to whether solo or duet....
Had David stayed on I could imagine that phenomenal choregoraphical duet version of Si Mo Maheimo I would have made it into a special I would imagine!
Actually yes! David stayed with Celtic Woman until the beginning of 2015, and if I'm not mistaken, he was the one who chose Eabha for The CW, despite the fact that she (along with Mairead C) never participated in a CD or DVD that David produced.
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Any idea which year they started using the current Playout?
For sure they used finale/Mo Ghile Mear AT LEAST through 2013.
I went six years between my first two shows and when I started going to see Celtic woman again (VoA, Anicent Land, PFI since going again) it was a whole new show compared to the first time.
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I'm not exactly sure, but I believe they used MGM until the beginning of 2014 on the Australian tour, this tour was the same production as the 2012 Believe Tour only with the setlist drastically changed in 2013 and 2014 in Australia In February 2014, the Emerald tour began, and MGM ceased to be used as a playout, giving way to The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun, which stayed until the end of the anniversary tour in 2015.
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I saw my first show in 2007. I'd agree that the show has changed, and I'm not basing that on the girls. I always thought some of the earlier shows were more "fun". Think TAR where the girls came out into the audience. Lisa L sat down next to me on one show! (empty seat in front row!). Then you had the various band numbers. Depending on the venue, the bagpiper would start at the back of the theatre and march forward while playing Amazing Grace.
I think I saw an interview with Chloe very early in the CW timeline where she said they never dreamed the show would become as big and popular as it did. They were having a lot of fun doing the show -- it wasn't just a job. And, that showed.
Another reason I tended to like the earlier shows was they way they did the Meet & Greets. It was after the show, so it wasn't quite as rushed. Yes, you only met 2 girls, but you at least had a minute or two to talk to them, get an autograph, etc. It was a more personal connection than from a group photo.
We know touring has to be exhausting for any group. Then, trying to be "up" for a show every night is challenging.
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I'm not exactly sure, but I believe they used MGM until the beginning of 2014 on the Australian tour, this tour was the same production as the 2012 Believe Tour only with the setlist drastically changed in 2013 and 2014 in Australia In February 2014, the Emerald tour began, and MGM ceased to be used as a playout, giving way to The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun, which stayed until the end of the anniversary tour in 2015.
So then ‘16/‘17 was around when they put in the current playoff?
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My first show was Destiny in 2016 and the final song in my show was Teir Abhaile Riu, the version that they later recorded on Voices of Angels. Every show I've been to since then, for regular tours the finale has been The Parting Glass plus the current playoff. For Christmas tours it has been Auld Lang Syne except for Chicago this year where they did an encore of Feliz Navidad.
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My first show was Destiny in 2016 and the final song in my show was Teir Abhaile Riu, the version that they later recorded on Voices of Angels. Every show I've been to since then, for regular tours the finale has been The Parting Glass plus the current playoff. For Christmas tours it has been Auld Lang Syne except for Chicago this year where they did an encore of Feliz Navidad.
Yeah. They have had some stability over the years as to ends of shows.
Original show (Deidre replaces Meav July '05-February '06) -- as per a video of the October '05 LA concert (I assume all shows): You Raise Me Up ended the regular show. Girls came back on for Spanish Lady. Band and choir did You Raise Me Up reprise. Band did instrumental Ceili outro.
Original show (Meav is back: March-Oct '06) -- You Raise Me Up ended the regular show. Girls came back on for Spanish Lady. Band and choir did You Raise Me Up reprise.
A New Journey -- You Raise Me Up followed by Finale (Was this when they started using the one from the SFTH DVD where Mairead plays like crazy, the choir sings and the girls lineup to come back out & bow?) then the girls come back on for Spanish Lady before an instrumental playoff.
Isle of Hope/Songs from the Heart -- You Raise Me Up closes show. Finale/Mo Ghile Mear and Spanish lady are both encores.
Believe tour year 1 -- The Parting Glass closes show. Finale/Mo Ghile Mear
Believe tour year 2 (this includes the taping of Emerald) -- The Parting Glass closes show. Ceili playoff. Was this the last year of Finale/Mo Ghile Mear???
Emerald/X -- Was this the start of the piper solo (where the piper plays like a rock star) and then the girls run back on and introduce the band and choir to end the show??
Destiny Tour -- Teir Abhaile Riu ends show. Piper solo??
VoA tour (this was when I started going to shows again: I've been pretty consistent since. I had Front row seats for this one) -- Apparently at least at the beginning an instrumental version of When You Go was the ending?? I saw this one towards the end (it ended two weeks to the day after I went) and it was the piper solo with the girls coming back out bowing, introducing everyone and then they get introduced by the PA system.
Homecoming/Ancient Land/Halted Celebration tour -- Same as '17.
Postcards from Ireland --- All the "classics" are towards the end ending with The Parting Glass, girls wave goodbye, Piper solo (what's the piper piece?) where the girls run back on stage, introduce band and choir and the PA system introduces them and that's that. This was the one with the opening (the instrumental before the girls come out) where the piper was so loud he drowned out Tara's playing.
It seems as though after X Destiny was the birth of a whole new Celtic Woman.
Do you feel that when they recorded VoA they made the old songs darker and more chilling than they were?
I have the Target VoA and that version of Nil Se'n La is darker than the other two -- The original one had the percussion intro that seemed really Latin flavored, the Emerald version had Mairead's violin solo (We know in concert it was the version where Lisa & Chloe seemed to be angry at the dancers).
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Interesting I never looked over the VOA Nil Sen LA version as dark, is less in the fun factor aspect yes but sometimes I'd like to have another version that is stylized like the other Celtic Woman songs. The choreography during the once tour was phenomenal I can't believe they didn't record on DVD as a bonus at least. That and TAR are my favorites even though I get people love love the original I would even say postcards from Ireland's slow vibe is dark contrast to the chilling reinnovation that VOA proved same songs can be given new birth for a fresh new time today. Ofc the first time I listened to the CD, I did not like the new versions but that's normal by the sudden difference at first!
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There were two times I was at a show on Mairead N's birthday. On the tours (and I didn't go back to figure out which ones), she did the intro to YRMU. Right before she started, a group in the front started singing Happy Birthday! It totally caught her off guard!