A Little Rant

I love Alex so much!!!!!!!

I’ve been listening to some old Celtic Woman footage from 2008 (from this YouTube channel specifically https://youtube.com/@oldcelticwomanfootageandmore?si=uFer4NGsK7LGzk03), more specifically Alex’s rendition of The Voice and her part in At The Ceili, and she is genuinely incredible!!! She might be one of the best voice’s the group has had.

I like her parts in Songs From The Heart as well (You’ll Be In My Heart is a banger), but the problem with that album is that it’s not very theatrical (from what I’ve seen) and Alex absolutely THRIVES in the theatrical realm. It’s hard to explain, but she sounds like an old Victorian ghost whose lover died at sea (and I mean that positively, I love Victorian ghosts and tragic romances). I think she was also straining a bit to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, and that is intensely electrifying to me.


Anyway, I think Alex leaving so soon is one of the greatest tragedies of Celtic Woman. I did check out her solo work, but none of it had the same theatrical effect and overall wasn’t my style (although Alex still sounded magical). But I haven’t looked that far, and if anyone has some recommendations, I’ll absolutely check them out because she is so incredibly enchanting!!!!!!!!

I love Alex so much!!!!!!!

I’ve been listening to some old Celtic Woman footage from 2008 (from this YouTube channel specifically https://youtube.com/@oldcelticwomanfootageandmore?si=uFer4NGsK7LGzk03), more specifically Alex’s rendition of The Voice and her part in At The Ceili, and she is genuinely incredible!!! She might be one of the best voice’s the group has had.

I like her parts in Songs From The Heart as well (You’ll Be In My Heart is a banger), but the problem with that album is that it’s not very theatrical (from what I’ve seen) and Alex absolutely THRIVES in the theatrical realm. It’s hard to explain, but she sounds like an old Victorian ghost whose lover died at sea (and I mean that positively, I love Victorian ghosts and tragic romances). I think she was also straining a bit to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, and that is intensely electrifying to me.


Anyway, I think Alex leaving so soon is one of the greatest tragedies of Celtic Woman. I did check out her solo work, but none of it had the same theatrical effect and overall wasn’t my style (although Alex still sounded magical). But I haven’t looked that far, and if anyone has some recommendations, I’ll absolutely check them out because she is so incredibly enchanting!!!!!!!!

Oh wow! I mean as an ultimate Alex fan yeah if you tell she’s on my icon image still for nothing, I never thought of her trying to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, I suppose if you listen to her on Caranua on say The Voice to see the difference there.
I think the departure of Alex is indeed a loss and for Celtic Woman, Lynn had stayed on a bit longer but Lynn really got covered what her potential was. In fact Believe was Supremely for Alex, the whole theatre tribute, My Heart Was Home Again was made as Alex’s solo which she got to perform in on her last SFTH tour. Now had she stayed would Lisa L not been brought in is the question because I don’t think they would have stayed four singers, Believe was created as three but who know’s I mean is Alex’s departure the culprit of them testing the three singers is what I’m curious had she stayed and Lynn stayed at least until the next special!

When Alex returned to fill in for Susan, they sang Time to Say Goodbye and would of loved how she sounded but there are no shared recording from that part of the tour anywhere. She use to have a clear Celtic Woman version of The Voice on her website and no more since she had to redo her website. Have you heard her version of Newgrange? She has done theatre work earlier so I’m sure you’ll love what you find!

I love Alex so much!!!!!!!

I’ve been listening to some old Celtic Woman footage from 2008 (from this YouTube channel specifically https://youtube.com/@oldcelticwomanfootageandmore?si=uFer4NGsK7LGzk03), more specifically Alex’s rendition of The Voice and her part in At The Ceili, and she is genuinely incredible!!! She might be one of the best voice’s the group has had.

I like her parts in Songs From The Heart as well (You’ll Be In My Heart is a banger), but the problem with that album is that it’s not very theatrical (from what I’ve seen) and Alex absolutely THRIVES in the theatrical realm. It’s hard to explain, but she sounds like an old Victorian ghost whose lover died at sea (and I mean that positively, I love Victorian ghosts and tragic romances). I think she was also straining a bit to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, and that is intensely electrifying to me.


Anyway, I think Alex leaving so soon is one of the greatest tragedies of Celtic Woman. I did check out her solo work, but none of it had the same theatrical effect and overall wasn’t my style (although Alex still sounded magical). But I haven’t looked that far, and if anyone has some recommendations, I’ll absolutely check them out because she is so incredibly enchanting!!!!!!!!

Oh wow! I mean as an ultimate Alex fan yeah if you tell she’s on my icon image still for nothing, I never thought of her trying to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, I suppose if you listen to her on Caranua on say The Voice to see the difference there.
I think the departure of Alex is indeed a loss and for Celtic Woman, Lynn had stayed on a bit longer but Lynn really got covered what her potential was. In fact Believe was Supremely for Alex, the whole theatre tribute, My Heart Was Home Again was made as Alex’s solo which she got to perform in on her last SFTH tour. Now had she stayed would Lisa L not been brought in is the question because I don’t think they would have stayed four singers, Believe was created as three but who know’s I mean is Alex’s departure the culprit of them testing the three singers is what I’m curious had she stayed and Lynn stayed at least until the next special!

When Alex returned to fill in for Susan, they sang Time to Say Goodbye and would of loved how she sounded but there are no shared recording from that part of the tour anywhere. She use to have a clear Celtic Woman version of The Voice on her website and no more since she had to redo her website. Have you heard her version of Newgrange? She has done theatre work earlier so I’m sure you’ll love what you find!

I think I meant her trying to match Lisa Kelly’s voice in that they have different ranges and it probably was a bit difficult to cover for her. I believe she did say something about how difficult it was to perform The Voice. She also just sounded different on the 2008 tours from how she sounded in SFTH, so I guess I was trying to find a reason there. I didn’t mean that a a slight towards her in any way!

I agree with you that Alex would have been incredible in Believe, especially in what became Lisa Lambe’s part in Téir Abhaile Riú! She would definitely be incredible playing the rebellious romantic teenage lead. (Although Lisa Lambe was also amazing).

I haven’t heard Alex’s rendition of Newgrange, so I’ll have to check it out! And I’ll look for more of her early theatre stuff as well. I know she played Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, are there any other good roles of hers you could suggest?

Thank you! 

She's definitely one of my favourite Celtic Woman voices. She has a lot of great solo music, although I to tend to like her live performances even more. She has soooo much fun on stage. Her personality is on full display. Those concerts of hers I went to a Cherry Peak in Utah were amazing.

"Alex Sharpe Sings the Music of Shaun Purcell" is probably the most theatrical album of her solo work, with "Dream Some More" being my favourite.

I think if I were going to recommend one of her studio recordings with the highest wow factor, it would be "I Believe" with Brett Pruneau, from the album "Joyful." If you haven't heard it yet, I won't spoil anything aside from telling you to have kleenex close by.

She's definitely one of my favourite Celtic Woman voices. She has a lot of great solo music, although I to tend to like her live performances even more. She has soooo much fun on stage. Her personality is on full display. Those concerts of hers I went to a Cherry Peak in Utah were amazing.

"Alex Sharpe Sings the Music of Shaun Purcell" is probably the most theatrical album of her solo work, with "Dream Some More" being my favourite.

I think if I were going to recommend one of her studio recordings with the highest wow factor, it would be "I Believe" with Brett Pruneau, from the album "Joyful." If you haven't heard it yet, I won't spoil anything aside from telling you to have kleenex close by.

Thank you so much!! I’ll be sure to check those out.

Keeping in mind I'm old, this post reminds me of the ads I'm seeing now for various live shows.  These shows are marketed as a Tribute to XXXX.  I've been to one or two, mainly because I remember the original group.  Were the shows good? Absolutely.  Were they the same? No. 

So we have this same situation with CW.  I know someone (CWazyTom?) did a list of all the shows and who were the performers.  So, who's the "original" group?  According to CWazyTom's list, Eabha, Mairead C, Susan and Tara did 219 concerts.  The first tour was Chloe, Deirdre, Lisa K, Mairead N and Orla and they only did 38 shows. 

Having said that, this thread started as "I'm in love with Alex" or more specifically her music.  I know CW was a global  phenomenon.  Like a lot of groups, one member left and was replaced.  Then another, etc.  So when is a group no longer a group?  Plus, when someone leaves, how successful are they? 

I have attended a lot of CW shows where Alex performed, and met her a number of times.  Of course, I've also seen Chloe and Lisa K in a lot of shows, and have been to their individual shows. 

Just take last years Christmas show where Lisa L was in it.  Interesting that she remembered me! 

What am I going to do going forward?  Well, I have a ticket to see a CW show in March.  Will I go to others?  Don't know yet.  I'm in a position where my real question is how much hassle do I go thru?  I kinda wanted to go see Chloe in South Carolina in December, but it's like a 9 hour drive for me or a flight to Atlanta (two hours early at departure, 2 hour flight, 1 hour to get a rental, and another 2 hours to the venue).  Weather can be an issue and who knows how flights are going to work out.   

And as I think was mentioned, there's something about a live show that can not be duplicated.

I love Alex so much!!!!!!!

I’ve been listening to some old Celtic Woman footage from 2008 (from this YouTube channel specifically https://youtube.com/@oldcelticwomanfootageandmore?si=uFer4NGsK7LGzk03), more specifically Alex’s rendition of The Voice and her part in At The Ceili, and she is genuinely incredible!!! She might be one of the best voice’s the group has had.

I like her parts in Songs From The Heart as well (You’ll Be In My Heart is a banger), but the problem with that album is that it’s not very theatrical (from what I’ve seen) and Alex absolutely THRIVES in the theatrical realm. It’s hard to explain, but she sounds like an old Victorian ghost whose lover died at sea (and I mean that positively, I love Victorian ghosts and tragic romances). I think she was also straining a bit to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, and that is intensely electrifying to me.


Anyway, I think Alex leaving so soon is one of the greatest tragedies of Celtic Woman. I did check out her solo work, but none of it had the same theatrical effect and overall wasn’t my style (although Alex still sounded magical). But I haven’t looked that far, and if anyone has some recommendations, I’ll absolutely check them out because she is so incredibly enchanting!!!!!!!!

Oh wow! I mean as an ultimate Alex fan yeah if you tell she’s on my icon image still for nothing, I never thought of her trying to match Lisa Kelly’s voice, I suppose if you listen to her on Caranua on say The Voice to see the difference there.
I think the departure of Alex is indeed a loss and for Celtic Woman, Lynn had stayed on a bit longer but Lynn really got covered what her potential was. In fact Believe was Supremely for Alex, the whole theatre tribute, My Heart Was Home Again was made as Alex’s solo which she got to perform in on her last SFTH tour. Now had she stayed would Lisa L not been brought in is the question because I don’t think they would have stayed four singers, Believe was created as three but who know’s I mean is Alex’s departure the culprit of them testing the three singers is what I’m curious had she stayed and Lynn stayed at least until the next special!

When Alex returned to fill in for Susan, they sang Time to Say Goodbye and would of loved how she sounded but there are no shared recording from that part of the tour anywhere. She use to have a clear Celtic Woman version of The Voice on her website and no more since she had to redo her website. Have you heard her version of Newgrange? She has done theatre work earlier so I’m sure you’ll love what you find!

I think I meant her trying to match Lisa Kelly’s voice in that they have different ranges and it probably was a bit difficult to cover for her. I believe she did say something about how difficult it was to perform The Voice. She also just sounded different on the 2008 tours from how she sounded in SFTH, so I guess I was trying to find a reason there. I didn’t mean that a a slight towards her in any way!

I agree with you that Alex would have been incredible in Believe, especially in what became Lisa Lambe’s part in Téir Abhaile Riú! She would definitely be incredible playing the rebellious romantic teenage lead. (Although Lisa Lambe was also amazing).

I haven’t heard Alex’s rendition of Newgrange, so I’ll have to check it out! And I’ll look for more of her early theatre stuff as well. I know she played Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, are there any other good roles of hers you could suggest?

Thank you! 

To me the way she sang in 2008 was because she was filling in for Lisa Kelly’s place so she was in a lead and more soprano range to sing. After Orla left, Alex then took the slate in the empty space thus singing alto. This change has happened with many other celtic woman singers including Lisa L, Susan, but most noticeably with Alex and Muirgen. Muirgen’s role changed from Postcards of Ireland to then now since the 20th Anniversary Special most notably by the return of Mairead Carlin. We gotten the chance to see Alex perform back in that soprano tenore when she returned for the 10th Anniversary Tour where she did half in Mairead Carlin’s soprano spot and later in Lynn’s spot which at the time was the more lower end. Most noticable was when she filled in Susan in 2018 during The Homecoming Tour and again sang from a Susan Soprano lead range which was back to the same place Susan/Lisa K role spot!

I would say CwazyTom would know what you must listen from her…
I Believe is Stunning! But here are some of my favorites

She is a true Disney Princess, she would been my choice as my Dream Live Action Belle!

Beauty and The Beast
https://youtu.be/r9bUPIAN-tE?si=3lClNeE4qhrIW3y2

Disney Medley
https://youtu.be/bKdV3pDq2k4?si=yrycMUcAu7xGMdp9

Grow Old With Me, and Demo of CW version studio quality of My Heart Was Home Again
https://youtu.be/Ejynls06bdc?si=_2cPqKpUZ0c3nMnu

I Need Time
https://youtu.be/OGnWzGTqJxo?si=6B5v_-TJKoEhD_GC

Newgrange (10th Anniversary Tour)
https://youtu.be/rfYirM1KJTU?si=sPBkULJ1KgZQD1QO

Ave Maria (CW resemblance but from CaraNua)
https://youtu.be/_Ps-3CLRmgA?si=emuPsxy1d9AjvZzS

Caranua Examples
Shooting Star (Example of solo from Caranua)
https://youtu.be/FRzAb_LFqv0?si=IE3Od2qhOGI42Ufs

A New Dawn (Caranua)
https://youtu.be/r-xEW1-O0co?si=kLTSqh-H19j50VcK

Amazing Grace Jason Tonioli Hymns
https://youtu.be/HTfzy7BCBco?si=G_WSlLNyiBLbPOGi

The Voice (Caranua)
https://youtu.be/I5gt7fQURAg?si=py7_C9Zue4bMhdd3

A Million Dreams and Remember Me from Caranua Sublime!!!!

I would say CwazyTom would know what you must listen from her…
I Believe is Stunning! But here are some of my favorites

She is a true Disney Princess, she would been my choice as my Dream Live Action Belle!

Beauty and The Beast
https://youtu.be/r9bUPIAN-tE?si=3lClNeE4qhrIW3y2

Disney Medley
https://youtu.be/bKdV3pDq2k4?si=yrycMUcAu7xGMdp9

Grow Old With Me, and Demo of CW version studio quality of My Heart Was Home Again
https://youtu.be/Ejynls06bdc?si=_2cPqKpUZ0c3nMnu

I Need Time
https://youtu.be/OGnWzGTqJxo?si=6B5v_-TJKoEhD_GC

Newgrange (10th Anniversary Tour)
https://youtu.be/rfYirM1KJTU?si=sPBkULJ1KgZQD1QO

Ave Maria (CW resemblance but from CaraNua)
https://youtu.be/_Ps-3CLRmgA?si=emuPsxy1d9AjvZzS

Caranua Examples
Shooting Star (Example of solo from Caranua)
https://youtu.be/FRzAb_LFqv0?si=IE3Od2qhOGI42Ufs

A New Dawn (Caranua)
https://youtu.be/r-xEW1-O0co?si=kLTSqh-H19j50VcK

Amazing Grace Jason Tonioli Hymns
https://youtu.be/HTfzy7BCBco?si=G_WSlLNyiBLbPOGi

The Voice (Caranua)
https://youtu.be/I5gt7fQURAg?si=py7_C9Zue4bMhdd3

A Million Dreams and Remember Me from Caranua Sublime!!!!

Thank you so much for sharing!! 

I certainly have a lot of music to listen to! I’ll come back later and tell ye what I think.