Welcome all to ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐น๐น๐โ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ, a series of weekly reviews by Charles Connolly - an artist in his own right. Here, Charles delves into the greatest brand new singles brought to you by the best unsigned artists on our electrifying and eclectic set of ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ผ๐ง๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ playlists.
๐ฝ๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ - ๐๐ฬ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฃ๐
Charles travels faintly North and vaguely West, to the only Caribbean island in Eireโฆ
I had forgotten what it was like to be on the open sea. Which makes sense, as Iโve never been on the open sea. Admittedly it is not a long trip from Liverpoolโs docks to the the Irish coast, but nevertheless it can be rather exciting when you envision the paradise at the other end. Land ahoy! Although technically Ireland, this small island just off the coast of the mainland has its own extraordinary microclimate, its own people and its own way of life. Paddรฌsyaลn is truly like a slice of Tahiti in the most unlikely place. Although popular, it is not widely known because of an international government agreement to keep the worldโs prying eyes away from it - I am maybe breaking some sort of rule in even mentioning it here, but if we all agree to keep it a secret, mumโs the word.
My artist this week is from Dublin, but has known about Paddรฌsyaลn for a long time. So much so that he has been truly influenced by its character and has become obsessed with the phenomenon around it. Sรฉa Byrne writes and produces - at least at the moment - very much with calypso in his veins. Sรฉa - pronounced not like the chandelier-swinging blondie, but Shay - is a positive chap who loves Dublin but feels the need to go further afield from time to time. Thankfully, he has just the place very nearby indeed. Sรฉa goes to Paddรฌsyaลn regularly in fact, for a means of de-stressing from a life in the city. I have therefore come to Paddรฌsyaลn for this very purpose, to catch up with Sรฉa and see him do a one-off set on the beach!
The dancers are out in force, the grass skirts are getting ready to do their thang, and the steel drums start to chime and clang, all in glorious sunshine. He sees me and gives a knowing nod complete with a charming Irish wink. I wave like an Englishman. They can tell I am a foreigner in this land, but they do not mind as they are very welcoming and civil. And so the music starts where the steel drums brought us in. The vibe is jolly, a keyboard snatches the chords as the defiantly simple beat takes us through into Sรฉaโs intro chorus. โBelieve Yourself, Believe in Yourselfโ - Such jaunt! The dancers smile genuinely; their skirts start to twitch. Sรฉaโs audience are captive not only to their beloved island, but to his mesmerising optimism.
Embarrassingly, I start to dance. He smiles with glee. I continue. Bloody sand! Why am I always seemingly the only one who manages to get sand in their eyes?? Ah, all better. I feel so good! His spell has worked wonders on me! And as for the dancers, my WORD! Thrilling! How had I never heard of Paddรฌsyaลn before?! Ridiculous looking drink? Donโt mind if I do!! Woo-hoo! Oh hold on, Sรฉa has a little speech to make, midway through this uplifting and melodious tune. Heโs telling us not to let life get you down - โgotta keep a-runninโ up that hillโ - heโs not wrong. But right now, Iโm not running anywhere. Iโm going to continue sipping my colourful beverage - making sure the umbrella doesnโt stab any remaining sand further into my eyeball. This is simplicity at its finest. I shouldnโt be a sucker for choreographed dance routines. I really shouldnโt be. BUT (!) oh these dancers - such vitality and health with a sunny glow! Itโs also nice to see scantily clad ladies shimmying their behinds from left to right and left again.
I would like to thank Sรฉa Byrne for having brought such joy to my day. We tootle back to Dublin for a Guinness in a traditional Irish pub, because why not. It is cold, it is raining, but we both donโt mind. We know we have a secret positive paradise very nearby. He excuses himself; this Irishmanโs glass is half full, as it were. But he bounces back on stage with a small acoustic guitar and three Paddรฌsyaลnian girls. His infectious melody fills the room. He shouts over the mic, โDrinks are on himโ, as he gestures towards me. Huh! We didnโt agree to this. Ah well. You only live once! Why is my embarrassing dance so much more noticeably embarrassing in a pubโฆ
And back to London I go. What a time. What a song! Make sure to put Paddรฌsyaลn on your bucket list, but do be sure to let Sรฉa know. To be sure, to be sure.
What better time for an April Fool than May. Or is it just a case of Irish blarney...?
Listen to ๐ฝ๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ on the Connollyโs Corner Spotify playlist HERE!
Listen to ๐ฝ๐๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ on the Connollyโs Corner Apple Music playlist HERE!
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