Phil Lynott (song)
Encyclopedia
"Phil Lynott" is a 2008 single by the Irish
band Jape
, taken from the Choice Music Prize
-winning third studio album, Ritual
. Released on 19 December 2008, Jape fans were behind an unsuccessful online petition to establish the song as the Christmas
number one in the Irish Singles Chart
. "Phil Lynott" was well-received, with critics generally regarding it as one of the finer songs on the Ritual album and the Irish Independent
naming it the best Irish song of the year.
type of song". It is a simple song with three chords which describes the events of one night when the writer attended a live performance by the heavy metal
band Mastodon
in Dublin. Mastodon performed a cover of a Thin Lizzy
song – the band fronted by the musician of the title
. Following the show's completion, the writer and his friends witnessed a lunar eclipse
. The lyrics "One day I will be a dead man who plays the bass from Crumlin
/Like Phil Lynott" were praised in a review by the national broadcaster RTÉ for their mixture of "humour and seriousness through raw, emotional thoughts". Jape's founder Richie Egan, like Lynott, has connections to the Dublin suburb of Crumlin.
”" who gave him much criticism over the song. He was criticised in some quarters by people who claimed the song's lyrics were childish and who pointed out that it was a simple song with three chords. Egan describes "Phil Lynott" as “a totally honest song about the things that happened... ...one night. It’s just written the way it happened on the night, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
song "Hallelujah", performed by Alexandra Burke
, the winner of a British
television talent show called The X Factor
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
band Jape
Jape (band)
Jape are an Irish electronic–rock band from Dublin. Formed as a side project by Richie Egan whilst part of The Redneck Manifesto, they have released four albums to date; Cosmosphere , The Monkeys in the Zoo Have More Fun Than Me , Ritual and Ocean of Frequency...
, taken from the Choice Music Prize
Choice Music Prize
-Establishment:It was established by journalist Jim Carroll and manager Dave Reid in 2005. as an alternative to the industry-dominated Meteor Music Awards. The Choice Music Prize is modelled after the Mercury Prize which is awarded each year to the best album from the United Kingdom or Ireland...
-winning third studio album, Ritual
Ritual (Jape album)
Ritual is the third studio album from electronic rock band Jape, released on Co-op Records in 2008. It won the Choice Music Prize for the 2008 Irish Album of the Year in March 2009....
. Released on 19 December 2008, Jape fans were behind an unsuccessful online petition to establish the song as the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
number one in the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
. "Phil Lynott" was well-received, with critics generally regarding it as one of the finer songs on the Ritual album and the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
naming it the best Irish song of the year.
Song information
"Phil Lynott" has been described as "a children’s fairy taleFairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
type of song". It is a simple song with three chords which describes the events of one night when the writer attended a live performance by the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
in Dublin. Mastodon performed a cover of a Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
song – the band fronted by the musician of the title
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
. Following the show's completion, the writer and his friends witnessed a lunar eclipse
Lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes behind the Earth so that the Earth blocks the Sun's rays from striking the Moon. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a...
. The lyrics "One day I will be a dead man who plays the bass from Crumlin
Crumlin, Dublin
Crumlin is suburb in Southside Dublin, Ireland. It is the site of Ireland's largest hospital for children.-Location:Crumlin covers the area from the River Poddle near the KCR to the Drimnagh Road, to Bunting Road, and is situated not far from the city centre, on the Southside of Dublin city....
/Like Phil Lynott" were praised in a review by the national broadcaster RTÉ for their mixture of "humour and seriousness through raw, emotional thoughts". Jape's founder Richie Egan, like Lynott, has connections to the Dublin suburb of Crumlin.
Criticism
Egan was reported as being "a bit annoyed at the “internet trollsTroll (Internet)
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response...
”" who gave him much criticism over the song. He was criticised in some quarters by people who claimed the song's lyrics were childish and who pointed out that it was a simple song with three chords. Egan describes "Phil Lynott" as “a totally honest song about the things that happened... ...one night. It’s just written the way it happened on the night, and I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
Reaction
The Irish Independent described the song as "a real aw-shucks moment for Irish pop" in 2008, with the same publication later calling it the best Irish song of that year. Jape fans launched an online petition to establish the song as the Christmas number one in the Irish Singles Chart. However, it lost out to a cover of the Leonard CohenLeonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
song "Hallelujah", performed by Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
, the winner of a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television talent show called The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
.