Irish soul

As you know, March is Women’s History Month. And since we’re in Saint Patrick’s week, and I’m on a roll, I’ll just share a couple of my favourite songs from Irish women.

First up, the Corrs, here with The Chieftains:

And then The Commitments. Technically, not a girl group, but the three women take the lead here:

(Look, I didn’t say it would be Irish music, did I?)

I can watch The Commitments over and over—well, it’s hard to go wrong with a movie based on Roddy Doyle. It’s got some great lines, as well as fab music. One of the best is when Jimmy Rabbitte, the would-be impresario, is psyching up his band on why they should be at home in soul music:

“Do you not get it, lads? The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I'm black and I'm proud.”

Don’t get much better than that.