Brush Shiels has long been a much-loved artist who became a household name in Ireland from the 1980s onwards. As he celebrates his 80th birthday he tells Maxi about the songs which he feels make the soundtrack to his life …

 

Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael
Stardust, to me, is like all songs that make you sad as soon as you hear them. It’s not just a song that changes from major to minor; it’s not that its lyrics are brilliant and the changes are great, but it is, in my opinion, the ultimate song. As you are making your way through different types of music, this song makes you realise there’s a whole new world out there. It’s exceptionally well written, and the chords in it are beautiful. The lyrics are the only possible lyrics you could use on that particular song. It has an emotional as well as a technical effect on me. This song takes me to another place and makes me listen to other songs I would not have listened to had I not heard this one. It opened the door to another way of thinking and doing things. It is almost like you could use it as a thesis on how to write this particular type of song.

Can’t Stop Loving You
by Ray Charles
I lived beside a pub in Phibsboro, Dublin, and there was another one across the road. In those days, people used to come out of the pubs and then sing for another two hours outside. That’s how I learned a lot of songs. They would start with Heart of My Heart’and away they’d go. I learned Sailor from a guy who used to stand and sing in the doorway!
Anyway, I lived in a house with three other families, and if there was a party, upstairs in my aunties’ they would start with Take These Chains From My Heart and then lead in to I Can’t Stop Loving You, to this day I will play it and enjoy it. It takes me right back to that time. I can see my uncle singing it, and I remember it wasn’t great, but he enjoyed it more than the audience. He was blissed out, Maxi, and time stood still for him, it was like space travelling. When he sang that song, his whole world changed!

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own