on a mission to get a Gaelic song into the UK top 40

**londonpiper** · 17th January 11, 04:07 PM

From the Red Hot Chilli Pipers comes this:-

Help Scots Gaelic, Chilli Fans!

Our good friends from the new Gaelic supergroup 'Manran' are on a mission to get a Gaelic song into the UK top 40 for the first time in 21st Century.

The song is called “Latha Math”, was written by singer Norrie MacIver and describes an idyllic and peaceful day in his native island of Lewis.
...
Let's help get Gaelic back in the charts!See more
Latha Math by Manran - Download Latha Math on iTunes
itunes.apple.com
Preview and download songs from Latha Math by Manran on iTunes. Buy Latha Math for just £0.79.

**londonpiper** · 18th January 11, 10:58 AM

Just had a thought, would this be ore appropriate in the music section?

**McClef** · 18th January 11, 11:42 AM

That would depend upon whether the emphasis is on the tongue or the music and it would appear that it's the tongue here.

It's pretty rare, although not unknown, for any non-English lyrics to make the top 40 in the UK, especially if there are no English lyrics at all.

My memory comes up with French as the most successful tongue (Dominque, Je T'aime and nothing comes to mind in a Celtic tongue at all.

Even Runrig who have had a chart success, didn't succeed with a Gaelic song.

I wouldn't be too hopeful alas.

**NewEnglander** · 18th January 11, 11:50 AM

I don't understand a word of it, but it's a nice tune. I just bought it from iTunes.

**rtc872** · 18th January 11, 02:05 PM

Does buying it through a non uk itunes store help it get into the uk top 40?

**rtc872** · 19th January 11, 05:14 AM

Apparently both Runrig and Capercaillie made it into the top 40 in the '90s with Gaelic songs. I did not realise that!

**Rab Gordon** · 19th January 11, 06:00 AM

Good band, here's the link to the video on youtube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-NozsHt7Y0

Also, check out the Vatersay Boys; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTaWH...eature=related - They're playing in Inverness on Saturday - just need to arrange a babysitter

Rab

**McClef** · 19th January 11, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by rtc872

Apparently both Runrig and Capercaillie made it into the top 40 in the '90s with Gaelic songs. I did not realise that!

Could you supply the details please? When I checked up on Runrig I could only find their chart success with Loch Lomond in English.

**Mikilt** · 19th January 11, 12:48 PM

[QUOTE=Rab Gordon;944456]Good band, here's the link to the video on youtube; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-NozsHt7Y0

The accordion player for Manran looks like he's wearing an X-Marks tartan kilt!

**OC Richard** · 29th March 11, 04:24 AM

I think the highest a Gaelic song ever got in the UK charts was Fionnghuala by The Bothy Band in the 1970s. I think it hit #1 but I could be wrong.