For those getting ready to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, I bring you the top 10 celtic rock songs of all time! If you like your rock to come with bagpipes and dulcimer's, then this is the playlist for you!
10. "Zombie" - The Cranberries: Okay, so no bagpipes or dulcimers here, but Dolores O'Riordan's Irish accent is so thick that no St. Paddy's Day is complete without The Cranberries.
9. "I'm Gonna Be (The 500 Miles)" - The Proclaimers: Heavy on dulcimers and Irish harmonies, this is a St. Paddy's day delight!
8. "Mull of Kintyre" - Wings: Despite the fact that this song is about Scotland, this song has been included rather than McCartney's "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" because this song includes bagpipes whereas the other does not.
7. "Have I Told You Lately" - The Chieftains feat. Van Morrison: We included Rod Stewart's version of this song in our Valentine's Day special, and we bring it back again for St. Paddy's Day, but this time with the Chieftains performing and original singer Van Morrison taking over lead vocal duties.
6. "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced" - Dropkick Murphys: Dropkick Murphys are a Boston-based punk rock band that has a bagpipe player in the band! They celebrate their Irish heritage enthusiastically, and here we have the makings of a hilarious Irish drinking song.
5. "Rhythm of My Heart" - Rod Stewart: Speaking of Rod Stewart, here he is again, this time with a song that opens with bagpipes and closes with an Irish barroom chorus.
4. "What Makes the Irish Heart Beat" - Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Don Henley: I didn't know either Jerry Lee Lewis or Don Henley were Irish, but there you have it! Some great bagpipes and fiddles from a pair you perhaps wouldn't expect it from.
3. "American Land (Live)" - Bruce Springsteen & The Sessions Band: A song so celtic, it could only come from an album titled Live In Dublin! This song was taken from Springsteen's Seeger Sessions tour, which, oddly, was more popular in Europe than America. Later, a studio version of this song would appear on Springsteen's Wrecking Ball album.
2. "It's A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock N' Roll)" - AC/DC: Based on the music video for this song, I would guess that the bagpipes in this song are supposed to be Scottish rather than Irish, but my ignorance regarding the cultural differences in the United Kingdom has led me to include this song anyway. Besides, Dropkick Murphys once covered this song, so how Scottish could it be? Either way, this is the quintessential example of great bagpipe rock.
1. "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - Dropkick Murphys: An Irish folk song given the punk rock treatment from a bagpipe-playing, Boston, MA-based band? Check, Check, Check, and Check! This song checks all the right boxes and makes for the perfect celtic rock song and a must-play song for every rock fan this St. Patrick's Day!
Honorable Mention: Conway Twitty's rockabilly version of "Danny Boy". The arrangement of the song isn't exactly celtic rock, but it is a great rock n' roll take on a classic Irish folk tune.
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