Cultural Matters: Scottish Writers (Present-day)

Scotland has continued its literary tradition in recent years with a slew of best-selling and critically acclaimed authors (especially in the crime fiction realm, which fans refer to as Tartan Noir).

Ian Rankin

Perhaps the best known modern Scottish author is Edinburgh-native Ian Rankin who has sold millions of books worldwide. His series of novels about Police Detective John Rebus has attracted a huge following, a popular TV series, and even a walking tour in Edinburgh. My favorite is a recent non-Rebus novel called Doors Open, about a museum art heist in Edinburgh. He has since started a new series about a Internal Affairs unit in the Edinburgh police.

Rankin has also branched out into graphic novles. he recently published "dark Entries for vertigo Comics. A music enthusiasts, he has also guested and hosted many radio shows.

Here is a link to several:
http://www.mixcloud.com/tag/ian-rankin/

Val McDermid

My personal favorite Scottish author is Fife-native Val McDermid, who also writes in the crime fiction genre. Although not always set in Scotland (she herself currently lives in North England), her novels all reflect her Scottish sensibilities. She is most famous for her Tony Hill novels, about a psychologist with his own mental problems who solves serial killings. It has been made into a successful ITV series called Wire in the Blood.

Here's a trailer:



My recommendation for McDermid, though, is a stand-alone novel about a 20-year old murder called The Distant Echo.

Irvine Welsh

Perhaps the most crticially-acclaimed modern Scottish author, Irvine Welsh best known work is Trainspotting, about heroin use in Edinburgh. It was made into a very successful film in 1995 that launched several film careers.

Trainspotting film trailer

Denise Mina

Another popular and crticially-acclaimed Scottish crime novelist, Denise Mina novels are more about characters and modern Scottish life than they are about the crimes. Her most popualr works are the three-part Garnethill series. My favorite is Field of Blood, the first in another series of novels about a journalist.

She has also recently wrote a successful graphic novel (as has Ian Rankin).

James Robertson

A critically-acclaimed Scottish novelist, James Robertson was originally from Stirling. His 2006 novel about religion, The Testament of Gideon Mack, was shortlisted for Booker Prize. But he began his career with the novel that he is still most known for, The Fanatic. It's about an Edinburgh ghost tour guide who becomes obsessed with the character he plays, Major Thomas Weir, a man accused of and executed for witchcraft in the 1600s.

Cultural matters: Scottish Music (Traditional, Folk, Celtic)

While most people think only of the Scottish bagpipe (which after centuries is still a vibrant form of music) Scottish music is much more varied and expansive than that limited viewpoint. Today's post deals with Scottish musical genres over the centuries -- all of which are still played and enjoyed today.

Traditional Scottish Musical Genres

Clarsach (Scottish harp music)

One of 3 surviving medieval harps -- Museum of Scotland

One of the earliest forms of music in Scotland, the Scottish harp is first seen in the stone carvings of the Picts in the 600s and 700s.

Using horsehair for strings, the clarsach (it's Gaelic name) spread from Scotland to England and Ireland and on to Europe. Harpists were highly prized in the medieval periods, playing for kings, featured on royal regalia, and playing for coronations and other official functions. Today, Edinburgh hosts the International Harpists Festival.

Tin Whistle music

Dating back in Scotland to at least the medieval period (although similar whistles have been discovered going all the back to the Neanderthals), tin whistles are a mouth-blown, six-holed woodwind. Below, a performance of Loch Lomond played on a tin whistle.

Bagpipe music

Although most closely identified with Scottish culture, bagpipes are actually found in many parts of the world. Initially a Highlands instrument dating back to the 1400s and 1500s, it spread throughout the British Isles and colonies in the 1700s and 1800s with the British army, when large numebrs of Highlanders joined up post-1745. Most of what's played todya is on the Great Highland Bagpipe although many different bagpipes were found in Scotland

Scottish fiddle music

First mentioned in a Scottish publication in 1680, Scottish fiddling became very popular in the 1700s in both Scotland and the British colonies. While it formed the basis for much of American folk music, traditional Scottish fiddling is still quite popular today. Below is a performance by Katie Boyle from Glagsow:

Scottish Accordion music

Usually played for dances, Scottish accordions have long been popular. Below is a performance by Sandy Brechin of Edinburgh playing accordion dance tunes.

Cèilidh (country dance music)

The word, which originated in Ireland, means "companion" and originally referred to any social gathering. But later it came to mean specifically dances. As should be clear by now, much of Scottish music involves dancing and communal celebration. Below is someone playing the bagpipes at a 2002 ceilidh.

Bothy Band music

From 19th Century Scottish farming communities where married couples lived in cottages called touns and single men lived together in a bothy (shelter). Often these single men formed bands for dances and celebrations. They utilized fiddles, accordions, bagpipes, and tin whistles. Below is a folk revival band from 1977, The Bothy Band

Folk Revival

By the mid-1960s, many musicians were rediscovering the older Scottish instruments and songs and began to revive them, as well as experiement and mix the genres together. Below are several popular Scottish folk performers.

Corries

Hamish Imlach

Popular in US and Europe in the burgeoning 1960s folk music scene, he combined original songs with traditional Scottish folk tunes. His in-between rants were often more popular than the music itself.

Street Songs


Erin Go Bragh

Billy Connolly

Known primairly as a stand-up comic and actor (Boondock Saints, Head of the Class), he began as a folk singer. Here is a recent recording of his called "I Wish I Was in Glasgow."

Red Hot Chili Pipers

A Scottish ensemble that plays mdoern songs on traditional instruments. 

Clocks by Coldplay

We Will Rock You by Queen

Clann An Drumma

 From Glasgow, their name means "Children of the Drum." They focus on the more "tribal" aspects of early Scottish muisc, with lots of durms and pipes. Their music was featured in another Mel Gibson film, We Were Soldiers.

Battlefield Band

A popular Glasgow-based Scottish traditional music band. They have recorded more than 30 albums.

Slainte

This group's name comes from the traditional Scottish toast for "good health".

The Clutha

A Glasgow-based Scottish folk band that formed in the 1970s.

Silly Wizard

A Scottish folk band from Edinburgh that began in 1970.

Tannahill Weavers

Began in 1968 in Paisley, Scotland.

Celtic Music

Often a fusion of different "celtic" styles (Irish, Scottish, English, Spanish, Middle Eatsern), this genre is more a modern interpretation of what is thought to be Celtic. Often has a dreamlike, mystical quality. It is more New Age than historical.

Braveheart soundtrack

The Mel Gibson film soundtrack by James Horner helped popularize the Celtic music scene.Below is the film's main theme.

Celtic Women

This all-female ensemble evolved out of the popular Riverdance phenomenon. Like a lot of modern Celtic music, it is a blending of Scottish and Irish traditions.

Peatbog Faeries

A Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. Mixes traditional music with modern club dance music.

Loreena McKinnett

A Scottish-Canadian, McKinnett mixes Scottish, Irish, Middle Eastern and other traditons together to form a unique sound.Below is a song called "Beltane Fire."

Cultural Matters: Scottish Music (Rock and Pop)

Annie Lennox

One of my all-time favorites, Annie Lennox of Aberdeen, Scotland first gained fame as part of the 80s duo Eurythmics, with hits such as "Sweet Dreams", "Here Comes the Rain" and "Who's That Girl".  She then emerged as a successful solo artist in 1990s and 2000s with hits such as "Why," "Little Bird," and "Walking on Broken Glass" (see below).

Lulu

A star in the 1960s and early 1970s, Lulu (real name Marie McDonald McLaughlin, from Glasgow) was  most famous for the theme song to the James Bond hit Man With the Golden Gun and for starring in and singing the title song to To Sir, With Love.

KT Tunstall

A popular singer-songwriter from Edinburgh. Below are her two most well-known songs. The first, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" is from her first TV performance, which was her breakout performance.

Simple Minds

From Glasgow, Simple Minds were a major Eighties band, selling 40 million records since 1979. Their hits included "Alive and Kicking," "Belfast Child," "Sanctify Yourself," and their biggest hit  -- from the 1985 film Breakfast Club -- "Don't You Forget About Me." (see below)

Susan Boyle

Perhaps the most unlikeliest pop star of all time, Susan Boyle became a hero to us "regular" folk the world over when she wowed judges and audiences on Britain's Got Talent back in 2009. The Glasgow-native has since sold millions. To see her first appearance, go to the link below (unfortunately, I cannot embed it). It's well worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmbJzH93NU

The Fratellis

An indie band form Glasgow that released two hit albums in the 2000s (Here We Come and Costello Music).  For no they seem to be on permanent hiatus. Below is one of the bugger hits, "Chelsea Dagger."

Bay City Rollers

There was a brief period in 1974 and 1975 when the Bay City Rollers were so popular that the success of the "tartan teens from Edinburgh" was being compared to Beatlemania (and was called appropriately enough Rollermania.) Their two biggest hits were "Saturday Night" and "Bye Bye Baby". (By the way, the person in the center in the above photo is not a Bay City Roller but rather Witchiepoo from HR Puffnstuf)

The Proclaimers

Comprised of idential twins Charlie and Craig Reid from Leith (near Edinburgh), The Proclaimers had a huge hit in 1993 in the US with "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"  -- which had been a huge hit in the UK earlier in 1988.

Sheena Easton

From Bellshill, Scotland, Easton had several hits in the 1980s including "Strut", "For Your Eyes Only" (from the 1981 James Bond film), "The Lover in Me," and "Sugar Walls."  Below is her first hit, "Morning Train" (called "9 to 5" in the UK)

Gerry Rafferty

Singer-songwriter Rafferty, a Glasgow-native, had several hits in the 1970s, first with his band Stealers Wheel ("Stuck in the Middle With You")then several solo hits, such as "Right Down the Line," "Days Gone Down," and his biggest hit (#2 in the US), "Baker Street".

Amy MacDonald

While not as well-known in the US, MacDonald from Bishopbriggs, Scotland is huge throughout Europe (especially in Germany, Denmark and Sweden). Her album, This is the Life has sold 3 million copies.

Donovan

Briefly considered the UK's answer to Bob Dylan, Donovan (full name: Donovan Philips Leitch) of Glasgow had several hits in the 1960s, including "Sunshine Superman," "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," "Atlantis" and the "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (below), which was used quite effectively in the film Zodiac.

Maeve O'Boyle

One of Scotland's newest singer-songwriters, O'Boyle is from Glasgow, where she often performs at local clubs.

Nazareth

The group was form Dumfermline, Scotland. Their biggest hit was 1976's "Love Hurts," one of the original "power ballads"One of the original "power ballads", this is now a staple of Hollywood soundtracks.

 
Mark Knopler (of Dire Straits)

Knopler was born in Glasgow, Scotland and is best known for the 1985 Dire Straits song, "Money for Nothing."

Jesus and Mary Chain

A Glasgow-based alternative band from the late 1980s and 1990s. Below is one of the bigger hits, "Head On."

Emma's Imagination

The stage name of Edinburgh-native Emma Gillepsie. While not well-known in the US yet, she has had two hit songs in the UK, "Focus" and "This Day" (see below). She got her break when she won the Sky-TV talent program Must Be the Music.

British Candy

Although not everyone is a fan of British food, most agree that Britain showcases some of the best candy around, especially for chocolate lovers. Sweeter and milkier than most American chocolate (many British claim that Hershey chocolate has a sour aftertaste), sweets (as candy is often referred to) is a regular feature of Scottish life. The two biggest producers are Nestle and Cadbury UK (which was started by John Cadbury in 1824. Just this year -- 2010 -- Cadbury was taken over by the American company Kraft.)

Curly Wurly
My personal all-time favorite. Started in 1971, it's chocolate covered caramel.

Flake
A crumbly milk chocolate bar. Has an odd mouth-feel at first, but quite addictive.

Wispa (Cadbury) and Aero (Nestle)
Crunchy aerated chocolate.

Crunchie
Going back to 1929, this a honey-combed crunchy chocolate bar.

Yorkies
Named for York, England where it began in 1976, this is a large chocolate bar.

Smarties
A slightly larger version of American M&Ms.

Chomp
Chewy chocolate bar.

Dairy Milk
The classic British chocolate bar.

Jelly Babies
The classic British candy. Basically Gummi Bears.

Cultural Matters: British Food

One of the joys of traveling is discovering new foods and treats. In Britain -- and especially Scotland -- there are plenty of opportunities. From snacks to meals to tea to desserts, we will discover all types of culinary delights. Below are few of the classic foods to expect while traveling in Great Britain.

Fish and Chips

The classic British meal. Usually made from cod (though sometimes other white-fleshed fish such as haddock or whiting), it is traditionally served wrapped in paper (newsprint in the past) with fries (chips in Britain). Although served in many pubs and restaurants, the best come from the traditional "chip shop", which are becoming increasingly rare to find.

Bangers and mash

My personal favorite, this dish is a pub staple. (The above was my lunch at the Queen's Head Pub back in June 2010 in Downe, England). Basically it is mashed potatoes, Cumberland sausages, and gravy.

Steak and Ale Pie

Cultural Matters: British Televsion

To me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is to immerse oneself into the culture before arriving at your destination. And for Britain, there are so many ways to do this – through books, magazines,  radio (all BBC Radio programs  are free on the web for Americans), films, and especially television.  Much of British TV is available on DVD, Netflix, BBC America, or  Youtube. The following are a few of the more popular dramatic and comedic shows currently  enjoyed throughout Great Britain.

Preview of 2012 Drama shows on BBC (including several from Scotland)

Gavin and Stacey
This is a show about the romance between a young man (Gavin, played by Matthew Horne) from a middle class family in Essex (near London) and a working class girl (Stacey, played by Joana Page ) from Barry Island, Wales.  Both sweet and darkly humorous, the show deals not only with their  growing relationship, but the inevitable cultural clashes between their  families and friends. Not only has this been a smash hit, but several  Welsh slang terms (“Tidy”, Cracking,” and “What’s occurring?”) have  become hip catch phrases in England. Rob Brydon (as Stacey's Welsh uncle Bryn), James Corden (as Gavin’s best friend Smithy) and Ruth Jones (as Stacey’s best friend Nessa) have become cult heroes, complete with a number 1 hit song  last Spring. The show just completed its third (and final) season this past year. (In Britain, a season is called a series, and usually run  from 6 to 13 shows). The first two seasons have been released in the  U.S. on DVD.


Here is Gavin and Stacy first meeting:


Here is the hilarious Rob Brydon as Uncle Bryn:

Doctor Who
While  the U.S. may have Star Trek and Star Wars, the British have Doctor Who,  which in terms of longevity and fandom (if not always in budget or  special effects) has us Yanks beat in spades. The cult show originally  ran on the BBC (Britain’s premiere television channel) from 1963 to  1989, it was then revived in 2005 (and is still going strong) with better  effects, larger budgets, and has become even more popular. The basic  premise is that The Doctor (the title is in fact a question, as no one  knows his real name) is a Time Lord, and pops around the universe in  different time periods in his Tardis (disguised as a old English Police  Call Box, several of which we will see in Edinburgh) to “fix” things. Along the way, he picks up companions and  fights off enemies such as the Cybermen or the Daleks.  And if mortally wounded, can regenerate into someone else (a nifty trick  whenever they need to change actors.) One recent performer to play  The Doctor was Scottish actor David Tennant (pictured above),  who just ended his run on New Years Day 2010. This past year, Scottish writer and producer Stephen Moffat has taken over. Any American hoping to fit in  with Scotland’s pop culture should know their Doctor Who.

Clip 1: His Name is The Doctor


Clip 2: A Tribute video to the "Scottish" Doctor, David Tennant


Clip 3: Here is the new doctor (Matt Smith) who has just arrived in Scotland



Clip 4: And finally, here is The Doctor's current companion Amy Pond (played by Karen Gillan of Scotland)

Life on Mars (followed by sequel Ashes to Ashes)
Named after a David Bowie song (as was its sequel), this police drama is about a police officer, Sam Tyler, (played by John Simm)  who gets hit by a car in 2006 then wakes ups in 1973. In a world  without cell phones, computers, DNA or the internet, he has to maneuver  his way around Manchester’s police station while pleasing his boss, the  wonderfully political incorrect Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister). A fun show, with a sequel that takes place in the eighties.

Clip 1: The first three minutes of the show


Clip 2: Funny moments from Life on Mars


Clip 3: Ashes to Ashes intro

Cultural matters: Scottish TV

To me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of travel is to immerse oneself into the culture before arriving at your destination. And for Britain, there are so many ways to do this – through books, magazines, radio (all BBC Radio programs are free on the web for Americans), films, and especially television.

Later I will post clips and trailers for several mainstream British shows (i.e., those shown throughout the UK). But today, let's look at some shows produced by STV (Scotland Television) and BBC Scotland for primarily a Scottish audiences (although a few of these became hits in the UK and beyond). This will give you a flavor of the diversity of accents we'll be encountering.

Case Histories

A brand new show. Based on the novels by Kate Atkinson, and stars Scottish actor Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, and Draco's father), this a crime mystery series based in Edinburgh. Here's a trailer for it (and it is available in the US on DVD).

Rebus

Based on the worldwide bestselling crime novels by Edinburgh-native Ian Rankin, these STV shows adapted several novels featuring Detective John Rebus. He was played by two actors (John Hannah, pictured, and then Ken Stott). Filmed primarily in Edinburgh.

Trailer (Ken Stott version)


Opening titles (John Hannah version)

Burnistoun

This is a popular comedy sketch show from BBC Scotland starring Glasgow comedians Iain Connell and Robert Florence. It's a series of short sketches all based in a fictional West Scotland town. The second season (called series in the UK) will be playing while we are in Scotland.

Clip 1: Burnistoun Tourist Board



Clip 2 Awkward Eye Contact at the Gym (contains some mild language)

Chewin the Fat

Another Glasgow-based BBC sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 to 2002, yet still has a big following. Starred Greg Hemphill and Karen Dunbar (more with her below).

Clip 1


Clip 2 Shakira parody (mild language)

Single Father

A 4-part 2010 mini series about a newly widowed father of three (played by David Tennant of Doctor Who and Harry Potter fame). Excellent, emotional drama. Filmed in Edinburgh and Glasgow by BBC Scotland. (Can you tell that the BBC Scotland is based in Glasgow?)

Trailer

The Karen Dunbar Show

A BBC Scotland produced comedy sketch show from 2002-2005 that is still popular. Stars the popular comedian from Ayr, Scotland, Karen Dunbar (from Chewin the Fat).

Clip 1: Paperclip as a Q-tip


Clip 2 Group photo

Taggart

The longest running police drama in the UK (has been on since 1983), This is about a Glasgow Police Detective named Jim Taggart, who was played by Mark McManus till his death in 1994. But instead of replacing him, they killed off the character and simply kept the series going.

Trailer for most recent season