songs of Scotland

For music

www.paulandersonscottishfiddler.com

For books anything by the late Nigel Tranter who was known as Scotland's Storyteller.

For films "Whisky Galore" the 2017 version with Gregor Fisher and Eddie Izzard (though the original film is excellent too) and "What We Did On Our Holiday" with Billy Connolly and David Tennant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP8A9rtg0iI
Dogie Mclean a wonderful song smith this is one of his more famous songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXH9DVS76yM
Eddie reader doing Burns but more famous as the lead singer of Fairground attraction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dV_8bqjBk
the late great Michael Marra ,wrote aome amazing songs about scotland and scottich life. This one os about Genral Grant visiting Dundee but loads of great songs,
Harmless.
Chain Up the swings.
Frida Kahlo's Visit to the Taybridge Bar.
Posted Sober
Neil Gow's apprentice,a song about Dougie Maclean (they were in the same band together called tappit Hen)
Mother Glasgow
and many others just have look.
for something weird and wonderful look for Ivor Culter another great who is no longer with us.Life in a Scotch Living room, truely unique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNguddGEdw8
I have been lucky enough to see all these artists live and I have even enjoyed a few beers in the company of Michael Marra about 30 years ago.

For a rather 'rockier' approach you might try some of Runrig's output, a lot of it very Scottish specific. To the point that a fair bit is sung in Gaelic, but you'll get the picture and translations are available. After a long career they are retiring after one last big gig next year I believe, but the music will endure.

My current favourite Scottish listen is 'Grind' by The Treacherous Orchestra, no songs as such, but fine stuff to listen to while winding through the Highlands. As is anything by the Peatbog Faeries, again instrumental but obviously Scottish. Start with 'Croftwork' or 'Live' as introductions.

There is of course, a huge wealth of Scottish Folk Music, which couldn't be covered in a single posting but the suggestions above will all be good!

I keep meaning to re-read J L Stevenson's 'Kidnapped' which is in reality an adventure tour of the Highlands set against more familiar post Jacobite rebellion themes! And predates 'Highlander' and 'Outlander' stuff!

Have a great trip!

Ian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ7f0HUk8OU
this tend to be the last song at most Scottish gatherings these days.

Take The Floor is a fabulous weekly BBC Scotland radio show.

Available on the iPlayer, don't know how people outside the British Isles can get it.

Look for Radio Garden web site. You may have to download it first. A globe of the world comes on screen with a static radio signal until you "dial" in your station by pointing to geo-location dots. We have listened to several Scottish stations. Our favorite is Stornoway, a BBC Scotland station. It has some old time music and some live performances.

Watch Outlander on Starz. Or read the books by Diana Gabaldon..

While not songs , this piece " Four Scottish Dances " by Malcolm Arnold , perfectly captures the beauty of Scotland in multiple ways - https://youtu.be/wHnBibfWu2Y . Also , This brilliant movie from 1960 , " Tunes of Glory " starring Alec Guinness and John Mills is well worth seeking out . Here are the opening credits - https://youtu.be/hvFolINztXA

Watch the movie, Local Hero. It’s fictional but will give you a feel for the coast of Scotland. It’s quirky and charming, my favorite movie of all time.

Another vote for " Local Hero " , one of my favorites ! AND - I almost forgot - From 2010 , Sylvain Chomet's animated film , " The Illusionist " . The story is touching , and the hand drawn animation will make you feel like you are walking on the streets of Edinburgh https://youtu.be/BMqpU7lUlLg

For "slightly" less heather and kilts nonsense you might try the film adaptations of Irvine Welsh novels - the two Trainspotting films and Filth. Almost any of the Iain Banks novels particularly Stonemouth, Espedair Street, The Crow Road and The Wasp Factory. And of course all things Rebus.

Chance, Big Country ,great song ,a 80s classic

If you're looking for folk songs with fun Scottish lyrics I recommend Emily Smith. She's my most listened to artist on Spotify and right now I'm enjoying her Christmas albums as well. I also like Robin Stapleton, but her music is a little harder to find.

If you're more in the mood for instrumental music, my favorite artist is Abby Newton. I also search for soundtracks to movies/TV set in Scotland like Braveheart or Outlander or even Disney's Brave. Maybe not as authentic, but recognizable and fun. Scotland is one of my favorite destinations, so I have an enormous playlist. Also, one of my favorite souvenirs when I travel is to get a cheap and cheesy CD of local folk music. It's usually terrible quality, but for some reason they always make me smile and remind me of my trip whenever I listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o6_p52gGmU
you might like this one, Bill Hill,been around since I was a boy and he is a Tourist Guide in Edinburgh as well as doing some folk singing.There are lyrics with this song to give you an idea of what he his singing about, you might even recognise the original song.

Also, you can look on youtube for anything by The Corries.

(Not The Corrs, they are Irish. CORRIES.)
They were a wonderful Scots duo who sang beautiful versions of old Scottish tunes and some of their own too.
The videos are from the 60's and 70's but the music is fabulous to this day.
I saw them live a couple of times when I was a student in Scotland; they made the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Unclegus: did you ever see them live?
I believe one of them is still alive.

saw them many times, always a great show. Ronnie Browne used to live about 200 yards from me and is still alive , saw him a couple of months ago in Edinburgh, must be in his 80's now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyx1xeZo_tk
and the did write what is now considered Scotland's National Anthem

UncleGus:
So glad to hear that Ronnie Browne is still going strong; is he still playing music?
Merry Christmas to you!

Highland Cathedral was my choice in the 'vote' a few years back. I stand and sing Flower, but don't get me wrong, I don't like it as an anthem.

Thank you everyone. I am on vacation right now, but can't wait to start checking out some of these suggestions when I return home!

A really good movie with David Tennant and Sir Billy Connolly is : What we did on our Holiday. It is a hoot and has a lovely celtic soundtrack. Outlander is epic, start with Season 1.

RunRig is what I would call Celtic Rock, but they do traditional Gaelic as well. The lead singer (though not any more) Donnie Munroe has a terrific voice, and their live version of Loch Lomond is epic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHu0h9XaNcg

My sentimentally Scottish uncle claimed the Presbyterian Church had catchy music because the hymnal added sacred lyrics to Scottish drinking songs. He knew about the drink, too. While not overly concerned with music, the history book called How the Scots Invented the Modern World may lift your spirits even higher. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_the_Scots_Invented_the_Modern_World

This movie goes back quite a few years--Chariots Of Fire--loved that one.