Mother BonBon suggested: Daniel O’Donnell. Why?
This comment prompted an intensive training session for The Housemate, who, being from America, has led the blessed, carefree and happy existence of one who has never heard of Wee Daniel. Several anecdotes, two jokes, and one visit to YouTube later, she seemed to have a much clearer understanding of why it’s quite traumatic to grow up in Ireland. I do feel, however, that issues like Daniel O’Donnell really promote cross-community unity. It’s something that brings us all together, from all different backgrounds and denominations, to empathise with and share in each other’s despair.
It was the sight of him, dressed snugly in a jumper hand-knitted by one of his elderly fans, telling an interviewer that he could be “a bit wild” that really got me. After this, he probably invited several pensioners round for custard creams, and fell asleep in his rocking chair.
Q: What has 50 legs and no teeth?
A: The front row of a Daniel O’Donnell concert.
For those of you who have the fortune to be from a different country and have never experienced this Irish phenomenon, Daniel is a “singer” (to use the word in the loosest possible sense) adored by grannies up and down the country. He has a reputation for being very kind to his fans (the afore-mentioned grannies), and thinks nothing of inviting them into his home and “entertaining” them. He has dressed like a pensioner since he was a lad, and he “sings” (again, please do not take me literally when I say that) a variety of “songs” (I’ve never felt such a strong compulsion to quote, unquote myself) that make Coleraine Extra Strong Mature Cheddar seem like a mild form of cheese.
One of my favourite episodes of Father Ted pokes fun at Wee Daniel with a genius of a character called Eoin McLove*, who wears jumpers knitted by his elderly fans (all of whom use zimmerframes and mob him in a hilarious parody of Night of the Living Dead), sings songs about his Mammy, sits on a rocking chair, and rescues a little puppy with a broken paw, all to the admiring coos of the OAPs.
[*Absolutely no relation to any of my blog characters.]
If you’ve got a strong stomach, have a go at this video of Daniel being “wild”. I laughed, I cried, I sat with my hand over my mouth. I tried to watch it the whole way through, but something deep within my spirit prevents me from doing so.
So, Mother BonBon, in answer to your question: I don’t know. I simply do not know.
Filed under: Concerts, humour, sheer silliness, singing, songs
Right, it’s probably sad to be the first to comment on my own blog post, but I just made it to the end of the video, and need to say: if you can just steel yourself to stomach it, I assure you it is both the worst and best video I have ever seen in my life. Personal highlights include the most cringe-worthy sketch ever during I’m A Believer, and an absolutely hilarious and simultaneously AWFUL version of Living Next Door To Alice. I love it. Fantastic. (Apologies for any vomit incurred during the watching of this video.)
All I can say is…wow. The hairdo alone is enough to make me turn away. No vomit though…thankfully.
Sharp-eyed viewers will note that even Daniel doesn’t know why. He sports a large Y on that jumper in ‘Living next door to Alice’
You do realise that I now feel unbearable guilt for having revealed Daniel to a wider world? I’m sorry.
If God’s so good and loves us so much, why did He invent Daniel O’Donell?
you dont know what good is ,i do i’v seen him live many times ,he is a sweet wonderful man , and i wish he were mine,
I must say i really am upset not beinning in this!
But i am sure that the next time i come on this i will be on it won’t I! Is’nt that right!
I have always know that God loves me, but tonight He really showed me in a very tangible way.
I was not able to watch more than 24seconds of the Video clip. It just wouldn’t download!!
Praise the Lord for He is GOOD!!!!
Never did the words “You Tube” in the corner of the screen seem more apt.
ok..so i watched it all. i was beginning to loose interest until the tear-away coveralls…that got me..no, hooked me..i couldn’t tear myself away, though the coveralls were gone. and if i were alice, after living next door to this creature for 24 years, i would have r-u-n-n-o-f-t!!! (see “o brother where art though?”)
awww, i think it’s sweet!! maybe that’s just because i didn’t have to grow up with it…i don’t know.
Daniel has saved many of us from a gloomy later life, we love him loads fans in Hampshire