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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Snow Patrol crank up the heat in sun-soaked Cork
On the warmest day of the year, Snow Patrol cranked up the heat even further with a red-hot performance in Cork City. Taking to the stage shortly after 9pm at Musgrave Park, the band quenched the crowd's thirst for hits on an idyllic balmy summer's night. The Northern Irish trio were supported by two Belfast bands, The Florentinas and Esmeralda Road, who get the crowd in the mood ahead of the main event. Shortly before Snow Patrol's arrival on stage, the Florentinas dedicated a song to the main attraction, and told the Cork audience how grateful they were to be on Leeside. Snow Patrol then rocked Leeside as they opened their set with popular 'Take Back the City.' 'What a beautiful day it is in Cork, how are you doing?' Gary Lightbody uttered after the band performed two hits back to back. "It's so good to be back here in Cork again, in this incredible stadium. "We're going to play some old ones and some new ones. Don't be afraid if you don't know the new ones, we're learning them as we go as well," Lightbody added. As the evening sun shone brightly, the crowd, many in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and some older, went back in time for a night filled with nostalgia, dancing, and swaying as Snow Patrol sang some of their classics, including, 'Chocolate', 'Chasing Cars', and 'Open Your Eyes.' Frontman Lightbody then led the audience through some feelgood tunes from their latest record. There was pure excitement on the faces of die-hard fans, as they sank in for the night, showing off their finest Snow Patrol T-shirts, and eager to get a front-row view of the band they've waited to see on Leeside. Michelle Alexanderson from Seattle in the front row. Picture: Eddie O'Hare Snow Patrol has returned to Ireland for their latest tour supporting their newest album, The Forest is The Path. It's the first tour for the lads without long-term members Jonny Quinn and Paul Wilson. They are set to take to the stage at Belsonic 2025 in Belfast later on Saturday. The Snow Patrol performance was the latest gig in a series of concerts at the park. The summer gigs at the venue are set to close out with Madness on Friday before Nile Rodger's Chic, and Duran Duran take the stage on July 1. Concerts at Live at the Marquee are then set to follow suit next week with Picture This opening docklands the series on Wednesday. Read More Winning €250m EuroMillions ticket sold in Cork city centre
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Snow Patrol fans are only now realising what 'Chasing Cars' means after 19 years
Snow Patrol fans are only just realising the meaning behind their hit song "Chasing Cars", which was released 19 years ago. It turns out some people have been ignorant for years When it comes to bands who have a string of huge hits, Snow Patrol is probably up there with some of the best. From "Chocolate" to "Run" to "Open Your Eyes" - the band has endless popular tracks to their name. However, one of their most famous songs is loved by many, even though some people don't appear to know what it means. The Northern Irish Scottish rock band actually first came together in 1994 in Dundee, and comprises Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar), Nathan Connolly (guitar, backing vocals) and Johnny McDaid (piano, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals). Lightbody is the band's only remaining original member decades later. Even though the band has been making music for decades, it turns out there are still some facts people don't actually know about them, including the meaning behind their hit "Chasing Cars". The song, released in 2006, was reported to be the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio back in 2019. Despite this, a lot of people still don't know what the lyrics really mean, and the topic recently came up on social media platform Quora. One person wrote: "What is the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol about?" Naturally, the question encouraged a variety of responses, with many fans quick to offer their ideas. All sorts of thoughts were put forward. One wrote: "I absolutely adore this song. I think it's a pretty basic love song actually. It's about a young man trying to express his love for his partner. They sing 'those three words are not enough'. You have to assume he's talking about the words 'I love you' right? "I love the lyrics 'forget what we're told, before we get too old'. To me, that means that they should not waste their youthful love no matter what. Perhaps their parents, or other elders, have tried to discourage them from being together. "And the chorus simply asks whether his lover will just stay with him in their love, and shut out everything else. The reference to the 'garden bursting into life' is, I think, just a reference to how beautiful love can be. "I don't think there are really any real hidden meanings in this song. I think it's just a beautiful love song from one person to another." One more added: "I think what the song is implying is that it's about a guy who is trying to persuade a woman to be his girl." However, despite being a love song, the band have previously confirmed what the term "Chasing Cars" actually means. You may be surprised to learn what the answer is. What does Chasing Cars mean? Lead singer Gary Lightbody actually composed the song, though it's still credited to all then-members of Snow Patrol, including Jonny Quinn, Nathan Connolly, Tom Simpson and Paul Wilson. According to reports, Gary Lightbody is said to have written the song after becoming sober following a binge of white wine. He is claimed to have been sitting in the garden of song producer Jacknife Lee's Kent cottage. Previously speaking to Rolling Stone, he said: "It's the purest love song that I've ever written. There's no knife-in-the-back twist. When I read these lyrics back, I was like, 'Oh, that's weird.' "All the other love songs I've written have a dark edge." The phrase "Chasing Cars" was also said to be inspired by Gary's father, and it refers to a girl Gary was infatuated with when he was younger. "You're like a dog chasing a car. You'll never catch it and you just wouldn't know what to do with it if you did," he said.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
The Dammed guitarist Brian James buried at sea
The Damned guitarist Brian James has been buried at sea. The punk rocker passed away on March 6, 2025, at the age of 70, and on April 28 Brian's family, including his widow Minna, son, Charlie and daughter-in-law, Alicia - and nine of his closest friends laid him to rest on the ocean floor in a "very emotional" private ceremony that took place off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex, England. Speaking to The Sun newspaper, Minna - who had been with the 'Love Song' rocker since she was 18 - revealed: "It was a beautiful day and the sea was calm. 'We've been together since I was 18, so it was very emotional. "A burial at sea is pretty unusual, but it was in his will so we had to do it." After the attendees went out to sea in a boat for "around three hours" from Eastbourne, they held a small memorial service at a church near Brian and Minna's home in Brighton. A source told the publication: "Brian now sleeps with the fishes, which is what he wished for before he died. "He was a true original in life and has carried that on in death. ''The spirit of punk never left him and he was adamant he wanted his final resting place to be at sea. ''A few loved ones went out on the boat for around three hours and watched as his coffin was dropped into the drink.'' James died on March 6 after a six-decade long music career. A statement posted on his Facebook account said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true pioneers of music, guitarist, songwriter, and true gentleman, Brian James. "Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to The Damned and The Lords of the New Church, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock 'n' roll's finest, from Iggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome.' After forming The Damned, he went on to establish Tanz Der Youth before co-founding The Lords of the New Church with Stiv Bators. The band released three studio albums and produced singles such as 'Open Your Eyes', 'Dance with Me', and 'Method to My Madness'. His career continued with The Dripping Lips and the Brian James Gang, releasing solo material and collaborating with a range of influential musicians. Brian reunited with the original members of The Damned in 2022 for a series of UK shows, marking more than four decades since the release of 'New Rose'.
