Ay ay ay!!! How in heck did this begin? Well, for those who may not have been following the thread, long story short, our dear friend Clive rather challenged me to play an AC/DC song called Whole Lotta Rosie. Now, he was pretty sure I would not play it and he could hold that over my head for sometime into eternity, but I’m nothing if not a stubborn wench, so … yeah, I played it. Meanwhile, though, friend Carolyn had begged me not to cave to Clive’s request, for she had a side bet with him that she’d listen to it if I played it! Since I already owe Carolyn a big one because of Betsy, then I am now twice in debt to Carolyn. Confused yet? 😵 She said I could pay her back by playing an ABBA song, so I was looking forward to playing Dancing Queen, but instead she emailed me links to two songs by a band I’ve never heard of before (and might have been content to go to my ash heap without ever hearing them!) … Blackmore’s Night. I think there’s more to this request than I’ve been told, but hey … I keep my promises, so this one is for you, my dear Carolyn!
According to Wikipedia, Blackmore’s Night …
“… is a British-American traditional folk rock band formed in 1997, consisting mainly of Ritchie Blackmore (acoustic guitar, hurdy gurdy, mandola, mandolin, nyckelharpe, and electric guitar) and Candice Night (lead vocals, lyricist, and woodwinds). Their lineup has seen many changes over the years; Blackmore and Night have been the only two constant members. They have released eleven studio albums.”
WTF is a “hurdy gurdy” and a “nyckelharpe”???
Today’s song, the title song from their second studio album, was released in Japan in April 1999, and the lyrics to the title track were partly written by Blackmore, “the only time to date he has tried his hand at such,” according to Blackmore biographer Jerry Bloom. The title was created from his mother’s first name and his grandmother’s surname.
Says Candice Night, this song …
“… was written while we were touring and realized that we needed more upbeat songs to implement into the stage set. So we wrote more gypsy based and faster tempo numbers for that album.”
According to Songfacts …
The lyrics, which feature lines such as “Leave this world behind. We’ll have a drink and toast to ourselves,” and “lose yourself in a medieval mood,” not only characterize the neo-renaissance style of the duo’s music, but also imply Blackmore’s resistance to returning to rock music. Often in interviews Blackmore is asked whether he would reunite with his old rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. The lyric, “we’re going back to a time we knew” suggests that medieval music has always been at the heart of Ritchie’s past.
Under A Violet Moon
Blackmore’s Night
Dancing to the feel of the drum
Leave this world behind
We’ll have a drink and toast to ourselves
Under a Violet Moon
Tudor Rose with her hair in curls
Will make you turn and stare
Try to steal a kiss at the bridge
Under a Violet Moon
Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon
Cheers to the Knights and days of old
the beggars and the thieves
living in an enchanted wood
Under a Violet Moon
Fortuneteller what do you see
Future in a card
Share your secrets, tell them to me
Under a Violet Moon
Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon
Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon
Close your eyes and lose yourself
In a medieval mood
Taste the treasures and sing the tunes
Under a Violet Moon
Tis my delight on a shiny night
The seasons of a year
To keep the lanterns burning bright
Under a Violet Moon
Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon
Raise your hats and your glasses too
We will dance the whole night through
We’re going back to a time we knew
Under a Violet Moon
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Candice Night / Ritchie Blackmore
Under a Violet Moon lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Never heard this song, i like it! Googled this and turns out the group is named in part after Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple fame! Candice Night is Richie’s music partner hence the cool band name.
Sound is Celtic/ Baroque infused adult contemporary, with interesting instruments. i distinctly hear lutes, reeds, mandolins and classical guitars, so cool!
This song/ group is very pleasant to listen to ❤
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That’s such a cool album cover!
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Yes, it is! I think I like the album cover better than the music 😉
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You are a good sport, my friend! I had to surprise you after the stunt you pulled on me! Now we are even. LOL!
Blackmore’s Night is a favorite band of mine, so thank you for playing them and giving them more exposure to those who may not have heard them before! We have all of their albums, except a few live ones. Maybe you just need to listen to a few more of their songs. 🙂 They will grow on you. (((HUGS))) its OK, we wouldn’t have near the variety of music in this world if everyone liked the same thing !
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Very interesting and lovely listen too. I have to admit it now was the first time i heard this song. Thanks for sharing, Michael
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‘Twas my first time hearing it too, Michael, and I’m still not exactly in love with the song, but … it could be worse 😉 xx
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks, Michael!!!
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My kind of music! I’ve played Blackmore’s Night a couple of times in my Advent Calendars. Those two instruments are both played by Faun in the video in my Tuesday Tunes this week: the hurdy gurdy is the one with a handle being turned, the nyckelharpe is the one like a horizontal fiddle being played with a bow. More like this, please!
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M-m-more like this? Did you s-say that? Hmmmm … gonna have to figure out … well, I did have fun with these … maybe there’s a way to compromise … maybe …
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Either that or you could go back to Richie Blackmore’s earlier bands – Deep Purple and Rainbow 🤣
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I think she would rather stick with Blackmore’s Night! LOL!
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HAH!!! You might both be in for a surprise with today’s music post! It’s actually an AC/DC song, but … well … just check it out later!
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Intriguing! Don’t tell me you’ve gone to Finland 🤣
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Ha ha … nope, not yet anyway!
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AC/DC?? My ears have just recovered!
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Oh, I think you’ll like this one!
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You were right! I did!! 😊
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Deep Purple I’ve at least heard of, but not Rainbow … guess I should check ’em out, eh?
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Rainbow was the band he formed after he left Deep Purple. Candice Night sings backing vocals for them. They started in a fairly heavy metal style but became more of a pop-rock band. Try ‘Since You’ve Been Gone.’
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Thanks for the suggestion … I will check it out shortly!
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PS – sorry for the duplicate comment earlier. I thought the first one had gone AWOL!
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No worries … I wondered what happened, though.
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No idea. I hit the send button but nothing showed. I reloaded the page but still no sign so I had a second go!
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Yes, broadening your horizons is always good, stretch those wings! I can send you more of their songs whenever you want. LOL!
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I’ll be sure to let you know when my own well runs dry and I need some suggestions! 😉
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Yes, Yes, Yes! I agree she should do more like this! How she can’t love this music, I don’t know. LOL! It is a group that my husband and I can both agree on! 🙂
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It has a very traditional English folk feel to it, which is why I enjoy it. Good to know you have some musical common ground 😊
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Their music has such a happy feel to it.
Brad tells me that he is glad that at least I like some good music. I just roll my eyes. LOL! There are other artists we can agree on but this is our favorite.
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It does indeed. I especially like their Christmas tunes – coming again in December to a blog near here 😉
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Ahh! Will have to check out that “mysterious” blog. Love Christmas music. 🙂
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I mix it up a bit. But absolutely no Screeching Maria 😊
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LOL!
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Thank goodness no Screeching Maria!!!
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I do have standards, you know. That’s why I have so far resisted the temptation to play AC/DC’s ‘Mistress for Christmas.’ Maybe this year…
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There you go with that word again!!! 😱
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I’m not the only one. We have a tv channel here that changes its usual diet of crap movies for wall to wall crap Christmas movies. They made the change two weeks ago!
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Yeah, my daughter was watching some cooking show on television and they were making Christmas recipes. I don’t have the energy to deal with Christmas!!!
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I don’t really bother with it. I celebrate it more on my blog than in real life!
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I typically go all out for the girls’ sake, but of course last year I wasn’t able to and don’t think I’ll be able to do much this year, either.
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OH NO!!! Not Christmas already!!! We just had one not that long ago … nonononono!!! 😱
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For the past few years I’ve posted an Advent Calendar of songs, from 1-25 Dec. It’s only just over two months until then 🤣
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🤫 Do not rush it. I have sent my Senators and representative letters requesting that ‘that-day’ be officially cancelled this year. If approved, we can all save money, time, energy, and other that-day-related angst!
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Sorry, I can’t change the calendar 🤣
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Sigh. Have you noticed that time goes by so much faster as we get older? A year used to seem like such a very long time, but now … I haven’t even managed to put all the Christmas decorations in the shed and here it is, right ’round the corner again! Guess there’s not much point in hauling the boxes out there now, is there? Just leave ’em stacked in the upstairs hallway and in Miss Goose’s room and in my closet.
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Just call it advance planning and time saving for this year.
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Hmmm … that’s one way of looking at it.
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This is right up my street! I’m pleased Carolyn suggested this, as I really like Blackmore’s Night and have played them a couple of times in my Advent Calendars. If you want to see those two instruments in action just watch the Faun video in my Tuesday Tunes this week: they have both. The hurdy gurdy is the one with a handle being turned, and the nyckelharpe is the one being played with a bow.
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She tricked me!!! She said she wanted ABBA, but then she sent me these two by Blackmore’s Night! I did not like the other one (Dandelion Wine) she sent at all, so figured this was the lesser of two evils.
That said, I’m really glad you enjoyed it! I will come check out the Faun video a little later, for I’ve never heard of either of those instruments. I meant to ask daughter Chris about them last night, for she is the musical expert in this household and is in a Caledonian Society Pipes and Drums band (fortunately for Goose and I, Chris plays the drums, though she is trying to learn the bagpipes).
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Dandelion Wine is a nice little song but I think you picked the livelier one to play.
They are both older instruments, going back centuries. A lot of musical tradition tied up in them! There’s a young German singer who goes by the name of Patty Gurdy. Very talented, and I’ve played her on mine. Both instruments are often featured in folk bands in Europe.
Good luck with the bagpipes!
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Yeah, Dandelion Wine was just a bit too bluegrassy for me poor ears!
Thanks … her interest in the pipes is just a passing fancy. When she was in high school, we lived on top of a mountain. She decided to learn to play the trumpet to be in her high school’s marching band. We used to make her go halfway down the mountain to practice! 🤣🤣 Unfortunately, we don’t have a mountain here, but there is a nice little park with a walking path about 1/4 mile behind our house, so if it gets too annoying, we’ll just send her back there!
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Sounded more like traditional English folk than bluegrass to me!
She could become known locally as the Park Piper. I see stardom beckoning…
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I read your message to her about the Park Piper! She laughed, but I think it pleased her. 😊
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Might make a bit of extra cash too. If she’s good people will pay her to play, and if she isn’t they’ll pay her to stop 😉
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People actually pay to listen to bagpipes??? WHOA … who knew?
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Apparently they are popular in Scotland. They must be fond of strangling cats up there.
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Ha ha … great analogy! Even Chris laughed when I read it to her!
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I cannot rememberbspecif8cs, but an accom0lished piper learned to play the bagpipes by practicing on a busy street corner in Montreal during rush hour daily. He said traffic was so noisy there no one clould hear him practising. Surely Cincinatti has some noisy street corners. 😁
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Probably so, and since this city has a large Scottish population, she’d barely be noticed! But, we live about a 30 minute drive outside of the city, so the park is a better option for now.
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Pingback: ♫ Under A Violet Moon ♫ | Filosofa’s Word. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal
Jill, this is a neat pairing of talents, Blackmore is as an excellent guitarist, but ironically he is well known by many high school marching bands for writing the simplest of guitar licks to Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the water.” Bands still play this rock anthem as it is easily recognizable. Night is a terrific singer and she offers up a Stevie Nicks kind of vibe, but with a lighter voice. Good choice. Keith
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I’m glad … and not at all surprised … that you liked it! I don’t dislike it, but … not crazy about it, either, though I do see the talent in both Blackmore and Night. I’m definitely broadening my horizons these days!
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Hurdy-Gurdy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurdy-gurdy
Nyckelharpa: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyckelharpa
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Thanks, Orca! Never heard that one before!
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Not even the Donovan song? I mean that boomer was way before my time but it was, far as I know, one of his biggest hits.
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No, I wasn’t a big Donovan fan, but the only two I can remember right off are “Mellow Yellow” and “Universal Soldier”. This one sounds vaguely familiar, but I really don’t remember it. So, thanks for sharing!
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I would have played it for you had OF not done so. I doubt it was one of Donovan’s biggest hits overall, though it may have been in certain areas, but was certainly a well-known song for him worldwide. It’s too late for me to be finding facts, but Donovan was a great folk singer and huge representative 9f flower children everywhere. He taught John Lennon how to play the acoustic guitar, while Lennon taught D9novan how to play the electrc guitar while both were on retreat in India.
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I don’t know why, but Donovan never held any particular appeal for me. I didn’t dislike his music, it just didn’t do anything for me and I didn’t seek it out.
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Your choice, but still it makes me sad. He had such a still spirit. Maybe a l8ttle Yardbirds will liven things up:
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WHOA!!! That’s really an oldie! And one that I actually do remember! Thanks!
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Sounds like you liked that one. The Yardbirds were one of my favourite British Invasion bands,but they seem to have vanished from the halls of music history. So many great songs, so much good music. How could so few remember them.
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Reblogged this on Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News and commented:
The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces sound by a hand-crank-turned, rosined wheel rubbing against the strings.
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Thanks for clarifying that for me, Ned! And many thanks for the reblog!!!
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