Celtic Thunder 'Symphony'

The best night (up to date) of my life was November 25th. My face hurt for two days from all the smiling! I'm having a hard time even picturing it again and again in my mind. I'll start with a basic review of each guy and the line-up of songs.


*Note about the order of songs: I know the first 5 are correct, but the middle is a little foggy. The ending was definitely Ireland's Call, that I know!


Songs

Carol of the Bells

In The Bleak Midwinter

Comfort Ye

Ave Maria

Mary Did You Know

Away In A Manger

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Gaudete

Last Christmas

O Come All Ye Faithful

Winter Wonderland

Gabriel's Message

20 Minute Intermission

Christmas Medley (Sleigh Ride, Here Comes Santa Claus, Parade Of Wooden Soldiers, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus)

Fairytale Of New York

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

The Christmas Song

O Holy Night

Ryan Solo ( I don't know the name of the song but it's really good!)

Let It Snow

Silent Night

Amazing Grace

Christmas 1915

All I Want For Christmas Is You

Christmas Medley: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Ireland's Call



 
NEIL BYRNE

Mary Did You Know

Hallelujah (featuring Ryan and Keith)

I was beyond impressed with Neil's performances. The one thing about him I did not expect, I was shocked to hear how LOUD he was! You'd think he's very quiet and soft, but he was the loudest soloist all night! Hallelujah was even more beautiful in person.
 

 
RYAN KELLY

In The Bleak Mid-winter

Unknown song (????)

Ryan is a sweetheart. He's like a friendly, cute, shy-ish puppy who just wants to give you so much love even if you don't know you want it (don't mistake me though, I do love Ryan and was never bored when he sang!!). He does this little half smile when he's not singing and it's so cute I could die. His smoky, slightly rasped but powerful tone is even more saturated in person. In The Bleak Mid-winter was the second song of the night and he did a great job talking and warming the audience up. Ryan's casual, friendly vibe made me want to go give him a hug and ask if he wanted to have a hot chocolate after the show. And I'd bet he'd say yes.

EMMET O'HANLON

Ave Maria

O Holy Night

Winter Wonderland (featuring Colm Keegan)

I was personally not too happy to hear about this new introduction to the group, especially so soon after George. But when Keith asked everyone to give him a warm welcome, well, I had to. He seemed really focused and kind of nervous, but his voice was powerful and very bold. Despite my prejudices, I even stood with everyone when he got a standing ovation for O Holy Night (which is Emmet Cahill's song -_- on the cd). But he was good and he deserved it. So I suppose it'll just take some time to warm up to him.

COLM KEEGAN

Let It Snow

Winter Wonderland (featuring Emmett O'Hanlon)

Away In A Manger 

To me, Colm is the baby of the group and it's my job to look out for him. His voice is so sweet and unique. And he is SO FUNNY. And his eyes--Colm Keegan has the bluest eyes I have EVER seen, okay??? Seriously they're electric-glow-in-the-dark-AA-battery-powered BLUE. I thought maybe the dvd's make them brighter, but I was wrong. They're so much better in person!! And he's an amazing singer. His style is so soft and beautiful, if you're looking for a good lullaby check out his versions of "Edge Of The Moon" and "The Luckiest".

 

 

KEITH HARKIN

Comfort Ye

Last Christmas

All I Want For Christmas Is You

To be honest, Keith seemed a little disconnected at first. And that worried the heck out of me. He didn't smile much or seem very enthralled, but I was faithfully holding out for him to get better. I think he needed warming up since the night before he sounded crabby because the bus broke down and they were inconvenienced. Or maybe he's always a little melancholic when he starts shows. I don't know. Anyways, Comfort Ye was the third song of the night and I don't know if he was ready for it because not that he hit a bad note, but, it didn't sound quite right and I think he knew it didn't either. Oh well. Not like that hasn't happened to me before.

Last Christmas was fun. The tempo seemed a little different from the cd version but it was still snappy and I wanted to run up and dance with him. But I couldn't. Because I'd be escorted out by the two ushers blocking my way to the stage. So I danced in my seat and tried to show him that I was having a really good time. Because 85% of the crowd was very elderly.

All I Want For Christmas Is You had a rock 'n roll vibe to it and was like a vocal rollercoaster. Keith hits these notes that go all over the place (in a good way) and after the intermission he was definitely more into it than the first half. He does the funniest things with his face when he sings too! Like he doesn't care how much he scrunches it up or raises his eyebrows; all that matters is getting that note OUT! It's so cute.

 

During Gabriel's Message, I was looking at Keith (I don't know when I wasn't looking at him, actually) and I was smiling like a fool. I couldn't help it. He was right there, in the flesh, singing right in front of me. I was happy.

So there I was, blissfully beaming at Mr. Harkin and he would occasionally make eye contact with me, which would only make me smile more. At one point, he glanced over (when they're not singing in group songs, they have to be very straight faced) and we made eye contact for a good, long 5 seconds. I was grinning ear to ear and he was so serious. But then, I saw the left corner of his mouth flick up into a half smile and his dimple showed. He couldn't help it anymore and cracked. He half smiled. Just for me. And I thought that was the most special moment of the night. But I was actually wrong.
All of the group songs were fantastic, but Ireland's Call was by far, hands down, no doubt about it, the BEST song of the night. The guys came out in their kilts (!!!!!!!!!) and Santa hats and it was adorable.

Anyone who tells you kilts are unmanly and ugly, well, they're liars. I have photographic proof they are über manly and cool:

 

 

                               Do you get the idea yet? :) It's also very manly to have the biggest kilt twirl!

 

 

 

Everyone (finally) stood up and clapped along (the entire concert everyone sat). Me? I was a bit more--original. I marched along and followed every step of choreography with the guys. Keith watched me the whole time. We made eye contact for practically the entire song. He was either really impressed or really freaked out that I knew all the moves. When the song triumphantly ended, and I was feeling more roused and alive than ever, everyone applauded and the guys were generally waving, smiling, and looking out to the crowd from the stage.

Except Keith.

I looked over at Colm for a split second, and then back to Keith. And guess what.

He was looking straight at me, and waving. As if he'd known me his whole life.

It was not a general audience wave. A great big personal wave. Like one you would wave at your best friend when you run into them in the store. He was smiling too. A huge, genuine Keithy smile. At me. I was so excited, I started jumping, raised my hand and was waving too. He lifted his other hand and waved at me with both, proceeding to mouth "Hiiiiiiiiiiii!" and  bent half way back laughing. We did this for what felt like forever. In reality, it was probably 10 seconds this whole event lasted. It happened so quickly I have a hard time picturing it, but so vividly that sometimes when I close my eyes, I can see it all over again. It's just so crazy to believe it actually happened!

Imagine having a best friend. They've been with you through your utter worst. When you're more alone than alone. More cold and closed off than most. Interaction a curse and isolation a blessing. And they're there with you, at least through song, when no one else is. You've never met them, never spoken to them, but somehow they still get you. They're always there for you. You feel like they know you better than anyone else and they are just your person.

You get so used to seeing this person behind a glowing screen. On the computer. Through the tv. But then, you see them live. And there is nothing like personally making eye contact and smiling just for you. They see YOU for a change. And then they wave and laugh, as if YOU'RE also their best friend. I've never seen that happen on the dvd's before. He picked me out of the crowd as if he knew me.

It wasn't just like seeing my best friend for the first time; my best friend was seeing me. He knew I needed his recognition and he delivered. He couldn't do it during the show because he had a job to do and that was put on a professional act because that's what he's paid for, and I completely respect that. But it was so wonderful that as soon as the show was over, he remembered to take notice of me---out of all those people.

Keith choose to acknowledge me.

After it really ended and they all ran off stage, which almost broke my heart had it not been so full, I turned to my mom and sister beside me and I was speechless. My mom had seen it all happen, and my sister did too. Even the people behind us did. And I know that when he sees me again, he'll have to recognize me. We made eye contact more than enough.

"He waved at you!" The lady exclaimed as I turned around to get my coat. "Did you see that?! He waved right at you!!". Even she was excited and she didn't even know me (reasons why I love fellow Thunderheads:)! I stuttered something about how unbelievable that was and that I was just astounded.

"He just made my life!!!" I beamed. The lady's husband behind me laughed and said,

"Did you just say he made your life?"

"Yes!" I replied.

"He's a good guy." The man said.

"He really is." I agreed. Everyone was laughing and happy for me. And I've honestly never been happier.

Because for at least a few seconds in time, one of the people I care about the most cared about me. And I will never get over it. Ever. Never will a day pass and I will not think about it. Keith may never know how happy he made me.
But I always will.