Daniel O Donnell
Daniel O Donnell is one of Ireland biggest musical exports and with a hit album every year since 1988, he doesn’t plan to let 2008 be any different. I caught up with this singing sensation to chat about Country Boy, Christmas DVD’s and haggis.
Hi Daniel, what have you been getting up to recently?
Well I’ve been touring and last weekend we were in North Dakota in the US doing three shows in Minot and prior to that we were in New Zealand and Australia for five weeks doing shows and now I’m on a week holiday before we’re back doing some promotion for the new album and DVD. Then we go to America in November for three weeks and then I’m doing a tour of the UK and Ireland in late November and early December.
Gosh, you sound super busy! Can you tell me a bit about your new album; Country Boy?
The album is made up of classic country songs that were big hits in country music and they are just fantastic songs and I’ve loved them all for many years and decided it was time to record an album like that.
You’re also releasing a DVD just in time for Christmas; what can we expect from it?
That was recorded a year ago in Ireland where I come from and it’s a mixture of songs; some are on the new album and then there a mixture of other songs I have recorded with some on location.
Wow, exciting, so you’ve had a hit album every year since 1988; what do you think is the key to your success?
We I have a terrific following who have been very loyal through the years and they are there whenever I do anything or do a show and they are always there to take part in the show or to support me in the release of an album or records or whatever else. It’s amazing.
That must be so flattering, and what was it like duetting with one of your idols, Loretta Lynn?
Absolutely fantastic to record with both her and Charlie Pride; because Loretta is my favourite singer of all time whilst Charlie is my favourite male vocalist in county music so it’s a great personal privilege for me as I grew up listening to their music and never dreamt that I would meet them, let alone record alongside them. It’s tremendous.
How did you get into the industry to begin with?
Well I started din 1981 with my sister; it’s quite well documented. I spent a couple of years travelling with her and then after that first record in 1983 which was called My Donegal Shore and the other side of it was a song called Stand Beside Me and that was the initial recording and it eventually got a lot of airplay and got me established in Ireland. Then one thing led to another and here we are.
Who do you look up to within the music industry?
Well I love Loretta and Charlie obviously and I’m a great fan of Cliff Richard and I always was and I even recorded with him a couple of years ago for his album so I’ve had a lot of nice things happen in my career.
Do you like any of the modern bands who are in the charts at the moment?
I don’t listen to a lot of chart music but recently Duffy has caught my eye; I think she has a beautiful voice. There are also a lot of great singers and bands out there at the moments and even though it might not be the type of music that I would do, I appreciate them for their talent.
How did you feel when you were awarded and MBE back in 2002 and did you think you had really made it as a singer?
It was a wonderful privilege. To be honest it was something I’d never even considered and then when I found out it was a great honour to be rewarded in that way. I couldn’t understand how I actually got an MBE and then when I found out that it was the fans who had written individually to the Queen and said that the music meant so much to them it was just so incredible.
What else is left on your to-do list?
Well to continue really; I enjoy the shows and I enjoy the singing and to be able to continue would be the thing I would like most of all. I suppose if there was one thing that I would love to achieve (and I don’t even know if this is possible) but I would love to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry
in America but that is something you have to be invited to but that would be like ten feathers in my cap!
What do you think you would be doing now if you weren’t a singer?
I would probably done teaching. I loved economics and accountancy and maths, which doesn’t mean to say I know anything about them now, but at the time when I was at school I loved them and that’s probably what I would have pursued.
But if is the biggest word in the dictionary because if I did this I wouldn’t have done that, so I was never faced with that decision.
Okay, well every celebrity we interview, we ask them to come up with a question for the next person we interview and Leon Jackson wants to know if you know what haggis is and if you’ve ever eaten it?
I’ve never eaten haggis and I don’t even know what it’s made from. Is it similar to Black Pudding? But I do know that it’s something that has stood the test of time and I’m sure it’s very tasty to people who like it!
It’s made from Sheep Intestines according to Leon. He also wanted to know if you would were underwear underneath your kilt?
I think because I’m not a true Scotsman I would have to wear something underneath!
Thank goodness for that, I’d hate to be in Scotland on a windy day! So can you come up with a question for the next person I interview please?
The Haggis one is a fantastic question… so I will ask an Irish question… do they know what bruching is? I don’t know how to spell it for you but it’s potatoes, onions, scampi, milk and butter. It’s lovely.
Well it’s been great speaking to you and good luck with everything and I hope you make it another hit album for 2008.
Thanks a million. Bye.