Gaelic is often encumbered with tags such as 'ancient', 'old' and 'traditional'. There is some truth to this and Gaels must shoulder some of the blame. Gaelic is an old language but it's also a living modern language. It has adapted pretty well to the modern age. For example, in German, you will readily hear terms such as 'e-mail', 'internet' and that old chestnut 'helicopter'. Gaelic at least has 'post-dealain' and 'eadar-lion' while we stick with the old Greek 'helicopter' so as not to appear too insular...
Music though is one domain where Gaelic has become stuck in a rut. We have - or had, at least - lots of singers but not many new songs. Even new songs in Gaelic are more or less expected to conform to the 'trad' genre. Scotland's version of the 'Eurovision for minority languages,' Nòs Ur, is coupled with 'Hands Up For Trad' and whereas other minority cultures give us funk, pop, ska, rock, rap and black metal, our offerings tend to be acoustic and kind of... 'trad'. All very nice.
Has Gaelic lost the ribaldry of its past? Back when 'sean nòs' was the rock 'n roll of its day, in the Gaidhealtachd at least, Gaelic singers composed in their own tongue and style commentary on everything, from war to hardship to love/ sex to binge-drinking with whisky. It was the rap of the day. When Iain Lom composed his Òran An-Aghaidh an Aonaidh or 'Song Against the Union' in the 18thC, his foul-mouthed critique of the establishment would not look out of place on Twitter today.
Nòs Ur translates as 'modern, new style'. These t-shirt designs celebrate the little rock n' roll and music with attitude we've produced in recent years. The likes of Mill a h-Uile Rud to Na Gathan to Oi Polloi and... Runrig in their day. More please!
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