Shout out to RTE 2FM DJ Tara Stewart for discovering this.
It sounds like ‘Barefoot In The Park’, the collaborative song on James Blake’s new lovelorn album Assume Form features a sample from an old Irish folk song.
Here’s their song:
Tara did some digging for the sample:
So Id been trying to find out what the sample is in @jamesblake + @rosaliavt‘s Barefoot in the Park
Stuart txt 2fm saying it’s an Irish song ‘Fíl a Run Ó’ recorded by singer Valerie Armstrong in 1972 when she was 13!
I tried 2 find the song and wasn’t having much luck
BUT THEN pic.twitter.com/cVrhOJUbm8
— 🌈 TARA BISH (@tarastewartdj) January 23, 2019
The song is purportedly ‘Fíl a Run Ó’ recorded by singer Valerie Armstrong in 1972.
My friend Adam randomly messaged me saying it’s his aunt singing/ playing the harm on @rte in 1971! 👀👀👀👀👀👀https://t.co/NQnkVlBnpV
— 🌈 TARA BISH (@tarastewartdj) January 23, 2019
Tara’s friend texted her to say it has his aunt Valerie Armstrong from the Feis Ceoil in Dublin in 1971 who was indeed 13 years of age at the time.
We’ve yet to verify this in the credits for the album as it’s not listed on the Wiki and a vinyl version of the album isn’t out yet. Update: The artist herself got in touch and confirmed the sample clearance.
REALLY thrilled to have my recording of Fil Fil a Run from 1971, when I was a nipper, sampled by James Blakelake for track “ Barefoot In the Park “, from his fantastic latest Album Assume Form . Can’t stop grinning! https://t.co/ezHT2E8EGh
— Valerie Armstrong (@Valarmstrong1) January 20, 2019
This reminds us of the time Passion Pit’s Sleepyhead sampled Mary O’Hara in a similar fashion.
Mary O’Hara has also covered ‘Fíl a Run Ó’:
We also broke down some famous samples including the one above at our Loose Joints live show in the Science Gallery last year.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
