Irish musician Róisín O has released a song about something that the Irish love. That’s right, the talented singer and songwriter’s new single is about a good cup of Irish tea.
Speaking about the inspiration behind it Róisín, who has teamed up with Lyons Tea, said: “Tea Song was written by our bassist Brian and he came to us with the song. I really loved it and wanted to record it.
“I think his inspiration was to do with how tea in general can make you feel better and how continuous amounts of tea can make things a little brighter. I think it’s a light-hearted enough song.”
Róisín’s new song and music video are all about tea.
But it’s not just the song that is about the nation’s favourite hot drink because the music video is also made up of different clips of the Irish enjoying their tea all over the world.
“We have so many friends and family that have moved abroad and you know when you’re abroad, you love having that cup of tea, it’s that little piece of home away with you. So we asked people to send in footage of themselves enjoying their cup in whatever city or town they’re in.”
She added: “People at home and abroad can relate to it. We’ve had such a great response to it. Everybody knows that feeling of being abroad and just wanting that Irish cup of tea when you have all these foreign things around you. It’s something we share in our culture.”
Everyone loves a good cup of Irish tea wherever they are.
The video comes as a new study, by Amárach Research, finds that one in four Irish tea drinkers have sent or brought tea abroad to loved ones in the past six months. Not that this is any surprise to Róisín who also admitted to taking her tea with her on her travels.
“I try to. Actually, I just came back from America and I forgot to take my tea with me and I was nearly dying. I was drinking Earl Grey and English breakfast… it was really bad. I’ll never do it again.”
She did have a saving grace though, as she explained: “I actually arrived in San Francisco where I have a few uncles and cousins and they all have their stash of Irish tea so I got my fill when I got there!”
Like many, tea is a bit of a family tradition in the 22-year-old’s musical household (her mother is singer Mary Black and her brother is Danny from The Coronas): “I suppose it has been handed down in our culture. I think Irish kids and young people start drinking tea at an early age.
“I remember not liking tea for ages and my two older brothers were like, ‘Why don’t you drink tea?’ And then I started when I was 16 and I thought that was really late. My brothers started when they were about ten.”
Keeping it in the family: Róisín is the sister of Danny from The Coronas.
Well she will certainly need a few cups to get her ready for the busy month she has ahead. As well as having her own Christmas show, she will also be supporting Lionel Richie and The Coronas in the O2.
Róisín even said she will try to get the Hello singer onto the good stuff. Although, if he’s not used to it, it will probably keep him up All Night Long!
Tea Song is on Róisín O’s debut album The Secret Life of Blue which is available now.
