The summer of ’69 and everything after; Donegal musician releases debut single

For some reason, years ending in the number nine seem to be particularly popular amongst songwriters.

John Anderson has ‘1959’, The Smashing Pumpkins have ‘1979’, Taylor Swift has her ‘1989’ album, Prince had ‘1999’ and Mac Miller had ‘2009’.

Nobody knows the reason for this trend. It’s one of the great mysteries of the universe and shall remain so until the end of time.

This week, I’m talking to the artist behind the missing decade in the above list, Seán Feeny, who’s debut single ‘1969’ was released this summer.

The song, named for the year his parents married, “reflects on a time of love and upheaval as the North stood on the brink of the Troubles.”

I spoke to Seán recently about the song and his own personal musical background.

“I got into music from a very early age from my father, Seán Sr., who was big into singing and playing music himself, so there were always a lot of instruments around the house. Twelve strings, banjos, tin whistles, you name it, it was in the house. I would’ve grown up with daddy singing a lot of folk songs and playing music, so he very much was a big influence in the early days. As you do then, I joined choirs when I was school age.”

“Then, during my teens, I got into music more. I picked up my first electric guitar in Matchetts in Belfast. I think, over the years, I always put other things first, like studies, going to college, getting a real job, things like that and I was putting music by the wayside, but it was always in the background. I dabbled a bit with things here and there, doing things for charity, singing at people’s weddings, things like that. It was always something I thought I’d do more as a hobby.”

Next, we spoke about how the new single came together, and the significance of its title.

“The song’s called ‘1969’ and it was inspired by front page of the Irish News I had hanging over my desk from the day my parents got married, 11^th August 1969. For years I kept looking at this front page. It was hanging there particularly because I trained as a newspaper journalist and worked for a regional paper for many years [the Inishowen Independent].”

“It was hanging there, and I kept looking at the headlines of the news of the day my parents got married and they somehow came together. I had these lyrics sitting around for a long, long time until they all started coming together, along with a chorus and sentiment as well as a final verse I wanted to close the song with, and so I decided that it was time to put it out.”

“I was sitting on it for a long time and I’m really pleased and, to be honest, overwhelmed with the reaction to the song. People seem to like it, and I’m very grateful for that. My parents were very pleased with it, which obviously is very important to me as it was for them. I thought it was only fitting, given the connection, to put it out on their wedding anniversary. They’re getting on a bit now, although they wouldn’t like me to say that, but I’m grateful to have them both with me, to be able to celebrate this with them and put a song out in their honour, so to speak.”

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Seán says the reaction to the song has been fantastic.

“Word has spread through various channels. There’s been well-wishers coming from past and present. My parents’ phone was hopping as well. People are seeing and enjoying the song and they’re enjoying the reaction as well.”

“It’s so lovely to hear from old friends from the past that I’ve not spoken to in a while. We’re all living in this busy world these days and not getting a chance to catch up, so getting an opportunity to do that is very nice.”

Seán Feeny's debut single ‘1969’ is out now on all good streaming platforms.