Brendan Graham
Encyclopedia
Brendan Graham is an Irish
novelist and composer. He has published three novels, The Whitest Flower (London
, Harper Collins, 1998), an Irish no. 2 best seller, The Element of Fire (Harper Collins, 2001) and The Brightest Day, The Darkest Night (Harper Collins, 2004).
He also wrote the lyrics for Rolf Løvland
's "You Raise Me Up
". Løvland was inspired to write the song from The Whitest Flower, Graham's first novel. "You Raise Me Up" was a huge international hit for Irish boyband Westlife
. He wrote lyrics again for one of Rolf Løvland
's songs "Mary's Lament" which appears on Secret Garden
's 2011 album Winter Poem
.
Graham also composed two of Ireland's winning entries in the Eurovision Song Contest
: "Rock 'n' Roll Kids
" which won in 1994, and "The Voice" the winner of the 1996 contest. He also wrote the 1976 Irish entry in Eurovision, 'When' which was sung by Red Hurley
and the 1985 entry 'Wait until the weekend comes' performed by Maria Christian
.
Graham has written a song for Celtic Woman
called O, America. Other songs written by him have been performed by them.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
novelist and composer. He has published three novels, The Whitest Flower (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Harper Collins, 1998), an Irish no. 2 best seller, The Element of Fire (Harper Collins, 2001) and The Brightest Day, The Darkest Night (Harper Collins, 2004).
He also wrote the lyrics for Rolf Løvland
Rolf Løvland
Rolf Løvland is a Norwegian composer. Together with Fionnuala Sherry, he formed the celtic group Secret Garden, where he played as the composer/producer/keyboardist...
's "You Raise Me Up
You Raise Me Up
"You Raise Me Up" was the debut single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face To Face.This version is considered by many to be the most popular , of all the various versions of the same song. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's 13th Number One. It was the first...
". Løvland was inspired to write the song from The Whitest Flower, Graham's first novel. "You Raise Me Up" was a huge international hit for Irish boyband Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
. He wrote lyrics again for one of Rolf Løvland
Rolf Løvland
Rolf Løvland is a Norwegian composer. Together with Fionnuala Sherry, he formed the celtic group Secret Garden, where he played as the composer/producer/keyboardist...
's songs "Mary's Lament" which appears on Secret Garden
Secret Garden (duo)
Secret Garden is an award-winning Irish-Norwegian duo playing New Instrumental Music, also sometimes erroneously known as Neo-classical music.Secret Garden features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer/pianist Rolf Løvland...
's 2011 album Winter Poem
Winter Poem
Winter Poem is the 2011 and the 7th album by Secret Garden.Primarily an instrumental album, it features three songs with guest vocals: Moya Brennan of Clannad fame on "The Dream", Fionnuala Gill on "Mary’s Lament", and Tracey Campbell and Espen Grjotheim on "Powered By Nature".The lyrics to "Mary’s...
.
Graham also composed two of Ireland's winning entries in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
: "Rock 'n' Roll Kids
Rock 'n' Roll Kids
"Rock 'n' Roll Kids" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, composed by Brendan Graham and performed for Ireland by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan...
" which won in 1994, and "The Voice" the winner of the 1996 contest. He also wrote the 1976 Irish entry in Eurovision, 'When' which was sung by Red Hurley
Red Hurley
Brian 'Red' Hurley is an entertainer from Ireland whose singing career has spanned several decades. He is principally known as a solo artist, although he does perform with various bands, the members of which are prone to change.-Personal life:...
and the 1985 entry 'Wait until the weekend comes' performed by Maria Christian
Maria Christian
Maria Christian is a singer born in Dundalk in 1957 who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 in which she sang "Wait Until The Weekend Comes". She got 91 points and came 6th place overall....
.
Graham has written a song for Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
called O, America. Other songs written by him have been performed by them.