I haven't been watching that long, but one thing has bothered me. A pet peeve, one might say.
For a show that evolves primarily around an Italian American family, why does the show's theme song sound like an Irish jig? I keep expecting to see dancers leaping around with their legs flailing about, as if independent from their bodies?
Are you not aware of Boston being known as a destination for many immigrants from Ireland?
shareIn addition to that, the opening song is "Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys who hail from Quincy, Massachusetts, which is a suburb of Boston.
shareThe song, "I'm Shipping up to Boston" was written by a legendary folk singer, Woodie Guthry, who died in 1967. The DM covered it, as have many others.
The song has been used in movies, TV, sports venues, etc. most with Boston or Irish connections. The version on R&I is played by the Boston Pops.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Shipping_Up_to_Boston
So, other than the show being set in Boston, and the Irish theme song, little else was written into the show reflecting living in Boston or being Irish. No one has a Boston accent. No one had an old Irish aunt or uncle that talked in an Irish brogue. Nobody brings in home made Irish stew. Does anyone ever drink Guiness?
In the movie "Good Will Hunting" the fact that they were in Boston was critical to the story. Particularly an area known for its Irish heritage and rough neighborhoods. A lot of Bostonians are fanatic sports fans, pro and college. And not just fair-weather fans. Look how all the devout Red Sox fans stayed true to their team despite years of suffering the Curse of the Bambino. Cheers was another example of a TV show that often included references to Boston culture, plus, many story lines had couples going off to Cape Cod.
I realize Italian American families live in Boston, too. Setting the show in NYC would have been too clichรฉ. Been there, done that. But they could have made more references to the Boston culture and not used such a clearly Irish folk tune for the theme song. I always expect to see red headed freckled face girls doing the traditional Irish dances.
Sorry. I stand corrected. Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics. The DM band wrote the music.
Still sounds like an Irish jig to me...
The books the series is based on are set in Boston.
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I am. But the fact that they are supposed to be in Boston rarely comes into the story lines. Does anyone ever mention the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, or Bruins? Do they ever go out to some of the famous seafood restaurants by the harbor? Weekend trips to Cape Cod? Or Martha's Vineyard? Have they ever had a St Patrick's Day episode? Any of the characters train for the Boston Marathon?
None of the primary characters have an Irish surname. The only Irish name, Sean Cavanaugh, appeared in less than half the episodes. The series could have been set in any metro area and it wouldn't have made a difference.
Maura's biological father was an Irish mobster. There's that.
Also in season 1 episode 7 they girls solved a murder case while running the Boston marathon
shareThey used to constantly mention the Red Sox. The Celtics and Patriots also were mentioned a few times.
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the theme music is NOT Dropkick Murphys and Maras father was a Irish mobster so that with the prevalent Irish background of Boston...