Latest news with #TakeASexyPictureofMe
Irish Examiner
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Reaction to CMAT hit sounds warning to Fianna Fáil as they consider presidential candidate
"All the big boys, all the Berties/All the envelopes, yeah, they hurt me/I was 12 when the das started killing themselves all around me (All around me)/And it was normal, building houses/That stay empty even now, yeah!" If you've spent any time on social media or are even vaguely aware of the cultural zeitgeist, those words were read in the voice of Ciara Mary Alice Thompson, aka CMAT, the pop-country singer from Dunboyne, Co Meath, who has owned this summer. CMAT has owned this summer. From her Take A Sexy Picture of Me becoming the "woke Macarena" and inspiring thousands of TikTok dance imitators, to a breakout set at Glastonbury, to headlining last weekend's All Together Now festival, it is CMAT's moment. In her latest release, Euro Country, Ms Thompson gives a thoughtful reflection of the Irish identity post-crash from the point of view of someone who came of age during the era of bank bailouts and austerity. While the scars of the time run deep in Irish social and political life, it is interesting to hear the perspective of someone who was a child in those years, as much of the memory of it is done through the lens of older millennials, whose perspectives were more related to a lack of jobs and rampant emigration and, as CMAT points out, suicide. Deaths by suicide in Ireland peaked in 2012 during the recession, with the National Suicide Research Foundation finding that there were 476 more male suicides in the years 2008 to 2012 than had there not been a recession. CMAT during the All Together Now Festival at the weekend where she said she doesn't know all of the politics, but she knows the impacts of the crash in Ireland. Photo: Kieran Frost/Redferns But aside from being the catchiest bridge of an Irish song in a long time, the virality of the song across social media and its pointed use of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as a totem for the entire collapse opens a conversation about the post-2008 Irish economic downturn to a new generation of voters. While it may feel as though it was just yesterday, many voted in last year's general election who wouldn't have been in school yet when the decision was made to bail out Irish banks. The consequences of the economic collapse and austerity budgets of the early 2010s may still be felt, but it would be understandable if the generation who grew up in the recovery years and subsequent revolving existential crises did not understand its context or nuances. CMAT: 'Nobody I grew up with basically lives here anymore; everyone has had to emigrate.' Photo: Sarah Doyle Indeed, speaking on stage in Waterford at the weekend, CMAT herself is quoted as saying she doesn't know all of the politics, but she knows the impacts. "Nobody I grew up with basically lives here anymore; everyone has had to emigrate. 'Nobody can afford to live here; everybody is leaving home. And everyone who is left behind is left with less and less public services, healthcare, and security in everything that you need to live a life not in danger. 'I believe this is directly the fault of the Irish government that we had 20-25 years ago." The comments came in the same weekend that the subject of that bridge, Mr Ahern, was named as the most preferred of a slew of potential Fianna Fáil presidential candidates. Bertie Ahern has been named as the most preferred of a slew of potential Fianna Fáil presidential candidates. File photo: Maxwells It is unlikely that any would-be candidate or the Fianna Fáil party at large will be making decisions based on one song, no matter how catchy, but the prevalence of the sentiment online should sound a warning for some in Fianna Fáil. If their candidate for the Áras is closely associated with the financial crash, they will have to relitigate their party's role in it. Having successfully navigated its electoral shellacking in 2011 to return to power just nine years later and being the largest party in the country by the 15-year mark of the troika bailout, it is something many in the party would be loathe to do, especially not with such a good soundtrack.
Perth Now
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
CMAT is 'really debating' her next move after Euro-Country release
CMAT thinks making a new album would be "at the sacrifice of everything" in her life. The 29-year-old singer - whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson - has admitted she's having to carefully consider her "next move" after her upcoming third LP Euro-Country is release on August 29. She told Mojo magazine: "I'm really debating what my next move is because this album is definitely the peak of my abilities so far. "I could make another really good fourth album - I know I could do it - but it will be at the sacrifice of everything in my life. "It will be me going more mental, going more into the abyss that leaves people Bob Dylan single for the rest of his life. "Because that guy just kept getting really good by never doing real life and staying as a person on the mezzanine, watching other people through a window." The Take A Sexy Picture of Me hitmaker compared working on her latest collection to a "toxic" relationship. She added: "It was like a toxic boyfriend or something, this record - I didn't think about anything else from waking up in the morning 'til I went to bed at night." When it comes to her own style, CMAT - who is known for her blend of relatively upbeat song titles and emotionally tough lyrics - insisted she has been "miscategorised" because of her "silly" fashion choices and sense of humour. She pondered: "My sensibilities are towards the kitchen sink. Country music makes small things really big and big things really small. "People go, 'All country songs at the same', but I find the more everyday you go, the more laser-focused you can on the topic. "Do you know Gary Stewart's She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)? Obviously an amazing song title. Easily one of the most devastating songs I'll ever hear."
Irish Independent
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Review: CMAT puts on ‘all-timer' show at Glastonbury
©Evening Standard Irish pop singer CMAT's threw down a rhinestone gauntlet to the Glastonbury festival's big guns yesterday with an all-timer performance involving hyperactive and hilarious stage craft, songs which soared, and a huge will to simply grab this moment and wring every drop of joy from it. The musician from Dunboyne, Co Meath, real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson (29), ticks every box in modern pop stardom. Sexy dance moves in Lycra, songs about messy love and hating Jamie Olivier, and a viral 'silly dance'. Or as she puts it: 'I have middle child syndrome, an amazing arse and the best Irish rock country band in the world.' With a clutch of albums under her belt and a new one on the way, this Glastonbury set felt like a true mass recognition of her talent and a step up into superstardom. What she has, that so many other artists don't, is the ability to be a laugh. She's constantly messing about, showing off, pulling faces, tearing around the stage, rolling over and taking the piss. It's old school entertainment that you just know comes from years of winning over hostile audiences in pubs, and makes her some dream combination of Kate Bush, Dolly Parton and Charlie Chaplin. A huge audience turned out for her set on the Pyramid stage at 1.40pm and she had them in the palm of her hand throughout. Introducing herself, she told crowds: 'My name is CMAT and I'm literally just a young one from Dunboyne/Dublin, depending who you ask.' There was one priceless moment mid-set when she told the crowd to talk among themselves while she has a band meeting. In a huddle with the Very Sexy CMAT Band, the mic 'accidentally' picked her up saying, 'Do you think they like us?' Later she'll spot someone side of stage: 'Sinead! That's my mum... I love that bitch.' The songs are fantastic too. Take A Sexy Picture of Me, from her upcoming album, is about the body-shaming abuse she received online. Of course her reaction is to strip down to her Lycra, wave her bum to the crowd and deliver a perfectly rendered protest song which is an anthem for celebrating yourself and telling the world where to go. It also has a set of dance moves that are so ridiculous it's impossible not to copy them. Another new song, The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station, is not a Jamie Oliver diss track, she says, it's more about her own hater tendencies. It combines her absolutely stunning vocal range with clowning about, hitting herself over the head as she curses her own viciousness. For I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby! she had the entire crowd doing the 'Dunboyne, Co Meath two-step' – and it really is the entire crowd – a sight which left the singer beaming. 'I think we might be about to break a personal record for the Very Sexy CMAT Band,' she told the crowd at the Somerset festival, which has sold over 200,000 tickets this year. 'We've never attempted it [the two-step] with this many people so I'm a little scared.' But then she was off again, into the crowd this time during Stay for Something, bouncing around and disappearing from view as the climax hit – along with the realisation among everyone watching that this was a bona fide classic set. Where did she get the energy? Back on stage, high kicks, silly faces, high notes, death drops onto the stage, and calls for a free Palestine. 'This is the scariest moment of my life but it will probably single-handedly be the best and most amazing thing I'll ever do,' she said. One of the best things Glastonbury has ever seen too.
Extra.ie
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Charli XCX at Malahide: Who could be doing the iconic Apple Dance as Brat Summer reaches Dublin?
Charli XCX makes her return to Dublin this summer, with 20,000 brats heading to Malahide castle. Following the release and cultural phenomenon that was her Brat album, one of the biggest moments from the album has been the mega-viral 'Apple dance' — which sees people from all walks of life, including celebrities, being broadcast on the big screen during her tours to dance to the chorus of the tune. Charli XCX will be bringing Brat summer and her iconic Apple dance to Malahide Castle on June 17. Pic:With celebs such as Chappell Roan, Jenna Ortega and Clairo all thinking the apple's rotten right to the core, who could be blasted on the big screens next Tuesday (June 17) when Brat summer reaches Dublin? CMAT has a history with Charli, having previously gotten artistic advice from her — and even has a viral dance of her own with her new single. Pic: GMCD I feel that this is the most likely one, given her and Charli's history together and CMAT's new own 'Apple' dance for her latest single Take A Sexy Picture of Me. While both Ciara Mary Alice Thompson (yes, that's where CMAT's name comes from!) and Charli are set to play Glastonbury the week after her Malahide gig, it's very possible that CMAT could make a surprise appearance at Charli's concert. I mean, it makes sense. Pic: David Fisher/Shutterstock Another (semi) straight answer, I feel that Dublin's favourite twins will be in Malahide regardless of whether they'll be doing the dance. The lads recently revealed that miss Charli was 'their biggest fan' during their heyday, both John and Edward are very likely to be in attendance at the gig. Will they be on hand to steal the show on Tuesday? Who knows. While he doesn't like the 'extraordinarily explicit' lyrics of Guess, perhaps Joe would enjoy Apple and the corresponding dance? Pic: RTÉ After a woman called in to Liveline to complain about the 'appalling' lyrics of Guess, a bonus track on 'Brat and it's the same but there's three more songs so it's not' (and breathe), Joe Duffy got an earful of just what Charli wants you to do with the underwear she's wearing. While we doubt Joe will be doing any dances to Guess, with lyrics he's described as 'extraordinarily explicit,' who knows? Maybe some young RTÉ intern has been secretly teaching him the dance for this very moment. @mhealyrae Having a #BRAT day in the Dáil 😂 #fyp #foryou #healyrae #Kerry #charlixcx #apple ♬ original sound – Michael Healy-Rae T.D. You laugh, but he actually knows the dance. Remember what I just said about someone at RTÉ teaching Joe Duffy the dance? Well, some staffer in Michael Healy Rae's office did exactly that; with him doing the dance on TikTok. Could this be how he announces a potential Presidential run? Because why the hell not? Pic: RTE He's been too quiet lately… surely this is how he makes a comeback.
