Craig Gallagher has redesigned
an Elvis classic into his own style.
By Colleen Taylor
I thought if I’d heard Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” once, I’d heard it a million times. But one young Irishman proved me wrong. Twenty-five-year old Craig Gallagher’s rendition was chilling, gorgeous, and brilliantly simple. Gallagher released his own acoustic rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” last month, in which he lets the range of his voice evoke the emotion inherent in the lyrics. But a cover of Elvis isn’t all Gallagher has up his sleeve.
Much of Gallagher’s career, though, has been spent in his friend Gavin James’s shadow. Gavin James is a rising Irish superstar, known for winning the Choice Music Award, filling the 3Arena, and his energetic showmanship—hard feats to follow. Craig Gallagher has performed as James’s opening act for years, but recently, he is working on his solo reputation. If I had my pick between the two singers, I’d choose James for a big concert with friends and Gallagher for an intimate performance in a pub. Gallagher’s voice is deeply emotive, powerful, and flexible. It’s the kind of vocal skill that would enchant in a small enough setting. Despite their similarities, I think their differing quality is that James’s singing focuses on crowd impact—the ability of a voice to move an audience. Gallagher’s singing, on the other hand, seems more interested in the solitary listener. He has the ability to individualize with his singing, to explore the relationship between voice, lyric, and self.
Despite being used to playing second fiddle, Gallagher is doing well for himself. He has over 6,000 followers online, released an EP titled “Home” in 2016, and his more recent single releases have fans praising his name. What sold me on Gallagher was his original song “Without You” on his EP, “Home.” Instrumentally simple—like all of his music thus far—this song soars on the merit of Gallagher’s voice alone. The chorus pairs his heartbroken vocals with violin and soft percussion. “Without You” is a modern ballad that truly captivates. It made me think that Gallagher isn’t just a recent hype, but a true talent.
The year 2016 was a busy one for Gallagher. Following the release of “Home,” he made another single, “Stay,” which is even more heartbreaking than his EP, if that was possible. And the latest, is “Can’t Help Falling With You,” in which he completely redesigns the classic into his own style—just Gallagher, a muted electric guitar, and the words. In a time when Dublin’s electro scene is, in many ways, taking over Irish music as a whole, Craig Gallagher is a welcome relief. He is not afraid to stand alone behind the mic with just his voice and a guitar. To me, that’s the very definition of the Irish music ballad tradition.
As of now, Gallagher is still working as a supporting act. He’ll be playing gigs in London, Limerick, then supporting Tash Sultana on their European tour. But he is still only beginning. His first full studio album release will be one to watch and may solidify Craig Gallagher not just as a talent, but as a star too.
