Damo and Ivor

Last updated

Damo and Ivor
MediumTelevision
NationalityIrish
Years active2011–2018
Genres Character comedy
Notable works and roles Republic of Telly
Damo and Ivor
MembersAndrew Quirke
Actor Andy Quirke in the roles of Damo and Ivor Damo And Ivor.jpg
Actor Andy Quirke in the roles of Damo and Ivor

Damo and Ivor was a comedy duo act from Ireland, composed of two contrasting Dublin stereotypes, both portrayed by Andrew Quirke. The characters first appeared on bebo and YouTube - most notably in 'Skanger Me Banger(sic)'in late 2007/early 2008 and first on television in RTE's, Republic of Telly in 2011. [1] Their musical parody, "Everybody's Drinkin'" debuted at sixth position in the Irish Singles Chart in April 2011 after the music video was shown on the programme. [2] On 16 September 2013 their television show, Damo and Ivor debuted on RTÉ Two. [1]

Contents

Description

Damo Whelan and Ivor Itchdaddy are caricatures played by Andrew 'Andy' Quirke who takes on the twin personas of skanger Damo and D4 Ivor. [2] The characters represent the northside-southside Dublin divide. [3] The character of Damo, a colloquialism of the names Damon, Damian, or Damien originated in a Bebo video called Skanger me Banger, a satire of the MTV show Pimp My Ride , set in inner city Dublin. [2] [4]

Cast

Production

Development

The song and video, "Everybody's Drinkin'" debuted on Republic of Telly , a TV review and magazine programme on Irish public broadcaster, RTÉ Two. This was aided by the video, which cost €2,470 to make, [2] going viral on YouTube and gaining over 70,000 hits in under a week. The song which is a double-pronged attack on Dublin drinking culture [5] resembles David Guetta's "Sexy Chick" and tells the story of a raucous night out from characters on both sides of the social divide. It features two contrasting Dublin stereotypes, which ends in each "getting shitfaced". It debuted at number six in the Irish Charts in April 2011 [2] and has been compared to The Rubberbandits' "Horse Outside" which was also featured on Republic of Telly. [6]

"Big Box Little Box" is the second single released by Damo and Ivor, released on 24 October 2011. [7]

Commissioning

After the positive reception of Damo and Ivor on Republic of Telly, RTÉ Two commissioned a television show based on the duo. It follows the story of the identical twin brothers who were separated after birth. Their mother, unable to look after both of them, sells Ivor to a wealthy family in Foxrock, Dublin, while Damo is raised by his grandmother. Damo and Ivor began airing 16 September 2013 on RTÉ Two. [8]

Lawsuit

Irish singer-songwriter Damien O'Regan tried to sue the national broadcaster and Andrew Quirke for alleged copyright infringement over their use of the name "Damo" in the television show Damo and Ivor several days before it was set to air. He claimed he registered the name "Damo" with the Irish Patent Office several years beforehand and believed the infringement would damage the goodwill he had spent years building. He brought his case to the Irish High Court and requested an injunction. [1] The show aired as planned and the case was dropped with O'Regan agreeing to waive any entitlements or rights to the name "Damo" as part of the Damo and Ivor concept. [9]

Reception

Criticism

"Everybody's Drinkin'" has attracted some criticism with Michael O'Doherty of the Evening Herald calling it an "expensively produced, booze-sodden, bikini model-infested video homage to binge-drinking." [10] The Irish National Parents Council Post Primary said: "The implication of this behaviour is being trivialised and glamorised without any cognisance of the danger to the lives of our young people" while Fionnuala Sheehan, chief executive of Drink Aware is quoted as saying "We are concerned about trends such as these because, the more people are exposed to images of excessive drinking, the more they normalise such behaviour." [2]

Discography

Albums

Album titleAlbum detailsChart positions
IRL
[11]
Epic Choons
  • Release Date: 4 November 2011
  • Label: Skanger Records
  • Format: CD, digital download
31 [12]

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionAlbum
IRL
[11]
2011"Everybody's Drinkin'"6Epic Choons
"Big Box Little Box'"26
"Thank God It's Christmas'"—
2012"Maniac 2012'"4
"Horny'"—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Alison O'Riordan (8 May 2011). "Dr Quirkey heir Andrew in shock binge-drink video". Irish Independent . Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  2. ↑ "Damo & Ivor: Number 1 On The iTune Charts". Broadsheet.ie. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Everybody's drinkin by Damo and Ivor". Gombeen Nation. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  4. ↑ "Is Damo and Ivor's viral hit on its way to the top of the Irish charts?". Hot Press . 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Is Damo and Ivor's Everybody's Drinkin' the new Horse Outside". Joe.ie. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  6. ↑ Damo & Ivor. "Big Box Little Box - Single". iTunes . Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "RTÉ television Damo and Ivor". RTÉ News. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 14 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Damo and Ivor High Court challenge resolved". Irish Independent. 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Michael O'Doherty (28 April 2011). "Dr Quirkey heir Andy seems to think binge drinking is a subject for mirth. Wrong". Evening Herald . Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Damo and Ivor Epic Choons Music Charts". αCharts. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "Epic Choons by Damo and Ivor - Music Charts". αCharts. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
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