two amazingly talented dancers and entertainers. these two people are some of the reasons why I moved to Ireland and why I still love this country to this day. just WOW
Both Jean and Michael came forward as very pleasant people in this interview, but as a man I have to say: Jean is spectacular! WOW! I remember the first time I saw her in the ESC 1994. She looked like the girl of my dreams!❤
This is my first time seeing this! So very amazing to watch! Thank you for posting it. I’m a “new”, old(66 yo) Flatley fan! Can’t get enough of his magical feet, uncompromising faith, incredible work ethic and gentle heart.
1994 an historic year for Irish step dancing with lead American Irish dancers Jean Butler and Michael Flately. Irish step dancing is beautiful and so were the Irish step dancers troupe who performed wonderfully in front of huge audiences worldwide. Splendid! Magnificent! Bravo!
Thank you for sharing this! Jean is such a beautiful young woman, inside and out. They are My age, Michaels a year older, born on South Side of Chicago, and I was born on North Side, (County Kerry and Cork lineage). I haven't been to Ireland yet, but I plan to go to County Kerry and stay for an extended visit, walk barefoot on the land of my Ancestory, Paint, Write, and have a drink of "Red Breast" daily. 😘
What a fabulous interview and history in the making there. Michael was so humble and almost shy (not too shy to steal a bit too much of the limelight on the night, though Jean was a little reticent) - traits he shook off soon enough, but very much to his advantage and in an admirable way. These two made the term "plastic paddy" an accolade rather than some sort of backhanded insult - something this 100% Irish, London born Irishman is very grateful to them for. Such a shame people born in Ireland today are denied their Irishness by those same begrudgers because they have a different skin colour.
@@Yasi_nzi nope never married, Michael was married at the time, and Jean was dating someone too, but Jean was never interested in him at all, If memory serves me correctly Jean thought Michael was a bit of an egomaniac and a control freak
And he was....he left riverdance to do Lord of the Dance. She stayed and performed with Colin Dunne (sp)? Who iirc beat Flatley in taps per second in the Guinness book of world records.
@@merdab8 not quite. They let him go because they wouldn’t let him dance his choreography the way he wanted. Then proceeded to continue to use his choreography after they let him go and make a huge profit.
They have such interesting accents, you can tell they must have had Irish born parents because some of their phrasing and pronunciations are more definitely Irish, mixed with some American pronunciation. Overall an interesting retrospect, I suppose you can see that probably with each subsequent generation the original Irish accent gets diluted and lost
They adapted their accents to fit the audience. I watched Michael Flatley and Jean Butler being interviewed (separately) by American American news outlets, and they both spoke in much sharper American accents in those interviews.
Gay is a great man. He says the " strapping" its a wonderful word. Were you eve r told as a kid " your a strap" as if a kid knew what a strap was 😅. But HOWEVER you knew you did something wrong. Its Brilliant 😅😅❤
How did Irish dance purists receive this version of their traditional dance? With approval? Often the old guard really dislike their art being brought up to date.
They had great chemistry together, but my understanding has always been that they did not get off stage; While an extraordinary talent, Flatley had a reputation of being hard to work with because he possessed a very large ego.
I think she was already taken cuz she has a ring on her finger...if she wasnt taken they wouldve sure started a relationship.. the chemistry is fireeee
That Irish accent was put on. He's since reverted back to more of an American accent. Make no mistake. He was born in Detroit and grew up on the south side of Chicago.
Put Michael in Ireland and he’ll sound more Irish since he grew up around it with his parents. But put him back in Chicago and he’ll eventually sound more American. Everyone does it. The linguistic term for it is code-switching. :)
Michael Flatley did in fact do the moonwalk in Riverdance: The Show. You can find the full show on youtube. It's after "Heartland" at the very end of the show, when Flatley does his last solo.
Watch out!! The accent purists are about!! I never understood this obsession with the need to validate the purity of peoples accents. Like, people travel and have different cultural influences. Unless you're Judy Weeks who has never left her village and so has a perfectly pure and untainted accent.
@@kitsilanomusician2669 Oh blah, blah, blah. Nobody picks up an Irish accent that quickly. He was raised in Chicago and she was raised in New York. He's at least in his thirties here so it's not like he went to school in Ireland, you dope. They are putting it on for the audience to which they are playing. Nobody asked you to understand anything but now that you mention it, people who pretend to have an accent, other than the one they grew up with, are phony.
@@judyweeks1480 Yes "Nobody picks up an Irish accent that quickly" Surprisingly, as an accent expert, you fail to include the Parent's role in accent formation. Michael's Father was from Sligo and Mother was from Carlow. Michael was born in American. Hence, an Irish-American accent. Is that so complicated to comprehend? Now quit your bellyaching and leave it be.
Euck, this interview is so cringey. Michael Flatley and Jean both had amazing stories but only one of them really got to talk. The interviewer kept cutting Jean short and kept alluding to really stupid things like her sex appeal. Flatley has lots of that, too. He could have spoken about the performance as whole. The interviewer didn't even bother to find out whether or not Jean had a boyfriend before the interview or before he started being a perv and then they couldn't even find the boyfriend in the audience. So gross.
Michael & Jean look so uhm, connected, and Beata looks a bit uncomfortable watching from the audience until Michael says he's the 'luckiest guy in the world' etc to have her.
Jean Butler is very talented and very pretty. That performance at the Eurovision so long ago was amazing. Totally overshadowed the Eurovision itself
Welcome
So easy. What a joke.
two amazingly talented dancers and entertainers. these two people are some of the reasons why I moved to Ireland and why I still love this country to this day. just WOW
These two lifted Ireland to a cultural zenith
90s was a golden age. Great time to be living in Ireland
No it wasn’t.
@@boywonder6659 Sorry you feel that way. I thought it was great
@@shane7103 Don’t be sorry on my behalf.
Thank you.
@@boywonder6659 You're welcome
Those two are beyond fabulous! Loved this.
I watched him life in San Francisco many years ago - His shows are always fantastic
Both Jean and Michael came forward as very pleasant people in this interview, but as a man I have to say: Jean is spectacular! WOW! I remember the first time I saw her in the ESC 1994. She looked like the girl of my dreams!❤
Thank you so much for send me this interessant dance video, CR's Video Vaults. I'm so glad for this.
This is my first time seeing this! So very amazing to watch! Thank you for posting it. I’m a “new”, old(66 yo) Flatley fan! Can’t get enough of his magical feet, uncompromising faith, incredible work ethic and gentle heart.
ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE. younger I did alot of kloging it's hard work.they do it so gracefully. and make it look so easy.thank you for the video.
Fell in love with Jean Butler the minute I saw her. Absolute perfection. Still think she is a babe years later!
She has become a master teacher
Fabulous dancer
Agree an icon and a beauty
Me too.
that piece Micahel did with the guys...it reminds me so much of warlords from lord of the dance...so freaking awesome...thanks for sharing.
1994 an historic year for Irish step dancing with lead American Irish dancers Jean Butler and Michael Flately. Irish step dancing is beautiful and so were the Irish step dancers troupe who performed wonderfully in front of huge audiences worldwide. Splendid! Magnificent! Bravo!
So the dancers are just "Irish dancers" they're not doing step dancing, there are differences just so you know.
@@Alexandra_Hill Nonsense
@@mavericklane6206 no, not nonsense. There are differences.
@@Alexandra_Hill Nonsense x 2
@@mavericklane6206 grow up
Michael has a wonderful voice he is gorgeous
Thank you for sharing this!
Jean is such a beautiful young woman, inside and out. They are My age, Michaels a year older, born on South Side of Chicago, and I was born on North Side, (County Kerry and Cork lineage).
I haven't been to Ireland yet, but I plan to go to County Kerry and stay for an extended visit, walk barefoot on the land of my Ancestory, Paint, Write, and have a drink of "Red Breast" daily. 😘
Tá fáilte romhat.
Combo of Irish jig, tap dance, flamenco, and ballet. Amazing.
Jean was the Queen!
I can't even imagine how their bodies do it. It is so amazing amazing amazing!!!
Such grace, athleticism, rhythm, speed.
She is amazing
perfection
What a fabulous interview and history in the making there. Michael was so humble and almost shy (not too shy to steal a bit too much of the limelight on the night, though Jean was a little reticent) - traits he shook off soon enough, but very much to his advantage and in an admirable way. These two made the term "plastic paddy" an accolade rather than some sort of backhanded insult - something this 100% Irish, London born Irishman is very grateful to them for. Such a shame people born in Ireland today are denied their Irishness by those same begrudgers because they have a different skin colour.
Michael holding out the chair for Jean. A gentleman...They really were the most magical couple
Did they ever marry? They looked so cute together
@@Yasi_nzi nope never married, Michael was married at the time, and Jean was dating someone too, but Jean was never interested in him at all, If memory serves me correctly Jean thought Michael was a bit of an egomaniac and a control freak
And he was....he left riverdance to do Lord of the Dance. She stayed and performed with Colin Dunne (sp)? Who iirc beat Flatley in taps per second in the Guinness book of world records.
@@merdab8 not quite. They let him go because they wouldn’t let him dance his choreography the way he wanted. Then proceeded to continue to use his choreography after they let him go and make a huge profit.
They hated each other with a deep passion, they were not close at all.
The inspiration for the Seinfeld "Puffy Shirt" episode!
Olağanüstü, harika 👍👍👏👏🌹❤️ Muhteşem bir çift ve efsane gösterileri.... !nanılmaz 👍✌️🌹🌹
New York and Chicago born Jean Butler and Micheal Flatley.
The Riverdance stars of course.
They seemed to pick up Irish accents - presumably with their upbringing, it was latent and once they were in Ireland, it came out automatically.
They have such interesting accents, you can tell they must have had Irish born parents because some of their phrasing and pronunciations are more definitely Irish, mixed with some American pronunciation. Overall an interesting retrospect, I suppose you can see that probably with each subsequent generation the original Irish accent gets diluted and lost
Michael was born in Chicago, but his parents emigrated from Ireland and he was (as he says) “raised on both sides of the water” 😊
They adapted their accents to fit the audience. I watched Michael Flatley and Jean Butler being interviewed (separately) by American American news outlets, and they both spoke in much sharper American accents in those interviews.
Fabulous Dancing xx
26 years ago now 😳
So long ago! 😳
I kept trying to figure out how to adjust the tracking on my iPad. ;)
even the cat loves it
Was that a kiss on the lips at 6:15 ? Would be controversial today.
Gay is a great man. He says the " strapping" its a wonderful word. Were you eve r told as a kid " your a strap" as if a kid knew what a strap was 😅. But HOWEVER you knew you did something wrong. Its Brilliant 😅😅❤
michael
How did Irish dance purists receive this version of their traditional dance? With approval? Often the old guard really dislike their art being brought up to date.
these two are the best!!!!!
Sensacional!
I was 18 yr old fella at the time... Jaysus chhhrist Mrs butler...😦😣😦
Roll it there Roisín please
Butler/Flatley family roots,
Fiachna and Fauchna in action 😀
Michael seems like a lovely fella 👍
He would be if his ego didn’t get in his way.
Jean Butler is very beautiful looking in this
The audience had been dug up from the grave yard that same morning.
Finding
Jean sounds very nervous
MrSinn I think it’s the recording
@@Wafaloo It is ;) @mrsinn2642: the host and Flatley both have weird voices due to the bad tape.
Jean Butler was, and likely still is, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!
Are they a couple or just dance partners would love to know more about them
They had great chemistry together, but my understanding has always been that they did not get off stage; While an extraordinary talent, Flatley had a reputation of being hard to work with because he possessed a very large ego.
I think Michael wanted to stick his knob up her, but she thought he was a twat, so...
I think she was already taken cuz she has a ring on her finger...if she wasnt taken they wouldve sure started a relationship.. the chemistry is fireeee
Micheal was married at the time
@@Featherfawn Yes.
its finegans wake ... the tap dace
How disgusting the TV presenter asking Jean for a kiss in the mouth. Wtf.
😅 Good ol' days huh before #metoo
he's picked up a slight Irish accent since that interview. living in Ireland for a few decades would do that.
That Irish accent was put on. He's since reverted back to more of an American accent. Make no mistake. He was born in Detroit and grew up on the south side of Chicago.
@@christopherwarren4293 He spent half his childhood in Ireland.
Christopher Warren And what about Jean, isn’t she from Long Island and Alabama?
Both his parents were born in Ireland and he has always spoken that way. It was not put on at all.
Put Michael in Ireland and he’ll sound more Irish since he grew up around it with his parents. But put him back in Chicago and he’ll eventually sound more American. Everyone does it. The linguistic term for it is code-switching. :)
This sounds like some console or game menu song.
Flatley my dear I don’t Riverdance
Fun fact some of jeans family married into the Flatley family.
That must have made some awkward family reunions.
Fresh faced Jean Butler I think she was 19 yrs old.
23 actually
Она красивая
The calfs on that stringbean dancing girl!
I'd love to see Michael and Jean doing Michael Jackson's 'Moonwalk'. Smiles.
Michael Flatley did in fact do the moonwalk in Riverdance: The Show. You can find the full show on youtube. It's after "Heartland" at the very end of the show, when Flatley does his last solo.
God I Love freckles.
Don’t take the name of thy Lord your God in vain…blasphemer.
Hey booty,bite me@@bootsie280
For two people born in the States, they have a strange accent?
Watch out!! The accent purists are about!!
I never understood this obsession with the need to validate the purity of peoples accents. Like, people travel and have different cultural influences. Unless you're Judy Weeks who has never left her village and so has a perfectly pure and untainted accent.
@@kitsilanomusician2669 Oh blah, blah, blah. Nobody picks up an Irish accent that quickly. He was raised in Chicago and she was raised in New York. He's at least in his thirties here so it's not like he went to school in Ireland, you dope. They are putting it on for the audience to which they are playing. Nobody asked you to understand anything but now that you mention it, people who pretend to have an accent, other than the one they grew up with, are phony.
Jean moved to Ireland when she was 17
@@nocomment4047 Her accent isn't as thick as Michael's
@@judyweeks1480
Yes "Nobody picks up an Irish accent that quickly"
Surprisingly, as an accent expert, you fail to include the Parent's role in accent formation.
Michael's Father was from Sligo and Mother was from Carlow.
Michael was born in American. Hence, an Irish-American accent.
Is that so complicated to comprehend?
Now quit your bellyaching and leave it be.
Amazing that flatleys current wife danced in the original riverdance show. He sidelined Beata for her😁
The original riverdance show at the Eurovision? because that was definitely Jean.
@@Alexandra_Hill flatleys wife was one of the backing dancers. Obviously not the principal dancer.
@@corkboy4523 gotcha, sorry, I didn't read you comment properly.
she's still hot
She's still hot in 1994, definitely.
when talking about the upcoming show ..why did the host say "black tap dancers" from American...since when does tap dancing have a color?
Technically Irish dance is traditionally white while American tap has its roots in african black culture
Because there were black American tap dancers in the early Riverdance shows
Jean Butler never dance so well as Michael Flathey he is the best .
No, he’s not.
Jean has said that Colin Dunne is, ‘the best Irish dancer I’ve met.’
why this video is ALWAYS OUT OF SYNC???? for the fuck sake, this is cursed or something?
Because it’s from 1994, axxhole, long before digital was around.
Euck, this interview is so cringey. Michael Flatley and Jean both had amazing stories but only one of them really got to talk. The interviewer kept cutting Jean short and kept alluding to really stupid things like her sex appeal. Flatley has lots of that, too. He could have spoken about the performance as whole. The interviewer didn't even bother to find out whether or not Jean had a boyfriend before the interview or before he started being a perv and then they couldn't even find the boyfriend in the audience. So gross.
Well that's how it was back in those days!
Michael & Jean look so uhm, connected, and Beata looks a bit uncomfortable watching from the audience until Michael says he's the 'luckiest guy in the world' etc to have her.
Michael FLATFOOT😀😀😀😀😀
Listen to that Accent....He is about as Irish as Winston Churchill
He was bon in CHICAGO😀😀😀😀😀
His parents were Irish that moved to America
@@vincenthigginbotham8729 True. Good take.
I bet the sweat was dripping off her flaps after that.
Thanks for the image. No, really.