The Commitments

Roddy Doyle

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

Barrytown, Dublin, has something to sing about.

 The Commitments are spreading the gospel of the soul. Ably managed by Jimmy Rabbitte, brilliantly coached by Joey 'The Lips' Fagan, their twin assault on Motown and Barrytown takes them by leaps and bounds from the parish hall to the steps of the studio door.

But can The Commitments live up to their name?

'An absurd comedy of the commonplace...a charming, truthful and immensely funny story which leaves you gasping for more.'

Review by Ben Macnair (110325) Rating (8/10)

Review by Ben Macnair
Book Source: Not Known
Rating 8/10
Dublin. Soul music.

Jimmy Rabbit is putting together a band. Two old friends, Outspan on guitar, and Derek on Bass are the first recruits. Then he adds in Deco Cuffe, a socially awkward singer with a great voice and an ego to match. He adds in a pianist, who is training to be a Doctor, Dean who is learning the Saxophone his uncle left him, and Joey ‘The Lips’ Fagin, an eccentric, and much older trumpet player, who says he has played with all of the greats. Add in three female backing singers. A lot of work, and dodgy behaviour, and you have what some dreams are made of.

The novel is steeped in the language of the streets, with all of the swearing, and colloquial language that entails. It is written in a style that is economical and rhythmic. Short and to the point, like the music they play.

When Dean starts spiralling on his Saxophone he is castigated for playing jazz. As the band puts the hours in as a band, and individually they get better, but egos soon show, with Deco being particularly difficult.

As the gigs begin to pour in, the audiences get bigger, the repertoire expands, and there is even interest from a small local record producer.

However, the wheels soon come off. Deco causes one last argument, and the band splits, their potential untapped, their dreams unrealised, many of us who dreamed of one day playing in a successful band, there is much pathos in the unrealised dream. The what if. The might have been.

The book is different to the film, and the ending in particular is completely different.

 However, both are different beasts, and the story of the Commitments, and the dreams of Jimmy Rabbite live on in both of them.
Ben Macnair (11th March 2025)