If you grew up in Ireland in the late eighties or early nineties, you didn't just hear The 4 Of Us. You lived them. Their songs were the background noise of every car radio, every school disco, and every kitchen during the Sunday roast. It’s wild to think about now, but Brendan and Declan Murphy managed to capture a very specific kind of Irish soulful pop that somehow hasn't aged a day. They weren't just a "flash in the pan" boy band or a gritty rock outfit. They were something else entirely.
Honestly, it’s the longevity that gets you. Most bands from the Newry scene—or the Irish scene in general back then—burned out by 1995. Not these guys. They’re still out there, still touring, and still making people feel something with just an acoustic guitar and a vocal harmony that only brothers can really pull off.
That Massive Debut: Songs for the Blue
You can't talk about The 4 Of Us without talking about Songs for the Blue. Released in 1989, it wasn't just a hit; it was a phenomenon in Ireland. It went gold. It went platinum. It stayed in the charts for what felt like an eternity.
"Mary." That’s the song.
Even if you think you don't know the band, you know "Mary." It’s got that driving rhythm and those lyrics about a girl who’s basically a force of nature. It won the Irish Record of the Year, and for good reason. But the album wasn't a one-trick pony. Songs like "Drag My Bad Name Down" showed a grit that most pop-rock acts of the era were way too scared to touch. They had this knack for mixing sunshine melodies with lyrics that were actually kind of dark if you bothered to listen.
The band started as a four-piece, hence the name. Along with the Murphy brothers, you had Peter McKinney and Steven Travers. While the lineup shifted over the years—eventually distilling down to the core duo of Brendan and Declan—that initial energy was what set the hook. They were young, they were sharp, and they had a sound that felt more international than a lot of the stuff coming out of Dublin at the time.
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Navigating the "Difficult" Second Album and Beyond
Everyone talks about the "sophomore slump." It’s a cliché because it’s usually true. After the massive success of their debut, the pressure for the follow-up, Man Alive (1992), was insane.
Did it reach the same heights as Songs for the Blue? Commercially, maybe not. But artistically? It was a huge leap. "She Hits Me-Me" is a masterclass in early 90s alternative pop. It had this jangly, slightly frantic energy that felt like a nod to the burgeoning Britpop scene without losing their Newry roots.
Then came the late nineties. The music industry was changing. Everything was becoming about "The Next Big Thing," and established acts were getting dropped left and right. The 4 Of Us hit a bit of a rough patch with Classified Personal in 1999. It didn't quite land the same way. But here is where the story gets interesting. Instead of packing it in and getting "real jobs," the Murphy brothers doubled down. They went independent.
Going Indie Before It Was Cool
People forget how hard it was to be an independent artist in the early 2000s. There was no Spotify. Social media was barely a thing. You had to sell CDs out of the back of a van and hope the local radio station would play your single out of the goodness of their hearts.
The 4 Of Us released Heaven & Earth in 2003. It was a pivot. It was more mature, more stripped back. It proved they weren't just "the guys who sang Mary." They were songwriters. Real ones. "Sunlight" became a massive radio hit in Ireland, proving that they still had the ear for a hook that could get stuck in your head for a week.
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Sugar Island: The Personal Turn
If you want to understand the band now, you have to listen to Sugar Island (2016). It’s probably their most cohesive and moving work. It’s a concept album, sort of. It deals with growing up in Newry during the Troubles, but it’s not a political manifesto. It’s personal.
It’s about the sights, the smells, and the specific tension of being a kid in a border town during a conflict. Songs like "Sugar Island" and "Hometown on the Border" are evocative in a way that feels like reading a memoir.
- Authenticity: They aren't trying to sound like 20-year-olds anymore.
- Storytelling: The lyrics have shifted from abstract romance to concrete memories.
- Production: It's clean, acoustic-heavy, and lets the vocals breathe.
The Murphy brothers have this symbiotic relationship on stage. If you catch them live these days, it’s often just the two of them. No big light show. No backing tracks. Just a couple of guitars and those voices. It’s intimate. It feels like they’re playing in your living room, even if they’re in a sold-out theatre.
Why They Still Matter in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss bands from the 80s as nostalgia acts. And yeah, people still want to hear the hits. But The 4 Of Us have avoided the "retro" trap by consistently releasing music that reflects where they are in life. They aren't chasing trends. They aren't trying to go viral on TikTok with a dance remix of their biggest hit—though, honestly, a "Mary" remix would probably slap.
They’ve built a career on craftsmanship. In an era where music is often treated as disposable content, there’s something deeply satisfying about a band that just writes good songs and plays them well. They’ve influenced a whole generation of Irish singer-songwriters who saw that you could stay independent, stay true to your roots, and still have a career thirty years later.
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What Most People Get Wrong
People often think of them as a "one-hit wonder" because of "Mary" or "Sunlight." That’s a massive mistake. If you look at their discography, there’s a consistent thread of high-quality pop-rock that rivals anything coming out of the UK or the US at the time. They were arguably Ireland's answer to Crowded House—smart, melodic, and deceptively complex.
They also survived the transition from the "major label" era to the "digital" era without losing their fan base. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because they’ve maintained a genuine connection with their audience. They tour relentlessly. They talk to fans. They’re "normal" guys from Newry who happen to be incredible musicians.
The Secret Sauce: The Brother Dynamic
There is something about sibling harmonies. Think about the Everly Brothers or Oasis (on a good day). There’s a frequency that only people with the same DNA can hit. Brendan’s lead vocals are distinctive—slightly raspy, full of character—and Declan’s harmonies sit right inside them.
They’ve also learned how to give each other space. In their live shows, the banter is just as important as the music. They tell stories. They take the piss out of each other. It makes the performance feel human.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Listener
If you’re new to the band or only know the radio hits, here is how you should actually dive into their catalog to appreciate the depth of what they've done:
- Start with "Sugar Island": Don't go to the hits first. Listen to the title track of their 2016 album. It sets the tone for their storytelling ability.
- Watch a Live Performance: Search for their "Acoustic Room" sessions or any recent live footage. The stripped-back versions of their songs often reveal better melodies than the original studio recordings.
- The "Deep Cut" Challenge: Listen to "Gospel Choir" from the Man Alive album. It shows their ability to blend different genres without it feeling forced.
- Follow the Tour: If you are in Ireland or the UK, go see them. They play small venues, arts centers, and festivals. It’s a masterclass in how to command a room with minimal gear.
- Listen for the Lyrics: In songs like "Washington Down," pay attention to the narrative. They are underrated lyricists who can capture a feeling of longing or regret in just a couple of lines.
The 4 Of Us didn't just survive the nineties; they outlasted the industry's expectations. They’ve proven that if the songs are strong enough, you don't need a gimmick. You just need to show up and play.