Atomic Systems

Thanks to M. Portillo (BBC 2) I learned about more about the Welsh.
Brave and great people!
And they can sing: beautiful songs and beautiful harmonies.

It grabs me in heart and soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwBTnzQC ... re=related

I do agree

My choice will be this song

This song is about the tragic events that took place in Aberfan, Wales in October 1966.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLNSLjeG ... re=related



Regards


John

Not sure why I like this since it's in Welsh, but after translating the lyrics the song is quite interesting.

Chorus:
We're still here today! We're still here today
Despite everything and everyone (x3)
We're still here today.
http://www.dafyddiwan.com/english/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjFHqMxLGjg

partyspiritz wrote:This song is about the tragic events that took place in Aberfan, Wales in October 1966.

I visited the Aberfan memorial garden in 2009, since my dad wanted to see the place, I'm not sure why, but it's such a wonderful place, but very quiet.

LeeEAS wrote:Not sure why I like this since it's in Welsh, but after translating the lyrics the song is quite interesting.Chorus:We're still here today! We're still here todayDespite everything and everyone (x3)We're still here today.http://www.dafyddiwan.com/english/index

Good choice!
As a Welshman, and a Welsh speaker, I was brought up on Dafydd Iwan
"Yma O Hyd" is the people's national anthem of Wales ("Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"/"Land Of My Fathers" is the official one), and an awesome, rousing one at that! If it was ever decided to find a new national anthem, this song would be it!
Recently, after the uncertainty of whether Wrexham FC and Crusaders RL would survive, this song is now regularly sung at the Racecourse (the footy ground here in Wrexham) - indeed, when Dafydd Iwan heard that it was being sung by the crowd, and the reasons for it, he apparently came to the Racecourse to perform it live! How cool is that?!

Cyfarchion

Dave

I, for one, have been interested in both national heritage and the scenery of the British Isles, it's the main reason I like to go hiking, you'd be surprised by some of the places I've been to, Aberfan is one such example.
I find it intriguing that my dad's side of the family came from Ireland and have a Scottish surname whilst my mum's side of the family is English with Welsh surnames.

Wales has a lot to offer, and I don't got there just for the trains. Although saying that, some of the best places to view scenery is from the train, or indeed the track bed, Ruabon - Barmouth (Or should I say Abermaw ) railway is a route I would love to walk someday. Well at least to Dolgellau anyway.

Yn y traddodiad mawreddog

The grand peps of Wales,
Whence ddraig goch hales,
Land of long tales,
Spoken in glottal gales.

Algernon.

There now follows a short test of the Welsh Sense of Humour.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBRF1ef1Hpk

One of the best "hairs standing up on the back of your neck" experiences on the planet, IMHO, is to be fortunate enough to witness Land of my Fathers being sung at full belt by 20,000 Welshmen at Cardiff Arms Park (or whatever they call it these days..) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NMDagftkvw

I attended the Wales v England match at Wembley many years ago when the Arms Park was being rebuilt (the one where Scott Gibbs last-minute try won the match for Wales... ), and was almost moved to tears by the sheer emotion and passion of being the only English supporter in that part of the stadium, surrounded by thousands of Wales supporters singing what I consider to be the world's greatest national anthem with complete abandon and commitment!

It's an experience I shall never forget, and I'm not even Welsh!

Ash

ashgray wrote:One of the best "hairs standing up on the back of your neck" experiences on the planet, IMHO, is to be fortunate enough to witness Land of my Fathers being sung at full belt by 20,000 Welshmen at Cardiff Arms Park (or whatever they call it these days..)

No it's not!
It's when you're there and you're singing it with them!

I prefer this (And I don't like football)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooKy2br0B4g

Born and brought up in England and a resident for long periods in England. Wales and Scotland. I have seen the best and the worst of all the tribes.
A common factor is that one nation can make fun of another without apparently realising that what they are doing is not acceptable.
To go out of ones away to say in a forum about the Welsh that you prefer a jingoistic Proms favourite seems to me to be a deliberate attempt to taint the Welsh.


Tony

Oh dear... and it was all going so reasonably as well...

Sometimes I despair at the attitudes in the open forums.

Ash

There's absolutely nothing wrong with either Rule Britannia or Land of my Fathers.
It's the last verse of "God Save the Queen" that's an issue.

Sorry Tony,

I have to disagree, and I'm surprised at your post because you are old enough to remember when folk were robust enough to laugh at a ribbing. In fact if folk didn't take the whizz you worried THEN that you'd upset them somehow. Mind you maybe I grew up hating nobody and always assumed that they wouldn't hate me. Not in my experience a personal characteristic but one that was shared by all my friends as youngsters and still is today 60 years later.

Far from unacceptable I'd say that a bit of good humoured ribbing is what has made the Union strong. But then perhaps in this era of revisionist history and the extreme idiocies of the PC brigade that strength has been undermined?

Having said that please don't start a thread on the French....... I'm really enjoying my surprise Xmas gift : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Years-Annoying- ... 633&sr=8-1

Geoff

Having said that please don't start a thread on the French.......

That's altogether another bone apart.