Thank Huw it’s Friday.
That means another magnificent music competition.
With St David’s Day being celebrated earlier this week by our Celtic cousins, now is the time to ask: What’s your favourite song by a Welsh musician or band?
Here’s mine.
Reply below to be in with a chance of winning a tafftacular €20 voucher redeemable at any Currys PC World branch.
The winner will be chosen by my alter ego.
Lines close at Saturday 11am.
Nick says: Pob lwc! (Good luck!)
Last week’s winner here.
Sponsored Link
My karaoke favourite –
Tom Jones – Never gonna fall in love
https://youtu.be/5vMx63ZCd88
Manic street preachers – motorcycle emptiness
One of the catchiest tune and uplifting songs from a brilliant band,
Super Furry Animals – Rings Around The World
https://youtu.be/-i2Kn-EXh_A
Enjoy
Same band, “Northern Lights” – possibly the only music video to combine olympic Curling with the Cork national sport of Road-bowling:
https://youtu.be/dv1h3VSQjf8
absolutely anything with cerys matthews
Yes but especially Strange Glue by Catalonia
https://youtu.be/k0mPUNbRxW4
Catatonia – Road Rage
https://youtu.be/U_bL0EqlDEk
Dead from the waist down is a great song, really showcases her vocal talent.
Before I go too far, I want to throw this one in, and related to last week’s competition about rivers. During the week, my family group reminded me of a singer (and of course a song) that related to rivers. So out of competition, but hoping you enjoy let me offer you Roger Whittaker and The Leaving of Durham Town (second verse for the river reference):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBdaA8JENzo
Now, on to find a Muppet reference!
Roger Whittaker.
Now, here’s a question for you.
Mexican Whistle. What Irish language detective series was that the theme for? (Hint…. Joe Lynch was in it)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HzKQfrNseoI
Beautiful. Thanks Slightly.
I wait with bated breath
Manics and Nina
“Your love alone”
https://vimeo.com/435149586
Tom Jones, Sexbom, obv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMoXON7k–c
b
Apparently it is not unusual!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2-nfqekKrw
Manic Street Preachers – La tristesse durera
Katell Keineg – The Gulf of Araby
https://youtu.be/8Nq5Zw3r_qs
Utterly sublime…
If you could fill a veil with shells from Killiney’s shore
And sweet talk in a tongue that is no more
And if wishful thoughts could bridge The Gulf of Araby
Between what is, what is, what is
And what can never be
That’s lovely thanks SG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi-jnDSuxf4
Breadfan by Budgie. Cited as a huge influence by Exodus, Metallica, Megadeth….
https://youtu.be/54H3EUAzpVg
Fantastic, never knew that was by a band from Wales ! I can remember Metallica covering it on Garage Inc.
Yeah, a lot of their stuff was covered by Metallica et al. The Garage Days cover kicks ass.
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – they could have been bigger, but the crazy name, penchant for singing songs half in English and half in Welsh, and lyrics about salt, xylophones and mowing the lawn, probably didn’t do them any favours.
This was their biggest “hit” which just missed the top 40, “Patio Song”:
https://youtu.be/KVrg6av-nI8
Nick’s pick
Golden Retriever by Super Furry Animals. Banger of a song and its about dogs so whats not to like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNB3WWkNVhM
stereophonics, dakota. catchy as hell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzBJQnD7TRM
Motorcycle Emptiness -Manic Street Preachers has been mentioned already, however, it is my favourite song of all time so it has to be chosen.
https://youtu.be/gavcjNniIvk
I never miss the Manics when they come to Ireland. I saw them in the Tivoli around October/November 1994; just three months later Richey Edwards walked off into the ether. I remember there were some parts of the gig where he kept banging his forehead off the microphone. Who knows what was going through his mind at the time. He could write some lyrics though
If, by some travesty of justice the Manics aren’t chosen, my back up is Super Furry Animals – Northern Lights.
https://youtu.be/BXJoGAe0R3w
This is just nuts, they were off their nut most of the time and still the Welshest band I’ve ever heard.
I was going to say Budgie, but beaten to it, so… The band Man, still going since 1968
Spunk Rock – Greasy Truckers https://youtu.be/A5wdyyjci0o
Manic Street Preachers – A Design For Life.
Soundtrack of my twenties.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfEoVxy7VDQ&ab_channel=ManicStPreachersVEVO
Never mind the most 80s ad, the most 80 song and music video is from Wales’ own Bonnie Tyler.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
https://youtu.be/lcOxhH8N3Bo
I would also recommend the literal version of the video (with ninjas!)
https://youtu.be/fsgWUq0fdKk
Riverman by Nick Drake-1969.
Down by the Banks of the Ohio by Olivia Newton John-1971.
The River-Springstein-1980.
if i’m not mistaken Leonard Cohen dead for years won song of the last deacde,he missed most it.
some tunes no wonder the ‘irish’ music is mostly trite on here.
Kid-CuDi – Mojo So Dope
https://youtu.be/-Iz9qOhAzdc
He died in November 2016 so lived for most of that decade.
playback.
Mango X Mathman (Feat. Irena Drezi)
Biig Piig
Kojaque
James Vincent McMorrow
Tolu Makay
Loah & Bantum
Gemma Dunleavy
Jafaris
Rejjie Snow, Snoh Aalegra & Cam O’Bi
https://www.irishscreenamerica.com/
..to name just a few,but yeah fooking Leonard Cohen:)
Johnny, you obviously don’t follow my daily music posts very closely: I’ve covered four of the artists in your list very recently. Do keep up.
actually, make that 5 on your list.
Yeah nick I must really try harder keep up,oh patio your song this week was released 1992…nothing good after huh.
Remember the 90s, when it seemed like half the indie top 20 were from Wales?
Just because they haven’t been mentioned (and because they had some decent tracks), here’s an early gem from Feeder – Tangerine
https://youtu.be/kyR7Keqmr9Q
Los Campesinos! – You! Me! Dancing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj6SO_yKMe8
Los Campesinos -Death to Los Campesinos
https://youtu.be/MpUViv00u5Y
Not strictly Welsh but formed in Cardiff University. Wonderful, ramshackle indie tune hurtling along to its conclusion
Goldie Lookin Chain – Your Mother’s Got a Penis
https://youtu.be/xpXfkU89yIY
If every waster you’ve ever known got together and formed a band, this would be it; and, yet and yet it features one of my favourite ever uses of a sample that will make this an earworm from Eric Clapton’s 1987 track “Behind the Mask”
Juxtaposed With U – Super Furry Animals
The beautiful melancholic sweetness of these vocals is the ideal hybrid sound of a human and a robot, it releases the endorphins like no other. Like a cross between Magazine and the Eels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PkL0Hij9QI
Great call. Had forgotten that beaut.
The Gift, based on a short story written by Lou Reed and performed deadpan by John Cale, is a cautionary tale of long distance love and the need for care in unboxing your parcel delivery.
https://youtu.be/y5I43qhtd1M
Los Campesinos -Death to Los Campesinos
https://youtu.be/MpUViv00u5Y
Not strictly Welsh but formed in Cardiff University. Wonderful, ramshackle indie tune hurtling along to its conclusion
Goldie Lookin Chain – Your Mother’s Got a Peni$
https://youtu.be/xpXfkU89yIY
If every waster you’ve ever known got together and formed a band, this would be it; and yet and yet, it features one of my favourite ever uses of a sample – that will make this an earworm – from Eric Clapton’s 1987 track “Behind the Mask”
More Manics – great cover of Suicide is Painless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y11f8Oc25AI
The Welsh Male Voice Choir is a thing of beauty. During the 18th century nonconformist congregations formed tenor-bass choirs that led chapel-goers in the singing of hymns, both in English and in Welsh. Singing in these choirs was one of the crucial methods the Welsh used to establish their rugged individualism, especially in the wake of their dying language, political struggles and cultural constraints from the English. It’s tradition still endures.
Ever the cultural magpie, Damon Albarn, hooked up with Côr y Penrhyn for the standout track on The Good, The Bad and The Queen’s 2018 album Merrie Land.
Dwi wrth dy gefn
https://youtu.be/xLwwNXUUwzw
From the film Zulu, Men of Harlech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrE8vOM0ss
A little bloody towards the end, sorry
Michael Caine’s first major filum
now THIS is a voice:
shirley bassey doing ‘goldfinger’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D1nK7q2i8I
Anything by that lady, to be honest! I always loved her version of Stormy Weather
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMlGlEVHp3Y
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/walking-in-the-air-lyrics-solo/
the welsh OWN christmas – aled jones ‘walking in the air’
You cannot do Welsh singers without Charlotte Church, and especially her first one
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhY07WXK8j0
Speaking of Ms Church……
Poor old Pat Kenny got caught rotten when talking about her former squeeze.
https://youtu.be/A3xFxaVucmE
Does Oggy Oggy Oggy count as a Welsh song?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZK9_N69s2M
who doesn’t enjoy a spot of welsh nationalism of a friday?
dafydd iwan, president of paid cymru doing his party piece – ‘yma o hyd’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WooUv0QttKs
Dunno if Led Zeppelin count, but Bron y Aur Stomp (You can tell all your friends around the world, ain’t no companion like a blue-eyed merle)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PFmGicOEeY
I do believe that was recorded in a welsh quarry. Excellent tune.
I reckon this one may get toes tappin’ – it does mine
Might even put a smile on some faces.- it does on mine too.
Hillbilly Moon Explosion featuring Sparky Philips – Jackson
https://youtu.be/_HM_gPFsDpc
The counterpoint of the grit in his throat and the velvet in hers.
Don’t know where the Hillbilly Moon Explosion are from, Sparky is Welsh.
Shirley Bassey
Burn my candle…
https://youtu.be/na3bdNJdtO0
or Light my Fire
https://youtu.be/O4dAlxkTUZc
Burn down Babylon !
Tom Jones
Looking out my Window
https://youtu.be/aAXA9grBDMU
That man had a set of pipes on him.
I don’t think anybody will top Aled Jones tho.
Duffy – Mercy
https://youtu.be/y7ZEVA5dy-Y
I had told myself I would cease and dissist, however
As I believe the dancers would shout when the decks stopped spinning
ONE MORE TUNE – Happy Friday
the most streamed song in welsh EVER. and it kicks ASS.
alfaa – ‘gwenwynn’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR_8U2Xzthk
Here’s a lovely version of Hallelujah by the great John Cale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdNdncBTc-Q
Gwenno “Tir Ha Mor” – actually in Cornish, not Welsh, but she is from Cardiff.
https://youtu.be/-rCeygWexyA
there’s been a few SFA tunes mentioned, so here’s one from Gruff Rhys solo, the guy is a Welsh national treasure. This is a 15 minute shaggy dog story about terrorism and celebrity “Skylon!”
https://youtu.be/yPwr4-2OU6o
Badfinger “Without You”
Having toyed with Shankin’ Stevens, Charlie Landsborough,The Flying Pickets & Max Boyce I plumped for those victims of the original great rock ‘n’ Roll swindle the tragic & luckless Badfinger. The Swansea power poppers came as close as anyone ever has to capturing on a piece of black vinyl the true sound of heartbreak, a song all the more affecting when you realise the cruel & tragic fate that awaited them. A double suicide, endless legal wrangles, dodgy advice, leaving Apple records & a manager who did a runner with their winnings. Originally from their 1970 studio long player “No Dice” it’s been covered by over 130 artists including famously Harry Nielsen who has spent a career dining out on it.
Badfinger – Without You – YouTube
From back in the day… Buck Rodgers – Feeder
https://youtu.be/COy_JKXtzvE
Super catchy tune and guaranteed to get those toes a tappin’ and noggin boppin’….
20 years old but still fresh, imo.
Good shout.
Totally pushing it, but Rob Spragg (Larry Love) was from South Wales, so
Alabama 3
Woke up this morning.
https://youtu.be/nW3LikcBL68
Really don’t think it needs explained. Unless you want Paulie Walnuts to pay yous a little “visit”.
Defo one for later, one of the beautiful pieces of music with one of the most beautiful vocals.
Katherine Jenkins – Flower Duet
https://youtu.be/SmEX4hEw4kQ
Enjoy!
was so sure Otis Blue would have posted some Teardrop Explodes by now…
Hardly. They were a Liverpool band
julian cope is welsh- that qualifies them
True. The Big Jack rule applies here.
Is he Welsh, or just born in Wales?
Here ya go Brother, you ol Marxist…
A band whose name is a nod to Antonio Gramsci.
Scritti Politti – The Sweetest Girl
https://youtu.be/YvHZToOUG2U
top trivia: his father (or grandfather?) invented cup-a-soup
Top trivia II – Robert Wyatt plays keyboards on it.
I loved the Madness cover of that
(But then, I would I suppose)
big ska sound off it
what’s that? it’s not a competition on welsh music without an entry featuring the triple harp?
ok so. here’s robin ward doing ‘the rising lark’ on one he made himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPrxQXjEJr8
The fabulous musicianship of the Welsh band Calan, creating a blend of traditional and original songs and tunes should have any Broadsheet folkies hopping and lepping around with abandonment in jig time. Calan sings in both Welsh and English enjoy this Welsh number.
Calan – Calennig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGPvL1T20AI&list=RDjq7P1t3F8Vk&index=10
Roger Glover -Love is all-
Welsh man Roger Glover (Deep purple) wrote a concept album named The butterfly ball and the grasshopper feast around 1973 and love is all was the single. Possibly one of my first memory of pure musical joy.
https://youtu.be/BR6pYICqZT0
I was reading the posts and I was trying to remember if Roger Glover was Welsh and if so this would have been my choice. I can concur with “first memory of pure musical joy”, for me this song has it all and I can distinctly remember sitting mesmerized for what felt like 15 minutes when this song came on. I saw it a couple of times while home from school sick. Kids these days have it good with kids channels and scheduling, in the early 80’s you only had 6 channels and had to wait until around 2pm before something for kids came on. “The Sullivans” was often the last hurdle to suffer through! Anyway Love is All was sometimes used as a filler on BBC I think or if they had technical difficulties. Still sounds as good today as it did then.
Myfanwy · Cerys Matthews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKG853ixiEg
A beautiful rendition of a ‘How on earth could she have turned me down for him?’ song.
Only because nobody else has mentioned it.
The Alarm – 68 Guns
https://youtu.be/PM3U6WLnXYI
Good to see plenty of SFA picks – so many great songs. Here’s the opening 2 mins of their first full length album Fuzzy Logic:
God! Show Me Magic
https://youtu.be/d1siktyfFxY
Okay it’s technically not the right time of year,(but it’s still bloody cold), so we get two for the price of one. Two legends, Sir Tom and Cerys, and bullpoo to the lefty snowflake brigade, with their P.C. Opinion of the lyrics, it’s a brilliant track!!
https://youtu.be/E7bPhZEDVns
Have a great weekend!!
Shaky (well, he’s 72 so it’s to be expected), with a Buddy Holly sound
A love worth waiting for
https://youtu.be/ep0vWiJc6Xw