Blogs

Read My Poem "Hanes"


By Elizabeth Barrette, 2009-10-07
You can read my poem "Hanes" (in the original Welsh and in English translations) here:http://americymru.ning.com/profiles/blogs/and-the-winner-is-left-coast-1This poem won the Left Coast Eisteddfod Poetry Competition in the Welsh language category.
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only men aloud 2nd album cover

ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 12th OCTOBER 2009 A year on from signing their multi-million pound record deal with Universal/Decca at Wales iconic Millennium Stadium, Only Men Aloud, the Welsh choir who were crowned The Nations Favourite Choir on BBCs Last Choir Standing, launch their second album Band of Brothers with an exclusive launch event where Everyones Aloud. The choir will perform a collection of tracks from their new album followed by an album signing with a special guest appearance from Bonnie Tyler, who collaborates with the choir on a new arrangement of her 80s mega anthem Total Eclipse of the Heart.Singing sensations Only Men Aloud will team up with Welsh rock legend Bonnie Tyler for an exclusive album signing at the Tesco Extra Store at Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff, next Monday October 12th, between 4pm and 6pm. The double-header event is being billed as Everyone Aloud, with shoppers being encouraged to join in the singing. It is being staged to announce the launch of Only Men Alouds new album Band of Brothers which is released that day.The choir, made up of 20 young men from South Wales, have experienced a rollercoaster ride since winning the BBC1 prime time Saturday night show last summer. Within hours of being crowned The Nations Favourite Choir and following a vicious bidding war between major record labels, Only Men Aloud signed a multi-million pound, five-album deal with Universal/Decca.The record deal, the largest ever for a choir by quite some margin, was signed at Wales iconic Millennium Stadium exactly a year to the week before their second album launch. Their first album achieved gold status within a week and went on to sell over a quarter of a million copies.OMA now return with their second album Band of Brothers, in which they present interpretations of modern classics such as Somebody to Love, performed with Kerry Ellis who hails from the Queen musical We Will Rock You and has performed as the lead in Wicked in both the West End and Broadway. The choir also go back to their Welsh roots, with traditional anthems such as Land of Our Fathers and Blaenwern. Demonstrating the choirs eclectic background and tastes, from opera through to rock songs, they are all truly great tunes despite being from varied sources.Tim Rhys-Evans, Musical Director of OMA, said From the beginning I wanted this album to represent our wide ranging repertoire. The arrangements have a filmic feel and I am incredibly excited about the finished product. Only Men Aloud are very proud of Band of Brothers, the pre-sales are phenomenal and I hope this album will sell like hot Welsh cakes!To celebrate the release of this new album Band of Brothers on Monday 12th October, Only Men Aloud are inviting members of the public to come along to the Tesco Extra store at Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff. Tim Rhys-Evans is looking forward to the launch event, It will be an honour to meet all those who voted for us as winners of Last Choir Standing and all our supporters both before and following the competition, were inviting everyone to come along to the album launch and join in this exclusive Everyone Aloud event. Come on down!There will also be a guest appearance from Welsh rock icon Bonnie Tyler who collaborates with the choir on a re-record of her award-winning hit Total Eclipse of the Heart, which features on the new album and is also released as a single the same day (12th October).Tesco Store Manager, Martin T Smith said: Our customers are in for an absolute treat. The appetite for Only Men Aloud has been huge since they won the BBCs Last Choir Standing and to have them here along with Bonnie, one of the most iconic names in the music business, is just amazing. We are expecting a very big turn out and the boys all 20 of them - will also be in store signing copies of the new hit album.Bonnie first performed the song live with Only Men Aloud at their request for their sell-out Cardiff Arena show in May this year. Bonnie was so impressed with Tim Rhys-Evans arrangement and the audiences enthusiastic response that this prompted her to re-record the track with choir.Bonnie Tyler said, I'm delighted with this version of Total Eclipse and it is wonderful to be working with such a great choir as Only Men Aloud. I am so happy that the legendary Jim Steinman, who wrote this beautiful song, has told me how much he adores this recording of it.Tim Rhys-Evans, MD of the choir, said Bonnie was such a huge part of the music scene when I was growing up so it was a surreal moment, taking my arrangement of her biggest hit to her home. Thankfully she loved it! Bonnie has been an absolute star - so excited and positive - and shes sounding better than ever.

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Nick Ward New Single 2nd Nov


By Nick Ward, 2009-10-06
Hello everyoneHope you are all happy & healthy.I have a new single coming very soon - 2nd November in fact (a week after my birthday in case you had forgotten).It is called I AM WAR & is released on AudioFile Records.It will be available on all major download stores worldwide.Check out the link below to hear it.Hope you like it.Diolch. I AM WAR

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only men aloud 2nd album cover

On Saturday the 10th October 2009 Only Men Aloud, the winners of BBC Ones Last Choir Standing, will stage their own auditions in search of one lucky boy to become the newest member of the prestigious Welsh choir.They are hoping to find an incredible talent and the lucky winner will have the chance to join them on their hugely anticipated Christmas 2009 tour as well as any TV and Radio appearances promoting their new album Band of Brothers which is released on October 12th.Tim Rhys-Evans, MD of OMA, said of the search, Were looking for someone with much more than just an incredible voice - someone who is passionate about singing and wants to have fun while doing it. Weve had the most incredible year already, but the person who fits the bill will be able to come on the rest of the journey with us.The elected singer will be part of the choir as they continue to go from strength to strength and embark on the next stage of the remarkable adventure which has seen their meteoric rise to success since winning the BBC1 prime-time Saturday night show last year. Highlights for the choir have included TV shows, two US tours and meeting a host of celebrities - if the last year is anything to go by, a host of incredible, life changing experiences await the newest member of Only Men Aloud!Auditions will be held at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on Saturday 10th October. For more details and to book an audition and be in with a chance, please email admin@onlymenaloud.com

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Oddities


By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-10-05
Perhaps I should explain my earlier blogs; Jan Morris got her fact wrong in stating that Crumlin is in Glamorgan, the viaduct was well into Monmouthshire. I am from Merthyr Tydfil, and to go to work in Ebbw Vale I crossed the River Rhymney at Rhymney Bridge, the County border, and past the River Sirhowy at Tredegar before arriving at the head of the Ebbw Fawr, which, after its confluence with the Ebbw Fach was the river that the viaduct spanned. The Glamorganshire Canal ran from the Cyfarthfa Iron Works at Georgetown, Merthyr Tydfil down the Taff Valley to the docks at Cardiff.As for the Cymric Celts; the first wave of Celts were the 'Q' Celtic or Gaels, followed by the second wave, the 'P' Celtic or Brythons, British or Britons: it was this second wave of Celts who began referring to themselves as the Cymry, the first mention of which was in the 'Armes Prydein Fawr', 'The Great Prophesy of Britain', written between 935 and 950. Although, according to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Wales was named after Kamber, a son of Brutus, leader of the Trojans, who gave his name to the Britons.He had two brothers, Albanactus and Locrinus, who gave their names to Scotland (Yr Alban) and England (Lloegr) respectively.Owen M. Edwards says that for a long time the name Cymry was despised as a term of reproach, to express degeneracy, taking the place of the proud name of Britons and didn't come into its own until the rule of Llywelyn Fawr, when by then it was obvious where we stood. 'Britain' was still used by the bards, but the leaders were now Princes of Cymru.
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#999; padding-bottom:10px" colspan="2"> Gwlad y Gwyr y Gogledd
Strathclyde@Everything2.com
Source: everything2.com

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Byn Walters sent this using ShareThis .
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Crumlin Viaduct


By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-10-05
Last night it was the Cymric Celts, now this morning Crumlin is in Glamorgan. It would have been a wondrous piece of engineering indeed to cross the Ebbw river and the Glamorganshire Canal.This is taken from Jan Morris's 'Wales':
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Cymric Celts


By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-10-04
This is copied from the Encycopaedia Britannica (Micropaedia), does anyone else find the mention of Cymric Celts odd?
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"Bant â'r cart ar unwaith"


By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-10-04
Apparently I've upset somebody; if "Bant 'r cart ar unwaith' is directed at me, it must be for pointing out that no English man previous to the Act of Union of 1707 would have referred to himself as British. 'British' is a Welsh word which historically applies to the people of the Western sea-board from Glasgow in Strathclyde down through Cumbria, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and eventually Bretona in Galicia. This is an historical criticism of present Welsh people refusing to admit that they are British, giving over the term to the English, as in the French context, when in fact the reverse is true. I am speaking about history and common modern terminology and not racial politics which abhors me: thank you!P.S. I think we generally use 'Gweler' and not 'gweld'.
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My Photos


By Byn (Bynbrynman)Tavarn Ty Elise, 2009-10-04
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