The Welsh language song outselling likes of Stormzy and Capaldi
A WELSH-language song by legendary singer Dafydd Iwan has pushed Stormzy and Lewis Capaldi out of the way to reach the top of the iTunes chart – 37 years after it was released.
His famous song “Yma o Hyd” (Still Here) shot to the top of the chart on Sunday afternoon thanks to a campaign by supporters of Welsh independence.
The campaign was inspired by a successful attempt in Ireland to get the Irish rebel song “Come out Ye Black and Tans” to the top of the music charts.
“Yma o Hyd” – first released in 1983 – celebrates the survival of the Welsh language and culture since Roman times.
Among its lyrics are, “Er gwaetha ‘rhen Fagi a’i chriw, Byddwn yma hyd ddiwedd amser, A bydd yr iaith Gymraeg yn fyw”, which translates as “Despite old Maggie and her crew, We’ll be here until the end of time, And the
Welsh language will be alive”.
Welsh independence supporter Lloyd Warburton, from Aberystwyth, was among those who bought the song on iTunes.
He said: “I think it’s amazing that a song from Wales can get the number one spot on iTunes across the entire UK.
“It sends a message that we are ‘yma o hyd’ and, no matter how humble your cause is, you can make an impact.
“I downloaded it and watched the song rise through the charts on Friday, but I didn’t think there would be a chance it would actually reach number one.”
The campaign to get the song to the top of the chart was launched by the group Yes Cymru on Thursday.
Mr Iwan, now 76, has been performing for more than 50 years and founded the Sain record label.
He is also
Cymru.
aformer president of
Plaid