Where’s the singing in the Land of Song?
ON Friday night, before the Wales v Ireland match, I spoke to an English lady (with Welsh roots) who was very excited and enthusiastic about her first visit to the Principality Stadium. More than anything, she said she was really looking forward to hearing the singing for which the Welsh are renowned. She even used the words “the Land of Song”. Rightly or wrongly, I warned her not to build up her hopes.
The singing of the anthem is magnificent – although many do not sing, in my observation – but, after that it all goes a bit flat. This, despite the fantastic efforts of the choir and band on the pitch, in the build-up to kick-off, to stir the emotions.
The Welsh crowd have now been reduced to a few choruses of Hymns and Arias, and the chant of “Way-als, Way-als” now and again.
Not so long ago we poked fun at England supporters, saying they only knew one song, but this seems to be the case in Cardiff now, too. What has happened to Bread of Heaven, Delilah, Sosban Fach, Calon Lan, I Bob Un Sy’n Ffyddlon, and so on?
Do people just not know the words any more, are they embarrassed to sing, out of the habit, or just can’t be bothered? The football supporters set a great example to rugby fans at the Euros, belting out Calon Lan at every opportunity, so what is going on in the Principality Stadium?
The lack of “hwyl “in the singing was never more evident on Friday than a couple of minutes from time. There was an injury and the crowd just went flat as play was stopped. With the game won, you would have expected the Welsh crowd to be at full throttle, celebrating a tremendous victory by raising the roof, but strangely there was just a hush. Can you imagine if Ireland had been winning at that point just how loud The Fields of Athenry would have been?
Some say we have sold the soul of Welsh rugby to “event-goers” who are never going to get behind the team. I hope not, but how do we get the Welsh crowd to sing the praises of the team from the rooftops again? Graham Edwards
Llangollen