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'Ban Yma o Hyd for a few months to keep it special' pleads columnist

By NationCymru
Dafydd Iwan belts out 'Yma o Hyd' at Cardiff City Stadium (Credit: PA)

A magazine columnist has called for Dafydd Iwan's Yma o Hyd to be banned for a few months so that people don't become sick of it in the run-up to the World Cup.

Golwg magazine founder Dylan Iorwerth, who now writes a weekly column, said that there was a danger that the Welsh media would turn the victory sour by "overdoing it".

Dafydd Iwan's song with band Ar Log reached number one in the iTunes chart on Wednesday last week after a battle for the top spot with Kate Bush.

But Dylan Iorwerth said they should "ban 'Yma o Hyd' for a couple of months. Keep it fresh, and something special that is now owned by everyone."

Dylan Iorwerth, the founder of Golwg

He added: "It was great to celebrate the victory against Ukraine ... especially for someone like me who was at Anfield in 1977 ... even more so for the dedicated supporters who have followed Wales abroad and many disappointments over the years.

"But I do have an appeal to Radio Cymru and S4C, and the rest of the media: be sensible, don't overdo it and turn success into boredom. And don't crash the cart you've just jumped on.

"Football is a game. We won't have any less child poverty as a result of Wales' success, prices will be no lower, the Russian War in Ukraine will not end, Qatar will not become a free country and there will be no fewer holiday homes in Wales."

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'Dedicated'

Dylan Iorwerth however said that the World Cup would make a difference to Wales' image internationally - but that Gary Speed and others had already laid the foundation for that work before the most recent sporting success.

"The most startling development is the use of the Welsh language. That is now part of the team's armoury, one of the things that pulls everyone together, rather than separating them. And that's where it can all make a difference," he said.

"People will be inspired to learn the language and, just as importantly, everyone from all walks of life will see its place in their heritage. It's a feat that language activists and enthusiasts around the world have failed to achieve.

"So, there's one set of people who should go for it 100% right now: the politicians of Cardiff Bay and the civil servants responsible for the Welsh language. They should take advantage of the team's and the FAW's efforts to increase support for the language at all levels and turn that into a practical win.

"That will mean more than wearing a Welsh shirt or hat, it will mean the same kind of diligent, dedicated, organized building work that the FAW has shown, especially among young people. Then let the ball (and the people) do the work.

"One more appeal to the mass media: ban 'Yma o Hyd' for a couple of months. Keep it fresh, as something special that is now owned by everyone."

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12 comments

Gareth Westacott

He makes a good point! If it continues to get the exposure it's had recently, people will soon be sick to death of it.

Reply
Rob

If everyone gets bored of it, we've always got "Safwn yn y Bwlch" up our sleeves.

Reply
Llinos

Is everyone sick of Flower of Scotland? Hen Wlad fy Nhadau? The Immigrant Song? We Are The Champions? The Boys Are Back In Town? Men of Harlech? It's a great song. An anthem to put fire in the blood. The bigger it gets, the more people it pulls into its orbit. It galvanises us (and I don't even follow football). It does not need nursing like a fragile flower. Also, how on earth would you go about banning it? If the Saeson still hold onto their dirges GSTQ and Swing Low, why on earth would we ... with our bounty of great songs ... remove from circulation the one that is capturing imaginations everywhere? BELT IT OUT!

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Dai Rob

We are the Champions...YES, absolutely, because I've heard it played so much, on every night out I've ever had!!! I'm starting to wet fed up with YOH already!!!

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Kurt C

Are we sick of our national anthem, nope. Play it loud and proud all the time. It's like a second national anthem feel.

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Dai Rob

The National Anthem isn't played randomly throughout the day like YOH is at the moment.

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Kurt C

No played for me. I don't care what the iTunes chart is doing. Many songs chart and continue to be loved anyway. Many football anthems happened that way.

Reply
Llefain

Ummm... One a little bit silly point amongst a load of reasonable discussion. But, if you want everyone to know "Yma o Hyd" and for that to unit people, and springboard more interest in the language, identity, politics, of Cymru etc. you need to make sure people who haven't heard it a lot hear it more, get it stuck in their heads like an annoying 90s pop song. Make sure that they know the meaning. Learn the lyrics, ever the verses. Ask about the context. Understand the feeling. It is not played outside of Cymraeg media/areas other than on the telly for football games and even then not as much as on S4C. I have never heard it outside of my own playlists at all. Ever. Many have still never heard it, let alone know the words. Sorry to say that but it is true. So... I guess I disagree, I think it needs to be blasted from every open window, car stereo, pub jukebox, karaoke microphone, home radio (placed strategically in the garden), busker's instrument, and mobile phone ringtone until everyone knows it by heart. Cover it in every possible genre and then blast it everywhere again. Then lean in EVEN MORE for the world cup. Make it an anthem for the summer. Or maybe I just like this song an unhealthy amount. *presses play again* 😉

Reply
Y Cymro

Personally I wouldn't have used the word 'banned' although do agree that we should limit its use until at the World Cup to get its full effect, as it sung along with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau will be a wall of sound that will not only spur our players on but announce to the watching world that Wales is in town and that we have the best fans.

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Rhobat Bryn Jones

Iorwerth comes over like a chapel deacon telling the fans what's good for them. It's a bit like saying don't sing the national anthem more than once at every game in case Iorwerth gets bored with it.. If the fans get bored with it, they'll sing something else like 'Everyday when I wake up, I I thank the Lord I'm Welsh' or 'Calon Lan'. It appears that the principles of democracy in popular culture have not yet reached the Golwg offices in Lampeter.

Reply
Eifion

Lol, it's not a soccer song, they're just recently started to use it. It's been an anthem with the Scarlets for years, so I guess they should stop using it as well.

Reply
SundanceKid

Who does he propose should ban it and how does he think that ban should be enforced?

Reply

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Replying to Dai Rob Cancel

The National Anthem isn't played randomly throughout the day like YOH is at the moment.

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