Comments on: It’s A Great Night For The Welsh in Las Vegas; Calzaghe Wins, Tom Sings, Crowd Behaves

By: TJMOVES

TJMOVES — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:02:44 +0000

Thank you, AF! I also believe as a human species we elevate ourselves when we learn to appreciate rather than criticize.

By: Moderator

Moderator — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:12:45 +0000

Thanks, Dean. We knew the song was written by a father and son from Pontypridd, but didn’t know the story.

By: DeanDwl

DeanDwl — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:46:09 +0000

For what it’s worth I’m a Welsh speaker & I think for a non-Welsh speaker Tom had a good crack at the anthem — fair play to him. By the way, did you know that the anthem was written in Tom’s hometown of Pontypridd in 1856 by father & son Evan & James James? Legend has it that it was inspired by Evan replying to a brother who had emigrated to America who was full of praise for his new home and wanted Evan to join him. Evan wrote a letter back (in Welsh) saying he couldn’t leave because “mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi” (”the old land of my fathers is precious to me”), and so a song was born! Family legend has it that Jesse James was descended from Evan’s brother.

Well done Joe!

By: AF

AF — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:27:05 +0000

Americans feel that the Star Spangled Banner is a much-loved anthem also. I've seen it sung by many a US singer and butchered beyond belief. I just give a chuckle and go on with my life. No harm, no foul. I certainly don't criticize them or ridicule them — that is left up to our wonderful media. I have more important things to worry about such as how I am going to afford my next 10 gallons of gasoline.

By: SusannePDX

SusannePDX — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:55:03 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with Laura.

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:23:15 +0000

Dear Moderator - golly, gee, thanks! I got a gig without even trying. I would be proud to represent! I have to say, this crowd is tough and if I had to sing for them in any language I don’t know if I could get through it without falling flat on my face. But, at least I would be in good company seeing that others have had the misfortune of forgetting a word or two. The horror!

By: Moderator

Moderator — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:31:57 +0000

Holly: We have to add that someone from the UK wrote and said Tom had a "John Redwood moment." We looked at the youtube video of this Welsh politician who tried to lip-synch to the Welsh anthem and completely blew it. We still don't get what the big deal is about Tom. In 2006 Prince Philip sat down and resumed dining when God Save The Queen still had verses to be played. Tom's moment was not that bad. We believe that the Welsh people who are upset should (1) just chalk it up in the "s*** happens" category and (b) be happy that people around the world got to see the wonder that is Tom Jones standing up for his country so well. Relatively few people knew he missed some words. And, despite that, he's a great representative of Wales.

Here in the US, it's common for native English speakers — Americans who speak English every single day — to forget the words to The Star-Spangled Banner. and people barely notice and do not carp on it. It is clearly recognized that it is a difficult song to sing. Singers as diverse as Michael Bolton, Bobby Vinton, Macy Gray and Steven Tyler have messed up the US anthem. And, remember Leslie Nielson's spoof as opera singer Enrico Palazzo in The Naked Gun? Then there's Roseanne.....Time to accept that the Welsh tune is also a difficult one to sing and to go back to talking about how good Tom looked....until, that is, Holly is called upon to sing an anthem — any anthem — at an event.

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:12:52 +0000

I am completely informed now that we have given Tom, this anthem and boxing match a thoughtful and thorough critique! Whew! I enjoyed it for what it was — a boxing match with lots of celebs having a bit to drink and enjoying the fighter of their choice! Glad Tom or Ray J or R Jay didn’t get the boo monsters. I’m also glad a fighter didn’t get irreperable brain damage and that Joe won. Now, I’m off to learn Land of my Fathers.

By: Dre

Dre — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:15:05 +0000

From an article:

And he didn’t disappoint, belting out a passionate rendition of Land of my Fathers, that sent the auditorium into a frenzy.

The apparently ageless Jones attacked the Welsh national anthem with his characteristic, turbo-charged gusto. Dedicated musicologists may well have summarised the rendition as "a right seeing-to". In Jones' wake Calzaghe must have barely regained his composure after Tom Jones' thunderous rendition of Land of My Fathers

By: Dre

Dre — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:04:39 +0000

Tom Jones allways makes every song, his song, his version and mostly very succesfull, you can read also in several reviews the audience just loved it and that’s what tom jones is all about, so what’s new.