World Cup 2022: Welsh anthem praised around the world

Wales whitethorn person secured a gully against USA successful their archetypal World Cup lucifer successful 64 years but determination was an undisputed victor - the Welsh nationalist anthem.

Social media was awash with praise for Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, which translates arsenic Land of My Fathers, aft it was sung astatine a World Cup for the archetypal time.

Wales sang God Save the Queen erstwhile they past qualified for a World Cup successful 1958.

The opus is believed to person originated arsenic Wales' anthem successful effect to the New Zealand rugby team's haka successful 1905.

It volition gets its 2nd World Cup outing erstwhile Wales instrumentality connected Iran connected Friday morning.

After proceeding Wales' 3,000 fans loop retired the anthem astatine the Al Rayyan Stadium, Gary Lineker, who is anchoring the BBC's sum of the World Cup, tweeted: "Crikey, the Welsh tin bang retired an anthem. Goosebumps."

He was not unsocial successful his praise.

A tweet from the US said the anthem was the "winner of the World Cup of National Anthems Bracket".

Another spectator successful Sweden tweeted: "Nobody, and I mean nobody, sings their nationalist anthem similar the Welsh. Just watching it connected TV makes you consciousness similar you could tally done a ceramic wall."

Another described it arsenic an "absolute belter", adding: "It would bring a teardrop to a solid eye".

West End prima Sophie Evans sang the anthem astatine the Euro 2016 qualifier betwixt Wales and Israel astatine the Cardiff City Stadium, and called it a precise affectional experience.

"It was incredible... to beryllium successful the mediate of the transportation was conscionable awesome... I was truly chuffed and honoured," said Sophie, who is from Cardiff.

She said she had assumed, arsenic a "very arrogant Welsh girl", she was biased successful reasoning it was 1 of the champion nationalist anthems successful the world, but she present feels vindicated aft the effect it had astatine the World Cup.

"The melody conscionable truly invigorates radical and the information that it's successful our connection is astonishing arsenic well," she said.

"A batch of radical who are not from Wales don't realise we really person a connection truthful I deliberation radical are conscionable learning astir it present and uncovering it arsenic inspiring arsenic we do."

Singer-songwriter Bronwen Lewis is besides passionate astir the anthem and ends each of her concerts with it.

"I've been singing this anthem since I could speech and what an anthem we have," she said.

"It conscionable gets the hairs connected the backmost of your cervix lasting up doesn't it, and the goose bumps.

"There were tears during the USA crippled successful the World Cup, definitely."

Bronwen, who is from the Dulais Valley successful Neath Port Talbot, said seeing the planetary effect to the anthem had been "special".

So what is it astir the opus that makes it truthful stirring?

Bronwen thinks it is simply a operation of the melodic Welsh language, the rousing melody and the lyrics which observe the language, scenery and the country's artists.

"I deliberation it conscionable gets a occurrence going - if you're Welsh oregon you're patriotic successful immoderate benignant of sense, you conscionable can't assistance it," she said.

She besides thinks the Welsh bash a large occupation of singing it.

"Tom Jones said there's thing astir the magnitude of rainfall we person present successful Wales, that's wherefore we're each fantastic singers, due to the fact that our voices ne'er adust up," she said.

The tune Glan Rhondda was composed by harpist James James successful 1856 successful Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

A week later, it was performed by Elizabeth John successful the vestry of Tabor Chapel successful Maesteg, Bridgend county.

Over clip it gained popularity and was aboriginal included successful a collection, Gems Of Welsh Melody, published successful 1860.

The postulation gave the opus its much celebrated rubric and sold successful quantities capable to guarantee the anthem's popularity crossed Wales.

James James died successful 1902 and 3 years later, connected 16 December 1905, Welsh planetary rugby subordinate Teddy Morgan is believed to person led his squad successful singing the opus successful effect to the New Zealanders' haka.

This was the archetypal clip a nationalist anthem had been sung astatine a sporting event.

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau dilatory established itself arsenic a fashionable anthem implicit the adjacent 4 decades and was sung on with God Bless the Prince of Wales and God Save the Queen earlier sporting events.

Then successful 1975 officials decided that Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau should beryllium sung alone.

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl one mi (This onshore of my fathers is beloved to me)

Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri (Land of poets and singers, and radical of stature)

Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra huffy (Her brave warriors, good patriots)

Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed (Shed their humor for freedom)

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad (Land! Land! I americium existent to my land)

Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau (As agelong arsenic the oversea serves arsenic a wall)

O bydded i'r heniaith barhau (For this pure, beloved land, whitethorn the connection endure forever)