No matter what happens on the pitch, Wales have produced some world beating tunes for this year’s Euros Tournament.
In 2016 the whole of France was echoing to the sound of ‘Don’t Take Me Home’. This time around the pandemic means the legendary Red Wall that conquered Euro 2016 is not able to travel, but Wales is making its voice heard in other ways.
Below is a selection of tunes that put the competition to shame.
In no particular order…
HAPPINESS: The Skapa Collective
SKAPA COLLECTIVE – HAPPINESS .mov from Dragon Fruit Films on Vimeo.
The Skapa Collective are an eleven-piece ska band from South Wales. For this release they have drafted in Ducky and Roddy from the original SHARP band The Oppressed, Suzi Chunk and Gareth Potter on the cymraeg version.
All proceeds go towards Show Racism the Red Card
The tune is a reworking of an old Ken Dodd favourite, given a bouncy ska makeover. “Happiness, happiness, we are the Red Wall, Cymru am byth, I thank the lord that I am welsh, and off to the Euros not stuck on the shelf.”
http://peppermintiguana.co.uk/the-skapa-collective-happiness-rev/
HE’S A BOY FROM WALES CALLED GARETH BALE: Helen Love
Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na – he’s a boy from Wales called Gareth Bale!
And in honour of the handsome hero about to take Euro 2016 by storm, legendary Welsh pop bastions Helen Love are back with a new single in honour of Cardiff’s favourite son!
It’s ridiculously catchy, a glitter-pop bonanza… To be honest it’s the best football-inspired single since Eat My Goal by Collapsed Lung. And you can quote us on that. Following hot on the heels of the band’s long-awaited 8th studio album ‘Smash Hits’ (recently released to much critical acclaim on Alcopop! Records) – it’s yet another welcome return to form from the rabble-rousing punk rock superstars, who are once again redefining what true punk really means.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Love
TAILS FOR WALES: The Match Stick Heads
They’re a bit mad. But we like that in Wales
CYMRU RYDD: The Barry Horns
They be back – and this time they have Michael Sheen on the team sheet
WHEN WALES PLAY AWAY: John Mouse
He’s back – no stranger to the Red Wall. His single There’s a hole in my heart (An area the size of Wales) was launched with a party in Budapest before the qualifying match with Hungary.
https://johnmouse.bandcamp.com/
MAE’N AMSER // WE THINK IT’S TIME – Candelas
Sengl Candelas a ryddheir 4.6.21 ar Label Recordiau I Ka Ching! Anthem newydd sbon sa ryddydd yn breuddwydio am Gymru well, a sy’n dwyn egni o ymgyrchoedd anhygoel Yes Cymru a’n tîm pêl-droed cenedlaethol.
Bilingual innit
https://www.facebook.com/candelasband
O HI O: Come On Give Us A Cwtsh.
Channelling The Clash and The Ramones, this is the brainchild of musician and journalist Ben Wright,
He put the song out as a rough demo, but such was the positive feedback he received, he re-recorded it and has rush released it today in readiness for Wales’ titanic showdown with Denmark in the last 16 of Euro 2020 this weekend.
https://nation.cymru/culture/is-this-the-most-punk-welsh-football-song-youve-ever-heard/
THE RED WALL OF CYMRU: The Alarm
For completeness, the official tune. A little bit cheesy, but hey, it’s the Alarm
THIS IS WALES: The Barry Horns
OK – this was released for the Euros n 2016 – but it’s a bit good and it’s timeless