Watch: The rousing version of Delilah belted out in Cardiff city centre
Wales rugby fans proved they were still very much in favour of singing Delilah, after the popular classic was sung with gusto ahead of the Six Nations opener in Cardiff today.
Fans gathered outside the Queen’s Vaults pub adjacent to the Principality Stadium on Westgate Street in the Welsh capital where they launched into a stirring version of the Tom Jones hit.
Debate raged this week after the crowd favourite was removed from the stadium choir’s play list by the WRU.
Delilah ringing out around the streets of Cardiff pic.twitter.com/TJVvUhmKWh
— Rúaidhrí O’Connor (@RuaidhriOC) February 4, 2023
This is not the first time the 1968 controversial hit has been removed due to its murderous themes.
In 2015 it was banned from the half time entertainment music playlist during international matches despite being widely known as one of the most popular songs to sing at a rugby match.
Guest choirs have now been requested to not feature it during pre-match performances or during games.
A Principality Stadium spokesperson said: “Delilah will not feature on the playlist for choirs for rugby internationals at Principality Stadium.
“The WRU condemns domestic violence of any kind. We have previously sought advice from subject matter experts on the issue of censoring the song and we are respectfully aware that it is problematic and upsetting to some supporters because of its subject matter.”
It comes following a week of scrutiny for the WRU after former employees took part in a BBC Wales investigation which detailed claims of a “toxic culture” riddled with misogyny, sexism, racism and homophobia.
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TJ was a very enthusiastic supporter of a Welsh Assembly in the FIRST referendum 🏴……despite some back tracking from others in the taffia and the ‘ Kinnock ‘ Labour Party of the time.
Wales 🏴 has moved on and caught up with views he held and still holds….
Maen well i cofio ein hanes 🏴
In Cardiff with a group of Welsh and Irish fans yesterday and it was fascinating to hear Delilah coming out of several pubs and on the streets. As one of the Irish commented, “this has become your new rebel song”.
Welsh Football Fans – Yma o Hyd
Welsh Rugby Fans – Delilah
‘As one of the Irish commented, “this has become your new rebel song”.
Probably said ironically and taking the pish.
I’m all for freedom of speech. This sets out a marker. If a song about a man slaughtering a woman with a knife is fine then I see no problem with any other song being sung at a sporting event – Guns of the IRA, Come out you black and tans, Gareth Bake’s bad back chant. I look forward to the culture war warriors championing all.
Indeed, look at all the main steam rubbish like WAP! And Hotel California…Read the Lyrics, especially the part about “Some dance to remember, some dance to forget”, which is a clear reference to Thise abused often either become like it themselves or feel a strong need to Fight against such things. and Bringing your alibis, with Mirrors on the Ceiling. It’s absolutely Perverted.
Good luck in banning Bohemian Rhapsody!
Never mind they can always sing Hymns and Arias. On the other hand it’s probably on the ban list because it mentions Delilah.
Don’t fret generally those that sing it only know the words to the chorus.
I remember when Welsh rugby fans sang Cwm Rhondda, Sosban Fach and Calon Lan.
Now Delilah and that monotonous, meaningless dirge Hymns and Arias is all they know.
Goes with adults wearing face paint and those ridiculous daffodil hats I suppose.
I would say that these days the fans that go to watch the 6 Nations don’t know a Calon Lan between, sometimes you will hear Cwm Rhondda but even then they can’t even get the words right.
And ‘I bob un sy’n ffyddlon, dan ei faner Ef!’ What’s happened?! Maybe goes with wearing the ‘ich dien’ three feathers?
I’ll always associate Cwm Rhondda with Welsh Rugby, as a very young child I thought it was a second National Anthem. To me Delilah doesn’t really work as a song at rugby (or football as anyone who has had the misfortune to encounter Stoke City will know). It just sounds a bit ranted when song collectively.
It strikes me that these days even the Welsh National Opera would have trouble putting on ‘The Threepenny Opera’, in which Mack the Knife, the main character, sings: Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them pearly white Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear And he keeps it out of sight When the shark bites with his teeth, dear Scarlet billows start to spread Fancy gloves, though, wears Macheath, dear So there’s not a trace of red On the sidewalk Sunday morning Lies a body oozing life Someone’s sneaking ’round the corner Is the… Read more »