Still standing
ONLY MEN ALOuD rECENTLY CAppED Off AN INCrEDIBLE 12
MONTHS WHEN THEIr SECOND ALBuM, BAND Of BrOTHErS,
ACHIEVED NuMBEr ONE IN THE CLASSICAL ALBuM CHArTS. But
they now want to take things to the next level, tim
rhys-evans told wyn Jenkins.
Since winning Last Choir Standing last summer, it says Tim. “This is a very Welsh album in every
has been a remarkable year for the Welsh choir. sense. We used the BBC National Orchestra of
After securing a multi-million pound five-album Wales and recorded everything in Wales.
deal with a record label – the largest ever deal
achieved by any choir – their first album achieved
“But we find that when we perform overseas, it is
gold status within weeks and sold more than a
the Welsh hymns that really resonate with people.
arrangement. That was a scary moment. But she
quarter of a million copies.
loved our version and she jumped at the chance to
Then came the tours, chat shows and the TV
“Bonnie has
perform with us.
performances – all on the back of the massive
“I will always remember introducing her during that
publicity generated by the original reality TV show.
Their second album was potentially more of a
Been a Blast
first show when no one was expecting it. Everyone
went mad. It made me realise just how much that
banana skin: how do you follow that?
song and Bonnie Tyler are part of people’s lives.
Somehow, however, they have managed to take
to work with.”
She has been a blast to work with.”
things up a level. While the first album was
Despite the choir’s success, however, many of its
essentially a repeat of the material they performed
They have universal appeal. We are proud of our
members still have day jobs. Tim says his goal
on Last Choir Standing, this was a chance for them
roots and proud to showcase them on this album.
now is to make Only Men Aloud the first fully
to pick music that was important to them and
professional choir to come out of Wales. “We
resonate with their fan base on another level. “Our aim is to bring old songs back to life. And you
are the land of song, yet there has never been
have this mixture of Welsh hymns but also popular
a full professional choir in Wales,” he says. “My
The finished product mixes popular Welsh hymns
classics. There is something for everyone on the
dream now is to make that happen. Some of us
such as Men of Harlech, Blaenwern and Ar Lan
album.”
are now full time, but we still have many various
Y Mor with popular classics such as Queen’s professions such as gardeners and pharmacists
Somebody to Love and All By Myself. But each Tim describes working with Bonnie Tyler on Total within our ranks. It can be tough for them to juggle
track – whether a traditional hit or remix of an Eclipse as a dream come true. “The song has such everything.”
older chart toper – is unique yet brilliant in its a strong melody and I could hear the arrangement
arrangement. in my head,” says Tim.
Only Men Aloud are now touring the new album.
They will be performing at Cardiff International
“The reason we first started the choir was to inject “I thought that maybe Bonnie would agree to work Arena on December 5.
youth and vitality into the Welsh choir tradition,” with us and we went to her home to show her the
swansealife November 2009 27
BonnieTyler.indd 27 19/10/2009 18:56:30
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