"Only Boys Aloud" Welsh choir | Tim Rhys-Evans and Only Boys Aloud | TEDxObserver
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0:10 - 0:12I started "Only Boys Aloud"
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0:12 - 0:15just coming up for two years ago,
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0:15 - 0:18because I come from
the South Wales Valleys -
0:18 - 0:20from a small community
called New Tredegar. -
0:20 - 0:21And
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0:21 - 0:23when I was growing up,
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0:23 - 0:26it was a very proud part of the world,
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0:26 - 0:28with a lot of industry,
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0:28 - 0:30with a lot of ambition,
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0:30 - 0:34with a sustainable economy.
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0:35 - 0:37In the middle of the '80s,
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0:37 - 0:40that was basically taken away
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0:40 - 0:44when the industries collapsed
for a variety of reasons -
0:44 - 0:46and left an enormous void
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0:46 - 0:50in the middle of the part
of the world that I call home. -
0:50 - 0:52Consequently,
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0:52 - 0:55there are huge problems of unemployment
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0:55 - 0:57in the South Wales Valleys,
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0:57 - 1:02and all of the problems
that come with that also. -
1:03 - 1:05The biggest, I think,
and the most destructive, -
1:05 - 1:07is a lack of aspiration.
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1:08 - 1:14And I wanted to use singing
to encourage lads from this area -
1:14 - 1:16to aspire to be something.
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1:16 - 1:20So our strapline is "inspiring to aspire."
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1:21 - 1:23I believe most passionately
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1:23 - 1:26in the transformative power
of community singing, -
1:26 - 1:29because in our increasingly virtual world,
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1:30 - 1:35we have fewer and fewer opportunities
of coming together physically, -
1:35 - 1:38and interacting with fellow human beings.
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1:38 - 1:44So "Only Boys Aloud"
is designed to encourage these lads -
1:44 - 1:45to leave their Xboxes,
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1:45 - 1:46to leave Facebook,
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1:46 - 1:47and come together.
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1:47 - 1:51Of course, Eric Whitacre has very famously
with his fabulous virtual choir -
1:51 - 1:52done this online.
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1:52 - 1:56But I passionately believe
that there is no substitute -
1:56 - 1:59for getting together
and having a damn good sing. -
2:00 - 2:04The tradition of male choir singing
is very prevalent in South Wales. -
2:04 - 2:07We still have a proliferation
of male choirs, -
2:07 - 2:08but they are getting older,
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2:08 - 2:09and there is an argument
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2:09 - 2:12that male choir singing
is irrelevant now. -
2:12 - 2:15I completely disagree with all of this.
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2:15 - 2:20I believe something that unifies anybody
as choral singing does -
2:20 - 2:25is increasingly more needed
in our world today. -
2:25 - 2:28"Why boys?" is something
I often get asked. -
2:28 - 2:34Well, because of the very strong tradition
of male choirs in Wales. -
2:34 - 2:36That's first and foremost.
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2:36 - 2:38Also there is a huge disparity
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2:38 - 2:41between the number of boys
who choose to sing -
2:41 - 2:43and the number of girls
that choose to sing. -
2:43 - 2:45And I think that's a problem generally,
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2:45 - 2:49but in a very masculine
environment, like South Wales. -
2:49 - 2:52Although I have to say,
in South Wales, ma'ams rule. -
2:52 - 2:55It's a very matriarchal society,
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2:55 - 2:58but at the same time, there are
lots of pressures on boys -
2:58 - 3:02not to do something
that isn't seen as "macho." -
3:02 - 3:05So with "Only Boys Aloud,"
we started 10 choirs, -
3:05 - 3:09predominantly in rugby clubs,
around the South Wales area, -
3:09 - 3:13covering a nine-hundred-square-mile area,
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3:13 - 3:18where the idea is that no boy
is fewer than 15 or 20 minutes away -
3:18 - 3:21from his local rehearsal.
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3:21 - 3:25So these choirs enrich
their individual communities, -
3:25 - 3:28but we also bring them together
to do large-scale events, -
3:28 - 3:31and we have about half of them here today.
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3:32 - 3:36Well, over 200 lads
between the ages of 14 and 19 -
3:36 - 3:40have engaged with "Only Boys Aloud"
in the last two years. -
3:40 - 3:42And I'm delighted to say,
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3:42 - 3:45with the support of the Welsh Government
and the Principality Building Society, -
3:45 - 3:46back in Wales,
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3:46 - 3:49we are able to look forward to a future
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3:49 - 3:52where we've signed an agreement
for three years of sponsorship, -
3:52 - 3:55because I believe this work
is absolutely fundamental, -
3:55 - 4:00especially as young men are often blamed
for the problems in our society. -
4:01 - 4:05I think the lads on stage here will prove
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4:05 - 4:09that, far from problems,
there is so much good -
4:09 - 4:11and there is something very beautiful
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4:11 - 4:16about boys coming together
and just singing. -
4:16 - 4:18I'd like to first introduce...
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4:18 - 4:20It was supposed to be
a big surprise revealed -
4:20 - 4:21when we lifted the curtain,
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4:21 - 4:23and there were loads of them there.
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4:23 - 4:26But you all saw the rehearsals
so that's gone out of the window. -
4:26 - 4:27So just act shocked.
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4:27 - 4:30Give me a nice big gust of air
when they come out, please. -
4:30 - 4:35Can I introduce firstly our two soloists,
who are going to sing the first piece. -
4:35 - 4:39One of the things we want to do
is we want to move the choir forward, -
4:39 - 4:42but we also really respect our roots,
and where we come from. -
4:42 - 4:45And that's why the first song
we've chosen to sing this afternoon -
4:45 - 4:47is a song called "Calon Lan,"
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4:47 - 4:50which really is a prayer for good heart,
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4:50 - 4:55because the words say, "a good heart
can sing all day and all night." -
4:55 - 4:56So this is "Calon Lan."
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4:56 - 5:00Please give a warm welcome
to Gareth Evans and Yvonne Jenkin. -
5:00 - 5:02(Applause)
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5:12 - 5:13Oh!
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5:13 - 5:15(Laughter)
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5:15 - 5:16(Music)
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5:16 - 5:18(Applause)
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5:22 - 5:24(Welsh music - "Calon Lan")
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5:30 - 5:34♪ Nid wy'n gofyn bywyd moethus ♪
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5:34 - 5:41♪ Aur y byd na'I berlau mвn ♪
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5:41 - 5:47♪ Gofyn wyf am galon hapus ♪
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5:48 - 5:54♪ Calon onest, calon lвn ♪
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5:55 - 6:01♪ Calon lвn yn llawn daioni ♪
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6:02 - 6:08♪ Tecach yw na'r lili dlos ♪
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6:08 - 6:15♪ Dim ond calon lвn all ganu ♪
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6:17 - 6:18(Choir)
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6:19 - 6:22♪ Canu'r dydd ♪
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6:22 - 6:28♪ A chanu'r nos ♪
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6:31 - 6:33(Piano music)
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6:39 - 6:45♪ Pe dymunwn olud bydol ♪
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6:46 - 6:52♪ Hedyn buan ganddo sydd ♪
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6:52 - 6:58♪ Golud calon lвn, rinweddol ♪
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6:58 - 7:04♪ Yn dwyn bythol elw fydd ♪
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7:05 - 7:11♪ Calon lвn yn llawn daioni ♪
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7:11 - 7:17♪ Tecach yw na'r lili dlos ♪
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7:17 - 7:25♪ Dim ond calon lвn all ganu ♪
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7:27 - 7:33♪ Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos ♪
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7:34 - 7:40♪ Hwyr a bore fy nymuniad ♪
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7:40 - 7:47♪ Gwyd I'r nef ar adain cвn ♪
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7:47 - 7:53♪ Ar I Dduw, er mwyn fy Ngheidwad ♪
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7:54 - 8:00♪ Roddi I mi galon lвn ♪
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8:04 - 8:10♪ Calon lвn yn llawn daioni ♪
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8:10 - 8:16♪ Tecach yw na'r lili dlos ♪
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8:17 - 8:23♪ Dim ond calon lвn all ganu ♪
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8:24 - 8:30♪ Canu'r dydd a chanu'r nos ♪
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8:30 - 8:37♪ Calon lвn yn llawn daioni ♪
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8:37 - 8:43♪ Tecach yw na'r lili dlos ♪
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8:44 - 8:50♪ Dim ond calon lвn all ganu ♪
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8:50 - 8:54♪ Canu'r dydd ♪
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8:54 - 8:59♪ A chanu'r nos ♪
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9:00 - 9:02♪ Calon lвn ♪
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9:03 - 9:06♪ Calon lвn ♪
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9:06 - 9:09♪ Calon ♪
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9:09 - 9:14♪ Lвn ♪
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9:19 - 9:21(Applause) (Cheers)
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9:35 - 9:36Thank you.
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9:36 - 9:38(Applause)
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9:40 - 9:41Thank you very much.
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9:41 - 9:42Now one of the reasons
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9:42 - 9:45that we've been asked
to finish this day off... -
9:45 - 9:47That's the wrong words, completely.
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9:47 - 9:50I'm not intending
on finishing anything off. -
9:50 - 9:51But "il finale" for this day
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9:51 - 9:54is because it's time for you to sing,
ladies and gentlemen. -
9:54 - 9:56Oh, look at the enthusiasm there!
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9:56 - 9:58Oh, it's amazing!
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9:58 - 10:01One of the ways...
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10:01 - 10:03Oh, people are running for the doors now.
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10:03 - 10:04Lock the doors!
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10:06 - 10:10We don't have any audition requirements
for "Only Boys Aloud." -
10:10 - 10:12So it's fine for you all to just let go.
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10:12 - 10:14Now, ladies and gentlemen,
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10:14 - 10:18one of the things that you need
to try and do with "Only Boys Aloud" -
10:18 - 10:22is think about choral singing,
and what's relevant to young people. -
10:22 - 10:24So the first song we did -
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10:24 - 10:26you might think it's a little bit cheesy -
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10:26 - 10:27but I'd really love it
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10:27 - 10:30if you just go with it for me,
ladies and gentlemen. -
10:30 - 10:35I'm going to teach you, in three parts,
a little four-bar riff. -
10:35 - 10:38If you're very good,
I'll make it an eight-bar riff. -
10:38 - 10:41But we'll just start small,
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10:41 - 10:43and we'll go on if we can.
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10:43 - 10:44OK.
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10:44 - 10:47I'd like people who enjoy singing low.
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10:47 - 10:48Actually, no.
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10:48 - 10:51Can I get you guys down here?
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10:51 - 10:54As you're on the bottom,
you'll be the bass part for me, please. -
10:54 - 10:55OK, so we're going to do this.
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10:55 - 10:57And if anyone guesses what...
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10:57 - 11:00There's an elaborate prize
for anyone who guesses what the piece is. -
11:00 - 11:02OK, so we're going to do,
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11:02 - 11:06♪ Dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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11:06 - 11:09♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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11:09 - 11:12Just that much, please;
this is the stalls. -
11:12 - 11:14One, two, three, four.
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11:14 - 11:19Audience: ♪ Dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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11:19 - 11:21♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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11:21 - 11:22TRE: Right, OK.
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11:22 - 11:26Let's everyone on your feet, please,
because that was a bit rubbish. -
11:26 - 11:27(Laughter)
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11:27 - 11:30OK, can you shake out for me,
ladies and gentlemen? -
11:30 - 11:32That includes you in the posh seats,
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11:32 - 11:35and those in the cheap seats
at the top, as well. -
11:35 - 11:36(Laughter)
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11:36 - 11:39Shake your hand for me,
ladies and gentlemen, please. -
11:39 - 11:41Give me a, "Brrrrr!"
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11:41 - 11:42Audience: Brrrrr!
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11:42 - 11:43TRE: That's better.
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11:43 - 11:45Now shoulders back, please;
circulate them nice and back. -
11:45 - 11:46Up!
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11:46 - 11:47Really squeeze --
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11:47 - 11:50You've been sat there all day
listening to people talk - -
11:50 - 11:51and let it go, "Ah!"
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11:51 - 11:54You were very good at the gasp.
Thank you for that! -
11:54 - 11:55(Laughter)
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11:55 - 11:56And up!
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11:56 - 11:58Wiggling fingers, wiggling knees.
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11:58 - 11:59Make a noise, "Aaaaahhhhh!"
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11:59 - 12:01Audience: "Aaaaahhhhh!"
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12:01 - 12:02TRE: And release!
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12:02 - 12:03I never thought
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12:03 - 12:07the first time I stood on the stage
in Sadler's Wells I would be doing that. -
12:07 - 12:08(Laughter)
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12:08 - 12:09Now let's do that again.
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12:09 - 12:14Stalls, ♪ Dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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12:14 - 12:19♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum... ♪
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12:19 - 12:20And now, keep going, OK.
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12:20 - 12:21Right, good, thank you.
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12:22 - 12:24There's some very good
singing down here, well done! -
12:24 - 12:27Let's get the middle
to do the middle part. -
12:27 - 12:28Yours goes,
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12:28 - 12:31♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪ -
12:31 - 12:34♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪ -
12:34 - 12:36(Lower tone) ♪ Duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪ -
12:36 - 12:37Cases the last bar.
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12:37 - 12:39Do you think you can
cope with that, middle row? -
12:39 - 12:41Middles, a grand circle, "Mmmm!"
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12:41 - 12:42(Speaking in Welsh)
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12:42 - 12:45Oh, sorry, that was Welsh.
One, two, three, four. -
12:45 - 12:46♪ Duh-duh duh-duh ♪
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12:46 - 12:52Audience: ♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪ -
12:52 - 12:56TRE: ♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪ -
12:56 - 12:58♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪
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12:58 - 13:00(Lower tone) ♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪
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13:00 - 13:03Good. There are, in fact,
two distinct notes here. -
13:03 - 13:05(Laughter)
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13:06 - 13:08It'd be great if you could use them.
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13:08 - 13:09OK.
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13:09 - 13:10(Laughter)
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13:10 - 13:12So, grand circle, you are on that note,
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13:12 - 13:14unless put out of the bottom.
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13:14 - 13:15♪ Dummmm... ♪
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13:15 - 13:17One, two, three, four.
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13:17 - 13:18♪ Dum... ♪
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13:18 - 13:20Audience: ♪ Duh-duh-dum... ♪
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13:20 - 13:24TRE: ♪ Duh-duh-dum
duh-duh-dum duh-duh... ♪ -
13:24 - 13:27♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh... ♪
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13:27 - 13:28Audience: ♪ Dum... ♪
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13:28 - 13:31TRE: ♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh, duh... ♪ -
13:31 - 13:32Thank you.
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13:32 - 13:35Top! You all the top part say, "Hoo!"
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13:35 - 13:37That's what I like,
a lit bit of enthusiasm! -
13:38 - 13:39OK, so we go,
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13:39 - 13:41♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:41 - 13:43(Higher tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:43 - 13:45(Lower tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:45 - 13:47(Even lower tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:47 - 13:49(Higher tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:49 - 13:51(Even higher tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:51 - 13:53(Lower tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:53 - 13:54♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:54 - 13:55Again.
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13:55 - 13:56Audience: ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:56 - 13:58♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:58 - 13:59♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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13:59 - 14:02TRE: Middle part, you're going
to join in noooooow. -
14:02 - 14:05♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh ♪ -
14:05 - 14:09♪ Duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh
duh-duh duh-duh duh-duh duh... ♪ -
14:09 - 14:10And bottom!
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14:10 - 14:15Audience: ♪ Dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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14:15 - 14:17♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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14:17 - 14:19TRE: ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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14:19 - 14:21(Higher tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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14:21 - 14:23♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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14:23 - 14:25(Lower tone) ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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14:25 - 14:26Well done! Well done!
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14:26 - 14:28We're getting somewhere.
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14:29 - 14:31I'm going to make this quickly.
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14:31 - 14:34I'm going to turn this four-bar phrase
into an eight-bar phrase that repeats. -
14:34 - 14:36All we need to do, bottom, is we go,
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14:36 - 14:42♪ Dum duh-duh-dum
duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum... ♪ -
14:42 - 14:43Actually, no. Forget it.
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14:43 - 14:45We'll just stick with the four-bar phrase.
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14:45 - 14:47(Laughter)
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14:48 - 14:50We're not in the land of song
anymore, boys. -
14:50 - 14:52(Laughter)
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14:52 - 14:54(Applause) (Cheers)
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14:58 - 14:59Right. OK.
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14:59 - 15:00(Music - "Don't Stop Believin'")
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15:00 - 15:02Here we go. That's all. Be great.
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15:03 - 15:04♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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15:04 - 15:09♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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15:09 - 15:11♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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15:11 - 15:12♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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15:12 - 15:17♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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15:17 - 15:19♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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15:19 - 15:20♪ Duh duh duh ♪
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15:20 - 15:23♪ Just a small town girl ♪
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15:24 - 15:28♪ Livin' in a lonely world ♪
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15:28 - 15:34♪ She took the midnight train
goin' anywhere ♪ -
15:36 - 15:40♪ Just a city boy ♪
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15:40 - 15:44♪ Born and raised in South Detroit ♪
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15:44 - 15:50♪ He took the midnight train
goin' anywhere ♪ -
15:50 - 15:51TRE: Keep going!
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15:51 - 15:52Audience: ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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15:52 - 15:57♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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15:57 - 15:59♪ Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh ♪
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15:59 - 16:03♪ Dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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16:03 - 16:04♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
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16:04 - 16:07♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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16:08 - 16:11♪ A singer in a smoky room ♪
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16:12 - 16:15♪ A smell of wine and cheap perfume ♪
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16:15 - 16:18♪ For a smile they can share the night ♪
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16:18 - 16:23♪ It goes on and on, and on, and on ♪
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16:23 - 16:27♪ Strangers waiting ♪
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16:28 - 16:30♪ Up and down the boulevard ♪
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16:30 - 16:37♪ Their shadows searching in the night ♪
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16:39 - 16:43♪ Streetlights, people ♪
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16:44 - 16:47♪ Living just to find emotion ♪
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16:47 - 16:54♪ Hiding somewhere in the night ♪
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16:55 - 16:57(Music)
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16:59 - 17:03♪ Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh ♪
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17:03 - 17:07♪ Working hard to get my fill ♪
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17:08 - 17:11♪ Everybody wants a thrill ♪
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17:11 - 17:15♪ Payin' anything to roll the dice ♪
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17:15 - 17:19♪ Just one more time ♪
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17:19 - 17:24♪ Some will win, some will lose ♪
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17:24 - 17:27♪ Some were born to sing the blues ♪
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17:27 - 17:30♪ Oh, the movie never ends ♪
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17:30 - 17:35♪ It goes on and on, and on, and on ♪
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17:35 - 17:39♪ Strangers waiting ♪
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17:40 - 17:42♪ Up and down the boulevard ♪
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17:42 - 17:49♪ Their shadows searching in the night ♪
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17:51 - 17:55♪ Streetlights, people ♪
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17:56 - 17:59♪ Living just to find emotion ♪
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17:59 - 18:06♪ Hiding somewhere in the night ♪
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18:07 - 18:10♪ Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh ♪
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18:10 - 18:15♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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18:15 - 18:18♪ Duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh ♪
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18:18 - 18:23♪ Duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum ♪
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18:23 - 18:27♪ Don't stop believin' ♪
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18:28 - 18:31♪ Hold on to the feelin' ♪
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18:31 - 18:38♪ Streetlights, people ♪
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18:39 - 18:43♪ Don't stop believin' ♪
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18:44 - 18:47♪ Hold on to the feelin' ♪
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18:47 - 18:54♪ Streetlights, people ♪
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18:55 - 18:59♪ Don't stop believin' ♪
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19:00 - 19:03♪ Hold on to the feelin' ♪
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19:03 - 19:10♪ Streetlights, people ♪
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19:11 - 19:15♪ Don't stop believin' ♪
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19:16 - 19:19♪ Hold on to the feelin' ♪
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19:19 - 19:26♪ Streetlights, people ♪
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19:27 - 19:29♪ Don't stop ♪
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19:29 - 19:31(Cheers)
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19:31 - 19:33(Applause)
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19:38 - 19:39TRE: Thank you very much.
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19:39 - 19:41Thank you.
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19:41 - 19:42(Cheers)
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19:42 - 19:44(Applause)
- Title:
- "Only Boys Aloud" Welsh choir | Tim Rhys-Evans and Only Boys Aloud | TEDxObserver
- Description:
-
In 2000, Tim Rhys-Evans set up a Welsh male voice choir called Only Men Aloud, a contemporary take on the Welsh choral tradition. Eight years later, it was voted the nation's favourite choir when it won BBC 1's Last Choir Standing. In 2010, as part of his mission to safeguard Welsh singing traditions, and to keep choral singing alive in the communities in which it first developed, Tim formed Only Boys Aloud. It's open to all boys between the ages of 14 and 19, without audition, and there are now nine separate choirs, in nine South Wales towns. Together they form Only Boys Aloud. Mentored by the adult members of Only Men Aloud, part of Tim's mission is to inspire the boys in other areas of their lives and one way he does this is by providing unique performance opportunities, such as TEDxObserver.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TEDxTalks
- Duration:
- 19:53
Maurício Kakuei Tanaka
Lyrics in English for the Welsh song "Calon Lan":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAQzsT_wXVc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EadntTQ0AkA