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Music icon says Welsh band can record his classic song

Nov 8 2008 by Karen Price, Western Mail

As Leonard Cohen takes to the stage in Wales tonight, a Welsh-language band are preparing to release their own version of one of his classic hits. Karen Price finds out more

ABOUT a month ago, Ynyr and Eurig Roberts finally received the news they had been waiting to hear for about three years.

Music legend Leonard Cohen had given the brothers, who make up the folk band Brigyn, permission to record a Welsh-language version of his hit Hallelujah.

Now they are preparing to release Haleliwia and hope it will be a hit this Christmas.

Haleliwia was penned by Tony Llewelyn for his son to sing during a local eisteddfod in Nefyn. Harpist Nia Williams, who performs with Brigyn, was a judge and she persuaded the brothers to record it.

“We tracked Tony down and asked for the lyrics and quickly recorded it,” says 28-year-old Ynyr. “It’s a real acoustic version and has been stripped down to just harp, piano and voices. We sent it straight to Radio Cymru and when it was played the reaction was overwhelming. It’s become one of our live favourites.”

Brigyn, formed by the brothers four years ago after many years spent performing in other bands, needed permission to record the song.

The Welsh-language translation of the original, released by Cohen in 1984, retains the biblical references but Ynyr says it has also been updated.

“This one is based more on the Christmas story and it contains references to the troubles in the Middle East,” says the musician, who is originally from Llanrug in Snowdonia but now lives in Cardiff.

“But people will recognise it as the tune is so strong.”

Canadian singer-songwriter Cohen, who plays a gig in Cardiff tonight , admitted in the past that writing Hallelujah was a “frustrating” process for him.

He said: “I filled two notebooks and I remember being in the Royalton Hotel (in New York), on the carpet in my underwear, banging my head on the floor and saying ‘I can’t finish this song’.”

The iconic song was introduced to a new generation of fans by Welsh music legend John Cale as the theme tune to the movie Shrek. And Katherine Jenkins has recorded her own classical version on her latest album, Sacred Arias.

Now Ynyr says he and Eurig are still pinching themselves after receiving permission to record their version.

“It’s amazing that Leonard Cohen, one of our musical heroes, has given us his seal of approval to release a new version of his immortal classic, Hallelujah.

“We knew that he rarely gives interviews and shuns publicity, and as far as we’re aware he hasn’t given permission to release the single in any other language apart from English – so it was quite an honour to be given the thumbs-up to release the single.”

Ynyr and Eurig, who also work as freelance graphic artists, formed Brigyn in 2004 and have released three albums.

They have performed at major events in Wales, including the Green Man Festival, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau and Bryn Terfel's Faenol Festival.

They describe their music as “folk with a modern edge”.

Despite the fact that they work together, Ynyr says he and Eurig – who have an older brother Huw who is not a musician – do not resort to bickering.

“Surprisingly we always get on, which is why Brigyn has worked so well over the past four years. We enjoy it so much and we don’t quarrel at all.”

They have already had their music played on BBC Radio 1 and would like to cross over to the mainstream, despite performing only in their native language, just like Icelandic group Sigur Ros.

“When people like music for what it is, I don’t think they mind about in what language it’s being presented.”

The brothers have yet to meet Cohen but they will be going along to his gig at Cardiff International Arena tonight.

“It would be the icing on the cake to meet him.”

Haleliwia is available in record shops from November 24. It is available to download from Monday at http://www.brigyn.com

Leonard Cohen is at Cardiff International Arena tonight

sebmelmoth2003 wrote:you object to young people or gaelic or both