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| Delilah: Rugby fans torn over WRU choir ban on Tom Jones song | Delilah: Rugby fans torn over WRU choir ban on Tom Jones song |
| (7 days later) | |
| Tom Jones's song Delilah has caused controversy in recent years | Tom Jones's song Delilah has caused controversy in recent years |
| It's the song that fans have belted out for many years at Wales rugby games. | It's the song that fans have belted out for many years at Wales rugby games. |
| But now the Welsh Rugby Union has announced that Delilah will no longer be sung by choirs at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. | But now the Welsh Rugby Union has announced that Delilah will no longer be sung by choirs at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. |
| The 1968 Tom Jones hit has long been controversial because of its references to a woman's murder by her jealous partner, and it was removed from the choir's playlist in 2015. | The 1968 Tom Jones hit has long been controversial because of its references to a woman's murder by her jealous partner, and it was removed from the choir's playlist in 2015. |
| But, with Welsh rugby at the centre of a storm about sexism and misogyny, the WRU officially banned it this week. | But, with Welsh rugby at the centre of a storm about sexism and misogyny, the WRU officially banned it this week. |
| It continues to divide opinion. | It continues to divide opinion. |
| The Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi performed it at his show in Cardiff on Wednesday night, hours after the news broke. | The Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi performed it at his show in Cardiff on Wednesday night, hours after the news broke. |
| Tom Jones: Delilah banned for choirs at Principality Stadium | Tom Jones: Delilah banned for choirs at Principality Stadium |
| Welsh rugby: Who sits on the WRU board? | Welsh rugby: Who sits on the WRU board? |
| Welsh rugby: 'Ticking timebomb' equality warning to bosses | Welsh rugby: 'Ticking timebomb' equality warning to bosses |
| The Old Arcade pub in Cardiff, a popular match day venue for rugby fans, tweeted: "We will be playing Delilah... it will be loud... it will be on a loop..." | The Old Arcade pub in Cardiff, a popular match day venue for rugby fans, tweeted: "We will be playing Delilah... it will be loud... it will be on a loop..." |
| But a Welsh police chief said that at a time when two women a week were killed by a partner or an ex: "It's time to sing something else." | But a Welsh police chief said that at a time when two women a week were killed by a partner or an ex: "It's time to sing something else." |
| So what do people make of the decision inside and outside Wales? | So what do people make of the decision inside and outside Wales? |
| In Pontypridd, Sulwen Byard says the song is controversial, but is unsure where she stands on the ban | In Pontypridd, Sulwen Byard says the song is controversial, but is unsure where she stands on the ban |
| In Tom Jones's home town of Pontypridd, Karl Shortman, 32, said he had been unaware of the lyrics: "It's a bit of a tradition. I'm going to the England v Wales game, I think the fans will sing it. | In Tom Jones's home town of Pontypridd, Karl Shortman, 32, said he had been unaware of the lyrics: "It's a bit of a tradition. I'm going to the England v Wales game, I think the fans will sing it. |
| "You can't stop fans but I understand if there are negative connotations, especially with everything that's going on with the WRU at the moment." | "You can't stop fans but I understand if there are negative connotations, especially with everything that's going on with the WRU at the moment." |
| Nicola Macgregor describes the ban as "silly" | Nicola Macgregor describes the ban as "silly" |
| Nicola Macgregor, 49, a call centre worker, said: "I think the world has gone crazy to be honest with you. | Nicola Macgregor, 49, a call centre worker, said: "I think the world has gone crazy to be honest with you. |
| "I think they should be allowed to sing it. We go to the game for fun and the atmosphere, they are spoiling the atmosphere and fun for everyone." | "I think they should be allowed to sing it. We go to the game for fun and the atmosphere, they are spoiling the atmosphere and fun for everyone." |
| Sulwen Byard, 62, said: "I do understand the lyrics and I do not agree with the lyrics but I don't know where I stand on it." | Sulwen Byard, 62, said: "I do understand the lyrics and I do not agree with the lyrics but I don't know where I stand on it." |
| Domestic abuse survivor | Domestic abuse survivor |
| Listeners to Nicky Campbell's BBC Radio 5Live programme also gave their views. | Listeners to Nicky Campbell's BBC Radio 5Live programme also gave their views. |
| One anonymous texter said they were a domestic abuse survivor who regularly attends matches at the Cardiff stadium. | One anonymous texter said they were a domestic abuse survivor who regularly attends matches at the Cardiff stadium. |
| "It's such a relief to know that I won't have to listen to a stadium singing about the glorification of domestic violence. I don't want this song to represent our culture," they said. | "It's such a relief to know that I won't have to listen to a stadium singing about the glorification of domestic violence. I don't want this song to represent our culture," they said. |
| Another caller, Tony, from Bridgend, said it is "the best song" and called the decision a "disgrace". | Another caller, Tony, from Bridgend, said it is "the best song" and called the decision a "disgrace". |
| "It's just a song, it gets the crowd on its feet, we're singing and dancing. | "It's just a song, it gets the crowd on its feet, we're singing and dancing. |
| "Tom Jones is Welsh through and through let's keep it that way, certainly not ban it because Welsh rugby is going through a bad patch of dirt at the moment." | "Tom Jones is Welsh through and through let's keep it that way, certainly not ban it because Welsh rugby is going through a bad patch of dirt at the moment." |
| Choirs stopped singing Delilah at international rugby games in 2015 | Choirs stopped singing Delilah at international rugby games in 2015 |
| Another listener, Mo from Tamworth, Staffordshire said they turned off the radio if they heard it. | Another listener, Mo from Tamworth, Staffordshire said they turned off the radio if they heard it. |
| "I don't want that song left in my head when I leave that situation because it has that much of an effect on me. I've not been involved in domestic violence but I've got relatives who have." | "I don't want that song left in my head when I leave that situation because it has that much of an effect on me. I've not been involved in domestic violence but I've got relatives who have." |
| Caroline from Bedfordshire told the programme: "I think we've turned into a nation of snowflakes. | Caroline from Bedfordshire told the programme: "I think we've turned into a nation of snowflakes. |
| "I am a survivor of domestic abuse and it was bad domestic abuse to the point where I almost lost my children but I'm a survivor I'm not a victim so I don't listen to the song and think oh poor me. | "I am a survivor of domestic abuse and it was bad domestic abuse to the point where I almost lost my children but I'm a survivor I'm not a victim so I don't listen to the song and think oh poor me. |
| "As a survivor or a victim, you are always going to have a trigger somewhere and how you deal with that depends on you. | "As a survivor or a victim, you are always going to have a trigger somewhere and how you deal with that depends on you. |
| 'Misplaced criticism' | 'Misplaced criticism' |
| "I could walk down the street and something would make me remember it but I have to walk down the street everyday you know you can't top that." | "I could walk down the street and something would make me remember it but I have to walk down the street everyday you know you can't top that." |
| "Obviously I don't condone domestic abuse, it's awful, it's dreadful and it shouldn't happen at all but it's an old song." | "Obviously I don't condone domestic abuse, it's awful, it's dreadful and it shouldn't happen at all but it's an old song." |
| Dyfed-Powys chief constable Richard Lewis wrote on Twitter: "There's been a lot of misplaced criticism of this decision to stop singing Delilah. | Dyfed-Powys chief constable Richard Lewis wrote on Twitter: "There's been a lot of misplaced criticism of this decision to stop singing Delilah. |
| "The song depicts the murder of a woman by a jealous partner. For context, approximately two women a week are murdered by a partner or ex-partner. It's time to sing something else." | "The song depicts the murder of a woman by a jealous partner. For context, approximately two women a week are murdered by a partner or ex-partner. It's time to sing something else." |
| There’s been a lot of misplaced criticism of this decision to stop singing ‘Delilah’The song depicts the murder of a woman by a jealous partnerFor context, approx 2 women a week are murdered by a partner or ex-partnerIt’s time to sing something else https://t.co/noB0dnEXX8 | There’s been a lot of misplaced criticism of this decision to stop singing ‘Delilah’The song depicts the murder of a woman by a jealous partnerFor context, approx 2 women a week are murdered by a partner or ex-partnerIt’s time to sing something else https://t.co/noB0dnEXX8 |
| Rhondda Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant said on BBC Breakfast: "I'm glad the WRU are finally now saying we are going to stop promoting Delilah because it's a very violent song. | Rhondda Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant said on BBC Breakfast: "I'm glad the WRU are finally now saying we are going to stop promoting Delilah because it's a very violent song. |
| "The lyrics are about killing a woman and unfortunately on big match days we see a dramatic rise in the number of domestic violence cases across Wales, so it's good to do this." | "The lyrics are about killing a woman and unfortunately on big match days we see a dramatic rise in the number of domestic violence cases across Wales, so it's good to do this." |
| 'Distraction from really serious issues' | 'Distraction from really serious issues' |
| Cardiff West Labour MP for Kevin Brennan said: "I understand why people don't like that song, but I think it's a distraction from the really serious issues we ought to be talking about in rugby." | Cardiff West Labour MP for Kevin Brennan said: "I understand why people don't like that song, but I think it's a distraction from the really serious issues we ought to be talking about in rugby." |
| More than 70,000 fans attend most Wales games at the Principality Stadium | More than 70,000 fans attend most Wales games at the Principality Stadium |
| Rhian Bowen Davies, a former Welsh government national adviser for violence against women, who is now an independent consultant in that field, said: "I think it's the right decision, in particular in light of recent events at the union." | Rhian Bowen Davies, a former Welsh government national adviser for violence against women, who is now an independent consultant in that field, said: "I think it's the right decision, in particular in light of recent events at the union." |
| "But also on a wider basis, I think it is really problematic that this song was part of a playlist that 70,000 people would be singing and yet it depicted male violence against women. | "But also on a wider basis, I think it is really problematic that this song was part of a playlist that 70,000 people would be singing and yet it depicted male violence against women. |
| "The messages that sends to young girls, women, men and boys who are there and watching is that it effectively condones that. | "The messages that sends to young girls, women, men and boys who are there and watching is that it effectively condones that. |
| "If we are to change societal attitude and people's beliefs around violence against women, we have to challenge what to some people may appear quite small things." | "If we are to change societal attitude and people's beliefs around violence against women, we have to challenge what to some people may appear quite small things." |
| SLAMMED: Was this the golden age of Welsh rugby? | SLAMMED: Was this the golden age of Welsh rugby? |
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| Related Topics | |
| Singing | |
| Tom Jones |