Dafydd Iwan: The politics of song
There are many adjectives that can be used to describe Dafydd Iwan, politician, businessman, lay preacher and one of Wales' foremost musical talents. His songs have inspired a generation of fellow Welshmen, and songs, such as Yma o Hyd, holds anthem-like status in many a Welsh pub after stop tap or dramatic rugby victory.
Dafydd Iwan first stepped into the limelight in the turbulent times that was Wales in the 1960's. A series of events, such as the investiture of the Prince Charles, the drowning of Tryweryn, and decline in the language became a catalyst of political reawakening of Welsh identity. These times not only inspired Dafydd Iwan to become a central figure in Welsh politics, having become the Chairman of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in 1968-1971, but such times also inspired Dafydd Iwan to compose. Dafydd Iwan's first song was "Wrth feddwl am fy Nghymru". As Dafydd himself states "What else could I compose songs about but about Wales and her people and about the Welsh language and it's future? "
The investiture of Prince Charles in 1969 tore Wales apart. Dafydd Iwan wrote Carlo, a song satirising Prince Charles' love for the Welsh language. Iwan was attacked for causing what the middle classes of Wales thought was an embarrass on the nation but the song sold over 13,000 copies during the fist week. Iwan's song captured the dissatisfaction felt amongst many of having a foreign prince invested as the Prince of Wales.
But it is not only the political situation in Wales that has inspired Dafydd Iwan to put pen to paper. Iwan also dedicated a song to the murdered folk singer, Victor Jara in Chile.
The 1970's proved a cornerstone in Welsh music when Dafydd Iwan along with Huw Jones established Sain- the Welsh music record label with Huw Jones' Dwr the first record to be released. Sain is still going from strength to strength over thirty years later, and has given a platform and backing for many Welsh bands.
According to the centre of political song in Glasgow, the definition of a political song is not in the eye but in the ear of the beholder. Is Dafydd Iwan the Welsh equivalent to Bob Dylan? It is certain that Iwan is firmly part of the protest song movement - a movement that stretches as far as oppression itself. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez and many others in the 1960's gave the growing protest generation a focus for their condemnation and disillusionment with the values their parent's generation did not question. Cannot it also be said that Iwan did the same in Wales - not only be drawing attention to the issues arising here but also by drawing global comparisons with other non-Nation State countries?
Dafydd Iwan will be joining The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales at the DRWM (National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth) on the 20th of May to discuss the importance of the political song in his career. Along with discussing musical aspects of his career Dafydd Iwan will also perform a song or two acoustically from his enormous repertoire of over 200 songs from 18 plus albums.
Notes
DRWM
Friday May 20th 7.30
Dafydd Iwan
Tickets are £5
Tickets are available by phoning 01970 632 548
Press Contact: Llinos Medi Jones lmj@llgc.org.uk 01970 632 534