Only Men Aloud!
Only Men Aloud | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Cardiff,Wales |
| Genres | Choral music |
| Occupation(s) | Choir |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Universal Music Group Decca Records |
| Members | See below |
| Past members | see below |
| Website | http://www.onlymenaloud.com/ |
Only Men Aloudis a male voicechoirfromWales.The choir came to national prominence in the UK when they won theLast Choir Standingcompetition run byBBCtelevision during 2008.[1]
Overview
[edit]The choir was formed byTim Rhys-Evans,a classically trained singer and former musical director ofWelsh National Youth Opera.It originally had 15 members and is based inCardiff.[citation needed]
FollowingLast Choir Standing,the choir signed a five-record deal withUniversal Musicand released their first album.[2]They performed withJosh GrobanatThe Royal Variety Performancein 2008.[3]
The choir embarked on their first UK tour in April/May 2009 with singer and soap starAmy Nuttalljoining them as a special guest. The performance at the Cardiff International Arena featured a one-off performance withBonnie Tyler.[citation needed]
In October 2009, the choir held auditions at theWales Millennium Centre,Cardiff to find two new members to join them. Later that month the choir's second album,Band of Brothers,went straight to number one in the UK Classical Charts, where it remained for three weeks.TV choir top of classical chartThe album went on to win the NS&I Album of the Year 2010 at the Classical Brit awards.[4]
The choir embarked on their second UK tour in December 2009. Their special guest was Welsh sopranoGwawr Edwards.In 2010, the choir was given its own Welsh-language television series,Only Men Aloud,on S4C.[5]
In May 2010 Tim Rhys Evans embarked on a new project, to revive the male voice choir tradition, by formingOnly Boys Aloud[6]The boys made their first public appearance at the Ebbw Vale Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale and received three standing ovations for their renditions of Calon Lan, Sosban Fach and Don't Stop Believing.[citation needed]
Only Men Aloud! completed a 16-date UK Christmas Tour in December 2010. Their special guest was West End singer,Katy Treharne.The show at the CIA in Cardiff also featured Only Boys Aloud who sang "Don't Stop Believing" and "You Raise me Up" with Only Men Aloud![citation needed]
Only Men Aloud! were also the musical guests on the Christmas Day 2010 edition of BBC One'sStrictly Come Dancing.They sang a specially-arranged version of "Silent Night" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas".[citation needed]
In 2011, Only Men Aloud released their third album calledIn Festive Mood,made a 15-date UK Christmas Tour and releasedOnly Men Aloud - The Book.In Festive Moodentered the UK Classical Charts at Number 8. A BBC Wales series,Only Boys Aloud: the Academy,was devoted toOnly Boys Aloud![citation needed]
On 27 July 2012, Only Men Aloud performed at the opening ceremony of the2012 Olympic Games.They performed onCaliban's Dream,as theOlympic cauldronwas lit. The track is featured on the soundtrack of the ceremony,Isles of Wonder.It was digitally released as a downloadable track on iTunes at midnight on 27 July after the ceremony. It was the highest placed track from the soundtrack on iTunes in the UK, reaching no. 5 when the charts were announced on 29 July.[7]On 5 August, it entered the main charts at number 12.[citation needed]
Tim Rhys-Evanswas awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June 2013. He was awarded the honour for services to music and for charitable services.[8]
In May 2013, It was announced that Only Men Aloud would go through a radical restructure later in the year to become an eight piece group. The decision was made for logistical reasons as they looked to expand their global appeal.[9]At the end of September 2013, the new look line up was announced and the new eight piece group performed two shows in the Elgar Rooms,Royal Albert Hall.[10]In 2014 they made a 12-date spring tour of Wales, a summer tour of the Midwest of the US, and a 12-date UK Christmas Tour. Another two-part TV series for S4C was shown in December. In February 2015, Only Men Aloud cycled from Cardiff to Paris for charity, arriving in time to sing the Welsh National Anthem on the pitch before the France vs Wales RBSSix Nationsgame.[11]
Line-up
[edit]Wyn Davies, David Fortey,
Tom Hier, David Mahoney, Steffan Hughes
Niall Allen, Craig Yates,
Huw Euron, Stephen Hamnett.
Previous members includeDavid Thaxton(Les Misérables,Passion), Alan Winner (Gone with the Wind),Noel Sullivan(Hear'Say)!, andJon Robyns(Avenue Q,Les Misérables).
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Chart peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| UK [12] | ||
| Only Men Aloud! |
|
16 |
| Band Of Brothers |
|
21 |
| In Festive Mood |
|
124 |
| Only Men Aloud Unplugged |
|
|
| Only Men Aloud On The Road |
|
|
| Favourites |
|
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "All By Myself" | Only Men Aloud! |
| 2009 | "Total Eclipse of the Heart" | Band of Brothers |
As featured artist
[edit]| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK [13] | |||
| 2012 | "Caliban's Dream" (Underworldfeaturing Dockhead Choir, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Only Men Aloud!,Elizabeth Roberts,Alex Trimble) |
12 | Isles of Wonder: Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games |
Awards
[edit]| Year | Work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Band of Brothers | Album of the Year | Won | [14] |
| Year | Work | Award | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Only Men Aloud | Gold | [15] |
References
[edit]- ^"Only Men Aloud! are the Last Choir Standing".BBC. 30 August 2008.Retrieved6 January2009.
- ^"Only Men Aloud! sign record deal".30 September 2008 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^"Royal Variety Performance 2008: all-star line-up unveiled for 80th anniversary show on BBC One".BBC Press Office.BBC. 17 November 2008.Retrieved6 January2009.
- ^http://www.classicalbrits.co.uk/artist/only-men-aloud%7COnly Men Aloud BRITs Profile, accessed 14 May 2010
- ^"S4C - Only Men Aloud".
- ^"Home".Aloud Charity.
- ^"Arctic Monkeys' Olympic cover of The Beatles' 'Come Together' climbs download charts".NME.30 July 2012.Retrieved30 July2012.
- ^"MBE for Only Men Aloud! director".BBC News.
- ^Morgan, Sion (20 May 2013)."From Only Men Aloud to only eight men allowed: Welsh choir halves its members in shake-up".walesonline.
- ^Price, Karen (28 September 2013)."Only Men Aloud unveil their new look and new members".walesonline.
- ^Price, Karen (8 February 2015)."Only Men Aloud's charity cycle dash from Cardiff to Paris for national anthem".walesonline.
- ^Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
- For all except where noted:"The Official Charts Company - Only Men Aloud!".The Official Charts Company. 5 May 2013.
- ForIn Festive Mood:"New Chart Entries > December 10, 2011".Zobbel.de. 10 December 2011.
- ^Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
- For "Caliban's Dream":"Chart Archive > 11 August 2012".Official Charts Company.
- ^"Classic BRIT Award".Retrieved22 December2020.
- ^"BRIT Certified".Retrieved22 December2020.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
