I hear the voices singing, speed your journey, bois, bois bach.

September 28, 2022 5:36 AM

Michael Sheen's speech to the Wales football team. MeFi favourite Michael Sheen met up with the Welsh football team at a training camp prior to this year's World Cup in Qatar. In exchange for a shirt and some handshakes, he gave them a few words of encouragement.

(This follows his viral appearance on comedy sports quiz A League Of Their Own, where he delivered an "impromptu" version, in response to being asked what he would say to inspire them)

posted by Hartster (15 comments total)

(Alternative video link if there's regional funkiness in the main link)
posted by Hartster at 5:42 AM on September 28, 2022

That man is too adorable to be real.
posted by humbug at 7:00 AM on September 28, 2022 [2 favorites]

"....You sons of Speed...." There was a tear in my eye at that part.
posted by Webbster at 7:49 AM on September 28, 2022 [4 favorites]

He's been quite chatty lately :)
posted by fullerine at 8:26 AM on September 28, 2022 [1 favorite]

In the movie this would happen in the locker room at halftime, players battered and bruised after a brutal start, downcast eyes starting to lift and light, music swelling in a soaring crescendo…
posted by gottabefunky at 8:30 AM on September 28, 2022 [1 favorite]

That was bloody lovely. It was nice to hear the “too wee, too feart” of Scottish independence echoed here.

If you've never been to an international match where Wales is playing, you won't have experienced “that holy song” in person. Every other country's crowd kind of burbles their way through their anthem, but the Wales fans sing as one choir. It's magical.
posted by scruss at 8:48 AM on September 28, 2022 [7 favorites]

I am an American and have never watched rugby. I was about ready to take to the mountains like Owain Glyndwr to secure Welsh independence after the speech.
posted by vorpal bunny at 9:26 AM on September 28, 2022 [12 favorites]

Michael Sheen for President of The Republic of Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 9:41 AM on September 28, 2022 [3 favorites]

Excellent speech. If they don't win, it certainly is not because of a lack of inspiring and motivational encouragement. I am an American now pulling for Wales (in addition to the USA).
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:13 AM on September 28, 2022 [2 favorites]

That was some King Théoden “death and glory” stuff right there holy crap
posted by Mister Moofoo at 12:19 PM on September 28, 2022 [1 favorite]

Thst was wonderful! I'm not even Welsh or slightly inter3ested in football, but that made me want to go out and punch a saxon, I think the proper Welsh term for this sort of thing is hwyl.
posted by Fuchsoid at 4:04 PM on September 28, 2022 [5 favorites]

I hope they play that on the Jumbotron at the match!

I saw it a week or two ago and, like the Grinch's heart, my love for Michael Sheen about burst my chest.
posted by wenestvedt at 5:26 PM on September 28, 2022 [1 favorite]

“Dare you write your names on that page?”

I swear you can hear a ghostly harper plucking the strings in the background while he speaks.

The New Zealand All Blacks have the Haka, The Welsh Football team has Michael Sheen.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 11:22 PM on September 28, 2022 [1 favorite]

How red are my valleys?
Dragon Red.
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:09 AM on September 29, 2022 [2 favorites]

The room I’m in sure got dusty all of a sudden…

Some wires got crossed on my first reading and I thought it was Michael Shannon. That would have been a much different speech.
posted by MrBadExample at 8:01 AM on September 29, 2022 [1 favorite]