Always Beautiful - video
Always Beautiful - English/Welsh
Always Beautiful - English
Always Beautiful - Welsh
Featuring guest vocalist Heather Jones
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"I actually started thinking about putting pen to paper around the middle of 2004," he says.
"For some reason I just couldn't get it. But in February I decided to sit down again and have another go.
"I sat there and asked myself what Cardiff means to me, what it means to other people and the words just seemed to flow.
"I ended up writing the whole thing in the space of one night," he says, booming with huge pride for his city.
"It's a love song - a love song dedicated to Cardiff which tries to capture the essence of what Cardiff means to me.
"I wanted to write something that reflected both the past and the future. Cardiff has given me a home; it's given my family a home. And I've had a wonderful time here.
"I think Cardiff used to have a bit of a downtrodden feel to it, but the buzz here now is huge. There's something to offer everyone. It's fantastic - we're so lucky to be living here.
"Everyone has their own idea about what Cardiff is, and the song reflects what it means to me."
Frank presents Celtic Heartbeat on BBC Radio Wales
your comments
Sharon Squires
What a lovely video - I left Cardiff 9 years ago but when I watched the video it felt I was back home listening to Frank singing with his great accent. Well done Frank.
Gary, Brighton
It's June 2007 and I just found this - ffantastic!! I live in Brighton now, but am sure that I will head home some day - this song sure brings that day closer.... love it!
Jeremy Rees from Adamsdown, Cardiff
I heard Frank perform this song at a tribute gig for Meic Stevens at the Coal Exchange on Friday night. I was blown away by it - and so tried to get a copy, but can't find it on any commercially available albums. Has it been released?
John Legg, Southern Flinders Ranges, South Austral
It's about 50 years since I last lived in Cardiff permanently and it brings back a lot of memories. I visited Cardiff last year and it has changed a lot, apart from the local accent, and mostly for the good. Now I am glad that I was born and lived in Cardiff during my formative youth years, but I'm very happy to live where I am now.
Guillermo Diamante from Madrid, Spain
Oh. What a long time since I last was in Cardiff streets! How I miss it!
Paul & Kathy - Cardiffs Renee & Renata
Even in our mid-twenties we find ourselves getting wistful about Caroline street every time we hear that song.
Thanks Frank for that wonderfully infectious ditty.
Paul Edwards, Coventry
I lived in Riverside 1971 - a great city, Frank Hennessy's song says it all.
CCFC, Merthyr
Aye good song Frank, but could you say "Bluebirds so hard to beat', instead of 'Blue 'n Blacks so Hard to Beat'
C'mon Frank, get some songs about CCFC!
CCFC, Cardiff
i second that! a cardiff city song from Frank, and i'll even pay for his ticket!
and for his wife, who was my old teacher yonks ago...
CCFC, Rhondda
Good songs from FH, but why doesn't he sing a song about the great CCFC?
Charlie Temple from Formby
I well remember my time in Cardiff during the Eighties - and especially the old Police Folk Club with Frank Hennessy, Dave Burns, Rory Furlong and the rest. So much talent!! It's great to see the way that the City has moved on - but kept it's unique energy and sense of humour. Happy birthday Cardiff - and thanks Frank for another great song.
Grangetownwhale
Brilliant.
More, more, more.
nathalie herbaux from france
french and 12 years in cardiff! back to france now, south, which is not too bad!, but still have a lot in my heart for a place i still consider as my home; two homes now, very different homes but cardiff gave me a sense myself, of what matters the most, people are people evrywhere; i do miss the tolerance, my welsh mates, having a drink (or more...) at the jazz cafe, walking in pontcanna fields, its trees in the autumn and the band doofers...
will come back, heard it hasnt changed!
à bientôt
Dave James, Bridgend
Great song - brings memories flooding back of my days growing up in Cardiff and my subsequent visits back to the Arms Park and Millennium Stadium, with the compulsory pub crawl around the pubs such as the Cottage, Albert, Wellington, Old Arcade to name but a few. Finished off with chips from Toni's in chip alley. All changed now, not necessarily for the better.
Mo and Dig from Machen
What a great tune and wonderful lyrics!! Can't wait to get the CD, but at the moment enjoying the video on the BBC website. Great stuff Frank!
Richard Jeffery - Sydney
Great sound Frank - so many memories...- your song encapsulates all that is Cardiff...brought tears to this old bugger let me tell you. They may have taken me out of Cardiff, but they will never take Cardiff out of me.
Phil the Vinylmaster
I have been a fan of Frank for a number of years - we used to meet in all sorts of places and venues. I enjoyed Frank's trip through Cardiff but Frank, where was Spiller Records at the Hayes? It is now the oldest record shop in the world and has been a part of Cardiff in the 1800s. Today with its owner Nicky Todd and his staff it is still the best record shop in the city. Please Frank next time give Spillers a word or five.
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