Ode to the Motherland
"Ode to the Motherland"[1](simplified Chinese: 歌唱祖国; traditional Chinese: 歌唱祖國; pinyin: Gēchàng Zǔguó) is a famous patriotic song of the People's Republic of China, written and music composed by Wang Xin (Chinese: 王莘; pinyin: Wáng Xīn) (26 October 1918–October 15, 2007) during the period immediately after the founding of the People's Republic of China (1949–1951). It is sometimes honoured as "the second national anthem" of the PRC.[2] The song was performed on the opening ceremony of 2008 Summer Olympics.[3]
It is the opening music of the radio programs News and newspapers Summary (新闻和报纸摘要) and National Network News (全国新闻联播) of China National Radio.[2] Also, it is the closing music of some radio channels in CNR.
Origin
Wang Xin, a musician from nearby Tianjin City, started writing this song in late September 1950, shortly after he saw the sea of fluttering Five Star Red Flags at Tiananmen Square during the preparation period for the first National Day of the People's Republic of China. The song had become very popular firstly in Tianjin, then spreading to Beijing. The song's lyrics and its music composition were officially published on 15 September 1951 in the People's Daily, being promoted widely by the Ministry of Culture of China.[4]
Full lyrics
Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Literal English translation |
---|---|---|---|
五星红旗迎风飘扬, |
五星紅旗迎風飄揚, |
Wǔ xīng hóngqì yíng fēng piāo yáng, |
Five-Star Red Flags flutter in the wind, |
- Sometimes rendered as simplified Chinese: 灭亡; traditional Chinese: 滅亡; pinyin: mie wang, meaning perish. In the version performed in The East Is Red (1965 film), the word 死亡 (death) was adopted due to the suggestion of Zhou Enlai.[2]
Versions
- During the Cultural Revolution, the song was altered to include addition references to Mao Zedong.[5]
- In the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, this song was sang by singer-songwriter Guo Rong in support for Chinese National Olympics Team in a modern pop version.
- It was also sang by former sister group of AKB48, SNH48 to declare independence from AKB48 Group and to build another local sister groups under Siba Culture which also managed BEJ48, GNZ48, SHY48, CKG48 & CGT48.
See also
References
- ↑ "President Hu watches grand show marking 10th anniversary of HK's return". Xinhua. The song's Name in English - "Ode to the Motherland" - translated by Xinhua.
- 1 2 3 它被称为“第二国歌”——《歌唱祖国》. 中广网. 2009-04-24.
- ↑ "2008 Beijing Olympics Open Ceremony version". Youtube.
- ↑ 人民音乐家王莘与《歌唱祖国》(图). Beijing Daily. 2010-09-06.
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M_xkym8DZnI
External links
- Orchestral MP3 Audio from PLA Daily
- Orchestral and Choral MP3 Audio from PLA Daily
- CCTV video
- Lyrics in Chinese
- Song's Name in English - "Singing in Praise of the Motherland" by People's Daily
- Song's Name in English - "Singing Praises of Motherland" by GOV.cn
- Orchestral and sung version on YouTube
- Cultural Revolution rendition with Cultural Revolution lyrics on YouTube