| bb |
Posted
on 21-Dec-02 08:42 PM
Friday, 20 December, 2002, 22:05 GMT
Irish song voted world's favourite
An Irish republican song, A Nation Once Again, has been voted the world's top tune according to a BBC World Service poll.
The song, originally recorded in 1964, was written in the 1840s by Thomas Osbourne Davis to support the fight for an end to British rule.
The winning song was recorded by The Wolfe Tones and includes the refrain: "And Ireland, long a province, be a nation once again".
Following a late surge in votes, the Irish sing along crossed the finishing line ahead of a patriotic Hindi song, Vande Mataram.
Top Ten
1. A Nation Once Again, The Wolfe Tones
2. Vande Mataram, Various artists
3. Dil Dil Pakistan, Vital Signs
4. Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu, llayaraaja
5. Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu, Thirumalai Chandran
6. Ana wa Laila, Kazem El Saher
7. Reetu haruma timi hariyali basant hau nadihruma timi pabitra ganga hau, Arun Thapa
8. Believe, Cher
9. Chaiyya chaiyya, A R Rahman
10. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
The Wolfe Tones were said to be "thrilled" by the announcement.
They said they were "proud" to have been ranked above bands such as The Beatles, who failed to make the top 10 despite 55 different song nominations.
With the lyrics taken from a poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatarji, Vande Mataram is regarded by many as India's national song.
In third place an Asian track, popular in the 1980s, entitled Dil Dil Pakistan by Vital Signs, finished ahead of pop poll classics including Cher's Believe at number eight and Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody at number ten.
A few artists had many songs nominated and split their vote.
Forty songs by Iranian artist Googoosh were chosen while Bob Marley had 29 songs nominated, with No Woman No Cry topping the list.
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| rabi |
Posted
on 24-Dec-02 12:22 AM
It feels nice to have a song of our own among the top 10, doesn't it?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2591357.stm
I love Arun Thapa and his "Rituharuma..." is a wonderfully romantic song with melody that doesn't wear off easily...but one of the world's favorite? Come on...wake up.
My opinion: Internet has made polling infinitely easier, but also infinitely manipulable and meaningless. My reading of the results: of all the people interested in voting for this poll, fans of "A Nation Once Again, The Wolfe Tones" were the most persistent and the ones most able to circumvent the safeguards the BBC had in place to guard against manipulations. And our gorkhes were able to push one of our own to the 7th place...very impressive indeed!
I am glad national elections are not held through the Internet.
Anyway, Arun Thapa is a gem among Nepali singers. I would personally rate him above Narayan Gopal. I've always had trouble liking Narayan Gopal who had a supremely evocative voice and sang meaningful songs that were, unfortunately, crippled beyond salvation thanks to consistently lusterless and unimaginative melody. Here is some info on late Arun Thapa:
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/unprotected/photogallery/arun/arunthapatribute.htm
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