This song was written and music composed in 1951, but today it is still one of my most favorite Chinese songs because of its nice melody, though I started listening it even in my childhood. I love this song, that's why I was extremely moved when I surprisingly heard it from Channel 7's live video of the opening ceremony that night.
Originally, the song was in marching rhythm, but the ceremony's chief music director, CHEN Qigang (陈其钢), recomposed the song into a very lyric style, just for the harmonious atmosphere of the global event. Moreover, there were some political words in the original lyrics, and those words were all removed in this Olympics edition.
It has been revealed that the cute performer girl of the song, LIN Miaoke (林妙可), did not sing a note at the opening ceremony though the billions of people around the world did watch her lovely appearance on the screen. What the world heard was from another lovely girl, YANG Peiyi (杨沛宜), 7 years old, who had the perfect voice for the first song at the ceremony.
It was really a shame that we could not see the lovely Peiyi on the TV as the ceremony organizer did ridiculously think she was not good looking enough than LIN. In fact, CHEN disclosed more about the decision in a radio interview that the pressure was actually from the politburo!
However, you may now listen the song on YouTube with YANG Peiyi's voice.
I have also converted the live recording into MP3 format, so you may just download/listen the MP3 version with lyrics built-in. (Note: The latest video of Yang Peiyi has been added at another post)
The Olympics Version Lyrics (奥运版《歌唱祖国》歌词):
歌唱我们亲爱的祖国，从今走向繁荣富强。
越过高山，越过平原，跨过奔腾的黄河长江；
宽广美丽的土地，是我们可爱的家乡；
我们爱和平，我们爱家乡，我们团结友爱坚强如钢。
五星红旗迎风飘扬，胜利歌声多么响亮；
歌唱我们亲爱的祖国，从今走向繁荣富强。
歌唱我们亲爱的祖国，
从今走向繁荣富强。
Five-Starred Red Flag is fluttering in the wind,
How bright is our song of victory;
Sing for our dear motherland,
Towards prosperity and strength from now on.
Across the mountains, across the plains,
Over the turbulent Yellow and Yangtze rivers;
This vast and beautiful land,
Is our delightful home;
We love peace, we love home,
Our unity and fraternity is as strong as steel.
Five-Starred Red Flag is fluttering in the wind,
How bright is our song of victory;
Sing for our dear motherland,
Towards prosperity and strength from now on.
Sing for our dear motherland,
Towards prosperity and strength from now on.
* The above English translation in italic is from Wikipedia English - Ode To The Motherland, retrieved on 31 August 2008 08:32 UTC
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