"My Motherland" (simplified Chinese: 我的祖国; traditional Chinese: 我的祖國; pinyin: Wǒde Zǔguó) is a song written for the Chinese movie Battle on Shangganling Mountain (1956). Lyrics were written by Qiao Yu (乔羽). Music was composed by Liu Chi (刘炽). Both of them are well known for a number of songs since the 1950s. It remains a popular and famous patriotic song in mainland China,[1] and the signature song for the famous operatic soprano Guo Lanying.
Original sound track.
Lyrics and music
"My Motherland" was initially called "A Big River" (《一條大河》) by the author, in order to represent the hundreds of rivers that flow in China. The title was changed when it was published with the movie.[citation needed] The song is divided into 3 stanzas. Within each stanza, the soloist sings first before the chorus sings its refrain.
Although the song was written for a movie about Korean War in the 1950s, there is no explicit mention of the war at all. It describes a soldier (or anyone who is away from home) thinking about his home and his family.[original research?]
Controversy about Lang Lang playing "My Motherland" at state dinner
On January 19, 2011, Lang Lang played "My Motherland" as President Barack Obama welcomed Hu Jintao at a White House state dinner (many famous Chinese celebrities, including Jackie Chan and Yo-Yo Ma attended, as well as some others.)
On Lang Lang's blog, he put pictures that performed at the White House and wrote that "I soloed 'My Motherland' which in the mind of the Chinese people is one of the most beautiful songs. Being able to play this song in front of many foreign guests, including the heads of state from around the world, that praises China, and seemingly serenading a strong China and its people in solidarity, I am deeply honored and proud. I would like to share that day in the White House."[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
References
^"《我的祖国》诞生记--浙江在线-人文频道". www.zjol.com.cn. Archived from the original on 2011-05-19.
^"革命歌曲《我的祖国》歌词歌谱.jpg". Sina (in Chinese). Sina iAsk. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
^ a bZhang, Hong (2002), The Making of Urban Chinese Images of the United States, 1945-1953, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, p. 161, ISBN 0-313-31001-7
^ a bWest, Philip; Levine, Steven I.; Hiltz, Jackie (1998), America's Wars in Asia: a Cultural Approach to History and Memory, Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe, p. 193, ISBN 0-7656-0237-7
^Commentators from The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal soon questioned Lang's music choice after the state dinner. Michael Wines from the New York Times described the situation as "regrettable," while Cathy Yan from the Wall Street Journal commented that Lang was "blissfully unaware of the political minefield he was stumbling into". In an interview broadcast on Phoenix TV, Lang Lang was quoted saying "I thought to play 'My Motherland' because I think playing the tune at the White House banquet can help us, as Chinese people, feel extremely proud of ourselves and express our feelings through the song."
^Hu Jintao's state visit to Washington - as it happened
^"Obamas Host China's President Hu at Glitzy White House State Dinner". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
^Chinese Pianist Plays Anti-American Song at White House Dinner