Jana Gana Mana sung two ways

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One of the things that marks me as an ABD is the fact that the Indian national anthem leaves me cold. Largely that’s because I don’t identify as an Indian politically, but it’s also in part because most national anthems don’t move me. The Star Spangled Banner, for example, is a horrible song. I feel something when I hear it only because I am an American and am conditioned to do so, but honestly I’d far rather have a song like the Marseillaise which is actually catchy.

The first rendition of Jana Gana Mana is sung phonetically by Kenyans who make it sound a bit like church music – it loses the rhythm that it has when Indians sing it, but it becomes etherial and quite haunting (courtesy Chick Pea):

The second rendition is A.R. Rehman’s bombastic cover, as if John Phillip Sousa decided to set a lullaby to 24 tubas:

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Do you guys have a favorite version of the anthem? How about the other regional national anthems (none of which I know) – Pakistan? Bangladesh? Lanka? Nepal? Afghanistan? Feel free to share youtube links but no rickrolling please …

112 thoughts on “Jana Gana Mana sung two ways”

  1. @98

    I wasn’t smart enough to know what IPA stood for while going for a pre-school interview. 😉

  2. Large rallies, fermenting initially in Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta,

    Yeah, Vande Mataram really scared the shit out of the Brits. An article I read in a London newspaper of that era alluded to bloodthirsty Kali.

    Vande Mataram should have been the national anthem — because of this historical context.

  3. OMG that was beautiful. sombre , yet joyous… regal yet full of humanity… luv it luv it. it must be a church choir.

    I could especilly appreciate that the “bh” sound was pronounced correctly. it doesnt exist in kiswahili though not sure if it exists with the kalenjin language – as the singer seemed to be.

    well done guys. i’ll see yez soon. kilimanjaro in 2009-10 or bust.

  5. OK, the middle-aged white lady here, family been in America so many generations we’ve lost track of where some ancestors started out from:

    I have a very limited vocal range. While the “Star Spangled Banner” can move me from time to time, (a) it refers to a single martial incident long ago (b) I cannot sing it (c) it is difficult for untrained singers — say, school children– to sing and (d) on the whole, it is best performed by a chorus or choir.

    I far prefer “America the Beautiful”. Here are some renditions I find moving (most are better if you just listen, without viewing the videos)

    Ray Charles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCEOgMAgmv4

    Willie Nelson (the 9/11 Heroes concerts–it is actually better if you don’t watch the video, unless you like celebrity watching) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6WZtA0TWWQ

    I know I heard Johnny Cash sing “America the Beautiful” in his old age, but I can’t find a link.

    Keb’ Mo’ (from the closing episode of West Wing) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C2_9bvH6e4

    Jon Bon Jovi, Sept 11, 2002, in Japan (surprisingly moving) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jAd9IQWtJs

    Aretha Franklin (too much vocal play for my taste, but YMMV) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neH3lPEjdR0

    Auburn University Choir (ignore, if you can, the sound of the video camera recording) — the quality is otherwise quite good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3jwMfGACTY

  6. The Star Spangled Banner, for example, is a horrible song. I feel something when I hear it only because I am an American and am conditioned to do so, but honestly I’d far rather have a song like the Marseillaise which is actually catchy.

    Totally disagree: I think the SSB is awesome. How many countries can boast a national anthem set to the tune of a then-popular drinking song? Eh? Betcha didn’t think of that.

    Of course, this entire discussion is irrelevant without mention of the greatest national anthem of all time, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan, You Very Nice Place.

  7. The Star Spangled Banner was written on a ship built in Bombay by Wadia shipbuilders (Nusli Wadia’s ancestors) there is the desi angle to the US national anthem

  8. 104 · kilimanjaro said

    Wrong country. Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania though, not Kenya. Unless you plan on going to Kenya on your way to Kilimanjaro.

    on the border, doll. can swing it both ways.

  9. Why no love for “Vande Mataram”?? Wasnt there a movement to make that India’s anthem? There was an older Hindi movie which had a great version of this song, I cant remember now. Good discussion.

  10. The problem with having a national anthem or a national song in a multi-lingual country is that usage of some words carry a different meaning in different languages and opens up for fun and ridicule.

    For example, “vande mataram” in Tamil rhymes with “vanthu ematharom” meaning “we’ll come and cheat you” ( 🙂 ) and used by the anti Congress opponents like the Justice Party etc.. for ridicule in the pre-1947 days. I bet not many know the meaning of the words in the national anthem in India, one saving grace is the use of the names of rivers / regions and mountains which people can identify with.

  12. I found this note through Google when searching for musical instruments that were used for Jana Gana Mana. I can’t believe that you don’t like the anthem of India. I’m Ukrainian that was born in Ukraine. I consider Indian anthem to be the most beautiful anthem in the world (except for Ukrainian though) 🙂 I’m getting goose bumps when this anthem is performed.