La Marseillaise... ou "Les Marseillaises"?

On July 14th, the French celebrate the "Fête Nationale," the French National Holiday.

If you'd like to learn more about this Holiday and how we celebrate it in France, I recommend you check out this page.  (In English, with French vocabulary and short texts.)

One element of the celebrations is the French National Anthem, which is called "La Marseillaise".

So why, then,  is this blogpost's title "Les Marseillaises"?

There is only one official "Marseillaise," composed during the war that followed the French Revolution, but over the decades many people have complained about its violent, belligerent lyrics, and some have proposed alternative versions.

In our class handout, you'll discover, on top of the official song, two of those alternative, more pacific (but unfortunately almost unknown) Marseillaises.

1. La Marseillaise de Rouget de Lisle

The first song in the handout is the first stanza and the chorus - the best-known part - of the official anthem. The full song includes seven stanzas in its official version, but only two or three are usually sung.

Here is a classical interpretation of the anthem by Mireille Mathieu and the French Army Choir.

And here is Jessye Norman's beautiful interpretation of the song in 1989, for the Bicentennial of the  French Revolution. (Thank you, Lani!)
Note that she switched the usual order, so the first stanza comes in second position.

2. La Nouvelle Marseillaise by Graeme Allwright

You may remember Graeme Allwright from the song Petit Garçon, but his talents extend beyond translating American folk songs. In the following video, you can see him sing his version of the anthem in public - and with the public - in 2008.

Here's a translation of the song and its introduction in the handout:

"In 1792, following the King of Austria's war declaration, a French officer, Rouget de Lisle, stationed in Strasbourg,  composed the "War Song for the Rhine Army." I've always wondered how the French can keep singing, as their national anthem, a war song, with bellicose, sanguinary, racist lyrics. Watching on TV little kids who were made to learn those terrible lyrics, I was deeply saddened, and I decided to try and create another version of La Marseillaise. The day politicians will decide to change La Marseillaise's lyrics will be a great day for France. " -- Graeme Allwright, October 2005.

For all the children of the Earth

Let's sing Love and Freedom.

Against all hatred and wars

The flag of Hope is raised,

The flag of Justice and Peace.

Let's gather our strengths, our courage

To vanquish misery and fear.

May friendship, joy and sharing

Reign deep inside our hearts.

The flame that illuminates us

Crosses over borders

Let's go, let's go, as friends, united,

Let's walk towards the light.

3. La Marseillaise de la paix by Paul Robin (1837-1912)

Finally, here's another beautiful version that was composed at the end of the 19th century and covered by the group Chanson Plus Bifluorée: