News
New Knowledge Centre Paper on Jersey’s National Anthem
A new paper has been added the Jersey Knowledge Centre - Jersey’s National Anthem. Jersey has no agreed national anthem and the issue of whether there should be one and, if so, what it should be has proved to be politically controversial, reflecting wider issues in the Island. The Government’s website records “Island Home” as the national anthem but this is unknown to most of the population and very few more people would be able to sing the anthem. “Beautiful Jersey” has traditionally had the status of an unofficial anthem while to some people the only anthem is “God Save the King”.
The paper gives the words and access to recordings of the three songs that have been used as Jersey’s anthem – “Beautiful Jersey”, “Island Home” and “Ma Normandie”. It cover the competition to agree a new national anthem. “Island Home” was declared the winner, but with little follow up.
The issue has been the subject of a detailed academic study by a Jerseyman, Professor Henry Johnson at the University of Otago in New Zealand. His analysis is summarised in the paper.
