Indian Song Tops BBC Top-10 Poll
Guru
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/comp/articleshow?artid=28981875
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LONDON: Step aside Beatles, Queen and Led Zeppelin — a Tamil song from
a 1991 Indian film has beaten them all in a worldwide poll to find the
most popular songon the planet.
Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu topped a poll conducted by the BBC in which
radio listeners, celebrities and politicians from 116 countries
participated.
Cliff Richard has come a close second in the poll with his 1979 hit We
Don't Talk Any More, while American singer Cher is holding the third
spot with her dance number Believe.
At number four is John Lennon's Imagine — an ode to peace that
features regularly in lists of favourite songs — and at five is
another Indian song, Vande Mataram.
The BBC World Service said it had received votes from 116 countries
with the maximum number of votes coming from India.
So far, more than 900 songs have been chosen and The Beatles have the
highest number of nominated songs.
Former first lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos chose the
Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah as her favourite song. She
told the BBC it always lifted her spirits when she needed spiritual
healing.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a well known Elvis fan,
chose Ennio Morricone's score for the film Once Upon a Time in America
as his top tune.
The final results will be published on December 21.
Ket...@att.net
says...
>Tamil Ssong Tops BBC Top-10 Poll
>LONDON: Step aside Beatles, Queen and Led Zeppelin — a Tamil song from
>a 1991 Indian film has beaten them all in a worldwide poll to find the
>most popular songon the planet.
Not so fast.
>The final results will be published on December 21.
And the winner is:
The Irish republican rallying cry "A Nation Once Again"
Sigh! Atleast we thought we were the best in booth capturing and ballot
stuffing. Now we find out we are good-for-nothing Indians even in that arena.
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"Vande Mataram world's 2nd favourite song ever"
REUTERS[ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2002 07:25:25 AM ]
LONDON: The Irish republican rallying cry "A Nation Once Again" was named on
Friday as the world's favourite song ever, narrowly triumphing over "Vande
Mataram", after a global pll by the BBC.
The ballad performed by the staunchly republican group The Wolfe Tones, was
among a minority of Western songs in the list, the BBC said in a statement.
Group leader Brian Warfield told Reuters from Dublin: "Its marvellous news."
"We're absolutely delighted that this song, which has become such an anthem for
the Irish people, has got such recognition all over the world.
"The song was written to give the Irish people back a bit of spirit and support
the fight to overturn (British rule) so I am very happy to see it is still
giving us spirit the world over."
The poll of BBC World Service listeners attracted 150,000 votes from 153
countries and revealed the diversity of the world's musical tastes.
Among the rest of the top ten was a Bollywood movie song, a love song from
Nepal, a Tamil Tiger film song and a pop song from Hollywood singer/actress
Cher.
"A Nation Once Again" was written by 19th century Anglo-Irish army surgeon
Thomas Osbourne Davis to support the fight for an end to British rule. It
includes the refrain "And Ireland, long a province, be a nation once again".
Many famous names contributed to the voting with Bianca Jagger choosing Bob
Dylan's "Knocking on Heaven's Door" rather than anything from ex-husband Mick
Jagger's band the Rolling Stones.
Former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos chose Handel's Hallelujah chorus
while Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey opted for Bobby Darin's "Mack the Knife".
The BBC said some artists suffered in the voting stakes because so many of their
songs were nominated, splitting the vote. The Beatles had 55 songs nominated and
Iranian artist Googoosh had 40. Reggae legend Bob Marley had 29 songs nominated,
with "No Woman No Cry" topping the list.
Europe's favourite song was "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions, a song many
associate with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The United States went for "Girl
from Ipanema" by Antonio Carlos Jobim while Latin Americans voted for "Solo le
pido a Dios" from Argentine singer Leon Geico.
Swahili classic "Malaika" was Africa's number one while Australians and New
Zealanders voted for both Crowded House's "Don't Dream it's Over" and "Highway
to Hell" by AC/DC.
The final top ten list is:
1. A Nation Once Again -- The Wolfe Tones.
2. Vande Mataram -- various artists.
3. Dil Dil Pakistan - Vital Signs.
4. Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu - Ilayaraja.
5. Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu - Thirumala Chandran.
6. Ana wa Laila - Kazem El Saher.
7. Reetu Haruma Timi - Arun Thapa.
8. Believe - Cher.
9. Chaiyya Chaiyya - A R Rahman.
10. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen.
Guru
'Vande Mataram' narrowly misses world's top song spot, comes second
By Sinead O'Hanlon
LONDON (Reuters) - The Irish republican rallying cry "A Nation Once
Again" was named on Friday as the world's favourite song ever,
narrowly triumphing over Indian patriotic song "Vande Mataram", after
a global poll by the BBC.
6. Ana wa Laila - Kazem El Saher.