People of the country

The song Gens of the country is regarded by several as the not-official national anthem of the Quebec.

Origin of the song

This part was composed by the poet, type-setter-musician Gilles Vigneault, in collaboration with Gaston Rochon for the music. She was written following a challenge launched by Louise Forestier and Yvon Deschamps to replace the song of birthday “Happy birthday”. She was interpreted for the first time the June 24th 1975 on the Royal Mont with Montreal during the ceremonies of the national Festival of Quebec. Since, she was frequently played ceremonies of the National Festival. The refrain is by far the most famous part of the song which says Gens of the country, it is your turn to let to you speak about love

The song is also associated with the Mouvement souverainist of Quebec and with the party souverainist, the Parti Québécois. Good example is that of speech of concession of Rene Lévesque, after citizens of province have rejected independence of Quebec at the time of Referendum of 1980 with Quebec, where the enormous crowd which was gathered to observe it speak stressed at the end of the speech and linked in the song “People of the country” like symbol of force and unit and to show that even if they had lost the referendum, they had not lost their dream of independent Quebec.

Another use

In Quebec, this song is always used at the time of the celebrations of birthdays. The refrain is often modified for these occasions:

My dear friend (or My dear friend ) , it is in your turn

to let to you speak about love.

The friendly word is sometimes also replaced by the name of celebrated.

For example, at the time of the funeral of Rene Lévesque, former Prime Minister and ex chief of the Québécois Party, the people gathered apart from the church entonné the song: " My dear Rene, it is in your turn, to let to you speak about amour."

See too

External bonds

Interview with Gilles Vigneault, Louise Forest and Yvon Deschamps on the birth of the song (Radio-Canada)

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