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THE SUNDAY TIMES, 12 JULY 1998
Divas of the world fight it out to sing song of the century
by John Harrow Arts Correspondent
THE SONG will be cheerful, tuneful and over the top. Some of the world's
best-known divas, led by Barbra Streisand and Sarah Brightman, are
lining up to perform the anthem for a new age to be sung during the
royal opening of the Millennium Dome. The competition to perform the
song, already being compared with Coca-Cola's global hit I'd Like to
Teach the World to Sing, is set to be as intense as the battle between
Hollywood's golden era film stars to play Scatlea O'Hara in Gone With
The Wind. The BBC hopes that the opening ceremony in 537 days' time could
reach an audience of hundreds of millions. "It could overshadow the
numbers watching both today's World Cup final and the Live Aid concert
of 1985: that is serious exposure," said a BBC source last week. The New
Millenniium Experience company, which runs the dome, is preparing to
launch a national competition for the anthem over the next few weeks,
but it has already been overwhelmed by composers eager to get onto the
first bandwagon of the next century.
Matt Aitken and Mike Stock, the composers behind the pop hits of Kylie
Minogue and Rick Astley, have written their submission called Bird In
Flight. In a similar Style to Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, the hit
ballad from the film Titanic, the climax of the big-scale orchestrated
number are the words:
It seems like a new world is about to start
There is so much love in my heart
I feel like a bird in flight.
Sarah Brightman, the former Lloyd Webber musical star, has recorded a
demo version of Bird in Flight but she may have been scooped by Barbra
Streisand. "Yes, Ms Streisand has requested a copy of the song, which
she might sing on the appropriate occasion," confirmed a source in the
singer's New York office.
Other superstars are being offered gigs at the dome. Paul McCartney is
considering a request to reprise his symphonic work Standing Stone.
Chris Smith, the culture secretary, has asked the dome organisers to try
to book Elton John. Yet the anthem may spring from more humble origins.
Amateur composers up and down the country have already made submissions.
Many lyrics contain references to "new dawn", an image that dominates
the logo designed for the Millennium Commission. Matthew Webster, the
penname for a respected graduate from the Royal College of Music and
university academic, recorded his offering with the Eton College choir
last week. "I'm keeping a low profile to avoid mickey-taking. I wrote
the music in a day, which is Elgarian with a trumpet fanfare, but the
words took me months," he said. The first verse is:
O Land offreedom and shores of peace
Our purpose strengthens, our love increase
New dawn arising, bring hope and light
Far voices, gath'ring, in song unite:
Long live Britannia, land of the free
Forever flourish in liberty.
East London University, which is near the dome, is asking
students to come up with their own millennial contenders. "It could be
in the form of an African praise song, or an Indian raga, or a tune that
combines such multicultural influences to reflect modern Britain," said
Phil Cohen, the organiser.
Peter Mandelson, minister responsible for the dome, is close to
ruling on the musical format for the celebrations. Plans include the
anthem being played amid fireworks, and even an RAF fly-past to mark the
opening.
It will be released initially as a single and then as the highlight of
an album, Live at the Dome, to be recorded during musical events at
Greenwich during the year 2000. Michael Nyman, the classical composer,
said Mandelson had told him he was looking for something "musically
serious". "But we shall see," Nymad said.
"We have some very good
composers around at the moment, including Gavin Bryars and Mark-Anthony
Turnage, whose work will last longer than the pop names that obsess the
current government. It's our music that stands a chance of surviving
into the next millennium."
Up to 80 children aged between 10 and 16 will be appointed "dome
advisers" this week to suggest attractions for inside the dome. Initial
ideas include more Sport, pop and a display dedicated to Lara Croft,
the computer game heroine.
Additional reporting: Rachel Fordham
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