{{Short description|Theoretical song that represents Earth}} {{Distinguish|text=Earth Song or World Anthem}}
[[File:The Blue Marble, AS17-148-22727.jpg|thumb|right|''The Blue Marble'', planet Earth as seen from Apollo 17]]
An '''Earth anthem''' is a celebratory song or a musical composition that eulogizes, extols or exalts planet Earth.
==History== ===Songs composed for the United Nations===
==== Voices for Today ==== "Voices for Today" is a song composed by Benjamin Britten in 1965 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The lyrics are based on Virgil’s fourth Eclogue.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/voices-for-today-d13129 | title=Voices for Today (Benjamin Britten) Digital Sheet Music|website=Fabermusic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/sheet-music/VOICES-TODAY-Op.75-Anthem-Chorus-Men/1036995755/bd | title=VOICES FOR TODAY Op.75, Anthem for Chorus (Men, Women & Children). Writeen for the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations 24 October 1965. By Britten, Benjamin: (1965) First Edition. Sheet Music | Edinburgh Books|website=Abebooks.co.uk }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://goodmorningbritten.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/listening-to-britten-voices-for-today-op-75/ | title=Listening to Britten – Voices for Today, Op.75|website=Goodmorningbritten.wordpress.com| date=20 December 2013 }}</ref>
==== Hymn to the United Nations ==== {{main|Hymn to the United Nations}} On the request of then United Nations Secretary-General U Thant, a "Hymn to the United Nations" was performed on the occasion of its 26th anniversary, on October 24, 1971, by Pablo Casals, the lyrics to which were penned by the poet W. H. Auden.<ref name="bare_url">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalanthems.info/uno.htm|title=United Nations|website=Nationalanthems.info|access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="ref202">{{cite web|url=http://202.166.193.40/the-kathmandu-post/2013/05/24/on-saturday/voices/249135.html|title=Voices : An anthem for the Earth|website=The-kathmandu-post|access-date=29 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130630195330/http://202.166.193.40/the-kathmandu-post/2013/05/24/on-saturday/voices/249135.html|archivedate=30 June 2013}}</ref>
=== Call for an official Earth anthem === In January 2014, Abhay K. of the United Nations Permanent Delegation of India cited a need for a global anthem.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |date=February 27, 2014 |title=UNESCO finds Indian poet-diplomat's idea of an Earth Anthem inspiring |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/unesco-finds-indian-poet-diplomat-s-idea-of-an-earth-anthem-inspiring-114022700403_1.html |work=Business Standard}}</ref> While UNESCO's assistant director general Éric Falt agreed it was necessary but claimed UNESCO "lack[ed the] resources to organize an online global competition to select an Earth Anthem".<ref name=":3" />
=== Songs about Earth === There are a number of songs or a musical composition that eulogizes, extols or exalts the planet Earth.
In 1968, The Turtles released "Earth Anthem" on their fourth studio album, ''The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands.'' In 2003, Dan Fogelberg covered this as the last song of his album, ''Full Circle''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dan Fogelberg - Earth Anthem Lyrics - SongMeanings |url=http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107859183561/ |access-date=29 September 2014 |work=Songmeanings.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5763716-Dan-Fogelberg-Full-Circle|title=Dan Fogelberg : Full Circle|website=Discogs.com|access-date=Aug 6, 2024}}</ref>
"Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)" by Neil Young, "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.star-magazine.co.uk/breakingnews/view/63279/Michael-Jackson-s-Earth-Song-is-top-BRITs-performance/|title=STAR Magazine: Hottest Celeb website :: Breaking News :: Michael Jackson's Earth Song is top BRITs performance|publisher=|access-date=2014-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321024841/http://www.star-magazine.co.uk/breakingnews/view/63279/michael-jackson-s-earth-song-is-top-brits-performance|archive-date=2016-03-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Earth" by Lil Dicky, and "Earth Anthem" by Abhay Kumar are other examples of popular music with Earth as a theme.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/nepal-africa-film-festival-opens-with-earth-anthem-113061900686_1.html|title=Nepal-Africa film festival opens with 'Earth Anthem'|author=|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=19 June 2013|access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Inspiring+Earth+Anthem&NewsID=379348|title=The Himalayan Times : Inspiring Earth Anthem - Detail News : Nepal News Portal|work=Thehimalayantimes|access-date=29 September 2014|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021012958/http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Inspiring+Earth+Anthem&NewsID=379348|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1990, lyricist Barbara Lee George first performed the "Earth Day Anthem" with the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=daniel |date=2017-09-02 |title=Earth Day Anthem {{!}} Barbara Lee George Music |url=https://barbarageorgemusic.com/earth-day-anthem/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130181255/https://barbarageorgemusic.com/earth-day-anthem/ |archive-date=November 30, 2023 |access-date=2024-08-06 |language=en-US}}</ref> sung to the tune of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Evans |first1=Sophie |title=What is Earth Day 2016? Everything you need to know about the environmental event |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/what-earth-day-2016-everything-7795111 |date=April 22, 2016 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903032445/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/what-earth-day-2016-everything-7795111 |publisher=Mirror |archivedate=2016-09-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Earth Day 2016: What it's all about and why it's extremely important|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/earth-day-environment-pollution-paris-climate-2743580.html|publisher=First Post|date=Apr 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Saldana|first1=Janel|title=Earth Day 2016: Why Do We Celebrate Being Green? Find Out How The Holiday Originated|url=http://www.latintimes.com/earth-day-2016-why-do-we-celebrate-being-green-find-out-how-holiday-originated-381372|work=Latin Times|date=Apr 22, 2016}}</ref> New York state congressman Benjamin Gilman recommended that the United States adopt it as the official Earth anthem. It was nominated for a Marcus Nobel United Earth Prize in 1992.<ref name=":0" /> George's song was first recorded in 2015 in collaboration with guitarist Al Orlo, producer John Lissauer, and singer Vaneese Thomas among others.<ref name=":0" />
In November of 2010, the UFO religion Universe People's website published an instrumental "New Earth Anthem".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-11-18 |title=Wayback Machine |url=http://www.universe-people.com:80/english/default_en.htm |access-date=2024-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118094728/http://www.universe-people.com:80/english/default_en.htm |archive-date=2010-11-18 }}</ref>
In 2012, Andrew Huang wrote a pop song titled "When The Lights Go Down" for WWF-Canada. This Earth Hour anthem contained lyrics such as "Protecting the Earth is our message".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmwqfAFscaQ |title=WWF Earth Hour Anthem - - "When the lights go down" by Andrew Huang |date=2012-03-28 |last=WWF-Canada |access-date=2024-08-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljq6Q5K_dUo |title=WWF Team Earth Hour Anthem - Week 4 Message from Andrew Huang! |date=2012-03-28 |last=WWF-Canada |access-date=2024-08-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
The world music ensemble, Libana, has recorded multiple songs dedicated to the Earth. Recorded in 1986, "Ancient Mother" and "The Earth is Our Mother" chants were part of ''Songs of the Sacred Wheel''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Laboucane |first=Shirley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=coXc3eoI-4oC&dq=%22Libana%22+choir+earth&pg=PA153 |title=Walking the Path: The Cree to the Celtic |date=2012 |publisher=John Hunt Publishing |isbn=978-1-84694-705-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Earth Is Our Mother {{!}} Rise Up and Sing |url=https://www.riseupandsing.org/songs/earth-our-mother |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.riseupandsing.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hollins |first=Etta R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7iRAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Libana%22+choir+%22earth%22&pg=PA190 |title=Pathways To Success in School: Culturally Responsive Teaching |date=March 1999 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-68168-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-15 |title=The Earth is our Mother |url=https://www.song-circle.com/en/world-songs/rainbow/the-earth-is-our-mother/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=SONG-CIRCLE |language=en-US}}</ref> Their 2024 single, "Gaia Now", addresses the effects of climate change with lyrics such as "Wake up now, the Earth is flooding, rise up and protect her / Cry about your mama, she's our home, she is our mother".<ref>{{Cite web |title=LIBANA - Download Music |url=https://libana.com/download-music |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=libana.com}}</ref>
=== MindShare anthem === {{external media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUo0VeYUoPY World Anthem by Mindshare]|float=right}}In 1996, Denver composer John Guillot was working on a compilation CD of national anthems when he "conceived of a single piece of music based on the common notes and tendencies of all of the world’s national anthems".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Fort Collins Foundation Shares "The World Anthem" With International Audiences |url=https://kingkoncert.com/memoirs/the-2000s/2002-2/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=King Koncert |language=en-US}}</ref> It was not meant to replace any anthem but rather to "bring its message of peace and understanding across national borderlines".<ref name=":1" />
In 2000, Guillot worked with professor David Cope at the University of California, Santa Cruz, whose artificial musical intelligence program Experiments in Musical Intelligence (EMI) was able to generate a conglomeration of songs based on commonalities in lyrics and sheet music (such as phrases, notes, and melodies). Using files created by composer Stephen Bigger, "Guillot and Cope entered the [national anthems] into the program and the result was the words and music of 'The World Anthem'", which was completed by the year 2000.<ref name=":1" /> The Tommy E. Short Charitable Foundation provided a grant of an unknown sum to create an international recording.<ref name=":1" /> The music was recorded by an orchestra in Prague with vocals from Los Angeles.<ref name=":1" />
The recording was first publicly heard at Denver, Colorado's millennium celebration on Dec. 31, 2000, "at the stroke of midnight" in conjunction with New Years' Eve fireworks.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-06 |title='World Anthem' at Graduation Sparks Anger |url=http://vision2020.moscow.com/Archives/2002/0206/msg00109.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106050748/http://vision2020.moscow.com/Archives/2002/0206/msg00109.html |archive-date=2009-01-06 }}</ref>
The first live performance was in November 2001, by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />
In 2001, it was performed in the 40th anniversary celebration of the Peace Corps in Washington D.C.<ref name=":1" />
Circa 2002, the "World Anthem" was published by the Mindshare Institute and Foundation and used by the Praxis Peace Institute in Croatia.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{cite news |title=A Soothing Anthem For Everybody |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/31/arts/a-soothing-anthem-for-everybody.html?src=pm |access-date=29 September 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> The same year, it was performed in the Poudre High School commencement and graduation at Moby Arena at CSU. There, it was met with some criticism, such as by radio commentators Mike Rosen and Peter Boyles, as well as letters to the editors of CSU publications. Opponents, who were usually parents of the students, claimed they were "offended" the American national anthem was not played instead.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
In 2006, the United States Air Force Academy Band published its performance of the "World Anthem",<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGrKNKFBRu8 |title=World Anthem |date=2015-02-21 |last=United States Air Force Academy Band - Topic |access-date=2024-08-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref> conducted by Philip Chevallard and arranged by Joseph T. Spaniola.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recordings by Joseph T Spaniola {{!}} Now available to stream and purchase at Naxos |url=https://www.naxos.com/Bio/Person/Joseph_T_Spaniola/111638 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.naxos.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-24 |title=Discography – Joseph T. Spaniola Music |url=https://josephspaniola.com/discography/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924113939/https://josephspaniola.com/discography/ |archive-date=2023-09-24 |access-date=2024-08-06}}</ref>
The music video was uploaded to YouTube in 2007.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUo0VeYUoPY |title=World Anthem |date=2007-03-24 |last=brian2day |access-date=2024-08-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The MindShare Institute of Fort Collins hired producer Brian Doubleday to contact more than 200 photographers around the world to contribute "faces of humanity" for the video.<ref name=":1" />
=== Reverend Billy & Earthalujah! === {{Main|Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping}} Since at least 2011, Reverend Billy and the Earthalujah Choir has performed in front of the Blue Marble flag, singing joyous songs that celebrate environmentalism and anti-consumerism.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVkKQfNrOyA |title=Reverend Billy/Earthalujah Choir at Theatre 80 6/26/11 : The Canonization of Dr. Benjamin Barber |date=2011-06-28 |last=Phinnegan Phipps |access-date=2024-08-10 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
In 2020, Reverend Billy & The Stop Shopping Choir premiered "Earthalujah!", a rearrangement of the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's 1714 oratorio, ''Messiah''. It was arranged by Nehemiah Luckett and Gregory Corbino with lyrics by Billy Talen.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ30vhcFluk |title=Earthalujah! Earthalujah! Earthalujah! |date=2020-12-16 |last=Reverend Billy & The StopShopping Choir |access-date=2024-08-10 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
=== The Resolution Song === thumb|Sheet music of global song collaboration "The Resolution Song"|197x197px Written in 2019, "The Resolution Song (The World on Our Shoulders)" is an ongoing global song project, made in collaboration with Music Declares Emergency. The song invites covers, celebrates human cultures, and declares humanity's shared responsibility to preserve the environment.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Columnist |first=Guest |date=2022-04-20 |title=Sing the Resolution Song for Earth Day |url=https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/sing-the-resolution-song-for-earth-day/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Big Issue |language=en-US}}</ref>
Individuals from the World Wide Fund for Nature, Decca, and Extinction Rebellion began work on the project, with the goal of "people in every country in the world singing the same song".<ref name=":7" /> The song was composed in a workshop by Violet Skies, Låpsley, and Robin Howl, who purposely made its arrangement and lyrics public domain and downloadable. Afterwards, volunteers reached out to musicians worldwide to cover the song.<ref name=":7" />
It premiered at the December 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2020-01-10 |title=Harpenden pupil opens song at UN Climate Conference to encourage action on the environment |url=https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/21800994.harpenden-pupil-opens-song-un-climate-conference-encourage-action-environment/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Herts Advertiser |language=en}}</ref> Since then, it has been sung by thousands of people in over 100 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PLANET RESOLUTION |url=https://planetresolution.com/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=planetresolution.com}}</ref> Its goal was to call for governments to enact New Year's resolutions to resolve the climate crisis.<ref name=":5" /> In 2022, ''NME'' described the song as a "call for peace, unity, global harmony and action on climate" that celebrates the diversity of human culture.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |date=April 20, 2022 |title=‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ announce plans for Earth Day |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/no-music-on-a-dead-planet-announce-plans-for-earth-day-3208809}}</ref> According to Planet Resolution, there is "at least one version of the song from every country on Earth".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8msVRuIh7A&list=PLedYoadxc4Ojql840LaCEGKwkxLeyh1Dj&index=1 |title=RESOLUTION SONG - A global song for peace, unity and collaboration to protect our planet. |date=2022-04-21 |last=Planet Resolution |access-date=2024-10-13 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Project lead Abbey Wright summarized some global performers in 2022:<ref name=":7" /><blockquote> From a girl band in Benin to a drill group in Brazzaville, Congo to the Kuikuro people in the Amazon; a Mongolian nomadic herder, the Georgian State Opera Chorus, panpipers from the Solomon Islands and refugees from Eritrea, Iran and Syria. The song has been sung on the frontlines of climate change in San Andrés, Mozambique, the Marshall Islands, the Antarctic, Haiti and The Maldives...In Sierra Leone, a group of street kids sing the song, as well as people from slums in Uganda, Kenya and the brilliant Recycled Orchestra from Paraguay, who make instruments from rubbish and teach music to children from Cateura...<ref name=":7" /></blockquote>{{external media|video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8msVRuIh7A "Resolution Song", a conglomeration of video entries edited by Planet Resolution], 2022|float=right}}Celebrity supporters of the project include Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Naomie Harris, Bill Bailey, Jodie Whittaker, and Mark Rylance.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Resolution Song {{!}} UK |url=https://musicdeclares.net/gb/updates/resolution-song |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Music Declares Emergency |language=en-gb}}</ref>
Notable performers of the Resolution Song include:<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" />{{col-begin}}{{Col-3}} * Coldplay * Murkage Dave * Declan McKenna * The Weather Station * Laura Misch * Brian Eno * KT Tunstall{{col-break}} * Annie Lennox * The Wombats * Meas Soksophea * Soweto Gospel Choir * Stewart Sukuma * Hot Chip * Naseer Shamma{{Col-break}}{{Col-break}}{{col-end}}
==See also== {{Portal|Music|World}} * Anthems of international organizations * Flag of Earth * Global citizenship * Olympic Hymn * "We Are the World"
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
Category:Anthems