30th April 2008

Jersey chooses a new anthem

Ma Normandie has long been Jersey’s semi-official anthem. However, the song, which had been penned by Rouen-born Frederic Berat hadn’t been written with Jersey in mind at all, but Normandy, as its title suggested. Jersey is still ruled by a monarch whose official title is the Duke of Normandy, as passed down the line of succession from William the Conqueror. Nonetheless, the States of Jersey made the decision to commission a replacement in 2008, hoping to find something more appropriate to the island itself, which could be used an official anthem when Jersey was competing at sporting events.

Public performance

A handful of shortlisted entries were performed at the Opera House on 30 April 2008, and a panel voted on which should be adopted in place of Ma Normandie. As the BBC later reported, “when the time came for the Opera House evening, there was some controversy… five dignitaries each had a vote, and the votes of the audience were collated and given as one vote”.

Gerard Le Feuvre’s Island Home came out on top and, in May 2010 it was declared Jersey’s official anthem.