Olympic anthem of the day #14: Jamaica!

Bolt claims ninth gold causing man next to him to fall over in shock

You would hope the country that’s given the world Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson, Asafa Powell, Omar McLeod and countless other sprinting superstars would have an anthem to match their speed, charisma and excitement.

Instead, it has Jamaica, Land We Love!

On one level, it’s unsurprising. The anthem was written in 1962 by four people including a local vicar just as the country gained independence from Britain. It was always likely to sound like a God Save the Queen rip off.

So… is it time Jamaica dumps it? Maybe get rid of the brass and replace it with some reggae or ragga? I’ve long thought so. I even call for the country’s politicians to do just that in my book on anthems.

But today I heard controversial dancehall star (he’s in prison for murder) Vybz Kartel’s cover of the anthem and I think it’s changed my mind.

Blimey. Jamaica, keep what you’ve got!

Olympic anthem of the day #10: Bahrain! Or should it be Kenya?

Bahrain won its first ever gold this week when 19-year-old Ruth Jebet won the steeplechase. Which, of course, means an Olympic crowd got to hear Bahrain’s anthem for the first time too. Hurrah!

That tune is perhaps the best example of the Arab fanfare style of anthem you could wish to stumble across. It’s jolly. It’s quick. And it’s so short it’s over before it begun. Although that length does mean the only thing people are actually likely to remember about it is its name – the Bahrainona! – and that’s largely because it sounds like a wrestler’s.

But should it have actually been played? Jebet was born in Kenya, and has been a Bahrain national for just three years. The emirate, presumably, offered her a shedload of cash to change nationality.

On one level, it’s hard to argue with her choice. Jebet’s said the reason she made the move is this: “There are so many athletes in Kenya. In Bahrain I get the chance to go to school.” But, well, it leaves me uneasy. And if it does you too, I suggest you join me in listening to Kenya’s anthem right this minute as the poorest form of protest imaginable!

Kenya’s anthem’s called O God of All Creation – Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu in Swahili – and it’s that rarest of national anthems: one that actually sounds like the place it comes from rather than a British hymn.

It’s beautiful too and sticks far longer in the memory than any part of the, er…. What was Bahrain’s anthem called again?