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Commonwealth Games 2018: Nine out of ten people don't know Jerusalem is Team England's anthem

More than half cannot hum the tune chosen to be played when an English athlete wins gold

Gemma Francis
Friday 09 March 2018 15:05 EST
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Laura Trott won Commonwealth Gold in the women's cycling points race at Glasgow in 2014
Laura Trott won Commonwealth Gold in the women's cycling points race at Glasgow in 2014 (Getty)

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Almost nine in 10 adults have no idea "Jerusalem" is the chosen victory anthem of Team England at the Commonwealth Games, a study has found.

Despite being chosen by a public vote in 2010, a study of 2,000 adults found just 13 per cent knew the track was the top choice of song to be played when an English athlete wins gold.

More than four in 10 also admitted they would struggle to sing along to the lyrics, while another 52 per cent wouldn't be able to hum the tune.

Britain’s Got Talent champion Tokio Myers and The Voice star Jazmin Sawyers to record a new version of the sporting anthem at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast.

The track, which also features a 54-piece orchestra and a 10-strong choir.

It is hoped the new version will help drive support for Team England and reduce the confusion around the song’s lyrics.

William Blake, English poet and painter created the lyrics to Jerusalem in 1804 with Hubert Parry adding music to the lyrics in 1916.

More than a third of adults admitted they feel more British or patriotic when singing along to an anthem.

"It is clearly an anthem steeped in English history," said npower spokesman Ed Madden. "But after the survey showed that we struggle with its lyrics and melody, we saw it as our job to give the hymn a modern re-vamp.

"Jerusalem - The Official Anthem of Commonwealth Games England 2018 – is a modern twist on the classic that aims to strike a chord with the public so that we can show Team England support from our shores during the upcoming games."

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