Band records Jerriais version of national anthem

A pop-folk band has re-recorded the island's national anthem Beautiful Jersey in Jersey's traditional language Jerriais.

Badlabecques is a 10-piece band which performs in Jerriais to promote the island's cultural identity.

The band has re-recorded a Jerriais version of Beautiful Jersey which was released ahead of Liberation Day.

Leader singer Kit Ashton told BBC Radio Jersey the national anthem was a popular "patriotic song" but it "took on a new life" when it was translated into Jerriais and helped raise morale during the German occupation.

Mr Ashton said it was believed to have been performed at a musical event to raise morale at this "really tough time" during World War Two.

"Translating it into Jerriais also gave it a really magical touch of not being immediately understandable by the occupying German forces so it was almost like a secret code really and Jerriais was a code that was used during that time," he added.

Mr Ashton said music was a great way to connect younger people with "that part of our identity" and in helping to keep Jerriais alive.

He said that the Badlabecques's version of the national anthem was one of a number which Deputy Carolyn Labey, who is international development minister, had requested be made available on the government's website.

The band has had its first two studio albums permanently catalogued in the British Library in London.

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