Graeme Connors adds Lyrics to Paralympic Hymn
Finally the Paralympic Hymn is complete. The man who added the words to the piece of music which has been the theme song of the Paralympic Movement since 1996 is the well known Australian country singer Graeme Connors.
Down under Grame Connors is famous for his original style of country music. Far from being the stereotypical country artist, Connors nonetheless has become the most consecutively awarded artist in the history of Australian country music. He successfully combines contemporary music with country elements. As a result, he manages to win over not only country music enthusiasts but also people who claim not to like country at all.
Connors made his debut with international elite sports for athletes with a disability at the Sydney Paralympic Summer Games last year. There he performed a piece of his own, “Being here”, during the Opening Ceremony. The song was immensely popular with athletes and supporters alike. Since then Connors has accomplished the task of writing the lyrics to the admittedly difficult tune of the Paralympic Song.
The music, “Hymn de l’Avenir” or “Hymn of the Future”, was composed by Frenchman Thierry Darnis in March 1996. The original version was written for orchestra, without lyrics, and arranged by Patrick Millet.
The IPC Management Committee, which has had a chance to listen to the song recently, decided that this new version of the Hymn will become a regular feature of the Paralympics in the future.
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