| Cast your ballot for a new state song |
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| December 21, 2007 |
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Quick quiz: what is the Florida state flower?
Easy. You know that one. The orange blossom.
And the state tree?
Sabal palmetto.
Here it comes - last question: What is the state's official song?
Got ya. I didn't know the answer either until this week. Stephen Foster wrote "Old Folks At Home" in 1851 before the Civil War. We know the ballad by its common name "Suwannee River'', adopted as the state's official song in 1835. But it is way out of date with plantation dialect. It is, it has been said, the way Florida used to be.
Several attempts in the past to find a new song to reflect the Florida of today have failed. But then along came Gov. Charlie Crist who didn't play "Old Folks at Home" at his inauguration and used a contemporary song entitled "Florida's Song".
That action was like a green light to find a new tune. A statewide contest drew 243 entries. The contest was organized by the Florida Music Educators' Association in partnership with state Senator Tony Hill and state Representative Ed Homan. Finalist were selected by a panel of six judges.
The top three finalists for the state's official song were unveiled on Tuesday, December 11, and YOU get to cast your ballot for the new state song.
All three are on www.justsingflorida.org The three finalists are "Florida, My Home" music by Carl Ashley and lyrics by Betsy Dixon, both of Boynton Beach; "My Florida Home" , music and lyrics by Christopher Marshall, Orlando; "Florida (Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky)", music and lyrics by Jan Hinton of Pompano Beach.
When you go to the Web site, you can listen to all three songs and also see the sheet music. Then vote for your favorite. What fun! |
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