Your first exposure to the Internationale

[MarxSchmarx]

I remember when I was 14, maybe 13, can't remember exactly. I had been reading about the Internationale but had no idea what it sounded like. I finally managed to get my hand on this version:

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at the time I remember thinking this melody is amazing, and tried to memorize the lyrics (I am not a native Chinese speaker, so I had to rely on liner notes...). It really inspired me like no song has since. I read also about the story behind this particular version, how it was in part meant to be a subversive commemoration of the comrades that died in the 1989 uprising against a state capitalist regime.

But as time passed, I realized there were other version out there and actively sought them out. What I want to know is
1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?
2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?
3. what role has it played in your life since?

Thanks :)

[Kalinin's Facial Hair]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?
It was in a play. The actors started to sing it some time.


2. what were your reactions when you first heard it? I found it beautiful.


3. what role has it played in your life since?I use to listen to it while I'm drunk. I usually cry listening to this, I'm pathetic hahaha.

[Drosophila]

gE95GulBfNo





that was the most painful thing I've ever listened to

[Flying Purple People Eater]

The original french version sounds brilliant.

They play the Chinese version a lot in PRC schools and labour camps, however. Kind of tarnishes the songs' character a little.

[Rugged Collectivist]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?

I don't remember exactly. I either found it while listening to similar songs on youtube (solidarity forever and such) or I heard about it and looked it up (probably this one). I think the Bragg version was the first I heard. Not the best version admittedly but at the time it sounded perfect.


2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?It was probably the most inspiring song I've ever heard in my entire life.


3. what role has it played in your life since? Sometimes I listen to it when I'm feeling pessimistic.

[Asmo]

I first heard Billy Bragg's version on a YouTube video about what Socialism really was as opposed to what the media said it was. That video marked the point after which I started becoming radicalized. I thought the song was pretty and powerful, and I listen to it now and then when I'm feeling down.

[Sentinel]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?
2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?


Impossible to remember. My parents were active communists around the time I was born, and listened to political music on a daily basis, also casually at home while doing the dishes or whatever (as do I, incidentally). So I first heard it already before I was born probably, it's the number one anthem of the movement after all.


3. what role has it played in your life since?

I guess it fills pretty much the same role a national anthem does for the average non-socialist person. I get a feeling of inspiration, pride and strength, being part of something bigger - and feel a strong urge to stand up and sing along.

I know the lyrics in finnish, swedish and english, plus the chorus in german as a bonus. ;)1

[Sasha]

My grandpa used to sing it in bath, first time I can remember I was 4 but probably earlier...

[AConfusedSocialDemocrat]

1. Can't remember.
2. Liked it.
3. Whenever I'm with French, German, Norwegian, and Austrian friends we all sing it in our respective languages when pissed. Rather fun, nice European solidarity.

[Anglo-Saxon Philistine]

I first heard the Internationale in an old Yugoslav film (I can't recall which one, to be honest), when I was 13 or so. I liked the music, but thought the lyrics sounded a bit forced; I still think this is the case for the BCMS version. I much prefer the Russian version (and usually sing it; leading many people to accuse me of being a tankie or pretentious). It's a powerful song, certainly, and one of my favourite pieces of revolutionary music (another one, to my eternal consternation, being the Workers' Marseillaise).

[tuwix]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?


I've heard it on TV probably on transmission from "workers' party" congress.



2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?


Just aoanthore boring song.



3. what role has it played in your life since?



When I've found lyrics of that in my school's manual, it starts to be important part. I sing it in thoughts when I feel hatred to bourgeoisie. It's my anthem against them.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Probably some cold-war era US action movie where the baddies were Russians, but I don't specifically remember it and I wouldn't have known it at the time. The first time I remember hearing it and hearing the english lyrics was the movie "Reds" where old people sing it poorly.

While I appreaciate the song and the history, frankly, I'm not much of a fan. Maybe it's just my distaste for "patriotic songs" (as a style since, obviously the Internationale isn't nationalistic) or maybe the song itself as a sort of counter-patriotism anthem is just antiquated for a time when people don't really sing such anthems anymore. However I did quit a job out of anger once and sang the song on my way out.

[Tim Cornelis]

I don't remember the first time I heard it, but I do remember the aching feeling when I heard the Dutch Labour Party singing it at some party congress, amongst them a CEO that makes 400,000€ a year. Now that's all I can think of, how oblivious they must be to the meaning of that song. It's ruined forever.

[Starship Stormtrooper]

1. I first heard it during Land and Freedom's funeral scene (in Spanish) like 5 years ago.
2. Cried a little, thought it was great.
3. I listen to it sometimes after coming home to celebrate getting through another day of work without getting fired or giving up.

[xvzc]

First proper hearing was in a room full of anti-war, socialist and other left-wing activists singing together before we rallied for May Day.

[zoot_allures]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem? I was probably about 13 or something (I was very much antileftist at the time), reading about socialism/communism, I heard about it and looked it up online. I don't remember which version I heard.

2. what were your reactions when you first heard it? I didn't at all care for it. This had nothing to do with my political views; I simply didn't find it interesting as a piece of music. Incidentally, I still don't care for it. I'm sure there are cool versions out there somewhere, but I haven't heard one.

3. what role has it played in your life since? It's not played any role whatsoever.

[MarxSchmarx]

However I did quit a job out of anger once and sang the song on my way out.

Wow.


First proper hearing was in a room full of anti-war, socialist and other left-wing activists singing together before we rallied for May Day.

I remember hearing it at a May Day demonstration as well. It was a different group, at the time all I could do was feel grateful that this was still sung.


The original french version sounds brilliant.

They play the Chinese version a lot in PRC schools and labour camps, however. Kind of tarnishes the songs' character a little.

There was an american documentary that quoted somebody saying this song was used by people who were unworthy of all that it stands for. From your post, I'm disheartened to read this happens still.

[Sasha]

However I did quit a job out of anger once and sang the song on my way out.

we used to sing it a lot if we where in custody at a policestation, its one of those songs you can still recognise and join in on even with several concerete walls and steel doors in the way...

[Yuppie Grinder]

don't remember
it's not a very memorable tune tbh

[bad ideas actualised by alcohol]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?

Youtube USSR videos.

2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?

I was indifferent about it.

3. what role has it played in your life since?

None. It is a song. If it, by itself, has any role in your life you must have a pretty shitty life me thinks.

[La Guaneña]

I first heard it in this punk version, and thought it was a fucking awesome song, but I didn't know what it meant. I love singing it at rallies and meetings.

vYHSHY0r1is

[Q]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem? - The first time I heard it was on my introductory meeting of the Dutch CWI in late 2005. At the time I was an active SP member and was looking for a Marxist grouping. After the political meeting I went to a cafe to discuss membership and one of the members wanted to let me hear her cool ringtone and see if I could recognize it (this was still in the more simple times of ringtones, heh). All of the members were looking at me awaiting the answer and ... I had no idea whatsoever. So, the member in question said, with a somewhat raised voice, "well, it's the Internationale!" and I was like "oh, right, yeah".
2. what were your reactions when you first heard it? - "oh, right, yeah".
3. what role has it played in your life since? - I sing it sometimes on meetings (like closing a summerschool) or on demos. It's a nice song.

[Einkarl]

I was reading through the IWW song book and found the American version. However I am most fond of the spanish version which I discovered while watching Land and Freedom. Really makes me wanna cry, it's so beautiful haha

[ВАЛТЕР]

I first heard it when I was really young my father was bored driving and started singing it randomly. I didn't think much of it, just another song my dad was singing. Now, it doesn't really play much of a role...I mean, I like it an all, but I don't really think too much about it.

[TheRedAnarchist23]

The first version I heard was this one:

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The portuguese (PCP) version. Unfortunately there is no punk version of this one in the portuguese of Portugal, only the one Gabriel showed, but that one is in brasilian portuguese.

[#FF0000]

First time I heard it was back in high school, in the school's band actually. It was one of the pieces we played one semester. I think it's probably my favorite march, seeing as it's the only one that springs to mind if I try to think of a "good march".

Unfortunately I haven't heard many good renditions of it. A lot of them end up being unbearably corny.

[Comrade Alex]

My first exposure was when I was 14 and saw the movie land and freedom
My reaction was this song is awesome
What role has it played not a big one
Seing I'm the only leftist in our school who knows it

[Red Nightmare]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?

On a youtube video when I first started researching communism.



2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?


It gave me hope.



3. what role has it played in your life since?


I hope that one day we will be able to achieve the type of world described in the lyrics and I hope I can devote myself to doing what I can to help accomplish just that.

[Tenka]

Probably the Red Army Choir version when I was 16 or 17. It was catchy. I sort of want to learn the Spanish version as sung by Quilapayún:
AaboRqZNy5Y

[Zukunftsmusik]

I don't remember the first time I heard it, but I do remember the aching feeling when I heard the Dutch Labour Party singing it at some party congress, amongst them a CEO that makes 400,000€ a year. Now that's all I can think of, how oblivious they must be to the meaning of that song. It's ruined forever.

once on a radio news show, there was a recording of the Norwegian PM (social democrat) singing the internationale on May Day. It was kinda revealing, he can't sing at all and he didn't know the lyrics, so he just mumbled the parts he didn't know

[tehAdmrl]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?
The USSR national anthem rendition.

2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?
I found it inspiring and uplifting, though the French version and Billy Bragg version I find more so.

3. what role has it played in your life since?
I listen to it to inspire myself, cheer myself up or just for fun.

[La Guaneña]

Probably the Red Army Choir version when I was 16 or 17. It was catchy. I sort of want to learn the Spanish version as sung by Quilapayún:
AaboRqZNy5Y

Hell yes, Quilapayún! :cool:

[hatzel]

Never heard it, believe it or not. Intentionally avoided clicking any of these YouTube vids in order to maintain that remarkable little fact about myself...

[Chris]

1. what were your first exposures to this anthem?

Can't really remember. I was a child the first time I heard it.

2. what were your reactions when you first heard it?

It was just another song, really. I was too young to understand its meaning.

3. what role has it played in your life since?

I sing it on 1st of May and some Communist Party events.

[Vanilla]

I was exposed to the internationale when i was searching through videos on youtube. It was the Hungarian version. I felt the most inspired I've ever felt in my life when listening to it. It doesn't play a huge role in my life anymore but I still like to listen to it occasionally :)

[rednordman]

Your all going to laugh at me for this, but i think the first time i heard it was during the revolution scene in the american movie 'REDS'.

[Kalinin's Facial Hair]

1. I first heard it during Land and Freedom's funeral scene (in Spanish) like 5 years ago.


This scene is beautiful.

[smellincoffee]

I searched YouTube for 'democratic socialism' and found Billy Bragg's revised English lyrics. I was quite taken with the humanist values it espoused. I now collect recordings of the Internationale in all languages.