This Is Oportia
| "This Is Oportia" | |
 | |
| Single by Artists for Oportian Democracy | |
|---|---|
| Released | 15.II.1745 AN |
| Recorded | I.1745 AN |
| Studio |
Constancia Recording Studios, Petropolis Zeedic Sound Foundation, Sazâvar Phoenix Studios, Punta Santiago Natopia Sound Complex, Lindstrom |
| Genre |
|
| Length | 4:37 |
| Label | Independent release |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Jean-Claude Beaumont |
"This Is Oportia" is a collaborative protest song recorded by Artists for Oportian Democracy, a collective of Oportian musicians living in exile following the 1744 Oportian coup d'état. Released on 15.II.1745 AN, the song was created as a musical response to the military takeover led by Joseph Fouche and the National Salvation Council. The recording features 47 Oportian artists from across the diaspora, recorded simultaneously in studios in Constancia, Zeed, Nouvelle Alexandrie, and Natopia.
The song achieved massive commercial success across Micras, reaching number one on charts in eight countries and becoming a rallying cry for the Democratic Restoration Committee and other opposition movements. The recording raised over 12 million Oportian Mérite for refugee assistance and human rights organizations supporting those affected by the military regime. The song's music video, featuring footage of the Belanger Manifesto broadcast and scenes from the 1744 Oportian coup d'état, was viewed over 350 million times on Ricroc within six months of release.
"This Is Oportia" was written collectively by four prominent Oportian singer-songwriters in exile: Émilie Montclair (based in Nouvelle Alexandrie), Hassan Al-Rawi (residing in Constancia), Carmen Rosales (living in Zeed), and Viktor Petrov (in Natopia). The song combines traditional Alexandrian folk melodies with contemporary world music elements, incorporating instruments and musical styles from each host nation while maintaining distinctly Oportian lyrical themes.
Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of "This Is Oportia" address themes of exile, hope, resistance, and national identity. The song avoids direct political statements that might endanger family members still in Oportia, instead focusing on cultural pride and democratic values. The opening verse, sung by Émilie Montclair, establishes the central metaphor of Oportia as a mother separated from her children:
Dans les terres lointaines, nous chantons encore
Les mélodies de notre mère adorée
Oportie, douce patrie, ton souffle nous porte
À travers les océans de l'exilIn distant lands, we still sing
The melodies of our beloved mother
Oportia, sweet homeland, your breath carries us
Across the oceans of exile
Hassan Al-Rawi's verse, performed in Babkhi, incorporates imagery from classical Babkhi poetry while addressing the experience of forced displacement. Carmen Rosales brings tropical warmth to her Martino verse, emphasizing the natural beauty of Oportia that exiles carry in their memories. Viktor Petrov's Zeedic Ruthenian verse draws on Zeedic folk traditions.
The unifying chorus emphasizes democratic values and cultural continuity:
Ça c'est l'Oportie, notre patrie, libre et fière
Dans nos cœurs elle brille, malgré l'hiver
Ça c'est l'Oportie, unie et vraie
Nos voix portent l'espoir du nouveau jourThis is Oportia, our homeland, free and proud
In our hearts she shines, despite the winter
This is Oportia, united and true
Our voices carry hope for the new dawn
The bridge features a call-and-response section where individual artists sing the names of Oportian cities, followed by the full ensemble responding "Libre et fière" (Free and proud). This section includes references to Vanie, Port de Huile, Kalexisse, and other major urban centers, creating an musical tour of the homeland.
Commercial performance and reception
"This Is Oportia" achieved remarkable commercial success despite limited traditional marketing. The song reached number one on charts in Nouvelle Alexandrie, Natopia, and Constancia within four weeks of release. In Nouvelle Alexandrie, it remained at the top of the charts for seven consecutive weeks, breaking records for digital downloads. The song's success was driven primarily by word-of-mouth promotion through Oportian diaspora communities and social media sharing. Within 48 hours of release, #ThisIsOportia became a trending hashtag on major social media platforms, with users sharing personal stories of exile and democratic resistance.
Sales figures were donated directly to humanitarian organizations, with the Oportian Humanitarian Council receiving the largest portion for refugee assistance programs. By the end of 1745 AN, the song had raised over 12 million Oportian Mérite for various causes supporting Oportian exiles and human rights organizations.
Legacy and cultural significance
The song's influence extended to subsequent protest movements, with activists adopting its multilingual approach and collaborative recording methods. The phrase "This Is [Country Name]" became a common format for resistance songs, directly inspired by the Oportian example. As of late 1745 AN, "This Is Oportia" remains banned in Oportia proper, but continues to circulate through underground networks. The song's annual anniversary on 15.II has become an unofficial "Day of Oportian Democracy" observed by diaspora communities worldwide.
Personnel
Lead vocalists
- Émilie Montclair – lead vocals (verse 1), acoustic guitar
- Hassan Al-Rawi – lead vocals (verse 2), santur
- Carmen Rosales – lead vocals (verse 3), cuatro
- Viktor Petrov – lead vocals (verse 4), balalaika
Chart performance
| Country | Peak position | Weeks at #1 |
|---|---|---|
 Nouvelle Alexandrie |
1 | 7 |
 Natopia |
1 | 5 |
 Constancia |
1 | 4 |
 Zeed |
1 | 6 |
