Proud to be a Goan
    - Words and Music by Basilio Magno

About the Song and the Songwriter

When Rene Barreto woke up with the idea of holding a GOA DAY internationally as part of his long cherished dream of linking Goans wherever they may be, he contacted the leading Goans the world over to explain the idea. Likewise, he contacted Basilio Magno on 15th June 2000 through the e-mail to request him to compose a song for Goa Day to be celebrated by Goans globally. For the retired journalist-songwriter in Spain, this was indeed a great honour coming from Rene on behalf of Goans world-wide, and also that Rene should think of him. Without thinking of difficulties inherent in the task Basilio agreed, for there is nothing that he will not do for Goa culturally. He has many songs on Goa in English, and this will be another one, he thought.

But he soon realized that it was a hard nut to crack. What is one to say of an international Goa Day lyrically ? What would he title the song ? After wrecking his brains for ten days, he hit on a title: "Proud to be a Goan". And immediately composed the Refrain. But inventing a story for the two verses was no easy game. Added to it the short time he had do it. But with prayer and fortitude he plodded for 15 days jotting down random thoughts to build the lyrics. He has well plotted the words giving enough reason to be proud of as a Goan. And he ends the Refrain with a phrase that will be long remembered by Goans: "I'm proud to be a Goan, I love my xitt-koddi and Konkanni." There was no time to mature more the theme as the song had to be out before mid July to reach everyone the world over through the internet, as desired by Rene.

Songwriter Basilio Magno is well known for his "royal" songs for the King of Spain and Princess Diana, but his fame began way back in the fifties in Bombay where he had composed and published songs in English and they were reviewed by the English press in the city. He had come to the attention of the critics with his song for Princess Margaret of England in 1956, and for this and some other songs of his the music critics had dubbed him as the "Irving Berlin of India". He has to his credit a 40 minutes folk-operetta "A Day in Goa" whose Konkani version was broadcast on Goa Radio by the Radio artistes in 1959. He is the premier writer of Goan Folksongs in English way back in the fifties. He has published both these works in booklets with words and music and they were reviewed in GOA TODAY magazine in the seventies. He inherited the musical talent from his father, an accounts-man, who was a hobby violinist and had played the violin for the Bombay Symphonic orchestra. Consequently, Konkani songs were taboo in his home. When Goa's Governor General Vassalo e Silva, learnt of him in 1959, he sent him to Portugal in March 1961 to promote himself. From there he went to Germany, and retiring there in 1989 has settled down in Spain, where he is heard daily since Sept. 1997 on Radio M80 Madrid and its 36 channels in Spain singing his song "Viva el Rey" for the King of Spain, it having been adopted as the signature tune for national newscast  on its Programme " Goma Espuma". It is indeed a feather in Basilio's cap, to the envy of many Spanish composers. Of that singular success too Goans can be proud and sing aloud : "Proud to be a Goan".

Selected Spaniards are treated daily to a Goan composer-singer Basilio Magno singing on radio Viva el Rey, which has been made the signature tune of the national newscast of Radio M-80, in Madrid. The announcement of the adoption of Magno's song as signature tune was made during the programme Goma Espuma. The song was originally published in 1991 in Spanish only and an English version was brought out last year. It was this year, when he brought out a cassette, Choicest Blessings, wishing the Spanish Princess on her wedding, that he recorded this song on the flip side and had the cassette sent to various radio and TV stations in Spain. One station, M-80 responded by selecting Viva el Rey as a signature tune and interviewed him live on the show. Magno also exhibited his ghumot on Spanish TV when during an interview on Television Axarquia, he sang three Konkani songs, accompanying himself on the ghumot. (Goa Today issue of December 1997)

* Verse 1:

Goa may be a dot on the big map of the world,
But its a paradise in great India.  
The Goans are the most beautiful people of
the world.
Great musicians, great clerics, great scholars,
ya,ya, ya.  
We form our social clubs, wherever we may go,
Through them our unity we show.

Refrain:

Proud to be a Goan, proud to be a Goan,
no matter where I was born.  
If I was born in Kenya or India, *in England,
Canada, or Germany,
I'm proud to be a Goan, I love my xitt koddi
and Konkani .... *(repeat)

Verse 2:
Goans live like brothers, no matter where
they're from,
they hold big positions in many a place.  
We've Goan ministers here in the British
Government.
Two candidates for sainthood: *Padr Agnel,
Padr Juze.
Now we can only pray:  Dear God please
bless our land, and save from vice and
corruption.....

Refrain :Proud to be  a Goan.....

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               - Our thanks and gratitude to:
Mr. Basilio Magno Pereira and Mr. Rene Barreto.
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