# Best national anthem/patriotic song?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 10, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710 "2009-01-10T20:48:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/1 "2009-01-10T20:48:52Z")
What is the best patriotic song? It doesn’t necessarily have to be a national anthem (but they’re not excluded, either), and it doesn’t have to be about your home country, either.
I’m an American, but I think [Rule, Britannia!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63o8exNK4-Q) wins hands down. It’s hard to find a good sung version of it on Youtube, though, so I just went with an instrumental. Plus you gottta love the fascistic comments below all the videos.😉
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris
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### Author:  [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/2 "2009-01-10T21:00:27Z")
My first thought is Ray Charles’ version of “America the Beautiful”.
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### Author:  [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/3 "2009-01-10T21:13:44Z")
Not many beat the Red Army Choir singing the [Soviet\* National Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLi_m656tQQ)
\*I know Russia has it now as well, but to me, it’s the Soviet 😉
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/4 "2009-01-10T21:27:27Z")
Sing to the tune of _Jesus Loves Me:_
“Lily-skinned feller across the sea,
I’ll eat you or you’ll eat me.”
– The Pacific islands of Omo Lau and Omo Levi
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### Author:  [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/5 "2009-01-10T21:39:34Z")
I always liked the [Finlandia hymn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eTIa1KSkeI&feature=related). Unlike most patriotic songs, it’s not about superiority over other nations, but of a deep longing for freedom.
> [@English translation from Wikipedia](#):
>
> ```
> O, Finland, behold, your day is dawning,
> The threat of night has been banished away,
> And the lark of morning in the brightness sings,
> As though the very firmament would sing.
> The powers of the night are vanquished by the morning light,
> Your day is dawning, O land of birth.
>
> O, rise, Finland, raise up high
> Your head, wreathed with great memories.
> O, rise, Finland, you showed to the world
> That you drove away the slavery,
> And that you did not bend under oppression,
> Your day is dawning, O land of birth.
>
> ```
Always brings a tear to my eyes.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/6 "2009-01-10T21:42:53Z")
[HaTikvah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hrndugmRMQ&feature=related), Israel’s National Anthem.
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### Author:  [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/7 "2009-01-10T21:44:05Z")
It’s a tie between the Chinese National Anthem and the Star-Spangled Banner, both sung by some Canadian guy.
[His rendition of the Chinese Anthem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6BootZ3KWM&feature=related) wins for being the most passionate, and his [performance of the Star-Spangled Banner](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDmwdF0E5gA&feature=related) always brings tears to my eyes.
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### Author:  [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/8 "2009-01-10T22:34:19Z")
The Marse…uh, no clue how to spell if, but the French one. _Especially_ as done in _Casablanca_
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### Author:  [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/9 "2009-01-10T22:55:02Z")
> [@zoogirl](#):
>
> The Marse…uh, no clue how to spell if, but the French one. _Especially_ as done in _Casablanca_
Exactly what I wanted to say.
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### Author:  [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/10 "2009-01-10T22:57:11Z")
> [@zoogirl](#):
>
> The Marse…uh, no clue how to spell if, but the French one. _Especially_ as done in _Casablanca_
[That](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g) one (spelled La Marseillaise) is good ([Casablanca version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA)); it also wins for most gruesome lyrics. 😛
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris
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### Author:  [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/11 "2009-01-10T23:12:40Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#):
>
> I always liked the [Finlandia hymn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eTIa1KSkeI&feature=related). Unlike most patriotic songs, it’s not about superiority over other nations, but of a deep longing for freedom.
>
> Always brings a tear to my eyes.
Came in to post this very thing – and I have the same reaction to it.
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/12 "2009-01-10T23:15:38Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#):
>
> [That](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g) one (spelled La Marseillaise) is good ([Casablanca version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA)); it also wins for most gruesome lyrics. 😛
This was my exact thought.
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### Author:  [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/13 "2009-01-10T23:24:45Z")
> [@freckafree](#):
>
> Came in to post this very thing – and I have the same reaction to it.
Now see, I always like the “Woo, us!” or “Let’s go kick some a\*\*!” anthems better than the more solemn ones. 😉
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris
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### Author:  [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/14 "2009-01-10T23:47:38Z")
We’re all part of Jackie’s army,
we’re all off to Italy,
and we’ll really shake them up,
when we win the world cup,
cos Ireland are the greatest football team!!!
Olé, Olé,Olé,Olé,Olé,Olé,Olé,Olé,Olé,Olé etc.
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### Author:  [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/15 "2009-01-11T00:04:08Z")
Another vote for La Marseillaise, especially in Casablanca (actually, that’s about the only time I’ve found the song to be badass, when used to beat Nazis into submission. :D)
Also, the Star Spangled Banner, which, as was once pointed out, is about nothing less than the survival of the US in its early days (why, if Fort McHenry hadn’t successfully been defended, we’d all be speaking _English_ now, and I _hate_ the Germanic languages!:p)
Oh, and _Proud to Be An American_ is always fun. 🆒
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### Author:  [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/16 "2009-01-11T00:27:46Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6psBoDDJUo)
B… B!
B… B!
B… B!
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### Author:  [@Westrogothia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Westrogothia)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/17 "2009-01-11T00:38:54Z")
Let me suggest the March of the [Pori](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pori) Regiment.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw4xuoP8eZ4)
“Our boys, members of the heroic people,
Which gave their blood at the battlefields of
Poland, Lütz, Leipzig and Narva,
Still Finland has its forces,
And one can cover the grounds of
the land with the blood of the enemies.
Away, away is left the peaceful work,
The sword is flaming fire
And the bullet is whistling by.
Come together,
The spirits of our heroic fathers are greeting us.”
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### Author:  [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/18 "2009-01-11T01:12:28Z")
For the imagery in the lyrics, I have to go with the [Ode to Newfoundland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYbFNU-aATs). (Not my favourite rendition - fairly lame, in fact, but the first I found.)
For stirring music…I have to agree with the Marseillaise.
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### Author:  [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/19 "2009-01-11T01:26:46Z")
> [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#):
>
> Unlike most patriotic songs, it’s not about superiority over other nations, but of a deep longing for freedom.
If you like that you might like the Corries’ “Flower of Scotland”, the closest Scotland has to a formal national anthem. Sung wherever the Scottish soccer team plays.
Speaking of Scotland, “Scots Wha Hae” has excellent lyrics (by Robert Burns no less); pity the traditional tune makes it sound like a dirge.
Other candidates already mentioned: “The Marseillaise” and the Soviet/Russian National Anthem.
Two fine stirring tunes, sadly tainted by clumsy lyrics and association with bad causes: “The Internationale” and “Dixie”. Lincoln asked a band to play “Dixie” after Lee’s surrender in an effort to rehabilitate (or recapture) the music; too bad it didn’t work.
Speaking of the Civil War, I’ve always liked “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. But is it a patriotic song or a religious one?
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### Author:  [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-national-anthem-patriotic-song/480710/20 "2009-01-11T02:04:24Z")
> [@ryobserver](#):
>
> Speaking of the Civil War, I’ve always liked “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. But is it a patriotic song or a religious one?
I always found The Bonnie Blue flag to be a catchy tune
https://www.youtube.com/embed/t0_8dnMIg5I?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque
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