# National Anthems
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 17, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607 "2009-12-17T05:48:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Notassmartasithought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notassmartasithought)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2009, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/1 "2009-12-17T05:48:54Z")
I can’t believe this question hasn’t been raised, but I can’t find it in the archives.
I watched “Casablanca” again tonight, and was again moved by the “Marseillaise” scene. And I also love the music of “O Canada.”
Gotta say that I’m not a fan of “God Save the Queen,” and the “Star Spangled Banner” is just too hard to sing–there’s a reason we have so many blooper tapes of it.
What are the other musically great national anthems out there?
---
### Author:  [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2009, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/2 "2009-12-17T06:44:31Z")
[Anvilania…](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYmcD2HLs8A)
---
### Author:  [@Notassmartasithought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notassmartasithought)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/3 "2009-12-17T06:53:54Z")
I’m thinking of emigrating, if they can ensure that Bill Murray is the only one allowed to sing it.
---
### Author:  [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/4 "2009-12-17T10:45:02Z")
Itally is cool, Germany has its positives, i like the Dutch athem (obviously), Brasil’s is nice and stirring; but none (absolutely none) of them can compare to the Russion national anthem, especially when sung by a choir.
Also, appearantly Kazakhstans can really get people exited 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/5 "2009-12-17T10:53:35Z")
This one will have you singing all the way to the gulag comrade.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtU3vUOa2sw)
---
### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/6 "2009-12-17T11:32:02Z")
> [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](#):
>
> none (absolutely none) of them can compare to the Russion national anthem, especially when sung by a choir.
Choir and full orchestra, yes indeed. The lyrics are the usual “we are Russia, we are strong etc” rubbish but the music is all that a national anthem should be.
---
### Author:  [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/7 "2009-12-18T08:27:24Z")
I’ll put in a good word for the (recent) version of the NZ national anthem. It used to sound like a complete dirge. 🙂
It got reworked a bit, and is now the first verse is sung twice, first in Maori and then in English.
([An OK example](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mzw6BX8msA&feature=related) – and then a bonus haka) 🙂
---
### Author:  [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/8 "2009-12-18T09:00:38Z")
I don’t know if it would qualify as a “musically great national anthem” to non-Indian ears, but here’s a beautiful rendition of the Indian national anthem, performed by India’s best classical vocalists and musicians for India’s 50th Independence Day celebrations:
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh26zOjIh9I)
This rendition was produced and arranged by A.R. Rahman, the guy now better known in the western world for his Oscar winning music score for Slumdog Millionaire.
---
### Author:  [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/9 "2009-12-18T09:04:01Z")
To a non-American (and one with a pretty boring and pathetic anthem) I think the Star Spangled Banner is actually a pretty stirring tune.
Advance Australia Fair? Please - a national anthem by committe if I’ve ever seen one. Nice enough but bland and inoffensive.
---
### Author:  [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/10 "2009-12-18T10:00:30Z")
It has actually been discussed before here, btw:
> **[Best national anthem/patriotic song?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=501172)**
>
> 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! wins hands down. It’s...
> **[Best and worst National Anthems](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=439102)**
>
> Which National Anthems do you really like, or really hate, and why? A National Anthem ought to be an uplifting song, expressing the very best qualities of the nation in question. The best: French. A jaunty little tune, and a song celebrating the...
> **[Most beautiful national anthem - Israel's Hatikvah?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=438799)**
>
> I recently heard Hatikvah for the first time, and was amazed at how beautiful it was, considering that it is a national anthem. Depending on the version, it comes off as a traditional melancholy folk song, or a religious choral piece in the style of...
> **[Best (and worst) national anthems](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=434951)**
>
> If we put aside our nationalism and our like and dislikes of certain countries, which are the best – and worst – national anthems? Remember, this has nothing to do with how you feel about the country itself. By the way, if you want to hear a given...
> **[What country has the best national anthem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=79774)**
>
> What country has the best national anthem? I heard the greek one at a soccer match recently, and it has a very catchy melody.
---
### Author:  [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/11 "2009-12-18T10:06:22Z")
I really think the Soviet Anthem is the best of them all. Evil regime (though I think its evilness had ups and downs) but it did produce some great things and that some is one of them.
---
### Author:  [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/12 "2009-12-18T11:48:02Z")
Last night’s QI mentioned that the Spanish National Anthem currently doesn’t have any words. The Franco-era verses were dropped a few years ago, but nobody can agree what the new words should be.
---
### Author:  [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/13 "2009-12-18T11:56:39Z")
_Het Wilhelmus_, the Dutch anthem, has the distinction of being the oldest national anthem in Europe; it has no fewer than _fifteen_ stanzas; and the first letters of each stanza _form an acrostic_ which spells out Willem van Nassau’s name.
---
### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/14 "2009-12-18T13:40:46Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#):
>
> To a non-American (and one with a pretty boring and pathetic anthem) I think the Star Spangled Banner is actually a pretty stirring tune.
Yes, in the case of Americans I think it’s an example of “familiarity breeds contempt”. “O Canada” is hot stuff by comparison? Give me a break.
As far as music begging to be adopted as a national anthem, there’s a passage in Holst’s _The Planets_ (part of Jupiter’s Theme) that would serve beautifully. The only problem is that I doubt there’s a country on earth that is worthy of it.
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/15 "2009-12-18T13:42:57Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#):
>
> _Het Wilhelmus_, the Dutch anthem, has the distinction of being the oldest national anthem in Europe; it has no fewer than _fifteen_ stanzas; and the first letters of each stanza _form an acrostic_ which spells out Willem van Nassau’s name.
Let us hope if the US decides to rewrite ours that Swarzenegger has nothing to do with it.
---
### Author:  [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/16 "2009-12-18T14:17:12Z")
The sixth verse of the UK national anthem talks about crushing the “rebellious Scots”. Very apt considering the recent call for Scottish independence by the SNP.
_6. Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!_
---
### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/17 "2009-12-18T14:19:49Z")
What I love about “Star Spangled Banner” is that the lyrics were written by a _lawyer_, and the melody is a _drinking song_.
---
### Author:  [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/18 "2009-12-18T15:06:06Z")
_Dixie_ is a lively tune (in most versions) and easy to sing.
---
### Author:  [@Xotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xotan)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/19 "2009-12-18T15:27:07Z")
Here is an orchestral version of the Irish Anthem. In the days when TV used to close down about midnight it was the final item.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wygzJtJwPnk)
Nowadays many people think the words, relics of the War of Independence, are inappropriate in a Europe drawing ever close together. The music, though, is not so bad. Ocassonally there are suggestions that a completely new anthem is required.
BTW, although it was originally written in English, the Irish version is invariable sung on such occasions as the Anthem are now used.
---
### Author:  [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607/20 "2009-12-18T15:35:04Z")
> [@Oakminster](#):
>
> _Dixie_ is a lively tune (in most versions) and easy to sing.
Sure. Isn’t an anthem, though.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-anthems/521607.md?page=2)