For France, “La Vie en Rose” would have to qualify.
A very recognizable Canadian tune:
I’ve never heard the tune or lyrics of Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean. This is the fist time I’ve ever been aware of it. I’d think the Battle Hymn of the Republic fits a lot better.
How about “Yankee Doodle”?
It dates back to the turn of the 20th century. It should not be confused (like they did in the 1984 TV miniseries The First Olympics) with “Hail Columbia,” which has been an unofficial anthem since the birth of the Republic:
When I was teaching English in Czechoslovakia 30 (yeesh!) years ago, I had to explain that “Columbia” is a poetic name for the United States, and that the country in South America is “Colombia.”
Here’s a brief version with lyrics. Holy crap, I see now it was composed in 1843! I’ve always associated it with the McKinley/Roosevelt/Souza era.
I think they mean “borne,” not “born.”
In Italy, I believe Verdi’s Va Pensiero (the Slaves’ Chorus from Nabucco) serves as an unofficial national anthem.
The brass band version we know today dates back to around the Civil War. The original fife and drum tune was much slower, and the “Yankee Doodle, keep it up” part was different. (Unfortunately, I can’t find an authentic version of it on YouTube.)
When the British surrendered at Yorktown, their musicians played “The World Turned Upside Down” as they stacked their arms. In response, the Americans struck up “Yankee Doodle,” which was originally intended to mock the Colonial bumpkins (in the 18th century, it had audiences rolling in the aisles).
If you look at the videos of the US Army fife and drum corps, you’ll see they’re wearing red uniforms instead of blue; this is because they had to be visible to the rest of the American troops through the smoke on a battlefield. (I used to be fifer at a historic site.)
A couple for Mexico:
Cielito Lindo
El Jarabe Tapatio
Several Russian ones that haven’t been mentioned yet:
Moscow Nights
The Volga Boatmen
Russian Sailor’s Dance
Vo sadu li, v ogorod’e
Poliushko Polye
Dark Eyes
And for Ukraine, Hopak:
Its sung by an Irishman (albeit one that grew up in London) and about New York. But Fairy tale of New York is a ubiquitous Christmas Song in the UK, to the points its almost synonymous with Christmas (and is objectively the best Christmas song 
) but pretty obscure in the US.
Coachman, don’t drive the horses!
I no longer have anywhere to hurry,
I no longer have anyone to love.
Coachman, don’t drive the horses!
Most English speakers don’t know that Shschedryk is a Ukrainian song. They think of it as Carol of the Bells, with English lyrics.
I’ll go with that (in all its parts, actually).
Serious question: my first thought for an American choice was This Land Is Your Land - but it hasn’t even been mentione. I guess this means I’m misunderstanding something - but what?
j
Are there people who are genuinely offended by it?
(And if there are, would they be obvious to me as a group?)
j
Decades ago, there likely were. As the NPR article notes, when it was first written, some of the verses were often not recorded, due to being seen as “dangerous.”
Today, I suspect that the song’s progressive and socialist overtones are lost on (or entirely unknown to) most people.
Or “Dear Old Donegal” (fans of Allan Sherman will recognize it as “Shake Hands With Your Uncle Max”).
The Irish Washerwoman
Also from Ireland, Carolan’s Welcome
A Londonderry Air
If songs dedicated to states can be considered to fall under the umbrella of “national songs”, then I daresay that “California Here I Come”, “Georgia On My Mind”, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, “Sweet Home Alabama”, and “The Eyes of Texas” are probably recognizable to most if not all of the populations of those states, and a good number of people outside it.
Personally, as a Washingtonian, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard our state song, though.
A really interesting one is “A Nation Once Again.” Irish-Americans treat it as if it were an actual National Anthem, and failing to stand for it will get the tar kicked out of you in some places. But I’ve never heard it sung in Ireland.
