# Why does every nation have a song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920 "2004-08-15T06:03:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/1 "2004-08-15T06:03:06Z")
Would any be candidates for Top 40 status? Any mechanism in the constitution to modify ours (writing from U.S.A)? Could change occur with a simple popular movement? Please hold off on discussions of replacements šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/2 "2004-08-15T16:39:54Z")
Ummmm, I think youā€™re asking why every nation has a nation athemn and if any of them are catchy enough to make a Top 40 list (Iā€™m assuming US Top 40) and if the US can change its athemn via legal means or popular voice. Right? In that case: -because its nice to have national symbol to rally around -If Great Britain were to change its national athemn to ā€œJerusalemā€ and put out a video in which Brittany Spears and Lindsey Lohan did topless jumping jacks sure, Iā€™d buy that. -I think that the ā€œStar Spangled Bannerā€ was made our national athemn by act of Congress, so in order to change it it would take a Congressional act. My vote is for ā€œAmericaā€ as sung by Ray Charles but then again, you said you didnā€™t want a debate about what we should change our athemn to. Did someone tap the Rockies whilst watching the Olympics? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/3 "2004-08-15T19:52:40Z")
I have no problem with the Star-Spangled Banner as our National Anthem (as noted, so designated by an Act of Congress, which would be needed to change it, and that would only be done if there were overwhelming public demand), BUT I also like ā€œAmericaā€ for two reasons. Unlike SSB, in which God only shows up in verse four, God is in every darn verse of ā€œAmericaā€, which would drive the secularists nuts. And I just recently read the woman who wrote ā€œAmericaā€ could well have been gay, which would drive a lot of religionists nuts. So it would be fun to see the buttheads on both sides fuming! ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/4 "2004-08-15T20:28:53Z")
According to the 2000 year-old man, as interviewed by Carl Reiner, the first was: ā€œLet em all go to hell Except Cave Seventy-Six!ā€ Kind of snowballed from there, I think. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/5 "2004-08-15T22:08:37Z")
The thing about the Star-Spangled Banner is that it has a fairly ridiculous range for something that weā€™re all supposed to be able to sing. Thus, itā€™s often painful to listen to. It would be weird to change it now, but I wish that whoever it was who wrote the melody had kept average peopleā€™s vocal ranges in mind. (I can hit all the notes, but I know a lot of people canā€™t.) ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/6 "2004-08-15T22:59:04Z")
> [@ErinPuff](#): > > The thing about the Star-Spangled Banner is that it has a fairly ridiculous range for something that weā€™re all supposed to be able to sing. Thus, itā€™s often painful to listen to. SSB is always painful to listen to, IMHO. Iā€™m not being anti-American here or anything; I just really dislike the song (our national anthem is even worse, though). Iā€™d answer the OP but I donā€™t get it - what are you on about, man? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/7 "2004-08-16T00:36:40Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > My vote is for ā€œAmericaā€ as sung by Ray Charles but then again, you said you didnā€™t want a debate about what we should change our athemn to. Er, I believe you guys are referring to _ā€œAmerica **the Beautiful** ā€_. ā€œAmericaā€ is the song that starts ā€œMy country, ā€˜tis oā€™ theeā€¦ā€ and is sung to the tune of God Save The Queen. As to why every country has an anthem/themesongā€¦ because itā€™s what you do. The USA did not have the SSB be legally adopted as the National Anthem until 1931, Australia used ā€œWaltzing Matildaā€ extraofficially until ā€œAdvance, Australia Fairā€ was adopted officially. The anthems need not be songs, even. Spainā€™s National March is just that, a march with _no_ lyrics, and a few years back Russia simply decided to go back to the Soviet-era tune, stripped of its lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/8 "2004-08-16T00:53:37Z")
If the USA changed its anthem I surely hope it wouldnā€™t become ā€œAmerical the Beautiful.ā€ Some folks complain about the range of the SSB, but ATBā€™s melody is so dull and pedestrian it makes me gag. And the words, oh God, the sappy stupid words. ā€œThine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tearsā€ I prefer the grimmer blood and guts of the SSB. (Cue Dennis Miller) Of course thatā€™s just my opinion. I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/9 "2004-08-16T00:55:05Z")
> [@ErinPuff](#): > > The thing about the Star-Spangled Banner is that it has a fairly ridiculous range for something that weā€™re all supposed to be able to sing. Thus, itā€™s often painful to listen to. It would be weird to change it now, but I wish that whoever it was who wrote the melody had kept average peopleā€™s vocal ranges in mind. > > (I can hit all the notes, but I know a lot of people canā€™t.) My wife got her masterā€™s in voice and sings professionally when she can, so I just shut up and let her go. It kind of makes me appreciate how the song _should_ be sung, and also how horribly the average crowd really sounds when attempting it. I bet if SSB was the Italian natl. anthem, theyā€™d all at least sing it on key, and those with limited range would drop into low harmony and not destroy the thing. When sheā€™s showing off, she likes to go into ā€œWagnerian Sopranoā€ mode for the last lineā€¦ā€œOā€™er the laaa-aaands of the FREEEEEE! And the HOOOOME OF THUHHHH BRAAAAAVEā€ The looks of astonishment on little kidsā€™ faces is worth the price of admission. ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/10 "2004-08-16T01:40:07Z")
Although I think ā€œAmerica the Beautifulā€ would be a much better national anthem than the one my beloved country is stuck with, Iā€™m still holding out for ā€œMy Wayā€ as sung by Frank Sinatra. Itā€™s Sinatraā€™s world. We just live in it. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/11 "2004-08-16T01:48:08Z")
> [@ErinPuff](#): > > The thing about the Star-Spangled Banner is that it has a fairly ridiculous range for something that weā€™re all supposed to be able to sing. Thus, itā€™s often painful to listen to. It would be weird to change it now, but I wish that whoever it was who wrote the melody had kept average peopleā€™s vocal ranges in mind. > > (I can hit all the notes, but I know a lot of people canā€™t.) That pretty much sums up why I cringe when the official singer of the superbowl is anounced , some people can sing it , others no , not , never in a lifetime. So far the best person I have heard sing the SSB was Jewel Declan ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/12 "2004-08-16T02:59:59Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > If the USA changed its anthem I surely hope it wouldnā€™t become ā€œAmerical the Beautiful.ā€ > > Some folks complain about the range of the SSB, but ATBā€™s melody is so dull and pedestrian it makes me gag. > > And the words, oh God, the sappy stupid words. ā€œThine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tearsā€ I prefer the grimmer blood and guts of the SSB. > > (Cue Dennis Miller) > Of course thatā€™s just my opinion. I could be wrong. Itā€™s worth reading the story of where Katherine Lee Bates got the ideas for the words to ā€œAmerica the Beautifulā€ from ā€“ IMO, itā€™s honest sentiment, late Victorian style, with each verse focusing on something she loved about America. And, FWIW, she was a college professor who spent most of her adult life as housemate with another woman, to whom she was dearly attached, never married nor accepted being courted, and referred to the arrangement as a ā€œBoston marriageā€ ā€“ you do the math. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/13 "2004-08-16T06:42:27Z")
> [@ErinPuff](#): > > The thing about the Star-Spangled Banner is that it has a fairly ridiculous range for something that weā€™re all supposed to be able to sing. Thus, itā€™s often painful to listen to. It would be weird to change it now, but I wish that whoever it was who wrote the melody had kept average peopleā€™s vocal ranges in mind. > > (I can hit all the notes, but I know a lot of people canā€™t.) You do know it was a poem, right? Not intended to be sung. Anyway, I love the SSB. Bonus: I never thought of it til George Carlin mentioned it. Weā€™re the only county with an anthem that mentions rockets and bombs!! WHOO-HOO! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![coop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/87869e/32.png) [@coop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coop)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/14 "2004-08-16T12:54:26Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > As to why every country has an anthem/themesongā€¦ because itā€™s what you do. The USA did not have the SSB be legally adopted as the National Anthem until 1931, Australia used ā€œWaltzing Matildaā€ extraofficially until ā€œAdvance, Australia Fairā€ was adopted officially. The anthems need not be songs, even. Spainā€™s National March is just that, a march with _no_ lyrics, and a few years back Russia simply decided to go back to the Soviet-era tune, stripped of its lyrics. We actually sang ā€œGod Save the Queenā€ before we had ā€œAdvance Australia Fairā€ forced upon us šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/15 "2004-08-16T13:40:32Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Itā€™s worth reading the story of where Katherine Lee Bates got the ideas for the words to ā€œAmerica the Beautifulā€ from ā€“ IMO, itā€™s honest sentiment, late Victorian style, with each verse focusing on something she loved about America. And, FWIW, she was a college professor who spent most of her adult life as housemate with another woman, to whom she was dearly attached, never married nor accepted being courted, and referred to the arrangement as a ā€œBoston marriageā€ ā€“ you do the math. Thanks, Polycarp, I read the story on [Beliefnet.com](http://Beliefnet.com) but was in a hurry to post so I didnā€™t take the time to search for the details. ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-every-nation-have-a-song/259920/16 "2004-08-16T16:33:05Z")
> [@UselessGit](#): > > Iā€™d answer the OP but I donā€™t get it - what are you on about, man? National anthems generally sound sturdy and bland. I canā€™t get too excited by the genre (how many of us own the boxed set of world N.A.'s?). Are there any out there thatā€™d make you want to dance or load it onto an iPod? Kinda odd too that while a pop song lasts only weeks on the charts, the N.A. secures itā€™s postion in perpetuity. Especially when (IMHO) the tunes lack the qualities that generally resonate with our musical sensibilities. Finally, what is it about nation building that mandates putting it all to music? IMHO, N.Aā€™s are a means to foment a national identity. To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this. How is it that a song (rather than common ideology or shared interest) should bind us together? Has a nation ever chosen not to have a N.A.?