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Which country has the best national anthem?
I just heard the Russian national anthem, played for the winner of the French Open. That's a good anthem, and seems appropriate for the country.
Now there are many anthems that are just inane, and quite a lot that are ridiculous. And there are a small number that are magnificent and fitting.
Answer as many of the following questions as you like (at least one!):
- Which country has the best national anthem?
- Which country has the worst national anthem?
- Which country has the most appropriate anthem?
- Which country has the least appropriate anthem?
As usual, explanations and videos for your chioice would be greatly appreciated.
Have fun.
Now there are many anthems that are just inane, and quite a lot that are ridiculous. And there are a small number that are magnificent and fitting.
Answer as many of the following questions as you like (at least one!):
- Which country has the best national anthem?
- Which country has the worst national anthem?
- Which country has the most appropriate anthem?
- Which country has the least appropriate anthem?
As usual, explanations and videos for your chioice would be greatly appreciated.
Have fun.
voted interesting: soundboy, maurice, bunnyphuphu, jeffhoard
answers (12)
My vote for the worst goes to the Italians, for being absurdly long, rambling and circus like!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mx0yeCpAjw
And I'd agree above that the French is one of the best.
For bonus marks, you have to give it to the US for going way over the top with their national anthem, showcasing celebrity after celebrity version of it till it loses all meaning. Still fantastic though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIv1YM7XL0c
And if you think the Canadian anthem is too Disney, check out the Australian anthem, crazy Aussies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stL6EBxeJGM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mx0yeCpAjw
And I'd agree above that the French is one of the best.
For bonus marks, you have to give it to the US for going way over the top with their national anthem, showcasing celebrity after celebrity version of it till it loses all meaning. Still fantastic though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIv1YM7XL0c
And if you think the Canadian anthem is too Disney, check out the Australian anthem, crazy Aussies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stL6EBxeJGM
| Asker's rating: |
Clearly people's tastes in anthems vary greatly, and most people have a fondness for their own. Also it seems anthems come in different versions, and a good anthem can be made to sound horrible, and a poor one can sometimes be rendered beautifully. Well, it's been fun and interesting hearing all the different anthems. Anyway, from all the music and opinions I've heard, my personal conclusions go like this.... Best Anthems: South Africa, France, Russia. Runners Up: USA, UK, Germany. Worst Anthems: Sorry to Italy and Australia. Great countries, but not so great anthems.
voted helpful: buddawiggi, philipy
Since I'm Scottish, I'm gonna haf ta go wi "The Flower of Scotland" of course tis only the best afta' the US. The only thing more beautiful than Scotland is Ewan McGregor (I apologize for the horrible montage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ni9QkBfVhg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ni9QkBfVhg
tags: scotland
voted helpful: philipy
Here's another good one I just found. (I can't answer my own question so I have to put it in a comment somewhere.)
Finland national anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlAuPOUew4
Some people have proposed replacing it with Finlandia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XojVmivqDrA
Finland national anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlAuPOUew4
Some people have proposed replacing it with Finlandia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XojVmivqDrA
And surely South Africa has to be in the running.... wow...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pVfhd1tLdU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXKur2FAN7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pVfhd1tLdU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXKur2FAN7g
Canada of course, I got all misty eyes picking the videos
Classical version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0jhJA1Hjxk&feature=related
Fun version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ea31ene-I&feature=related
Acapella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzuOSaN5CQU
Classical version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0jhJA1Hjxk&feature=related
Fun version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ea31ene-I&feature=related
Acapella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzuOSaN5CQU
source(s):
The Maple Leaf tattooed on my butt.
The Maple Leaf tattooed on my butt.
tags: canada
I wondered if people would just all choose their own anthems!
Objectively, I like the way the Canadian anthem starts, but then for me it all gets a bit too Disneyfied.
Hard to rate it as the best in comparison to things like the Marsellaise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g
Objectively, I like the way the Canadian anthem starts, but then for me it all gets a bit too Disneyfied.
Hard to rate it as the best in comparison to things like the Marsellaise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g
I'm Canadian and I love my country's anthem too, but I still get shivers when the patrons of Rick's Cafe in Casablanca sing La Marseillaise to drown out the singing of the German occupiers. I agree with philipy (except for the Disneyfied part).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA
But I like the Canadian National anthem. The Marsellaise is a fine anthem for France, totally inappropriate for Canada though. In the context of singing it in Rick's cafe it's great but singing it at a baseball game remembering how your ancestors overthrew the despotic King and his cake hating wife, meh.
No one is suggesting that Canada should adopt the Marsellaise. :)
Though for all I know there are people in Quebec that would love it.... :)
But I didn't ask what you love, or what would be a good anthem for Canada. I asked what's the best / worst / most appropriate / least appropriate national anthem.
It'll be interesting to see if people can put aside their emotional attachments to evaluate the music itself.
I agree it's hard to have words for an anthem that make equal sense at a major state occasion and a baseball game. And it's hard for a country that has had the same anthem for hundreds of years, like France, to have lyrics that aren't somewhat out of touch with the 21st century.
Anyway, I like your answer, and I really appreciate the effort you put into finding vids for us. So far this is the best answer.
Though for all I know there are people in Quebec that would love it.... :)
But I didn't ask what you love, or what would be a good anthem for Canada. I asked what's the best / worst / most appropriate / least appropriate national anthem.
It'll be interesting to see if people can put aside their emotional attachments to evaluate the music itself.
I agree it's hard to have words for an anthem that make equal sense at a major state occasion and a baseball game. And it's hard for a country that has had the same anthem for hundreds of years, like France, to have lyrics that aren't somewhat out of touch with the 21st century.
Anyway, I like your answer, and I really appreciate the effort you put into finding vids for us. So far this is the best answer.
The point I was trying to make was that anthems can't really be looked at in the abstract. They attempt to define a country is a song. They try to encapsulate the history and hope of a group of people.
The Unofficial Quebec National anthem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdf9aqRk--0
another song that Quebec Nationalists have taken close to their heart, performed in French by the Russian Red Army Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-0daqEDLZg
both of these have no meaning for you and I but are extremely meaningful to many people of Quebec.
and the Monarchists would string me up if I didn't include the anthem of Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith, Duchess of Edinburgh, Countess of Merioneth, Baroness Greenwich, Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Mann, Duke of Normandy, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order, Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Sovereign of the Order of British India, Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of Burma, Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII, Sovereign of the Order of Mercy, Sovereign of the Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, Sovereign of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnuoGOo3Bew&feature=player_embedded
I must admit I luvs our Queen and her the U.K. has a great anthem too.
The Unofficial Quebec National anthem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdf9aqRk--0
another song that Quebec Nationalists have taken close to their heart, performed in French by the Russian Red Army Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-0daqEDLZg
both of these have no meaning for you and I but are extremely meaningful to many people of Quebec.
and the Monarchists would string me up if I didn't include the anthem of Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith, Duchess of Edinburgh, Countess of Merioneth, Baroness Greenwich, Duke of Lancaster, Lord of Mann, Duke of Normandy, Sovereign of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sovereign of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Sovereign of the Distinguished Service Order, Sovereign of the Imperial Service Order, Sovereign of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, Sovereign of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, Sovereign of the Order of British India, Sovereign of the Indian Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of Burma, Sovereign of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Sovereign of the Royal Family Order of King Edward VII, Sovereign of the Order of Mercy, Sovereign of the Order of Merit, Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, Sovereign of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnuoGOo3Bew&feature=player_embedded
I must admit I luvs our Queen and her the U.K. has a great anthem too.
Maybe anthems can't be looked at "in the abstract" by you. :)
Btw, I also asked which anthems were most appropriate etc.
Maybe you'd like to argue that say "Holland has the best anthem because it captures the flatness of the landscape and is suitably bland and boring." No offence to the Dutch, I don't even know their anthem. :)
But you're like a guy whose answer to "The Most Beautiful Woman" is "my wife". Yes, we all know where you're coming from with that. But unless you're say Brad Pitt, we will also feel you have not understood the spirit in which the question was asked.
Btw, I also asked which anthems were most appropriate etc.
Maybe you'd like to argue that say "Holland has the best anthem because it captures the flatness of the landscape and is suitably bland and boring." No offence to the Dutch, I don't even know their anthem. :)
But you're like a guy whose answer to "The Most Beautiful Woman" is "my wife". Yes, we all know where you're coming from with that. But unless you're say Brad Pitt, we will also feel you have not understood the spirit in which the question was asked.
Good question philipy. I'm only familiar with the US and Canadian anthems off the top of my head. I think the US has a great national anthem, so until I hear a better one, it gets my vote for the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNbIY5rDHmI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNbIY5rDHmI
voted helpful: philipy
Please include a video if you want to have a shot at getting Best Answer. :)
Low sound quality on the video, but this might be the best or most moving version of the Star Spangled Banner ever. Buckingham Palace after 9/11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24KmSCBbxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m24KmSCBbxM
india no comparison
Would you add a video or audio clip of India's anthem?
Here's one I think has a lot of passion. But I'm not familiar enough to know for sure...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3TtgYuaVFk
Here's one I think has a lot of passion. But I'm not familiar enough to know for sure...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3TtgYuaVFk
Germany's national anthem was written by Joseph Haydn, and is probably musically the best.
It amuses me for some reason that 3 out of 4 sentences in the first verse of the United States anthem are questions.
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
And the Canadian national anthem has also always appealed to me.
It amuses me for some reason that 3 out of 4 sentences in the first verse of the United States anthem are questions.
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
And the Canadian national anthem has also always appealed to me.
source(s):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93283699
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0194015.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93283699
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0194015.html
So which is the best? The German?
And how about choosing a vid for us?
And how about choosing a vid for us?
I'll add a vid for you. This is a rather good version of the German anthem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFp0RsVCWQ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFp0RsVCWQ0
I think the Welsh National Anthem is beautiful and inspiring. It reminds the people of their history. I posted the video but there is also a website with the lyrics here: http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Functions/anthem.html
voted helpful: philipy
Russia
U.S.A
Canada
France
U.S.A
Canada
France
The most appropriate national anthem is the United States of America's. As George Carlin said, "We’ve got the only national anthem that mentions nikcuf mentions rockets and bombs in the goddamn thing." This is a very honest representation of a nation that has almost constantly been involved in some type of war since its founding in 1776.
Surely the US hasn't been any more involved in wars than most countries?
But it's quite a good point still. Anthems that sound like "Everything's so pretty, and we're all so lovely and nice" don't really fit so well with the history of most nations.
But it's quite a good point still. Anthems that sound like "Everything's so pretty, and we're all so lovely and nice" don't really fit so well with the history of most nations.
I really like the Italian anthem but I think the Dutch (or Holland) anthem is pretty good to:
try the Moroccan one..one of the best :
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Luckily, you'll probably have lots of Americans and French on your side, so you should be safe if this thread starts WW3. :)
I like this version better, how can you not like an anthem with a trumpet fanfare? Actual anthem starts at 2:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ntYtx2P2UE