Favorite National Anthem

[CDarwin]

What national anthem(s) do you find the most melodious and inspiring?

 

My ranking, without extensive review:

1. Czech Republic

2. Hungary

3. United Kingdom

4. Israel

5. Germany

 

I'd have to add Chechnya's to that list too if it was actually an independent country. They have a really good anthem. It almost makes me support Chechen separatism.

 

Let's see if anyone else is as bizarre as I am and actually responds to this.

[iNow]

What national anthem(s) do you find the most melodious and inspiring?

 

My ranking, without extensive review:

1. Czech Republic

2. Hungary

3. United Kingdom

4. Israel

5. Germany

I've not heard many of them, only a few after watching a Formula 1 race.

 

Here they are, for those who want a listen:

 

1. http://youtube.com/watch?v=wiJgTFmF9Zo
   
2. 
   
3. http://youtube.com/watch?v=WofVwkm3-iM
   
4. 
   
5. 
   

 

 

 

I think I like Norway's.

 

 

And Sweden's:

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YwiiovRmVig

[CDarwin]

1. http://youtube.com/watch?v=wiJgTFmF9Zo
   

 

That one doesn't have the last bit that's in Czechoslovakia's national anthem. Apparently that was broken off and became Slovakia's.

 

Here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=yNxeeSvhMNA&feature=related

 

I always liked that part better than the "Czech" half, although I've heard it still played as part of the "Czech" anthem. It's probably complicated.

 

And, Lords of Kobol, how I could I have forgotten Russia's.

Edited June 21, 2008 by CDarwin

[john5746]

I thought this one was interesting:

 

 

Seriously though, I do like Dixie.

 

I liked the Czech one as well.

 

And UK then Russia.

[CDarwin]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GfTmjEDa-Kc&feature=related

 

Interesting version of the old Hymn of the Soviet Union.

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=T2sx769Z538&feature=related

 

Another very original/hilarious version. Trying to make Communism hip, I'd imagine. Oh, glasnost, how can't you make me laugh?

 

Oh, I love Russian things just so much. I'm having Slavophilic spats.

 

Seriously though, I do like Dixie.

 

That wasn't the Confederate national anthem, either. It was Bonny Blue Flag, which is also a neat tune:

 

 

I like Civil War era band music.

Edited June 21, 2008 by CDarwin
multiple post merged

[ecoli]

4. Israel

I like it to, but I honestly like the song it was based off of better.

 

Smetana's Die Moldau:

[CDarwin]

I like it to, but I honestly like the song it was based off of better.

 

Smetana's Die Moldau:

 

The Czech Republic's anthem is based off a better piece by Dvorak, too. I can't find a good version of it on YouTube, though.

[iNow]

I thought this one was interesting:

 

 

Interesting?

 

I find it... hmm... old fashioned?

[Gilded]

Russia has an awesome anthem, Germany's anthem isn't that bad either. Finland's national anthem is OK, but Finlandia (or

, which is a stand-alone piece cut from the longer symphony) is so much better. Since the current anthem isn't even officially recognized I wish they'd change it to Finlandia.

[CDarwin]

Russia has an awesome anthem, Germany's anthem isn't that bad either. Finland's national anthem is OK, but Finlandia (or

, which is a stand-alone piece cut from the longer symphony) is so much better. Since the current anthem isn't even officially recognized I wish they'd change it to Finlandia.

 

It's a little long. They'd have to make quite a few laps at the Olympics to finish Finlandia. Although I agree it is pretty much amazing. I love Sibelius.

[john5746]

Interesting?

 

I find it... hmm... old fashioned?

 

Yes, very old fashioned. It was a joke, a bad joke I guess.

 

I'm a southerner, where we corner the market on making fun of ourselves.

[iNow]

Understood.

 

Sometimes things just don't translate through text. I used ta could tell the difference.

[Sisyphus]

Depends on your criteria. I do have a soft-spot for La Marseillaise (France), though. It's probably not the best of them musically, but it's also probably the most fun, and very versatile: you can belt it out in solemn protest as easily as you can in drunken celebration (just pick up the tempo), and the lyrics are hilariously jingoistic, violent, and generally over-the-top. Classic France.

 

As far as pure musical value is concerned - even though it's not technically a "national" anthem - I'd say the European Union wins with Ode to Joy.

[CDarwin]

Depends on your criteria. I do have a soft-spot for La Marseillaise (France), though. It's probably not the best of them musically, but it's also probably the most fun, and very versatile: you can belt it out in solemn protest as easily as you can in drunken celebration (just pick up the tempo), and the lyrics are hilariously jingoistic, violent, and generally over-the-top. Classic France.

 

The scene from Casablanca is the only reason I like the La Marseillaise.

[Pangloss]

I deconstructed that scene once for my blog.

 

http://hardrockstars.org/blogs/pat/archive/2007/08/06/scene-deconstruction-1-casablanca.aspx

[Sisyphus]

The scene from Casablanca is the only reason I like the La Marseillaise.

 

I deconstructed that scene once for my blog.

 

http://hardrockstars.org/blogs/pat/archive/2007/08/06/scene-deconstruction-1-casablanca.aspx

 

Yeah, that scene is one of the things I was thinking of. (Nice analysis, BTW.)

[jimmydasaint]

Great Britain need a new anthem in contrast to the ponderous and old-fashioned anthem we have now. I suggest we pen some new lyrics to the Led Zeppelin tune 'Whole Lotta Love' and we can have the most energetic and enjoyable anthem in the world.

[arnoldschwartz]

United kingdom for the win

[JohnB]

Well, I've always liked ours.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6iGNhgMd6uM

 

Or for a more upbeat version.

 

But the ones that get to us are these.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zqaCzsCSn90

 

[bascule]

Kazakhstan. What other nation's anthem trumpets all other nations having inferior potassium?

[Gilded]

I've also come to like Flower of Scotland (although it's not an official anthem) after I heard the Alestorm cover.