Which Country Has The Best National Anthem?

Aonex

Aonex

Semi-Pro
I'm not a big fan of the star spangled banner... I mean, it's about the flag. So what? I'd prefer having America the Beautiful as the national anthem... but I guess that won't happen cause it has the word "god" in it.
 
A

Aus Mosis

New User
No way, im an aussie, so by no means being biased, but the New Zeealand national anthem is awesome, and easily the best. Gmlasam, you are just being completley biased! The star spangled banner sounds S*&%
 
@wright

@wright

Hall of Fame
This is like arguing whether the Alien or Predator is cooler...

"The Alien is soooooo gonna get his ass kicked, that is if he has an ass".
I think Burkina Faso's national anthem is easily the coolest, with all the tongue clicking and what not.
 
N

NoBadMojo

G.O.A.T.
If you like the anthem of Burkina Faso, you gotta love the nat'l anthem of Tuva w. the throat singing and all. anyone know when Tuva plays Faso in Davis Cup?
 
@wright

@wright

Hall of Fame
This match won't be televised, ed, they are among the only countries in the world still playing with wood racquets. Hey, when the national average yearly income is $200, you can't exactly run out and get an ncode!
 
N

NoBadMojo

G.O.A.T.
ya man @wright..and some countries just refuse to play w. those tretorn pressureless balls...the tuvan team has been playing w. the same balls for 2years now.
 
AAAA

AAAA

Hall of Fame
gmlasam, Thanks for the link. Out of curiosity I will listen to some of the anthems from countries obscure to my knowledge.
 
max

max

Legend
I live in the *******, in Illinois, and for my whole life, I've found the Canadian national anthem enormously stirring. For me, it's the best by far.
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
The national anthem of India written by Tagore is great but refers to the "God of Indian Destiny." I don't like the religious reference even though I know Tagore did not mean it in a literal sense, himself being quite agnostic and rational for his time. The Supreme Court ruling was that it was OK because it did not single out any religion, but that falls into the trap of assuming that religion is OK.
 
7

70sHollywood

Guest
Italy (as long as they don't cut the intro), Germany and USA.

I love how you can sing along with the Italian Anthem even if you don't know the words.

"Italia,
Italia,
Italia,
Italia.
etc...":D
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
My personal favourites:

1. The Dutch ('The Wilhelmus', love the tune and words)
2. The Spanish (no words but love the tune)
3. The Italian (by far the jolliest and most singeable).
4. The South African (love the tune and hearing it sung).
6. The Polish (stirring tune).
7. The Welsh (great tune and sounds great when sung).

The French, German, American and Russian anthems are all exciting to listen to but a bit too grandiose and overbearing for my liking. My own anthem (the British) is insufferably boring, pompous and out-dated and probably my least favourite of all.
 
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Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
Mainad said:
My personal favourites:

1. The Dutch ('The Wilhelmus', love the tune and words)
2. The Spanish (no words but love the tune)
3. The Italian (by far the jolliest and most singeable).
4. The South African (love the tune and hearing it sung).
6. The Polish (stirring tune).
7. The Welsh (great tune and sounds great when sung).

The French, German, American and Russian anthems are all exciting to listen to but a bit too grandiose and overbearing for my liking. My own anthem (the British) is insufferably boring, pompous and out-dated and probably my least favourite of all.
Click to expand...

Completely agree on the British anthem, not a fan of it at all. Jerusalem would be my choice, personally.

My favourites are (in no particular order):
Russia
Italy
Canada
South Africa
 
West Coast Ace

West Coast Ace

G.O.A.T.
max said:
I live in the *******, in Illinois, and for my whole life, I've found the Canadian national anthem enormously stirring. For me, it's the best by far.
Click to expand...
I'm with you. And American.

Back in the day the Montreal Canadians had an opera singer - Roger Doucet - do it. Incredible.

Kate Smith did 'God Bless America' before Philadelphia Flyers games - that was good too.
 
Feña14

Feña14

G.O.A.T.
West Coast Ace said:
I'm with you. And American.

Back in the day the Montreal Canadians had an opera singer - Roger Doucet - do it. Incredible.

Kate Smith did 'God Bless America' before Philadelphia Flyers games - that was good too.
Click to expand...

I think the curly haired fella who sings it at Canucks game does it well too.
 
Sentinel

Sentinel

Bionic Poster
Vision said:
those two were, by far, the best but unfortunately are gone.




Click to expand...
Very beautiful.
sureshs said:
The national anthem of India written by Tagore is great but refers to the "God of Indian Destiny." I don't like the religious reference even though I know Tagore did not mean it in a literal sense, himself being quite agnostic and rational for his time. The Supreme Court ruling was that it was OK because it did not single out any religion, but that falls into the trap of assuming that religion is OK.
Click to expand...
oh come on.

I've always liked the Soviet anthem. I just now saw the words to it in the YT, and it's full of "communism". But that doesn't make it any less beautiful. Just stop crying about God, you ridiculously silly atheists.
 
Bartelby

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
The Italian one is indeed good and rather empty of that kind of musical bombast seemingly required by national anthems.

Rafaisdabest said:
The Italian Anthem is the best as I've supported Valentino Rossi since 2003!! Plus it's just a really good one to listen to! :)
Click to expand...
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
I've always liked the French one. Also the Soviet one.

Our own needs to be changed to the song "I am Australian" by The Seekers, although it's still pretty patriotic as it is now.
 
M

Midaso240

Legend
I don't like my own country's that much (NZ). I'd have to say France is probably the best I can remember,but I'm not very good at remembering them,that's usually when I tune out or go and put the kettle on or something...
 
Ciaron

Ciaron

Semi-Pro
South African anthem is up there because of the 3 languages featured.. Although there are 11 official languages. The NZ anthem I like but have always wondered when they sing the part of "God defend New Zealand"... Who's going to attack New Zealand
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
Bartelby said:
No. Not the Seekers! This is the real anthem and it works musically if not lyrically:

Click to expand...
My issue with Waltzing Matilda is that it's not an anthem, it's a song about a livestock rustler who committed suicide.
Great folk song, not so great anthem.

It's gotta be patriotic.

Nice tune though, and those guys are doing it well.
 
Bartelby

Bartelby

Bionic Poster
I think alternative lyrics are available and in any event they could be easily written, but the music can work as an anthem.

The thing is people can choose to sing the original lyrics under their breath or the official ones.

For example, you can easily change 'waltzing matilda' to 'advancing australia' in homage to the current lyric.
 
NonP

NonP

Legend
Can't believe so many of you are nominating US. For one thing the high register of "The Star-Spangled Banner" makes it virtually impossible for most people to sing without embarrassing themselves, which is clearly not what you want in a national anthem. (There's a reason why it continues to serve as a soulless showpiece at sporting events.) And its lyrics often read like a (better) William McGonagall poem, needlessly stuffy and ornate--again not what you want in a national anthem for the people. It's a nice tune to listen to, but a failure in almost all other respects.

Here's what should replace it and would take its rightful place at the top of the world, even over Borat's gift to Kazakhstan:

 
PDJ

PDJ

G.O.A.T.
France - although very violent.
I do like my own - God Save The Queen, especially with trumpets.
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
Feña14 said:
Completely agree on the British anthem, not a fan of it at all. Jerusalem would be my choice, personally.

My favourites are (in no particular order):
Russia
Italy
Canada
South Africa
Click to expand...

I like 'Jerusalem' a lot at but it's actually a hymn rather than an anthem and sounds to me more like a hymn. 'Land Of Hope And Glory' sounds more like a true anthem and has an uplifting tune to go with it.
 
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