Nicest National Anthems?

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Russia!
...strange of a swede to think that because Russia always used to be our worst enemy - from a historic point of view... together with Denmark of course
And when I grew up in the 80s, we used to call the Sovjet national anthem (now Russias) "the hockey song", because CCCP always won the world championship in Hockey...

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by Dierna23

I never liked the German anthem. I don't know why exactly... My favorites are:

France
Great Britain
Italy
...and the anthem of Scotland

i absolutely love the scottish national anthem.

[ZUBIAUR]

I love the French one,and the Spanish one.

[GRspecialforces]

Originally Posted by ZUBIAUR

I love the French one,and the Spanish one.

Spain is one of the mosts beautiful countries!!! yes, your national anthem is very nice and i can also say Greece and Italy too.

gregory

[asma]

Originally Posted by MAfan

It's nice to see the whole Dutch football team singing their anthem; a lot of Italian football players don't know it, it's always horrible when Italian anthem is played and only a few of them sing it, and sometimes they mistake the lyrics...

very strange,I used to admire italian players for singing their national anthem with great passion and this was obviousely noticed during WC 2006 .I also noticed that in torino 2006 winter olympics ,everyone "players,attendents and even the prime minister and the italian president" was singing the anthem with great passin.

My favourite anthem is definetly the italian then the french one.
I esp. like the italian anthem that was song by eight years old girl at the opening ceremony of torino 2006 wo.

[Pixilated]

Romani national anthem is so moving,they have been so much adversity for centuries and it still continues

YouTube - Gypsy Anthem/Romani Himna - Gelem, Gelem

[RoyalistRiley]

My favourite is the Australian National Anthem - Advance Australia Fair . This version is not the usual arrangement but is probably the best I have heard(the anthem itself starts at 2:30). The singer of the second verse, Julie Anthony, made a career out of singing the anthem. An interesting point is that the second verse is not widley know and only played on official occasions. Many credit the Sydney olympics as being when Australians realised their anthem was longer than they thought.

YouTube - Sydney Olympics - Australian National Anthem

[Tosca]

Originally Posted by MAfan

a lot of Italian football players don't know it, it's always horrible when Italian anthem is played and only a few of them sing it, and sometimes they mistake the lyrics...

Hey MAfan, did you noticed how many of our foreign fellow posters like our anthem? Surely because they do not understand a word... No offense intended kids, it's not your fault.

I wonder how many Italians know the lyrics properly. In fact was was written back in the XIX century, in an obsolete language. Besides it's a long one and consists of 5 strophes. One of them was removed from the official anthem, because it was openly anti German.
I'm wondering if it's still officially Italy's "temporary" national anthem... If you can call it temporary a thing lasting from 1946!

[Lina RdC]

Hi, does anybody have an affectation for African national anthems -apart from me? I've heard many, many national anthems so far and I think that Africa has definetely the best rate in nice melodies (from vivid to melancholic)among the different continents. Two of my favourites are the anthems of Ethiopia and Burkina Faso, but it's worth hearing (nearly) all of the African ones!
I also deeply like those ones of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh (the two latter composed by Tagore, as far as I know).
Greetings,
Lina

[MAfan]

Originally Posted by Tosca

Hey MAfan, did you noticed how many of our foreign fellow posters like our anthem? Surely because they do not understand a word... No offense intended kids, it's not your fault.

I wonder how many Italians know the lyrics properly. In fact was was written back in the XIX century, in an obsolete language. Besides it's a long one and consists of 5 strophes. One of them was removed from the official anthem, because it was openly anti German.
I'm wondering if it's still officially Italy's "temporary" national anthem... If you can call it temporary a thing lasting from 1946!

Yes, I noticed; but to be honest, I definitely dislike our anthem, the lyrics are out of place now.
I much more prefer a more solemn, for example I really like the music of the former Austro-Hungarian anthem by Haydn, now German anthem, suitable for all kinds of occasions; if the present Italian anthem (but also the former Marcia Reale) was played during a funeral, for example, it would sound horrible imo.

[Tosca]

I do not like it either. I'd prefer "Va pensiero" to become Italy's national anthem. However I think it will never be, now that it has become the anthem of Padania.

For those of you who have no clue about Padania

[MAfan]

But imo also "Va pensiero" is completely out of place, it has nothing to do with Italy...anyway it is a wonderful piece.

[GRspecialforces]

wow, i didn't know these details about the italian anthem! but i wanted to say that it sounds beautiful for us who don't speak the language. and of course you have one of the most beautiful countries.

with respect,
gregory

[No1_Saint]

I love the Japanese national anthem. I especially love the words...they are beautiful.

[Australian]

Apart from the Australian national anthem, I like the Canadian and French national anthems

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Princess_Beatrix

What do you guy think about the anthem of Europe? "Ode an die Freude" by Ludwig van Beethoven? Isn't it gorgeous?

It is one of the most beautiful pieces of music that exists IMO.

Peter Roland made a new text for the melody, in latin:

Est Europa nunc unita
et unita maneat;
una in diversitate
pacem mundi augeat.
Semper regnant in Europa
fides et iustitia
et libertas populorum
in maiore patria.
Cives, floreat Europa,
opus magnum vocat vos.
Stellae signa sunt in caelo
aureae, quae iungant nos.

Translation:

Europe is united now
United may it remain;
Our unity in diversity
May it contribute to world peace.
May there forever reign in Europe
Faith and justice
And freedom of the people
In a greater fatherland
Citizens, may Europe flourish,
A great task calls on you.
Golden stars in the sky are
The symbols that shall unite us.

YouTube - Anthem of Europe

[Tiggersk8]

Originally Posted by Soli Deo Gloria

And when I grew up in the 80s, we used to call the Sovjet national anthem (now Russias) "the hockey song", because CCCP always won the world championship in Hockey...

I can't help but laugh at this, because my cousins who were into Figure Skating as much as I am, we called the Soviet/Russian Anthem the Ice Dancing Anthem. W/the exception of the Torvill and Dean years, that was due to the stranglehold the Soviet/Russian Teams had during the 80's and early 90's.

I love Advance Australia Fair and still remember the odd bits of it thanks to hearing it so often during the Sydney Games. I'm sure I'll be hearing it often in a few weeks times during the coverage of The Commonwealth Games in India too.

Obviously, I adore my own Anthem, Oh Canada. My favourite performance of it at the moment, is by the guy who does the Anthems for the NHL Vancouver Canucks hockey team games. He sings the first bit, then lets the audience take over for the middle part and finishes the rest of it. Never fails to give me the chills.

I like The Star Spangled Banner, but one of the best "performances" of it I've ever heard, was also one of the worst too. The US Jr Hockey Team won the World Jr Hockey Championship this year, in Canada, for only the second time in USA Hockey history IIRC. Now...I get the guys were excited, I get they were in a party mood and they wanted to belt out their Anthem loudly and proudly. Regardless of the Nationality, and as much as I wanted to sing Oh Canada w/"my boys", watching the kids sing their Anthem is one of the highlights of any Championship.

Okay then...I get them being a touch off key. I've heard some pretty awful off key versions of Oh Canada over the years after all. Having said that though...Here it is September and I still haven't been able to figure out how in the name of everything holy they managed to also get two bars ahead of the music!!

It really is one of the most priceless Victory Ceremony Celebration Sing alongs I've ever watched.

I also like the New Zealand, Italian, German and Russia Anthems.

I wish I knew the words for the Japanese, German and Russian Anthems though. I am a huge Figure Skating fan, if I'm at a Major Championship Event and if I know the words of the winning Skater or Team's National Anthem, I'll sing it. I think it's the least we can do for an athlete or team that wins.

It's so sad though...I was so lucky to be able to attend the World Championships in Vancouver in 2001 and we all sang The Star Spangled Banner for Michelle Kwan. We all know it, so why not and it also gave Michelle a very special memory of that Title.

Fast forward to the last two Skate Canada Internationals and American skaters each won a respective title/discipline each year. Not only was there next to no one singing along, I got funny and nasty looks for doing so. I was chatting w/someone while in line for something at last year's Skate Canada and mentioned what a shame it was so few people sang TSSB for Jeremy Abbott. Do you know what this person said in reply?

"Why would we? We're not in America and this is Skate *Canada*, not Skate America."



As I told her, there's no harm in showing courtesy and/or respect to another Athlete. Especially since everyone in that arena knew the words to TSSB and could have sang it for Jeremy.

Sorry for rambling and getting OT, but that's a particular pet peeve of mine. One of my favourite memories from the coverage of the Vancouver Olympics this year, was how the fans from the Netherlands knew the National Anthems of all the Favourites at the Speed Skating Oval and sang them for all the Gold Medalists during the Victory Ceremonies.

I was not only impressed, but that's just out and out classy and how it should be!!

[CrownPrincess5]

Defintely the Star Spangled Banner!

[lucien]

The Dutch National Anthem ofcourse,the "Wilhelmus".It is the oldest text ( 1566) to an Anthem in the world,
combined with the music it is quite regal.Most others are just organised noise compared to our Anthem.

[Jackswife]

I'm not exactly sure about "nicest" but to me the most stirring, patriotic, and noble-sounding ones are:
United States
United Kingdom
Spain
Luxembourg
Russia

Although I have to admit the Italians always do seem to sing their anthem with great passion and vigor, which is very nice to see.