Nicest National Anthems?

[Duc_et_Pair]

By far the most musical and lyric and boisterous one is Il canto degli Italia with it's operatic changing of tempi and references to Rome.

Fratelli d'Italia,
l'Italia s'è desta,
dell'elmo di Scipio
s'è cinta la testa.

Brethren of Italy,
Italy has woken,
bound Scipio's helmet
upon her head.

Dov'è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.

Where is Victory?
Let her bow down,
for God created
her Slave of Rome.

REFRAIN
Stringiamci a coorte,
siam pronti alla morte.
Siam pronti alla morte,
l'Italia chiamò!

Let us join in a cohort,
we are ready to die.
We are ready to die,
Italy has called!

Noi fummo da secoli
calpesti, derisi,
perché non siam popolo,
perché siam divisi.

We were for centuries
downtrodden, derided,
because we were not one people,
because we were divided.

Raccolgaci un'unica
bandiera, una speme:
di fonderci insieme
già l'ora suonò.

Let one flag,
one hope gather us all.
The hour has struck
for us to unite.

[refrain]

 

[Durham]

Yes I agree. It's sounds rather fun & is a rollicking tune!

My favourite "should have been" a national anthem is Waltzing Matilda.

Not sure why the flag is red here but anyway a beautiful tune for a beautifull country.

 

[QueenMathilde]

I have no idea of the words in English but my favorite music is the Russian national anthem.

 

[Mirabel]

United States
United Kingdom
France
Canada

 

[Durham]

Russia's is very stirring & a fantastic tune. I'm not surprised the Russians kept it from the old Soviet Union but with new words.

England of course does not have an official national anthem. This is the preferred choice of many.

 

[Biri]

One of my favourites - Lithuanian:

 

[Durham]

United States
United Kingdom
France
Canada

The Star Spangled Banner is a great tune but I think this is even more wonderful - real hair on the back of your neck stuff.

 

[Durham]

Thank you Biri for posting the Lithuanian anther. A proud tune from a country that endured long years of oppression in the last century.

 

[Durham]

And from Toronto here is the Canadian Royal Anthem followed by the gorgeous O Canada.

The Royal Anthem includes the uniquely Canadian verse :

Our loved Dominion bless With peace and happiness From shore to shore;
And let our Empire be
Loyal, united, free
True to herself and Thee
God save the Queen.

 

[QueenMathilde]

Russia's is very stirring & a fantastic tune. I'm not surprised the Russians kept it from the old Soviet Union but with new words.

England of course does not have an official national anthem. This is the preferred choice of many.

Really? God Save The Queen is not the national anthem of England? I didn't know that.

 

[Durham]

https://www.royal.uk/national-anthem

GSTQ is the British National Anthem.

Scotland & Wales have their own anthems (which are both upthread). Northern Ireland sports representatives often use the tune to Danny Boy (Londonderry Air). English athletes at the Commonwealth Games use Land of Hope & Glory but that song is really about Britain as well. GSTQ is played at England internationals (football for instance) but it raises all sorts of inconsistencies when their opponents are Wales, Scotland or NI.

Jerusalem is specifically about England.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

And from Toronto here is the Canadian Royal Anthem followed by the gorgeous O Canada.

The Royal Anthem includes the uniquely Canadian verse :

Our loved Dominion bless With peace and happiness From shore to shore;
And let our Empire be
Loyal, united, free
True to herself and Thee
God save the Queen.

I prefer the original -French- version.

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix;
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.

Et ta valeur de foi trempée
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits;
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

The Star Spangled Banner is a great tune but I think this is even more wonderful - real hair on the back of your neck stuff.

Yes..America the Beautiful is lovely. In the Kennedy family it is a tradition to conclude all weddings and funerals with America The Beautiful. Which i always found a little surprising considering their strong Irish roots...but it is indeed lovely.

 

[Durham]

I prefer the original -French- version.

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix;
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.

Et ta valeur de foi trempée
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits;
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Well yes. Anything in French gets my vote.?

 

[Silverpot]

National Anthem of Hungary

That was beautiful.

 

[Silverpot]

Polish National Anthem:


Powerful and melodic, I really like it.



eta. Sorry I meant the Welsh anthem Don't know how a managed to quote so badly.

 

[Biri]

I recently searched via Youtube the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran - the melody is very beautiful:

 

[sarahedwards2]

Why is everyone required to sing the British national anthem when played, when other countries do not have this rule?

 

[Iluvbertie]

Yes I agree. It's sounds rather fun & is a rollicking tune!

My favourite "should have been" a national anthem is Waltzing Matilda.

Not sure why the flag is red here but anyway a beautiful tune for a beautifull country.

Why would anyone want a 'national anthem' a song about a thief, who when caught commits suicide? That is the story that Waltzing Matilda is telling - he stole the sheep and when caught by the police commits suicide rather than facing justice.

I don't like Advance Australia Fair but it is a darn sight better than a song about a thief committing suicide.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Het Wilhelmus/the Dutch National Anthem

 

[Prinsara]

Another one of the "almost was"s, sung by its own composer, lyricist, and former dirt-poor immigrant and persecution escapee who meant every syllable:

 

[An Ard Ri]

Pre -1792 Royal Anthem of the Kingdom of France

Vive Henri IV!

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Very moving. I much prefer it to La Marseillaise.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Very moving. I much prefer it to La Marseillaise.

It replaced La Marseillaise during the Bourbon Restoration period (1814-1830) and was La Marseillaise banned outright by Louis XVIII and Charles X

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Hail our King, Hail! is the anthem of the Kingdom of Bavaria.