National anthems

[Sionnach Glic]

Hearing my own country's national anthem today prompted me to make this thread about anthems in general.
So, what's your country's national anthem? Do you like it? Do you feel it properly represents your country? Which country's anthem do you think is the best?

[Mikey]

My country's national anthem is The Star-Spangled Banner (Marvin Gaye's funky-a** version shown here.) I hate it. I mean, I respect it immensely - it's the anthem of my country - but it's a bad one. It's a poem about a battle-flag, not a testament to a nation. Our national anthem should have been America the Beautiful.

As far as other nations' anthems, I'm only mildy versed in languages other than English, so I can't speak to a lot of them. Australia's is good, and Israel's is mournful but moving.

[Captain Seafort]

God Save the Queen is, I believe, underrated. It's a good tune, if it's played properly - unfortunately it's easy to play badly, and sounds like a dirge when it is. And verse six should be sung on every occassion it's played.

The best tune I can think of is the Russian one. Very stirring.

[Nutso]

Canada's is the most gentle and soothing. I live in U.S.A. Our anthem is just an ode to war. Canada's is all about the country itself.

O' Canada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwn_0nonIa0

Acapella http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzuOSaN5CQU

[Monroe]

I've always been a fan of the Russian. But honestly This one may be the best. Similiar to the Russian but it'd make me even more prideful if I lived there.

[Captain Seafort]

I've always been a fan of the Russian. But honestly This one may be the best. Similiar to the Russian but it'd make me even more prideful if I lived there.

Absolutely.

And very useful for taking the piss out of the Saudi King, courtesy of the band of the Coldstream Guards.

[KuvahMagh]

Keep in mind the Canadian National Anthem was an after thought... plus it also has the virtue of being completely different when sung in the Official Languages...

[Teaos]

God defend New Zealand, the first bit is in Maori then in English. Basically sports games are the only time you hear it.

[Sionnach Glic]

The anthem of the Republic of Ireland is called "The soldier's song" (Amhrán na bhFiann) and is actualy just the chorus of a much longer song. It basicaly talks about defending Ireland's sovereignty from foreign invaders (damn Brits ). Most of the time it's sung in its Irish form:

Sinne Fianna Fáil
Atá fé gheall ag Éirinn
Buíon dár slua
Thar toinn do ráinig chugainn
Fé mhóid bheith saor
Seantír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar fén tíorán ná fén tráill
Anocht a théam sa bhearna bhaoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil
Le gunnascréach, fé lámhach na bpiléar
Seo libh canaídh Amhrán na bhFiann

And here's the translation in English:

Soldiers are we
Whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come
From a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the bearna baol
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannon's roar and rifles' peal
We'll chant a soldier's song

[Mikey]

That can't be right - there's no mention of whiskey at all.

[Teaos]

Sweet home Alabama? Just change Alasbama to Ireland.

[Sionnach Glic]

[Josiah Thompson]

"Star Spangled Banner"
The tune is nice.

[thelordharry]

We're thinking of changing our national anthem to 'Gold' by Spandau Ballet for the next Olympics, to be held in London in 2012.

[Reliant121]

Well Seafort posted mine up.

But i have a very tiny bit of belgian heritage so here comes the anthem for them!
The Brabançonne