What's your favourite national anthem?

[West24]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Hatikvah is the only one that gives me goose bumps
+1 but I also love Jerusalem. I always bust out yerushalaem shel zahaaaaaav.

 

[huy]

The Star Spangled Banner

 

[Smartalox]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

O canada sucks.

Actually, in the original French, O Canada is quite moving.

I'll grant you, the English lyrics are just a lot of standing around 'on guard for thee'; but in French, it's all about 'valour' and "epic tales of (the nation's) brilliant exploits".

Truly the stuff that builds nations.

 

[Nugget]

I quite like the Sth African one as well. (new one that is) 5 languages, and one youtube poster says "It is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world".

 

[Fabienne]

Originally Posted by Smartalox

Actually, in the original French, O Canada is quite moving.

I'll grant you, the English lyrics are just a lot of standing around 'on guard for thee'; but in French, it's all about 'valour' and "epic tales of (the nation's) brilliant exploits".

Truly the stuff that builds nations.

Here are the French lyrics for reference:

Gens du pays, c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour

 

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[Smartalox]

Originally Posted by Fabienne

Here are the French lyrics for reference:

Gens du pays, c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour

Non, Fabienne, THESE are the French Lyrics (from Wikipedia entry for "O Canada")

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'Ã

pÃ

e,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une Ã

popÃ

e
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempÃ

e,
ProtÃ

gera nos foyers et nos droits
ProtÃ

gera nos foyers et nos droits.

(Translated, for the Anglos)

O Canada!
Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights

(P.S.: Bonne Anniversaire)

 

[P-K-L]

Originally Posted by mikemas22

What's that "oora", "ooraaaaaaaaaaaa" thing in the beginning?

I suppose they are saying "ura", which is the russian equivalent for hooray.

 

[oman]

soviet anthem hands down, followed by oman's national anthem

 

[oman]

it reminds me of my childhood in oman... the little dude on the right is sultan qaboos (kah-boos), the ruler. he's gay but you can't say he's gay or the cops will come to your house. regardless, it was common knowledge that he would **** young guys a single time and then - after furnishing them with beautiful houses and a mercedes and some cashmoney$$$ - move onto the next

 

[tiger02]

Originally Posted by mikemas22

The Star Spangled Banner is fine, of course, when it's lively, but not when sung by those Mariah Carreys, Whitney Houstons and Christina Aguileras and their likes... and I'm having a hard time finding a good dynamic version of it.

It's natural we love our OWN national anthems, but I think we should exclude them from the vote.

To each his own. Whitney Houston 1991 was, IMHO, the most emotionally compelling rendition ever. That said, The Star Spangled banner is objectively a pretty poor anthem. Nearly impossible to sing and doesn't even talk about the country!

 

[mikemas22]

Originally Posted by oman

it reminds me of my childhood in oman... the little dude on the right is sultan qaboos (kah-boos), the ruler. he's gay but you can't say he's gay or the cops will come to your house. regardless, it was common knowledge that he would **** young guys a single time and then - after furnishing them with beautiful houses and a mercedes and some cashmoney$$$ - move onto the next
Well, you said it. Say hello to the cops, and goodbye to SF!

 

[mikemas22]

Originally Posted by tiger02

To each his own. Whitney Houston 1991 was, IMHO, the most emotionally compelling rendition ever. That said, The Star Spangled banner is objectively a pretty poor anthem. Nearly impossible to sing and doesn't even talk about the country!

To each their own. I, on the other hand think, that the lyrics of the SSB are quite good: full of hope and the spirit of persisting till the end - which is a great thing to have in a national anthem. But the music is impressive only in some bombastic orchestrated rendition.... otherwise it's sooooo boring.

 

[Nantucket Red]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

Japan's is very soft, quiet, and subdued; basically the opposite of the bombastic US or Russian one. And the words are rather strange.

"Kimigayo"
The translation is something like, "May your reign last 1000.... no... 8000 generations, or the time it takes for a small pebble to grow into a great rock, covered with moss."

And it has no ending, it just sort of stops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya9iP...eature=related

You failed to mention that it's the Kimigayo "plus alpha"! The bonus track is longer than the national anthem!

 

[FLMountainMan]

Favorites:

• Canada - nice melody, cool lyrics
  
• Soviet Union - something very Carl Orff-esque about it.
  
• US - awkward rhythm, but I still get goosebumps everytime around "o say does that star...."
  
• CSA - Dixie wasn't the official anthem, but when played slowly it takes on a nice mournful quality.