History AwesomeMusic / NationalAnthem

*** "Jerusalem", used by some English sporting teams, was composed by Hubert Parry and orchestrated by Edward Elgar. How can it not be awesome? It was adapted from William Blake's poetry during World War I and the ''King himself'' said he preferred it! A demonstration of how good it is? Hearing it being sung by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0oCmDXrVk 5 000 people.]]

* "La Marseillaise". Don't believe me? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM Just look.]]

* The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdNOmKphK-M Philippine National Anthem]] is so awesome it has been translated into [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwQAyp2Gpo English]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vSyaCR_Tr4&feature=related Spanish]], giving it three official versions?

* Kazakhstan's new national anthem (not the one from ''Film/Borat'').

* In the land of EverythingTryingToKillYou, it has to be "I Am Australian".

** In that particular context, it also counts as a {{Tearjerker}} and a {{Crowning Moment of Awesome}}.

* Dyed in the wool Yankees can find [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsNCllEHD0 "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"]] totally awesome.

* Remember in ''{{Casablanca}}'' when the Germans got "Die Wacht am Rhein" drowned out by the French? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zikcHnimsxk Here it is]], in the original version from the time of the Kaiser, a song too good to have been a Third Reich anthem.

* The melody of Finland's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlAuPOUew4 official national anthem]] was allegedly stolen from a German drinking song, but [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJWNLIQhYH0 "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius]]? Boy oh boy.

** Now, take a guess what anthem that one is. [[spoiler:[[NineteenEightyFour It's the Oceanian One, composed for the eponymous film adaption.]] Yes, it may not be a real-life anthem (and does therefore not truly belong on this page either), but is does deserve mention for being a]] '''''[[spoiler:very realistic]]''''' [[spoiler:fictional CrowningMusicOfAwesome anthem, being based to a very high extent on old soviet and other communist anthems]]. Just as a little refreshment at the end of this page.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BJPW8YmP_U ¡OIIID MORTAAAAALES EL GRIIIIIITO SAGRAAAAAADO! ¡LIBERTAD! ¡LIBERTAD! ¡LIBERTAD!]]

** That tune has had no less than 4 sets of official lyrics. The fact that the tune remained unchanged each time attests to its awesomeness:

*** "Jerusalem", used by some English sporting teams, was orchestrated by Edward Elger. How can it not be awesome? It was adapted from William Blake's poetry during World War I and the ''King himself'' said he preferred it! A demonstration of how good it is? Hearing it being sung by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0oCmDXrVk 5 000 people.]]

** Just the two or lines from ''Help!'' that John Lennon sings is enough to get it lodged in your head. Amazingly catchy national song.

** "May not be the first country that comes to mind for kick-ass music"? See Celine Dion, {{The Birthday Massacre}}, Kittie, and {{The Agonist}}.
** No love for the original [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByKu8BwT5K4 Hockey Night in Canada theme]]?
* The Greek National Anthem is pretty good too. Defines Greece and the people. The original one is over '''100 verses long'''

* How has the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpgQv6lKhws&feature=related Japanese national anthem]] not been mentioned yet? It's beautiful, and one of the few national anthems based on poetry.

* What, no love for the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdNOmKphK-M Philippine National Anthem]]? You know, the one so awesome it has been translated into [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwQAyp2Gpo English]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vSyaCR_Tr4&feature=related Spanish]], giving it three official versions?

* Everyone, what about the WELSH national anthem, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUnCwV3AYE "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"]] ("Land of Our Fathers"). YMMV on whether it's truly awesome. Then again, we aren't the most well known country, what with us being mistaken for part of England most of the time.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GY1d1eJ06Q&feature=related Gaddafi's anthem]] isn't half bad either.

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* This troper enjoys the the national anthem of Mexico. Perhaps its because it's because it oozes nationalism without the lyrics.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxdUptwtyRQ Indonesia Raya a.k.a. Great Indonesia]]. A truly majestic anthem, ''especially'' when played by an orchestra.
* Rule Britannia/Britannia rules the waaaaaaves/Britons never, never, never shall be slaaaaaves!
** Additional heights of awesome are reached when Jeremiah Clarke's ''Prince of Denmark's March'' is overlaid onto it, as was the case with the now-defunct [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF7kzj4lCnE#t=4m12s BBC Radio 4 Theme]].
*** Enough people disliked the Theme for it to be shelved but to others it was itself an example of CrowningMusicOfAwesome, a lively, stirring, patriotic tune to wake up to in the mornings.
*** It bears repeating that ''Rule, Britannia'' was written in the early 1700s, when the British Empire consisted of [[BlackAdder a sausage factory in Tanganyika]]. Furthermore, the song always gets misinterpreted; it's calling for Great Britain to control the seas so that she can defend herself from the Spanish (who were the superpower at this time), not celebrating British control of the oceans (which would not come until the 18th century). It's defensive, rather than offensive.
*** Britain was in process of brutally colonizing Ireland at the time and was also in possession of a lot of North American territory. The country wasn't exactly weak.
** Rule Britannia is NOT a National Anthem, God Save the Queen is the one for Britain, Land of Hope and Glory is England's (which incidentally should be counted as one of these) and I can't remember the name of Scotland's but I think it is called Brave Scotland or something.
*** ''Flower of Scotland''. You're thinking of ''Scotland the Brave'', which is a good song but not the anthem.
*** Strictly speaking, neither England nor Scotland have official anthems. Scottish sports teams use ''Flower of Scotland'' at international events, while English teams (depending on the sport) use ''Land of Hope and Glory,'' ''God Save the Queen,'' or the even awesome-er ''Jerusalem.'' When you get Edward Elgar to orchestrate your unofficial anthem, you know it's going to be kickass.
*** The ''tune'' of ''[[ToTheTuneOf God Save the Queen]]'' was used as the national anthem of a number of countries, including Liechtenstein and (formerly) Switzerland. It was also, in the form of ''Heil dir im Siegerskranz'' the Royal Anthem of the Kingdom of Prussia.
** This American troper would like to note that she's only heard the two or so lines of the song that John Lennon sings in the Help! movie, and still gets it stuck in her head for days at a time. Congratulations, UK, you have an amazingly catchy national song.
* Speaking of national anthems, I say that the Ankh-Morpork National anthem (the only written anthem which includes muttering, since no one ever remembers the second verse.
* As an Australian, in the land of EverythingTryingToKillYou, I nominate "I am Australian." Sadly, our national anthem really leaves something to be desired...
* [[CanadaEh Canada]] may not be the first country that comes to mind when it comes to kick-ass music, but our national anthem can be quite majestic. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVdZvWBcA_4 Have a listen]].

** I'm with you on this one. "O, Canada" always sends a chill up my spine--and I'm American! Casting all nationalism aside, it's the most beautiful national anthem.

** No love for the original Hockey Night in Canada theme? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByKu8BwT5K4]]
* The Greek National Anthem is pretty good too. Defines Greece and the people. Have I mentioned that the original one is OVER 100 VERSES LONG?
* ThisTroper loves the Israeli national anthem ''Hatikvah''. Most national anthems sound good when sung aloud, possibly with a backing orchestra. How many sound just as awesome when sung ''quietly''?
** He also likes the Navy Hymn: "Eternal Father strong to save, whose arm doth bind the restless waves."
** While we're on Israeli music, "Kan Noladti" has got to be the sweetest little song I've ever heard: "Here, you're with me as well and here are all my thousand friends. And after 2000 years, an end to my wandering!"
** And Israel's unofficial anthem, "Yerushalaim Shel Zahav", in English "Jerusalem of Gold". Best known for its treatment at the end of SchindlersList, but [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Co7IzOyhw this performance by Ofra Haza]] is simply beautiful.
* ThisTroper frankly likes ''Das Deutschlandlied'' best of all currently used national anthems, though he likes it better in its original form of ''Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser.'' It is also the only national anthem with a tune by a composer of the first rank, JosephHaydn.

* "The Star-Spangled Banner". But only when it's not all tarted up by some generic pop princess who can't sing straight.
** ThisTroper, being American, laments that the melody for Star Spangled Banner is such that the number of vocalists with the pitch range needed to sound good singing it can be counted on one hand, wishes the 'States would switch to something by Aaron Copland to serve as a more singable nat'l anthem, then again, who needs lyrics in it?

** This British troper first heard it right the way through, when it was sung a capella by a choir from a friend's school. There is something spine-tingling about hearing it sung by a choir -- and without a backing. When you take into account the lyrics - the anxiety of not knowing if your country and your fellow men have survived through the night, and then that sight of seeing your flag rising higher and flying and realizing that yes, everything is alright... it's pretty chilling stuff.
** Fun fact: The tune comes from the drinking song for the Anacreontic Society, an upper-crust British society carried forward into the U.S. colonies. The lyrics to the Anacreontic Song are couched in imagery from ClassicalMythology, but the gist basically boils down to "[[ButLiquorIsQuicker I'll show you how to get laid by getting women drunk]]."
*** And here's a link of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAIdVKv84g&list=FLQ9hG-Blb0rF2JMMVh3kHYA&index=1&feature=plpp_video that]]. It's pretty damn good.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rIOtcB7rfs&feature=channel_video_title Here]] is a heavenly performance of The Star-Spangled Banner by the Massachusetts All-State Choir. I sang in the bass section, and there were more than a few of us singers with tears streaming down our faces. (these are HIGH-SCHOOLERS, mind you.)

* ThisTroper personally thinks that the Polish national anthem "Mazurek Dąbrowskiego" is really, really awesome.

* La Marseillaise. Don't believe me? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM Just look.]]

** Really, just about anything sung by the Red Army Choir qualifies as awesome. Even [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WD0WVL-HjE Volga Boatman]] -- especially at 1:57 when the full choir comes in, or the roaring climax at 2:39. Absolutely spine-tingling.

* This dyed in the wool Yankee finds [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsNCllEHD0 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic']] totally awesome.
* The Australian anthem, 'Advance Australia Fair' is probably one of the most boring, uninspiring anthems around. But sung by Adam Hills and set to the tune of 'Working Class Man' by Jimmy Barnes? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TNCf0cwJsY Very awesome.]]
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQBlnwrffAg Waltzing Matilda]] is often referred to as the the unofficial national anthem of Australia and with good reason.
* The Republic of Georgia can be proud to have as its national anthem "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b57ajZOf8E Tavisupleba]]" ("Freedom"), a short, sweet, and proudly Georgian anthem whose melody is based on classical opera tunes.

* Remember in {{Casablanca}} when the Germans got "Die Wacht am Rhein" drowned out by the French? [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zikcHnimsxk Here it is]], in the original version from the time of the Kaiser, a song too good to have been a Third Reich anthem.

* The melody of Finland's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlAuPOUew4 official national anthem]] was allegedly stolen from a German drinking song, but [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJWNLIQhYH0 Finlandia by Jean Sibelius]]? Boy oh boy.

* The Swedish National Anthem Du gamla Du fria is worthy to join the ranks of the above. For it's the simple fact that unlike most other anthems mentioned here, the Swedish one focuses on the beauty of Scandinavia as a country and place to live, and not the superiority of any nationality, nor how the people of Scandinavia should prepare for war. The only part of the song that could be considered patriotic is when the lyrics focus on "Jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!".
* Since England has no official national anthem (God Save the Queen being the ''[[BritainVersusTheUK British]]'' anthem, rather than the English one) at cricket and rugby matches the beautiful hymn "Jerusalem" is used instead. How can it not be awesome? It was adapted from William Blake's poetry during World War I and the ''King himself'' said he preferred it! A demonstration of how good it is? Hearing it being sung by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0oCmDXrVk 5 000 people.]]
* While it isn't precisely a ''national'' anthem, it's an anthem nonetheless: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale the Internationale]], the ''inter''national anthem of the socialist movement. The music is stirring no matter what language is in (and since there are socialists everywhere, it's been in pretty much every language), but the best versions are in the [[http://folk.ntnu.no/makarov/temporary_url_20070929kldcg/internationale-fr.mp3 original French]] and in [[http://folk.ntnu.no/makarov/temporary_url_20070929kldcg/internationale-ru.mp3 Russian]] (it was the national anthem of the Soviet Union from [[RedOctober 1917]] to [[JosefStalin 1948]]). English versions are less awesome, as it is [[WhatSongWasThisAgain rather difficult to translate]].
* Mawtini, the former national anthem of Palestine and the new one of Iraq.
** The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g08rH8pT3ck&feature=related current anthem]] of Palestine, Fida'i, as well.

* How has the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpgQv6lKhws&feature=related Japanese national anthem]] not been mentioned yet? It's beautiful, and besides, how many countries have national anthems based on poetry, of all things?
** America?
*** And Hungary.
* The beautiful [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7FLLxnHks Swiss Psalm]].

* Poland's anthem's title translates to "Poland Has Not Yet Perished." The music is also pretty awesome.

* Chilean Anathem, really, here song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqBhWQWToMs&feature=related]] must be noted in the 1:32 the music come off so the anathem cotinues anyways, here with subtitles [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCli830LXho]]
* So, comrades, come rally, for this is the time and plaaace...
* Everyone, what about the WELSH national anthem, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUnCwV3AYE "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"]] (Land of Our Fathers). YMMV on whether it's truly awesome. Then again, we aren't the most well known country, what with us being mistaken for part of England most of the time.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsBKYMSr3YI Ey Irån]], the national anthem of {{Iran}}. ''Dar råhe to, key arzeși dårad in cåne må? [[UndyingLoyalty In your cause, when do our lives have value?]]''

* The [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tePgys9euF8 Sealand]] national anthem sounds pretty epic. Too bad [[AxisPowersHetalia you'll never be a real country]].

*** [[YourMileageMayVary Enough people disliked the Theme for it to be shelved]] but to others it was itself an example of CrowningMusicOfAwesome, a lively, stirring, patriotic tune to wake up to in the mornings.
** YourMilageMayVary - this Brit hates that imperialist crap.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsBKYMSr3YI Ey Irån]], the national anthem of {{Iran}}. ''Dar råhe to, key arzeși dårad in cåne må? [[UndyingLoyalty In your cause, when do our lives have value?]]''

** This troper loves this song--and truth to be told, the editors of the most-commonly used primary school textbook, who put that song in [[UnfortunateImplications without knowing it is the anthem of a rather controversial state]], thinking it was just a lovely East European folk. The UnfortunateImplications were made worse by the Cantonese lyrics that the publisher hired people to write that describes the exile and return of an unidentified people. (This song was dropped from the said textbook in the 2000s.)

* This troper loves "The Star-Spangled Banner". But only when it's not all tarted up by some generic pop princess who can't sing straight.

** This British troper first heard it right the way through, when it was sung a capella by a choir from a friend's school. There is something spine-tingling about hearing it sung by a choir -- and without a backing. It puts this troper in mind of the sun rising and the flag being slowly raised. When you take into account the lyrics - the anxiety of not knowing if your country and your fellow men have survived through the night, and then that sight of seeing your flag rising higher and flying and realizing that yes, everything is alright... it's pretty chilling stuff.

* The melody of Finland's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlAuPOUew4 official national anthem]] was allegedly stolen from a German drinking song, but [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJWNLIQhYH0 Finlandia by Jean Sibelius]]? Boy oh boy. This troper is hardly the most patriotic Finn there is, but the sheer beauty of that makes her cry every single time.
** ''Finlandia'' is so awesome it makes This Troper proud to be Finnish -- and he's actually English!

* This troper wishes to elect the Swedish National Anthem, Du gamla Du fria. (unforunately, this troper can't find a good link to said Anthem) to join the ranks of the above, for it's the simple fact that unlike the Anthems he has heard himself, the Swedish one focuses on the beauty of Scandinavia as a country and place to live, and not the superiority of any nationality, nor how the people of Scandinavia should prepare for war. The only part of the song that could be considered patriotic is when the lyrics focus on "Jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!".

* [[FabianCH This Troper]] would like to nominate his own anthem - the beautiful [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7FLLxnHks Swiss Psalm]].

* Everyone, what about the WELSH national anthem, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUnCwV3AYE "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"]] (Land of Our Fathers). YMMV on whether it's truly awesome, but listening to it fills this troper with nationalistic pride, despite only being half Welsh. Then again, we aren't the most well known country, what with us being mistaken for part of England most of the time.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0kCIJbo4I&feature=related The Kenyan national anthem]] is one of the most exotic and majestic anthems this troper has ever heard.

** Now, take a guess what anthem that one is. [[spoiler:[[NineteenEightyFour Its the Oceanian One, composed for the eponymous film adaption.]] Yes, it may not be a real-life anthem (and does therefore not truly belong on this page either), but is does deserve mention for being a]] '''''[[spoiler:very realistic]]''''' [[spoiler:fictional CrowningMusicOfAwesome anthem, being based to a very high extent on old soviet and other communist anthems]]. Just as a little refreshment at the end of this page.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BtryAMTUYY The National Anthem of South Korea.]] Majestic and graceful, it's quite befitting of the country it represents. ''Uri nara mansae!''

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETrr-XHBj=channel_video_title This]] is how it was meant to be heard, song the Academy Choirs from the Service Academies. Trully stirring.

* What, no love for the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2rmJgOkn_Y Philippine National Anthem]]? You know, the one so awesome it has been translated into [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwQAyp2Gpo English]] and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vSyaCR_Tr4&feature=related Spanish]], giving it three official versions?

* The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic had a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwVCtwnS1Ok national anthem]] written by Aram Khachaturian that far outclasses the present-day Armenian anthem.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxdUptwtyRQ Indonesia Raya a.k.a. Great Indonesia]]. A truly majestic anthem, ''especially'' when played by an orchestra.

*** It bears repeating that ''Rule, Britannia'' was written in the early 1700s, when the British Empire consisted of [[BlackAdder a sausage factory in Tanganyika]]. Furthermore, the song always gets misinterepreted; it's calling for Great Britain to control the seas so that she can defend herself from the Spanish (who were the superpower at this time), not celebrating British control of the oceans (which would not come until the 18th century). It's defensive, rather than offensive.

** Rule Britannia is NOT a National Anthem, God Save the Queen is the one for Britain,Land of Hope and Glory is Englands (which incidentally should be counted as one of these) and I can't rememebr the name of Scotland's but I think it is called Brave Scotland or something.

*** The ''tune'' of ''[[GodSaveTheKing God Save the Queen]]'' was used as the national anthem of a number of countries, including Liechtenstein and (formerly) Switzerland. It was also, in the form of ''Heil dir im Siegerskranz'' the Royal Anthem of the Kingdom of Prussia.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0kCIJbo4I&feature=related The Kenyan national anthem]] is one of the most exotic and majestic anthems this troper has ever heard.

** Now, take a guess what anthem that one is. [[spoiler:[[NineteenEightyFour Its the Oceanian One, composed for the eponymous film adaption.]] Yes, it may not be a real-life anthem (and does therefore not truly belong on this page either), but is does deserve mention for being a]] '''''[[spoiler:very realistic]]''''' [[spoiler:fictional CrowningMusicOfAwesome anthem, being based to a very high extent on old soviet and other communist anthems]]. Just as a little refreshment at the end of this page.