National anthems you like best (and do you like your own one)

With so many countries, states and former states in Numista, it takes much time to know all the knowledge about the countries. But, the national anthem always represents the country.

So, which is your favourite, and do you like your own?

For me, I do not like but do not hate the Chinese one.

Top 10 for me:
Russia
Egypt
Azerbaijan
Brazil
Argentina
Indonesia
Pakistan
France
Germany
Switzerland

Best regards,
SRL

I don't mind my own national anthem (God Defend New Zealand) but Oh Flower of Scotland always brings a tear to my eye.

The Marseillaise I adore; it espouses brilliantly the revolutionary spirit, it's one of the reasons I started to identify myself more with my french relatives and La Patrie than Britain starting a few years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oqzswNq6ao
(Best version I can find)

I think God Save the Queen is kind of slow and boring; I would've made 'Rule Britannia' the British anthem if it were up to me.

Besides La Marseillaise, I also like the Italian one (Fratelli d'Italia/Brothers of Italy), owing to the same spirit of both their fast(er) paces.

I've never cared much for the British National Anthem. While admiring Queen Elizabeth greatly, I'm not a huge fan of monarchies as a matter of principle. It ought to be possible for those of a more libertarian / republican strand of thought to express their love of country without embracing an often degenerate royalty. "Rule Britannia" or "I vow to thee my country" would have both been better choices but both are eclipsed by the magnificence of William Blake's Jerusalem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKRHWT6xdEU

Any Englishman who's blood is not stirred is simply not a real Brit.

Of the current anthems I find most to be turgid jingoism set to uninspiring music. Sorry my American friends, the US national anthem isn't very good and it's made far worse by second rate singers adding quite literally hundreds of extra syllables. Here's a perfect example of what I mean, if you can watch this butchery the whole way throuoooooouuuuuooooouuugh without throwing up I'd be very surprised.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtDcNtW-wuI

Borat did it far better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePQ9_re7f1A

La Marseillaise is the only honorable exception I can think of. It's perfect in every way. The best version in my opinion is by the very underrated Mireille Mathieu who manages to out-Piaf even the great Edith. (Oddly enough the "Piaf" version of La Marseillaise being circulated on YouTube and elsewhere is actually also by Mireille Mathieu!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIxOl1EraXA

However, ultimately there can be only one. I'm fairly confident that no other anthem causes such strong emotions in it's audience. Listen -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kQX12S9YI

I need a tissue now.

Austria-Hungary:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X3rbTZYmpO4

German empire:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzjxy1rrkng

Or Prussia:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pt-chtR1IxA

The imperial russian anthem is also fine.

Ah Phil I have to both agree and disagree with you on the US anthem. I actually like it alot as I think it is the right mix of instrumentation, length and inspiration. I get the chills when they play it in gold medal ceremonies for example. I can do without the additional syllables added as it is fine without being messed with by singers. I am also a fan of both the Canadian and German anthems. Even though my wife is French, I was never a fan of the Marseillaise but to each his own. My father and i used to joke that the longer an anthem and the more trumpet flourishes and tympani drums the smaller and less important the country In general I think it is interesting to listen to anthems...you can learn something

Ive often thought rule Britannia should be our anthem. I think it especially should be played at the olympics. Jerusalem is a hell of a shout though mate !

I do particularly appreciate the south-african one, but flower of scotland is quite moving too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdG7pEgzV5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXcjRqQv5Zg

Citeer: "Monninen1"​Austria-Hungary:
​https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=X3rbTZYmpO4
​
​German empire:
​https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzjxy1rrkng
​
​Or Prussia:
​https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pt-chtR1IxA
​
​The imperial russian anthem is also fine.

​https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=25s&v=f_6AQA4uzD0
This shouldve been Prussia's anthem.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RKRvD5i44Ko
This is the national anthem of Finland. Its a bit boring even.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F5zg_af9b8c
This is the second place song...It is so famous compared to other Finnish songs, it almost became the national anthem lf either rhodesia or zaire...I do not remember.

I just found out that both the anthems of Austria-hungary and Germany have both used the "Haydns tune" which makes them so similar.
And Russia also copied some of its anthem from the USSR.
It seems old countries that have had many different political ideologies are "too lazy" to make a new anthem.

UK and Liechtenstein

I do not know a lot of national but among those I know I like these :

Belgium
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-pYGshp5w8
For it is my country. This version is better than the one they are using now on TV.
( good song even if our former PM singed France anthem when he was asked to sing the belgian one.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5i5Sf7l5uw)

Maroc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zz45u1Qd40
I'm part moroccan. Also I just like the song.

Prussia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TEGPelS3Ac
Because this is pure fire and I like Prussia.

USSR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U06jlgpMtQs
I'm not communist or what but I like this anthem.

Citeer: "Choucas"( good song even if our former PM singed France anthem when he was asked to sing the belgian one.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5i5Sf7l5uw)

​A big 'mdr' is all I can say!

And he was our PM twice... Truly a shame.

Yves Leterme?
Even I know how to sing La Brabanconne in French

Aura pour devise immortelle:
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!

Citeer: "SquareRootLolly"​Yves Leterme?
​Even I know how to sing La Brabanconne in French
​
​Aura pour devise immortelle:
​Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
​
​

​I hate to be pedantic but must point out that here, the 'ç' in 'La Brabançonne' is important; since 'çonne' is pronounced as though the c were an s (as in 'sonne', rather than 'konne'). Same with most instances when 'ç' is used (e.g. in the word 'Français', it is pronounced like 'Fran-sais', rather than 'Fran-kays').

The more you know. :)

Sorry, La Brabançonne.

Also, am I the only person who does not pronounce the A in France like in "cat" or "stack" but the one in "all"? Like in French?

Thanks.

SRL

Citeer: "SquareRootLolly"​Sorry, La Brabançonne.
​
​Also, am I the only person who does not pronounce the A in France like in "cat" or "stack" but the one in "all"? Like in French?
​
​Thanks.
​
​SRL

​In French, 'France' is usually pronounced 'Frawn-s', as opposed to in English 'Fran-s'.

I pronounce Fr-awns instead of Fran-s. I tend to pronounce a country in how it is intended to pronounce locally.

Citeer: "CassTaylor"​

Citeer: "SquareRootLolly"​Yves Leterme?
​​Even I know how to sing La Brabanconne in French
​​
​​Aura pour devise immortelle:
​​Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
​​
​​

​​I hate to be pedantic but must point out that here, the 'ç' in 'La Brabançonne' is important; since 'çonne' is pronounced as though the c were an s (as in 'sonne', rather than 'konne'). Same with most instances when 'ç' is used (e.g. in the word 'Français', it is pronounced like 'Fran-sais', rather than 'Fran-kays').
​
​The more you know. :)

​To be fair his keyboard may not have the c cedille key...mine doesnt and instead of adding in a symbol I often choose to omit it knowing that context will allow a french person to follow my french. :)

True, although the cedille ç can be typed on an english keyboard (at least on a mac) by using alt/option and c at the same time, or holding c down until the list of accent options comes up.

I can't say any national anthems I like. However, I don't really care for the Star Spangled Banner. It is a bit over blown and hard to sing well.

I've been a huge National Anthem fan and have had many top 10 lists during the years. Now it's been a while since I listened to any national anthem, but my favourite now adays is the South Korean. It is powerful and emotional. Love it!

The national anthem with the most official languages must be the Finnish/Estonian one. It is sung in Finnish, Swedish, Estonian, and Livonian. (The last speaker of the Livonian language died in June 2013, but about 10-35 people in the world knows the language, and the Luvonian national hymn was the one used by Finland and Estonia with a Livonian lyrics.)

My (unofficial) anthem

We, Bengalis over post independece from 1971 had our own national, effective and charming national anthem that speaks the golden sunrise of the country. I like the Bangladesh national anthem as the words try to speak about her glorious country. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVjbVPFeo2o
I would of course like the Bulgarian one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RBmnMsO_B8
Canada too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRPGPAnPNa8
Romania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPkzF7XvJtI because of the splendid lyric.
Kingdom of France https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYbJZfYEswU is melodious too.
Austro-Hungarian because of the mild song and it's "meekness" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnOAq9gOtyo
Montenegro because of blending music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOAqtWREz68
Serbia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sL2w0GU0H
Myanmar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9CXFLsuEnA
Norway because of peaceful, soft lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al_Hc7c5ARk

I personally love the Amar Shonar Bangla (or the name, I forgot) especially in instrumental. Majestic!

As for the worst national anthem... I believe I would nominate Western Sahara.

my favourite is the one from former udssr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggehvU67G3Q

not an anthem but this one i also like very much.
КАТЮШA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLvtP6KMUM

Citeer: "SquareRootLolly"​I personally love the Amar Shonar Bangla (or the name, I forgot) especially in instrumental. Majestic!
​
​As for the worst national anthem... I believe I would nominate Western Sahara.

​Thanks, respect to your nation too. The first line "Amar Shonar Bangla" means "My Golden Land of Bengal".

Citeer: "Muenzenhamster"​my favourite is the one from former udssr
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggehvU67G3Q
​
​not an anthem but this one i also like very much.
​КАТЮШA
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLvtP6KMUM

​What, no love for the Hutt River Anthem? Given your many services to that mighty land I'm sure Prince Len and Princess Shirl will be sorely disappointed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEaiWRDjVwI

Citeer: "pnightingale"​

Citeer: "Muenzenhamster"​my favourite is the one from former udssr
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggehvU67G3Q
​​
​​not an anthem but this one i also like very much.
​​КАТЮШA
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLvtP6KMUM

​​What, no love for the Hutt River Anthem? Given your many services to that mighty land I'm sure Prince Len and Princess Shirl will be sorely disappointed.
​
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEaiWRDjVwI

​

Apart from the French and the Soviet ones, that I'm sure that have already been posted, there's two other anthems that I love:

The Galician National Anthem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yonKv2EIdPM

And the European Union anthem (hard not to love Beethoven):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo_-KoBiBG0

On the other hand, the Spanish national anthem, I find boring and uninspiring.

God Save the Tsar (Russian Empire) is pretty grandiose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBWbLs5wuuc

as is the Prussian march, which is a bit (too much) more militaristic IMO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_6AQA4uzD0

Citeer: "pnightingale"​

Citeer: "Muenzenhamster"​my favourite is the one from former udssr
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggehvU67G3Q
​​
​​not an anthem but this one i also like very much.
​​КАТЮШA
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLvtP6KMUM

​​What, no love for the Hutt River Anthem? Given your many services to that mighty land I'm sure Prince Len and Princess Shirl will be sorely disappointed.
​
​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEaiWRDjVwI

At least, all singers and musicians of this great musical moment have been ennobled

Citeer: "Frenchlover"​

Citeer: "pnightingale"​
​

Citeer: "Muenzenhamster"​my favourite is the one from former udssr
​​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggehvU67G3Q
​​​
​​​not an anthem but this one i also like very much.
​​​КАТЮШA
​​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SLvtP6KMUM

​​​What, no love for the Hutt River Anthem? Given your many services to that mighty land I'm sure Prince Len and Princess Shirl will be sorely disappointed.
​​
​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEaiWRDjVwI

​At least, all singers and musicians of this great musical moment have been ennobled

​They should have hired Rolf Harris or Dame Edna.

To revisit the subject of La Marseillaise briefly, doesn't it strike anyone else as odd that a country with such a strong liberal tradition would have embraced an anthem which can be summarized as - "Let's form our battalions, march out and water the fields with the blood of the impure"?

Perhaps something is lost in the translation.

Sure the translation is false, but don't worry, many frenches wrongly interpret the meaning of this sentence too
"That unclean blood watereth our furrows" means that it is our "unclean blood" to us, the people, (the opposite of the blue blood of nobles of the former political regime before the revolution) that will feed our lands. In no case the blood of the enemy. It would be bizarre and incoherent anyway, to sing that the blood of the enemy feeds our lands, our furrows.

Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons
means
So that the impure blood waters our furrows.

But here, impure blood can be understood as foreigners (especially enemies of foreign nationality) so actually it means that the enemy will work under France. This glorifies France in a poetic way.

Just read the hyperlink I put in my previous post