Best national anthems

[dps]

Let me take this opportunity to make my semi-regular rant that Maple Leaf Forever would be 100x better as our anthem than Oh Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxOhk4Lk9aE

ALthough obviously you'd take one of the versions where the lyrics weren't so much about stomping on the French... 

What do you like about this song?  Sounds like Mormon Tabarnacle Choir musak to me.

BTW, do French-Canadians snicker when they see the word Tabarnacle in English?

When someone misspells it like you did, probably.

[Razgovory]

Let me take this opportunity to make my semi-regular rant that Maple Leaf Forever would be 100x better as our anthem than Oh Canada.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxOhk4Lk9aE

ALthough obviously you'd take one of the versions where the lyrics weren't so much about stomping on the French... 

I like this one.  I a little more upbeat.  Also the writer used to live in the Mid Missouri area.

[Rex Francorum]

Even as an evil separatist, I think the Canadian anthem is, musically speaking, awesome. As a classical music lover, well, I can only like it.

[Valmy]

Even as an evil separatist, I think the Canadian anthem is, musically speaking, awesome. As a classical music lover, well, I can only like it.

Well it was originally an evil separatist song right?

[Ed Anger]

Imperial March

[Tonitrus]

The thing with the Russian anthem is that it sounds way better if you don't understand the lyrics. So actual Russians, and Tonitrus, probably think it's kinda crap. But for the rest of us, it's great.

I like the tune. 

Actually, for the longest time as a kid, I thought "The Internationale" was the Russian/Soviet anthem (I also like its tune).

I also like Germany's...probably a holdover from it playing after a Nazi victory from some computer wargames as a kid (I'm assuming that, like the swastika, the Horst Wessel Lied would have been in bad taste/illegal for Germans). 

[DGuller]

The Russian lyrics are indeed crap.  They seem rather generic and meaningless, seemingly there only because you need some verbiage to go along with the music.  I'd be surprised if many Russians knew them, I bet that 90% of them would make Frank Drebin's anthem rendition sound perfect by comparison.

[Valmy]

Russia – our sacred homeland,
Russia – our beloved country.
A mighty will, a great glory –
These are your heritage for all time!

Chorus:
Be glorious, our free Fatherland,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you!
From the southern seas to the polar lands
Spread are our forests and fields.
You are unique in the world, one of a kind –
This native land protected by God!

Chorus
Wide spaces for dreams and for living
Are opened for us by the coming years
Our loyalty to the Fatherland gives us strength.
So it was, so it is, and so it always will be!

Chorus

Huh. Well that is lame. Nothing about standing up to Mongols, killing Swedes, Napoleon, Hitler, or overthrowing the tyrannical Tsar.

[Tonitrus]

Maybe the 1944 Soviet version was better. 

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics
Great Russia has wielded forever to stand!
Created in struggle by will of the Peoples,
United and Mighty our Soviet Land!
CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Brotherhood Strong!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!
Through tempests the shadows of freedom have cheered us,
Along the new path where great Lenin did lead,
Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us,
Inspired us to labor and Valorus Deed.
CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Happiness Strong!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!
Our army grew up in the heat of grim battle,
Barbarian invaders we'll swiftly strike down.
In combat the fate of the future we'll settle,
Our country we'll lead to eternal renown!
CHORUS
Sing to our Motherland, Free and Undying,
Bulwark of Peoples in Bravery Strong!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!

[HVC]

http://youtu.be/MkSQ6_XhvjQ

I actually like the Portuguese anthem, mostly for the refrain.  Also ends in a vow for a suicidal March to death.

[Valmy]

http://youtu.be/MkSQ6_XhvjQ

I actually like the Portuguese anthem, mostly for the refrain.  Also ends in a vow for a suicidal March to death.

Referencing Portugal's WW1 experience eh?

[Ed Anger]

The Eggplant March.

[HVC]

http://youtu.be/MkSQ6_XhvjQ

I actually like the Portuguese anthem, mostly for the refrain.  Also ends in a vow for a suicidal March to death.

Referencing Portugal's WW1 experience eh?

actually it's about the British and them taking some African colonies IIRC

Ed, I hope all your kids marry pork chops

[Rex Francorum]

Even as an evil separatist, I think the Canadian anthem is, musically speaking, awesome. As a classical music lover, well, I can only like it.

Well it was originally an evil separatist song right?

By evil separatist you mean a French Canadian. You are correct.
The anthem was created for the Saint-Jean Baptiste holiday in 1880. Lyrics were by Adolphe-Basile Routhier and music by Calixa Lavallée.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Canada

I especially like this version: good tempo, good dynamics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGp1IwyhGl4

[Archy]

I like the Flemish one. About a lion.
Since we have so many lions in Flanders

https://youtu.be/jUYyjzuyyfg