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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:31:23 PM

Title: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:31:23 PM
I still think it's the French one. It's the best fucking shit ever, both music- and lyric-wise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g

Russians are pretty good, in their own Russian way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlpyh2TL3e0

The Polish one is okish, music-wise, but lyrics are all about us being fucked by all our neighbours:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQTq07gihqg

The Belgian one sounds like a bad Eurovision song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9u_Ituu2Q8

The Italian one sounds like an overture to Aida or something by Rossini:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04ckV9QueXc
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 03:32:04 PM
Quote from: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:31:23 PM
I still think it's the French one. It's the best fucking shit ever, both music- and lyric-wise:

Natch :frog:
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 20, 2015, 03:32:56 PM
Nobody can compete with Russia on this.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: HVC on October 20, 2015, 03:35:19 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.simpsonseh.com%2Fimages%2Fepisodepics%2F5F11_1.png&hash=6a1173716fdbc1d56888737c69bb6565c5995daf)
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:36:59 PM
 :D
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:37:39 PM
Wait, is the guy on the left representing Poland? Because he is wearing a traditional Krakovian hat. :D
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:38:13 PM
The British one sounds like a fucking Christmas carol, by the way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk

Or something by Handel. Which is pretty much the same thing. With a Stalinesque personality cult.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:39:05 PM
God Save The Queen.   :bowler:

I always liked the title of Ukraine's anthem:  Shche ne vmerla ukraina - Ukraine is not yet dead.  Very uplifting title, that one.   :D
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:40:21 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:39:05 PM
God Save The Queen.   :bowler:

Beat you to it. :D
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Liep on October 20, 2015, 03:40:52 PM
I like the Russian, French and Swedish. But for chills effect nothing beats our own.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Eddie Teach on October 20, 2015, 03:41:27 PM
We do, of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM)
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:42:32 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 20, 2015, 03:41:27 PM
We do, of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM)

:thumbsup:

This sums up the best part about America to me - your anthem sucks, objectively, but the fact that you can reinterpret and reinvent it like this (and noone calls for Jimmy Hendrix to be arrested for this) speaks to what is great about you.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Eddie Teach on October 20, 2015, 03:46:48 PM
Quote from: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:38:13 PM
The British one sounds like a fucking Christmas carol, by the way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk

My Country Tis of Thee?  :P

I like this anthem better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8fLOJswWtk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8fLOJswWtk) :punk:
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:50:10 PM
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...  :blush:
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 20, 2015, 03:54:25 PM
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.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Savonarola on October 20, 2015, 03:55:32 PM
By law the Colombian National Anthem ( ¡Oh Gloria Inmarcesible! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPSL78YDyZY)) must be played at 6 AM and 6 PM on every radio and television station in Colombia.  Except for the little fanfare at the beginning and between the verses the tune is pretty forgettable.  The lyrics come from a poem by one of their better presidents, Rafael Núñez.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: DGuller on October 20, 2015, 04:04:46 PM
The Ukrainian anthem lyrics are all about positive thinking:  "Ukraine hasn't died yet".
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 04:05:27 PM
The Polish one says the same thing. A common bit of wishful thinking of all of those who neighbor Russians.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: DGuller on October 20, 2015, 04:18:41 PM
Putin: "Yes, yes, we heard.  Working on it."
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: The Brain on October 20, 2015, 04:29:24 PM
Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsatxBSGtdg

:wub:
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Malthus on October 20, 2015, 04:34:35 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 20, 2015, 04:29:24 PM
Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsatxBSGtdg

:wub:

Not a single anime schoolgirl. Can't be authentic.  :hmm:
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Josephus on October 20, 2015, 04:35:39 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:39:05 PM
God Save The Queen.   :bowler:

I always liked the title of Ukraine's anthem:  Shche ne vmerla ukraina - Ukraine is not yet dead.  Very uplifting title, that one.   :D

Doesnt' hold much hope for the future does it.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 04:42:34 PM
Quote from: The Brain on October 20, 2015, 04:29:24 PM
Japan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsatxBSGtdg

:wub:

Not the Best-Anthem but Best-Anthem-While-Tripping-On-Acid.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Admiral Yi on October 20, 2015, 04:44:07 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:50:10 PM
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...  :blush:

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?
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: mongers on October 20, 2015, 04:49:25 PM
'God Save The Queen' is pretty widely regards as being poor, can't hold a candle to some of the others.

The best covers of it have been Queens fairly straight rendition, though Brian May recently did a better version while atop Buckingham palace. The Sex Pistols' 'tribute' to the national anthem, forget the songs name, was however much better.

Britain has better songs, saving that stupid rugby song, which isn't it's fault, but that it's been transplanted here.

La Marseillaise gets my vote, though the Russian one is not bad and the German one is quite stiring, but you have to watch the lyrics and the context within it's sung.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Admiral Yi on October 20, 2015, 04:50:54 PM
Quote from: mongers on October 20, 2015, 04:49:25 PM
The Sex Pistols' 'tribute' to the national anthem, forget the songs name, was however much better.

God Save the Queen
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Eddie Teach on October 20, 2015, 04:52:29 PM
Quote from: mongers on October 20, 2015, 04:49:25 PM
The Sex Pistols' 'tribute' to the national anthem, forget the songs name, was however much better.

I already said that and even linked the song.  :(
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: mongers on October 20, 2015, 04:59:05 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 20, 2015, 04:52:29 PM
Quote from: mongers on October 20, 2015, 04:49:25 PM
The Sex Pistols' 'tribute' to the national anthem, forget the songs name, was however much better.

I already said that and even linked the song.  :(

I think it's one of the better things they did, plus it was brilliantly of it's time, McLaren FTW.  :bowler:
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Syt on October 20, 2015, 05:05:58 PM
The GDR one was pretty good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1CyPjQQTAM
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Razgovory on October 20, 2015, 05:43:06 PM
I seem to recall a similar thread a mere 4 years ago.

http://languish.org/forums/index.php/topic,5046.0.html

This one is better cause it has a dash of CdM in it.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: dps on October 20, 2015, 06:09:58 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 20, 2015, 04:44:07 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:50:10 PM
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...  :blush:

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.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Razgovory on October 20, 2015, 06:51:32 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:50:10 PM
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 (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...  :blush:

I like this one.  I a little more upbeat.  Also the writer used to live in the Mid Missouri area.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Rex Francorum on October 20, 2015, 08:39:58 PM
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. ;)
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 08:48:25 PM
Quote from: Rex Francorum on October 20, 2015, 08:39:58 PM
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?
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Ed Anger on October 20, 2015, 08:49:15 PM
Imperial March
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Tonitrus on October 20, 2015, 08:57:33 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on October 20, 2015, 03:54:25 PM
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.  :P

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). 
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: DGuller on October 20, 2015, 09:10:46 PM
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.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 09:15:49 PM
QuoteRussia – 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.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Tonitrus on October 20, 2015, 09:28:07 PM
Maybe the 1944 Soviet version was better.  :P

QuoteUnbreakable 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!
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: HVC on October 20, 2015, 09:41:27 PM
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.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 09:56:57 PM
Quote from: HVC on October 20, 2015, 09:41:27 PM
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?
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Ed Anger on October 20, 2015, 09:59:38 PM
The Eggplant March.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: HVC on October 20, 2015, 10:06:17 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 09:56:57 PM
Quote from: HVC on October 20, 2015, 09:41:27 PM
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 :P
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Rex Francorum on October 20, 2015, 10:35:32 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 20, 2015, 08:48:25 PM
Quote from: Rex Francorum on October 20, 2015, 08:39:58 PM
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
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Archy on October 21, 2015, 12:39:11 AM
I like the Flemish one. About a lion.
Since we have so many lions in Flanders ;)

https://youtu.be/jUYyjzuyyfg (https://youtu.be/jUYyjzuyyfg)
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: MadImmortalMan on October 21, 2015, 05:06:15 AM
My little brother used to think Carmen Ohio was the national anthem.

Because the public television used to play it before going off the air for the night.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: celedhring on October 21, 2015, 05:09:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:42:32 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 20, 2015, 03:41:27 PM
We do, of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM)

:thumbsup:

This sums up the best part about America to me - your anthem sucks, objectively, but the fact that you can reinterpret and reinvent it like this (and noone calls for Jimmy Hendrix to be arrested for this) speaks to what is great about you.

Wait, do people in Poland get arrested for making rock covers of the anthem or what? 
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: celedhring on October 21, 2015, 05:18:36 AM
The Spanish anthem is pretty meh. It also has no lyrics. There's just no way this country will ever find lyrics that everybody can agree on, which is something very Spanish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue4p3CoNjv0
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Syt on October 21, 2015, 05:21:58 AM
Austria is still struggling with rewording its anthem. Original wording: "You're the home of great sons." New wording: "Home of great sons and daughters." Many people still prefer the original version. Guess what side the FPÖ is on? :P

The heirs of the woman who wrote the lyrics for the anthem also tried to invoke copyright to block changing to the new version.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Barrister on October 21, 2015, 12:04:27 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 20, 2015, 04:44:07 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 20, 2015, 03:50:10 PM
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...  :blush:

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?

I pulled a link from work, with no sound.  Turns out that particular version is in fact done by the Mormon Tebernacle Choir.

I like it not in a vaccuum, but as one of the two leading contenders to be Canada's anthem back in the day.  Oh Canada is rather slow and solemn, whereas Maple Leaf Forever is much peppier and upbeat.  Well not so much in the version I linked to you.

Here's a much peppier version from the 2010 Olympic closing ceremony.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYlCGQ628gE&feature=youtu.be&t=2h19m10s
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Admiral Yi on October 21, 2015, 06:30:39 PM
meh

Nice Mountie themed T&A though.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: crazy canuck on October 21, 2015, 08:40:50 PM
An edited version of the French anthem is good but the full version is way too long.  The US anthem strikes the right balance of length and story.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Razgovory on October 21, 2015, 09:16:05 PM
Bleh the US national anthem is lousy.  All our good songs involve crushing the rebels so can't be used.  The Battle Hymn of the Republic should be the national anthem.
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: The Brain on October 22, 2015, 12:01:14 PM
Quote from: celedhring on October 21, 2015, 05:09:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on October 20, 2015, 03:42:32 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 20, 2015, 03:41:27 PM
We do, of course.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjzZh6-h9fM)

:thumbsup:

This sums up the best part about America to me - your anthem sucks, objectively, but the fact that you can reinterpret and reinvent it like this (and noone calls for Jimmy Hendrix to be arrested for this) speaks to what is great about you.

Wait, do people in Poland get arrested for making rock covers of the anthem or what?

King Jesus doesn't approve of Satan's music. And why should He?
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: Syt on October 22, 2015, 12:24:32 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F37ncGt8y3Ns%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&hash=4c2c05b3f6282ea23331f669833f73589da8a6f2)
Title: Re: Best national anthems
Post by: KRonn on October 22, 2015, 01:58:12 PM
I like the French, Canadian and US anthems best, but admittedly I'm not that familiar with many others.