Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
I think La Marseillaise might be among the best. O Canada has an elegant simplicity to it that helps it stand out.
As an American, I think ours is one of the best. I think that is less to do with it's merits as a song (the melody is notoriously difficult), but rather with it's imagery and message. It's a song about how bad ass America (by proxy of the flag) is, and how we can weather anything. It also is one of the few anthems to speak about the people, rather than the land. In the song, America is defiend by who lives there (the free and the brave), not by it's intrinsic qualities or who it's queen is.
Polonius wrote: I think that is less to do with it's merits as a song (the melody is notoriously difficult), but rather with it's imagery and message. It's a song about how bad ass America (by proxy of the flag) is, and how we can weather anything. It also is one of the few anthems to speak about the people, rather than the land. In the song, America is defined by who lives there (the free and the brave), not by it's intrinsic qualities or who it's queen is.
This sums up my thoughts about our national anthem. It is an incredibly difficult song to sing properly, and I don't find it to be well done. But the more abstract elements of the song are quite nice.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
halonachos wrote:And explosions, don't forget the explosions.
Of course the explosions make it all the more worth while
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/01/17 22:46:00
DR:80+S(GT)G++M++B-I++Pwmhd05#+D+++A+++/sWD-R++T(Ot)DM+ How is it they live in such harmony - the billions of stars - when most men can barely go a minute without declaring war in their minds about someone they know.
- St. Thomas Aquinas
Warhammer 40K:
Alpha Legion - 15,000 pts For the Emperor!
WAAAGH! Skullhooka - 14,000 pts
Biel Tan Strikeforce - 11,000 pts
"The Eldar get no attention because the average male does not like confetti blasters, shimmer shields or sparkle lasers."
-Illeix
Andrew1975 wrote:No love for the Canadian national anthem? I'm a hockey fan.
I'm not a hockey fan. I've never been to Canada. But, god help me, I sometimes catch myself humming O Canada and I have no fething clue as to why.
I just remember watching "Hockey Night in Canada" an always thinking their national anthem sounded better than ours. Except of course when they sing it in frog speak instead of English. The soviet national anthem is right up there too. It's beautiful.
Ours just doesn't have that epic sound and rythem. The imagery however is the best.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/01/17 22:57:56
"I don't have principles, and I consider any comment otherwise to be both threatening and insulting" - Dogma
"No, sorry, synonymous does not mean same".-Dogma
"If I say "I will hug you" I am threatening you" -Dogma
halonachos wrote:I like "Wild Blue Yonder" because they say "helluva".
"helluva" is definitely of worthy note and adds to the value of the song.
I think that it is worth mentioning that in Anchors Aweigh, we Sailors are encouraged by the following great lines:
"through our last night ashore, DRINK TO THE FOAM"
and
"Sail on to victory and SINK THEIR BONES TO DAVY JONES, hooray!"
In my opinion, Drinking and Davy Jones add to the intrinsic value of the song.
**edit:Spelling error corrected
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/01/18 12:21:52
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!!! (preferrably sung by Welsh tenors accompanied by Scots playing bagpipes and an English brass band. The orangemen can bang a drum if they ask really nicely and promise to be nice to thier neighbours)
What other anthem can claim to be the anthem of 3 1/2 countries?
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2012/01/18 16:36:13
More have died in the name of normality than ever for strangeness. Beware of normal people.
He who asks a question is a fool for 5 minutes; He who does not is a fool forever. (Confucius).
halonachos wrote:I like "Wild Blue Yonder" because they say "helluva".
"helluva" is definitely of worthy note and adds to the value of the song.
I think that it is worth mentioning that in Anchors Aweigh, we Sailors are encouraged by the following great lines:
"through our last night ashore, DRINK TO THE FOAM"
and
"Sail on to victory and SINK THEIR BONES TO DAVY JONES, hooray!"
In my opinion, Drinking and Davy Jones add to the intrinsic value of the song.
**edit:Spelling error corrected
I think these also make the song.
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame.
Hey! Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder
Sent it high into the blue
Hands of men blasted the world asunder, How they lived God only knew!
JEB_Stuart wrote:Even though it isn't an official song for Britain, I also find "Rule Britannia" to be an absolutely amazing piece. I would very much love to come see it performed at the Last Night of the Proms.
God Save the Queen is pretty poor, it's so slow and dull. It's always dragged out to death. I genuinely believe the Welsh anthem to be better, and that's not patriotism, God Save the Queen just sounds bloody awful.
The Austrian anthem is one of the worst I can think of though, it just doesn't sound like much of anything. Many probably can't imagine it, that's because it's totally forgettable, at least you can hum God Save and the American anthem, which is a bit better.
The German and Russian anthems are okay. The Finnish one is quite good but I seemed to hear it regularly when I was younger when Hakkinen was winning Grand Prix on a regular basis.
I think my favourite is the Italian anthem, that's pretty jolly and very musical, no wonder the Tifosi always go mad for it. Also as much as I loath to admit the french being good at anything, they do have a good anthem as well.
JEB_Stuart wrote:I am a very patriotic person, but I will be one of the first to admit that the Star Spangled Banner is rather...underwhelming. There are definitely much better songs that could serve as our national anthem.
When it comes to other anthems in general though I love the UK's: God Save the Queen. I think it is an absolutely wonderful song and have stood up and sung it with fellow pub patrons during my travels in England. Unfortunately nobody ever sings all three verses. Even though it isn't an official song for Britain, I also find "Rule Britannia" to be an absolutely amazing piece. I would very much love to come see it performed at the Last Night of the Proms.
I've never seen it live, but it is indeed spine-tingling to hear it performed by an orchestra. I also love 'Land of Hope and Glory' and 'I Vow to Thee My Country' which has probably one of the greatest melodies ever written (Taken from Holst's Jupiter) and a tremendous lyric, particularly the second verse:
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace
Stirring stuff, especially considering the fact that it was completed in the aftermath of WWI and its attendant horrors. For me though, it simply has to be the unofficial English national anthem, 'Jerusalem' - I defy any patriotic Englishman to hear this piece of music and not instantly feel ten feet tall. I know I do:
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountain green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
Yeah.
Automatically Appended Next Post: For JEB:
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/01/18 22:44:12
Howard A Treesong wrote:God Save the Queen is pretty poor, it's so slow and dull. It's always dragged out to death. I genuinely believe the Welsh anthem to be better, and that's not patriotism, God Save the Queen just sounds bloody awful.
corpsesarefun wrote:God save our queen, no competition.
I wish we had a different anthem.
Every other country's anthem is about their nation and the people. Our's is about a woman who appears on TV at Christmas once a year, and whose husband is a nasty old man and a massive racist. Pretty soon, we're going to be singing it for a man who looks like a caricature of his own Spitting Image model.
It's funny how much an anthem says about a nations character though - musically, I would say the best one is the Italian anthem, no question.
Although all pales in comparison to when an Australian won a Superbike race in Laguna Seca (US) and the circuit organisers played 'Waltzing Matilda' for him. At least the guy found it amusing
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2012/01/24 11:52:47
I don't care about the queen and I have no nationalistic tendancies, hell the first chance I get I'll be moving stateside, yet god save the queen just resonates with me.
Could be from my time as a boy scout.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/01/25 00:21:39
Scotland doesn't have a national anthem. Flower of Scotland is the un-official anthem as well as a host of others.
It has yet to be decided.
So Scotland the Brave it is for me.
Spoiler:
Hark! When the night is falling
Hear, Hear! the pipes are calling,
Loudly and proudly calling, down through the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping,
Now feel the blood a-leaping,
High as the spirits of the old Highland men.
Towering in gallant fame,
Scotland my mountain hame,
High may your proud standards gloriously wave,
Land of my high endeavour,
Land of the shining river,
Land of my heart for ever, Scotland the brave.
High in the misty Highlands,
Out by the purple islands,
Brave are the hearts that beat beneath Scottish skies.
Wild are the winds to meet you,
Staunch are the friends that greet you,
Kind as the love that shines from fair maidens' eyes.
Far off in sunlit places,
Sad are the Scottish faces,
Yearning to feel the kiss of sweet Scottish rain.
Where tropic skies are beaming,
Love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Longing and dreaming for the homeland again.
For comparative purposes here's the much less fun, more bigoted and surprisingly more popular version.
Spoiler:
O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
I'll wear my bias on my sleeve, Star Spangled Banner. It's a drinking song about explosions, rockets, and cannon fire. It's a man's song. You wanna know where the American culture comes from? Look at our Anthem. We've been obsessed with getting drunk and blowing gak up for almost 250 years.
God Save the Queen I like but that's mostly just because I like the mother country. They seem like a right nice lot and the Queen seems like a nice enough old bird, her grandsons seem to be decent human beings as well.
The USSR's anthem though, you don't even have to know the words to know that's a bunch of stoic commies singing that gak. Can't help but think of May Day parades and half erect missiles when that starts up.
mattyrm wrote: I will bro fist a toilet cleaner.
I will chainfist a pretentious English literature student who wears a beret.
corpsesarefun wrote:I don't care about the queen and I have no nationalistic tendancies, hell the first chance I get I'll be moving stateside, yet god save our queen just resonates with me.
Lots
Alpha Legion - 15,000 pts For the Emperor!
WAAAGH! Skullhooka - 14,000 pts
Biel Tan Strikeforce - 11,000 pts
More have died in the name of normality than ever for strangeness. Beware of normal people. 
W/L/D 6e 3/2/0
W/L/D 6e 0/2/0
Elysian Drop Troops 1500pts
