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The best national anthem in your opinon?

39K views 147 replies 93 participants last post by  Johnnie Burgess 
#1 · (Edited)
IMO there's no question about it. It is:

 
#76 ·
"Aus Ruinen Auferstanden" (Raised out of the Ruins). Without a doubt.
And it is a lot better with the sung text:



Especially that final "...über Deutschland scheint" sounds so very nice.
 
#73 ·
Of the actual national anthems, I don't know, but of the things that ought to be national anthems:

The Battle Cry of Freedom is the best, IMO. I truly love that song and it makes me love my country and my heritage. Plus it makes me want to kill Confederates, even if I get horribly wounded and die a terrible death in the attempt, so it's really good.
 
#78 ·
Of couse, among all the national anthems, that of the USA is the best. I often tried to give various harmonies to it and failed. The most impressive performance of the piece is that George Szell conducted Cleveland Orchestra for general production at Osaka when he landed at this eastern island in 1970. People said the Eroica symphony conducted by Szell was the best performance while he was staying Japan. Unfortunately, I've never listened to it. I'm waiting for the Sony Classical issues this live performance of Eroica some day.
 
#89 ·
It was GREAT.
But it was actually an anti American version.
All those sounds were bombs and screaming.
 
#97 ·
Jamaica's anthem is one I long admire. Its lyrics were provided by Hugh Sherlock and the music was composed by Robert Lightbourne. It was adopted in 1962, the year of its independence.
 
#99 ·
The first verse is not forbidden, just not used. And it does not mean what most people think it means :)

But I also think as a string quartet it sounds better.
 
#101 ·
The first verse is not forbidden, just not used. And it does not mean what most people think it means :)
OK, I should have been more specific, the allied occupational forces did forbid this after WW2, and by now the official hymn is verse no. 3. Nobody will put you in jail these days if you sing the first verse (although people may get funny ideas though).

There's also the rather funny 2nd verse about German women and German wine by the way.

And anyway, this entire thing is recycled from the Austrians, the original lyrics were "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (and no, this didn't refer to Franz Beckenbauer originally).
 
#103 ·
In my opinion, the best anthem is Russia's, with France at a very close second - they're powerful, simple, and, when arranged well, stupendously awesome.

Musically, many of the South American anthems are very interesting - operatic being the operative term there. In terms of being particularly moving to listen to, Iceland wins that contest for me. Actually, Iceland's could definitely pass for performance at a classical concert.

 
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