So, I was listening to the Finnish anthem (don't ask) when I asked myself, how about the Dutch anthem? I never really listened the whole thing and only knew the first couplet. Sort of. So, I decided to listen the whole, almost 15 minutes long anthem of the Netherlands. I was surprised how often God was referenced. The song depicts the history of the Netherlands. The struggle with the Spaniards, the king van Oranje and the relation to God. What surprised me was that even tough the Netherlands was founded with freedom of religion in mind, God is referenced in almost every couplet of the anthem (13 out of 15 if I am not mistaken). If we were to create a new anthem, most likely, God would disappear from the anthem.
So, my question is the following: How does the national anthem of your country match up with the country nowadays? And most importantly, if your country were to change the anthem, what would change?
For those of you mad enough to listen to the song, here you can find the original Dutch lyrics and an English translation.
The french anthem is about cutting everyone else throat.
Which is pretty funny when we're portrayed as the most coward people on earth. Or may be is part of the reason why, cause nobody can live up to the sheer bravado of our anthem. A rough translation is like: Take your weapon citizen
Form the phalanx
March on, march on
May a filthy blood feed your path Yeah we have quite a bit of discussion about playing it down with all the blood and destruction we're supposed to bring to our enemies.
After watching Human Weapon, my look on the French has changed a bit. Savate is pretty brutal. But do you have a clue why the French anthem is so violent? Somehow it fits with the history of the French, but still...
It was written when France was at war with Europe. Something about cutting every kings and queens heads (French Revolution, therefor the "citizen" in the anthem) You know first time the military was done by everyday man (conscript), so you had to give them awesome motivational music to die for.
I think the main theme of the brazilian anthem is greatness. When the song talks about the country, it's like this:
When it talks about the 'sons of the country' (no mention of women here either), it's like this: Giant by thine own nature,
thou art beautiful, thou art strong, an intrepid colossus,
and thy future mirrors thy greatness.
No mention of God, but a few of how our land is greater than everyone else's. But if thou raisest the strong gavel of Justice,
thou wilt see that a son of thine flees not from battle,
nor does he who loves thee fear his very own death.
I think that the greatness of a country is quite a common theme. I listened to the German anthem yesterday. The old anthem with 3 stanzas starts out with: It pretty much tells everybody how Germany is greater than every other country in the world.Deutschland, Deutschland über alles
über alles in der Welt,
wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
brüderlich zusammenhält.
I get that much. After WW2, the old anthem was banned until they abolished the first 2 stanzas. It does however fit with the history of Germany. When Germany was formed (as it was before WW1 & 2), nationalism was abundant. So it fit pre-WW1 Germany. Nowadays, not so much.
Ireland's national anthem is called "Amhrán na bhFiann" - The Soldier's Song - and is written in Irish, which should give some indication of what it's like (the Irish language being more a matter of national identity than an actual practical one). Basically it's about how all Irish people are soldiers whose lives are pledged to Ireland and who will fight to keep it free. Free from the British, naturally; one line actually reads "Out yonder lies the Saxon foe" depending on how you translate it. So basically, the core theme of our national anthem is about fighting to keep Ireland free from the British. It goes hand in hand with the rather high levels of Irish patriotism that still abound, and general anti-British sentiment. So yes, I would say that too a great extent it does reflect the country nowadays. Irish people are still very patriotic (though I dislike patriotism myself); they still see themselves as underdogs who fought off the British after centuries of oppression. Also, the song embodies attitudes toward the Irish language as an expression of Irish heritage and difference from Britain. Bear in mind that the Irish national anthem is still less than a century old, though.
Wow, I never knew that the Republic of Ireland was such young country. I thought that the Netherlands were relatively young, but it seems I was mistaken. All what I can say about the hate towards the British (be it justifiable or not) is that that kind of hate dies hard. Some Dutchmen still hate the Germans for WW2, even tough the modern day Germany is a completely different country than during the war.
"And most importantly, if your country were to change the anthem, what would change?" Good question.
For the last several years, people have been trying to change the first three lines of Canada's English language national anthem (we also have an official French version) to one that shows recognition of the First Nations and is inclusive of women. The federal gov. even hinted that they were thinking of changing it; however, on March 5, 2010, the prime minister's office announced that the anthem will not change. So we now have this: O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command. People want to change it to O Canada!
Our home ON native land!
True patriot love in all OF US command. Other than that, it's ok as far as anthems go.
I understand that people want to change it. The anthem has to somewhat reflect the country in the little things, like indeed inclusion of men and women instead of just men. I do however ask myself why one would want to change the second sentence? Because of immigrants? I have another question for you since Canada, like Belgium and Luxembourg has multiple official languages. Which version of the anthem is sung at official events? The French or the English version? Or both?
I think the change to the second line would be a reference to the indigenous people of Canada - the natives whose land was taken over by settlers. Indeed, the original line "Our home and native land" doesn't make sense; obviously it is not really the native land of Canadians historically.
I never hear both. I recall often hearing the bilingual version at high school and other public events: 2 lines English, 4 lines French, 3 lines English. In Toronto, it's usually the English version at baseball games. My guess is that at Quebec hockey games, it's the French version, but I've never been (and I don't watch hockey on TV). (Yes, you can be Canadian and avoid hockey.) What do they do in Belgium? What about Switzerland, which I believe is officially trilingual: French, Italian, and German? (Quadrilingual actually) Do they dispense with singing altogether? I would.
I don't really know, since I am Dutch, not Belgian. Belgium is also trilingual. French, Dutch and German. All three versions of the anthem say pretty much the same, so lines could be interchanged to form an trilingual version. According to Wikipedia, this is actually what happens at the national day, just like the bilingual version of O Canada. As for Switzerland. I honestly don't know. Maybe I'll ask my previous room mate. His girlfriend hails from Switzerland. I'll keep you posted.
I never knew, but indeed you are right. Even tough I understand nothing they sing, I like these anthems. They sound so serene, so loving. Different from the anthems of the UK and France. They are full of violence. Makes me think why.
The US anthem, The Star Spangled Banner revolves around our independence from the British recounting a battle scene. I think it's a good anthem and it's important for the citizens of the US to remember why, how and when the nation was founded. It also emphasizes the courage it took to secure our freedoms. It never mentions God.
It is a good anthem, but I think this one would be even better as an anthem - America the Beautiful : O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness
America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov'd
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country lov'd,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
I agree, a lovely song and far superior from a lyrical and melodic standpoint imo.
Yesterday I was on a roll, so I listened the anthems of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Finland, the UK and the US. The thing that really stood out for me in the US anthem was in the last stanza. This sentence: And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
Somehow, it doesn't fit with the rest of the song. Like it was added later. But indeed, the US anthem is one anthem which recollects the history of the country.
Ah, I stand corrected. This is definitely in there but we never hear or even learn more than the first portion of the song. It is sung at the outset of every major sporting event etc. but only the first part.
I think this is true for most anthems. They are way too long to play completely. I do think it would be a funny thing if they would. Past the first portion, only the people who were hired to sing the song would still be singing.
I wonder what the shortest anthem is? Brevity is king!
Here's a link to the Ugandan Anthem it sounds joyful and the lyrics are nice: Oh Uganda! may God uphold thee,
We lay our future in thy hand.
United, free,
For liberty
Together we'll always stand.
Oh Uganda! the land of freedom.
Our love and labour we give,
And with neighbours all
At our country's call
In peace and friendship we'll live.
Oh Uganda! the land that feeds us
By sun and fertile soil grown.
For our own dear land,
We'll always stand:
The Pearl of Africa's Crown.
According to wikipedia (or rather, a copy of the Defence of Fort McHenry (1814) ) it already contained "And this be our motto: "In God is our trust.""
Yes, very true. I did not know this line and would wager that most Americans don't. It's never sung passed the first portion.
It still sounds like it doesn't belong... When you listen to the song, I think you'll know what I mean. That, or the version I listened was bad.