Best National Anthems of All Time

[Russian Socialist Soviet States]

What do you think is the best national anthems of all time are. Here are my top 5 national anthems of all time:
1: "La Marseillaise" (France):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g
2: Horst-Wessel-Lied (Germany):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t53R7L0W4wY
3: "State Anthem of the USRR" (Soviet Union):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-6CesO8YPs
4: "Hatikvah" (Israel):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjfFpFW9OdA
5: "Heil dir im Siegerkranz" (Germany):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH7XT8UiK2o

[Millinesia]

What do you think is the best national anthems of all time are. Here are my top 5 national anthems of all time:
1: "La Marseillaise" (France):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g
2: Horst-Wessel-Lied (Germany):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t53R7L0W4wY
3: "State Anthem of the USRR" (Soviet Union):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-6CesO8YPs
4: "Hatikvah" (Israel):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjfFpFW9OdA
5: "Heil dir im Siegerkranz" (Germany):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH7XT8UiK2o

I like Hatikvah, but listen to this:

Pakistani national anthem

Don't even like much about the country of Pakistan, but I think their anthem sounds great

[Constantinopolis]

1: "L'Internationale" (Paris Commune/Revolutionary Russia): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDlH7_3YvCE
2: "State Anthem of the USRR" (Soviet Union): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sxTbfeYdO0
3: "La Marseillaise" (French Republic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3IvXo0W1YI
4: "Hatikvah" (Israel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjfFpFW9OdA
5: "Le Chant du Départ" (First French Empire): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf71xa5CblE
6: "Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika" (South Africa): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9g9GdtDT9Y

[Ardoki]

While not my favourite this is good; Nigerian National Anthem (Arise, O Compatriots)

[Constantinopolis]

Also, although it was never a national anthem, "Le Chant des Partisans" - the unofficial anthem of the French Resistance during WW2 - is amazing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFUlFLYndE

What can I say... no one makes more inspiring anthems than the French (except maybe the Russians).

[Czervenika]

I'm genuinely surprised "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" hasn't been mentioned yet. I've seen even people who disagree with the politics behind East Germany admit that one is beautiful.

[Greater Istanistan]

The Polish national anthem is quite lovely.

[Constantinopolis]

I'm genuinely surprised "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" hasn't been mentioned yet. I've seen even people who disagree with the politics behind East Germany admit that one is beautiful.

You're right, "Auferstanden aus Ruinen" is very beautiful! And here's a link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTV92wqYjfA

The reason it wasn't on my list is because (to me at least) it sounds sad. It doesn't make me feel inspired or ready to act, to struggle, to fight - like the others I listed. Instead, it just makes me want to mourn for the DDR. It's the perfect nostalgic anthem, I would say.

[Dalcaria]

Since Britain doesn't (from what some sources have reported) have a "national anthem" (God Save the Queen is more of a tradition focused on the Queen, not the nation), I'd have to go with some of the unofficial songs that have been considered highly patriotic, and close to being "national" anthem (though they aren't officially). Personally, my favorite is Land of Hope and Glory. It sounds so proud, powerful, and all encompassing. I find "God Save the Queen" focuses more on the Queen, less on the country, plus the original wasn't very flattering to Scots. But Land of Hope and Glory seems much more unifying, and perhaps even triumphant about that unity. For me it's one of, if not the, best "national anthems" I've heard. The USSR anthem was pretty good too, a very pleasing tune, and that's coming from someone who isn't a communist.

[Liriena]

There's a lot I can criticise about my motherland, but I do freaking love the Argentine National Anthem. :3

[Greater Sveriege]

Soviet Azerbaijan. Literally

[Constantinopolis]

By the way, in the realm of anthems that invoke the pain of loss and a desire for vengeance, nothing beats "Марш трудовой России" ("The March of the Workers of Russia") - written in 1993 after Yeltsin sent tanks to burn down the building of the elected parliament (because it was too left-wing) and massacred its civilian defenders. This was never an official anthem of any state, of course, but it should be. The old Soviet anthem is wonderful and inspiring and all, but when a communist government returns to Russia, this should be the new anthem.

http://mgsofilm.narod.ru/ivan_baranov_a ... rsh_tr.mp3

Approximate translation:

Rise up, great Russia, from your knees,
Rise up, shake off the veil of lies,
And take up our red flag
In the grip of your working hands.
Remember those who defended soviet power,
Who sowed your grain, who built your cities,
Whose soul is Russian,
Who stood always by your side.

CHORUS:
Stand with us, our comrades,
Come heed the call to victory!
The workers of Russia are marching,
The workers of Russia are coming!
Stand with us, teachers and warriors,
Toiling masses, arise, arise!
The workers of Russia are marching,
The workers of Russia are coming!

We do not forget the burning House of Soviets,
A sweeping storm of fire and death.
The people will always remember
The blood of our martyrs in the streets.
But judgment is coming, the hour of vengeance
For all they've done, the profiteers will pay!
And our Motherland's new dawn
Shall sweep away the clouds of plague.

CHORUS

We shall advance, we shall overcome,
We shall rebuild our common home,
And the Russian expanses
Shall light up in celebration.
One day soon the peoples will gather,
And our Union shall forever be reforged,
And once again above us will shine
The star of hope, brotherhood and labor!

CHORUS

Never fails to bring a tear to my eye. One day, comrades, you will be avenged.

[The Archregimancy]

Not a national anthem (except in Nigel Farage's nightmares), but the European Union anthem should get a vote simply because it's the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th symphony.

The German National Anthem -which, little known fact, was also (with different words) the Habsburg Kaiserhymne - has a stirring tune. France, Italy (hugely underrated), Spain (wordless and also underrated) the UK (the main problem with God Save the Queen is that most people play it at a dirge-like speed; it's jaunty enough played properly), Russia and the USA all have good national anthems.

Though the USA no doubt benefits from using an old British drinking song tune. "And, besides, I'll instruct you, like me, to intwine / The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine" - hurrah!

But those are the famous and obvious ones....

Outside of that group, you're more hard-pressed to find too much that's truly memorable (notwithstanding earlier votes in this thread for Israel and Pakistan). Most countries that became independent in the 20th century adopted truly disastrous tunes that sound more like anonymous paint by numbers funeral dirges.

Liriena has pointed us towards what might well be the world's largest group of underappreciated national anthems - the military marches of Latin America, which all seem to have been inspired by Rossini overtures, and which often feature bloodcurdling lyrics. Apart from Argentina (which we already have a link for), there's the magnificent Brazilian national anthem, the jaunty but incredibly long (in full version) Uruguayan national anthem (a particular favourite of mine), and the mercifully briefer but slightly bloodthirsty Cuban national anthem.

Latin America, I challenge you to win more Olympic gold medals so we can hear these more often; don't make us wait for World Cups!

Few national anthems stray from the "traditional European song/19th-century military march/ghastly funeral dirge" format. Japan is one of the very few that does so while actually managing to be quite stirring to Western ears.

Of post-colonial English-language anthems, both Canada and Australia did rather well for themselves tune-wise (lyrically, I'm less sure).


Lyrically, though, I have to give a nod to the strangely ambivalent Ukrainian National Anthem "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy", or "Ukraine hasn't perished yet"; did Pavlo Chubynsky know something we don't?

[Dalcaria]

Of post-colonial English-language anthems, both Canada and Australia did rather well for themselves tune-wise (lyrically, I'm less sure).

Living in Canada and having to sing O Canada, I personally would say it's not my favorite song. I suppose I have the bias of A) Hearing it a lot and B) not being any kind of a Canadian patriot, but the tune has never really caught on with me. For what it's worth, it's not the worst it could be in terms of a national anthem, I've just never been hugely impressed by it. Can't say anything for Australia though, I'll have to look that up one day.

[Empire of Vlissingen]

The Netherlands Anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMHbAKvPJkU

[Wilkshire]

The National Anthem of Wales... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4mIlYKG9s

Though I am biased!

[Baltenstein]

The British anthem would get first place - if it was Rule, Britannia. But since it isn't...

The Romanian one has a nice touch, but the best one is Auferstanden aus Ruinen.

Interesting fact: Both the West German and the Eastern German anthems' lyrics were written in a way to be perfectly adaptable to each others' melodies. It would have been a nice gesture of unity to adapt United Germany's anthem by using the Western German lyrics and the Eastern German melody.

Come to think of it, even the Eastern German lyrics would have been the better choice - the componist, Johannes R. Becher, was wise enough to not include any crap about socialism and the working class, but wrote a decisively pacifist and reconciling song. It's more pleasant than the full version of Western Germany's Deutschlandlied which is basically one third expansionist territorial claims, one third whoring and drinking and one third pure blandness.

[Estado Paulista]

Latin America, I challenge you to win more Olympic gold medals so we can hear these more often; don't make us wait for World Cups!

Just wait a few months. We're gonna win this Cup. But as you said, the Brazilian National Anthem is simply marvelous.

[Kayana]

At least it's from my real country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiqGQf_IUOs

[Polar Islandstates]

Italy and Scotland. Particularly when the two of them play each other at rugby.
Also the Brazilian.
/thread.

[Rupudska]

No particular order here because of laziness, but whatevs.

Jerusalem, one of England/UK's numerous unofficial anthems, is just about as majestic as an anthem can possibly get.

Auferstanden aus Ruinen is another great anthem, though knowing that a remixed version is the main theme of Rance kinda ruins its majesty.

Hatikvah is, quite frankly, perfect for the nation of Israel whether you like its existence or not. Great tune, great opening, and unquestionably Jewish. [Personally I find the Palestinian anthem far too march-like.]

I would be lying if I said I didn't like CHEESE-EATING BLOODREICH- er I mean France's national anthem, which is one of the bloodthirstiest ones in existence.

The Hungarian national anthem is very slow and relaxed, but I like it. Might be the lyrics.

The Russian national anthem also has to make the list. Even if it is a bit bombastic. Actually more because it is a bit bombastic.

The US National Anthem is pretty majestic for something based on an English drinking song. It helps here that the late Whitney Houston nailed it.

[The Flood]

The Soviet Anthem is indisputably the greatest anthem of all time.

[The Union of the Soviet Republics]

The Soviet Anthem is indisputably the greatest anthem of all time.

I agree

[Viritica]

The 'MURICAN national anthem!

What are you? Some kind of terrocommunazi scumbag? WHY THE FUCK IS THIS EVEN A QUESTION?

[Slowmeadow]

The anthem of FInland

http://youtu.be/RKRvD5i44Ko

enough said.