Best and worst national anthem

[catullus]

My thesis: Most national anthems suck. The only reason the anthem is held in high regard is because it stirs national pride and patriotism. The tune itself is most often just plain awful to listen to, at least for foreigners. Are there any exceptions? And what is the most awful national anthem you ever listened to?

My take:
Best: Russia. Non plus ultra. Not superb (after all, it is clearly made to be a propaganda tool, to elevate the pride in the hearts of the masses), but actually quite good.

Worst: Brasil. First time I heard it, I thought it was a joke. Sounds like some tune you could use to the end-credits of a particularly silly childrens TV programme.

C.

 

[Dexter]

There's only one national anthem that's any good and that's "God Save The Queen" by the Sex Pistols!!!

 

[jiml_63]

I amy be slightly less than objective, but I stand by the old drinking song "The Star-Spangled Banner".

When it is performed well I still get goose-bumps....

I will also say that the best version I have ever heard was performed by Huey Lewis and the News at a baseball All-Star game several years ago....

 

[TheDuckOfFlanders]

I agree with Russia having the coolest national anthem ,the worst i would call the one of taiwan.

 

[CornMaster]

Well....I know 2. Canadian and American. So guess who is first and second.

I visited a website that had all the national anthems in .mid form. they were pretty cool. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[floppa21]

Have not heard Russia or Taiwan or Mozambique or the Phillipines.. But, I like Canada's. And the USA's...

 

[CornMaster]

http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Breakers/9454/anthemsah.html

Here we go. Use the link at the top of the page to listen to them.

Edit: A funny story regarding national Anthems.
In the 1992 Winter Olympics, Victor Pentrinko of Ukraine won the gold in mens figure skating. But the Ukraine had just broken from Russia and didn't have a National Anthem to play! (You know...as they raise the flags during the medal ceramony) So they played the USSR's.

 

[TheDuckOfFlanders]

After listening to the national anthems on the website cornmaster proposed ,i came to the conclusion that prety much almost all national anthem's suck.

 

[duke o' york]

Well an Irish boxer won a medal at the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games (I forget which), and they had to get this man out of the crowd to come and sing the anthem because they didn't have a tape.

I think nationalism is a disgusting thing and anyone who believes that they are better than another person simply because, by a freak, they were born on the other side of a national boundary is a fool. My favourite anthem would be one celebrating the beauty of the country rather than the martial prowess of the people who live there, but I have no examples.

 

[Sixchan]

I like Scotland's. I listened to Russia's and didn't like it.
Oh flower of Scotland...

 

[SuperR]

URSS's anthem ruled. However, the new Russian anthem is one of the worst i've heard... Sri Lanka is not bad too.

 

[Eli]

Didn't the Russians changed their anthem back to the one used during the Communist period?

 

[Eli]

http://www.thenationalanthems.com/country/russia.htm

Here...

 

[amadeus]

Best: USA

Worst: Iraq and Brazil

 

[Dexter]

My favourites: French, Canadian. These songs are quite good without vocals.

Dislikes: Everything else.

 

[floppa21]

Corn, I checked out your link, didn't have time to listen to a bunch, but the ones I did all sounded like cheesy (not mongol cheese) carnival music!! Bad synth music... I dunno, Canada didn't even sound good there...

 

[joukov]

russia is the best[dance] especially the version with the red army choir

 

[Eli]

Floppa : The site I gave has better midis. At least for Russia and Israel.

 

[jc011]

talking about anthems, anyone watched whose line is it anyway??
that was so funny

*singing *Columbia!, were not just known for coffee, Columbia!

Russia!, where women look like men! *singing*

no offense to anyone though:crazyeyes

CANADA

 

[Surf Wax America]

Originally posted by Dexter:

There's only one national anthem that's any good and that's "God Save The Queen" by the Sex Pistols!!!

You're damn right it is.