You know what... I know flags that are prettier than Polish. Countries who have more magnificent history than we do. But we fracking beat everyone when it comes to anthems.
Now let's follow to my second motherland (ok, dream motherland) - Norway.
It sounds like a Christmas carol. In this version even clothes fit to such interpretation. The only things missing are a Christmas tree and Advent candles.
Let's stay in the lands of North for a while and check out the most important song for Sweden (and it's not gonna be ABBA).
What shall we do with a drunken (and sad) sailor? ♫ Don't you just want to sit down in some marine pub and start crying for your wife who is left home, because you had to go fishing for 3 months?
From Scandinavia let's hop on a plane and go to another in the North, but further into the West - Great Britain.
Bonus for singing for Ellie! A little bit too pompous if you ask me, but they are (were) an empire for few hundred years so they can allow themselves such anthem.
I think I'll go and watch Elizabeth's coronation :3
One of the very few countries that have a kick ass anthem is Russia.
Матечка России. You can almost see the Soviet posters hanging in the streets. And as an interesting info: Russia has her anthem taken from Soviet Union, flag is (new) Russian (transformation, Jelcyn, Putin, etc.), while coat of arms - Romanov family.
And last, but not least - Kenya (Got lions and tigers only in Kenyaaaaaaa ♫)
A real pearl! I don't know the words, but the music is a beauty. Nice, proud, but not to pompous. And doesn't not try to make you fall asleep. Bless them for it!
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ReplyDeleteI think most of the "likeness" for anthems comes from the performance of them rather than melody and/or lyrics.
For instance, you can easily make the Kenyan anthem very pompous with a different kind of interpretation...
As with the rest, darn, a lot of different ways to play it. Like the sweden, the one you posted sounded like a nice folk song, but once interpreted as most anthems I think it's one-more-of-the-rest.
I think that the most kick-ass anthem would be from Ukraine, though you know that already ;] BUT! I heard many interpretations of it. The better would be this more slow meter one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1oMKa-BSvU like the outro of a soundtrack.
Now, polish anthem is nice, though maybe a bit fast in that interpretation, but I dont like the lyrics much. Is too localized. Sure, it talks about the many times Poland had to rise from ashes (and the many ones to come since when it was written) but from now on, that wont be anymore. It's stuck in the past, when thinking for the future. Imagine 500 years ahead, with the country facing problems rather than wars, still singing about Napoleon and the army from Italy... it doesnt fit.
Same as english one! When the royal line is no more, they'll have to make a new anthem!
So, that, some comments of mine :]
Oh, yes XD Bad performance can spoil anything. Like this one from World Cup in Korea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj2LqBmLqwk (I love the wtf-face of our former president).
ReplyDeleteBut I have to defend the lyrics. It's local, but it's an important event(s) which are touched. The same as Columbus Day is abstract for me, yet it's a holiday in America (methinks that Canadians even celebrate Thanksgiving then).
I doubt Poland will exist is this form in 500 years ;) Russia changed their anthem at least 3 times in the last 100 years. Our exists since 1797 (though it's official since 1927) and it's more of a memento of fighting for independence. Besides look at other lyrics.
GB: God save our ruler, give him or her power and will to defeat our enemies, grant us gifts.
Norway: this is the land of our fathers which we love, some history, more history (Bønder sine økser brynte I love this part XD), also about fighting for the fatherland.
I think that anthem in fact should be enigmatic as horoscopes yet have some details important for the nation. And that's it ;)
And what do you have with that Ukraine? :> First Chernobyl, now their anthem.
My older daughter just started to learn the Polish national anthem at school (right before Nov 11). She was singing it at home (the best that she could, she's 4) when my husband joined in. She looked up at him and said, "Wow, Daddy. Do you know this song, too?" PS-She doesn't call it the national anthem but the "soccer game starter song" :)
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