The most powerful National Anthem?

Note this is not a fanboy "best" National anthem thread, it's about the power and the passion ... and the voice of people celebrating their national day.

Look I am Australian. As immensely proud of our military/cultural heritage that I am, our anthem is pretty ordinary by most accounts. That is not what this is about.

"La Marseillaise" of France wins my all time appreciation. Immortalised by Hector Berlioz it will forever remain the voice of a common people , from beggars and serfs rising up from under unimagined hegemony of French aristocracy, emerging through force of arms to establish one of the great democracies of elder Europe.

"Can you hear the people sing, singing the songs of angry men.. tis the music of a people who will not be slaves again...". Les Miserables
http://media.putfile.com/La-Marseillaise-29

ENJOY!

The Soviet 1944 version.
The current Russian one is good as well. Same tune with different lyrics, though. For some reason Stalin and Lenin isn't mentioned in it. :tooth:

That also is an excellent piece of music.

The Soviet 1944 version.

I say the 1977 version, for the recording quality.
The only difference is that the first is recorded using WWII era technology and mentions Stalin as our great builder, savior, teacher and father a lot more than the other one.
The current one is recored by a civilian rather than a military choir (meaning it includes women), has far worse words and is not nearly as inspiring.
For comparison:
1944 version
1977 version
The Internationale is also great, and was at one point a Soviet anthem.
I like it best in Russian for purely aesthetic reasons.
The English version is quite akwardly worded, and of the various European ones only the French, German and Swedish are pleasant sounding.

I say the German National Anthem, Das Lied der Deutschen, is second only to the USSR's Red Army Choir.

Because of my lack of knowing the other anthem, I can only really say in here that "O, Canada" is a pretty powerful song, maybe not for its content but for the sheer magnitude of people that pour their passion into singing it.

Usually at hockey games though...

The French, German, Soviet and American national anthems are great.

The Irish national anthem is good if sung by a bunch of rowdy soldiers, but is terrible when used with classical (typically non-irish) instruments.

Other than those, the only other national anthem I have heard is the Canadian anthem, which is terrible.

The Canadian anthem is pretty sappy and bad as far as its lyrics, but when you got a stadium full of patriotic Canadians, the music is hit, and you just watch thousands put their heart and soul into what they profoundly believe in.

And then drink back their good Canadian beers and watch hockey.

The German national anthem is indeed great.
The Chinese one and the Shah era Iranian one also are, if more obscure and not of the same magnitude.

Do you happen to have an example of the Shah Era Iranian one?

That's got to be pretty damn patriotic...well, the guys producing the anthem would be, at least.

I'd have to say the Soviet anthem is one of the most provocative anthems I've heard.

There is no doubt the most powerful national anthem ever is the Soviet one. The first time I heard it I think a turned a little communist on the inside. Its just made me want to become Russian for that tiny moment in time. Its gorgeous.

I hate to say this but Israel has a pretty moving national anthem. I just think its quite beautiful.

For such a powerful nation America kind of has a corny one. Its sounds a bit dorky, no offense. Though I like playing it Jimi Hendrix style.

Canada has a so-so national anthem. Its just feels too "Britishy" for my tastes.

Isn't our national anthem based on a drinking song?

The most beautiful national anthem - Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica, from South Africa.

I've always quite liked the '44 version of the Soviet Union anthem and the Polish one too.

Look I am Australian. As immensely proud of our military/cultural heritage that I am, our anthem is pretty ordinary by most accounts. That is not what this is about.

Indeed, I haven't sung the first verse in years and it wasn't until I was about 11 years old that someone informed me there was a second. I never bothered to memorize it.

At least it's not as bad as Star Spangled Banner.

Originally Posted by Livia

Indeed, I haven't sung the first verse in years and it wasn't until I was about 11 years old that someone informed me there was a second. I never bothered to memorize it.

At least it's not as bad as Star Spangled Banner.

Didn't someone make the Australian national anthem into a techno song once to make it more interesting? I remember people having a fit over it.

Originally Posted by Siblesz

Didn't someone make the Australian national anthem into a techno song once to make it more interesting? I remember people having a fit over it.

I don't know about that. But Tuesday's Heckler (250 witty words on what makes your blood boil, featured in the Sydney Morning Herald) was talking about the recent butchering of our anthem by singers.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/heckler/l...871338238.html

All are the most powerful for me for each and every represents how unique each country is.

If I must compare in terms of power I would say that the PRC one (March of the Volunteers) is pretty uber. Its on par with Marsellaise.
I mean, if its uber enough that one of the foreign ministers of a neighboring island state wants the PRC to change it, its gotta be influential...and scary.

I define power as having motivational influences to do violence or at least harm against those that are against you, btw.

Even though I dispise the now fortunately dead and buried USSR, I can't honestly claim that I don't find the anthem sung by Red army choir to be quite impressive.