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My Top 5 National Anthems, by Bob Heaney
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| Contributor | Bob |
| Last Edited | Bob Dec 30, 2003 12:48pm |
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| Category | Opinion |
| News Date | Tuesday, December 30, 2003 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | We were having an interesting discussion under the Libya container regarding flags, so I thought it would be nice to make a little discussion regarding national anthems. I chose five national anthems that I feel are truly masterpieces. So, in no particular order, here they are:
1. United States "The Star Spangled Banner"
Obviously. Even those who hate America could find this anthem a riveting masterpiece. I don't think Francis Scott Key could fathom what his poem would eventually become.
2. Russia - "Anthem of Russia"
While the tune of Russia's first post-Soviet anthem was touching, it lacked several things....the most important of them being LYRICS. Vladimir Putin scrapped the old anthem in 2000, in exchange for a strong, powerful new anthem set to the music of the old Soviet anthem (with new lyrics, though). An absolutely fantastic hymn, it pulls at the heart strings of everyone, not just Russians.
3. France - "La Marsiellaise"
Love them or hate them, those crazy Frenchmen hit a home run here. Quite possibly the most emotional and passionate of the national anthems, "La Marseillaise" is a classic.
4. Canada - "O Canada"
A simple yet emotional tune, "O Canada" provides a soft and easygoing national anthem for a soft and easygoing people. Much unlike the forceful and nationalistic anthems of its neighbors the U.S. and Russia, Canada's anthem is a song about peace and friendship, yet touching nonetheless.
5. Iraq - "Land of Two Rivers"
The Iraqis have been through 30 years of the most brutal dictatorship imaginable, but if the Baath Party left anything good with their legacy it's this absolutely stunning national anthem. It remains to be seen whether the anthem is changed, but I would urge the Iraqis to at least keep the music. It really caught me off guard how nice an anthem such a brutal dictatorship would create.
Honorable Mention - Israel, China, Germany, Hungary, Ireland
Let me know what you guys think. |
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