Alternate National Anthems

There were quite a few candidates for the Slovak national anthem since the 19. century. And although Nad Tatrou sa blýska has been acknowledged as the de facto national anthem for at least 150 years, the first Slovak Republic (during WWII) used the lesser-known patriotic song Hej, Slováci instead. I personally don't like it (it has veeery cheesy lyrics and sounds quite generic and too pathetic to me). Also, a lot of people consider it to be more purely nationalistic than patriotic and it's generally frowned upon due to it's connection to the WWII regime. No surprise...

But I guess it would remain the Slovak anthem in any (stereo)typical "Nazis pwn da world !" TL. Well, would remain until they'd "relocate" that nation of now useless Slavs living under the Tatras... :rolleyes: ;) :p
 
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-Its the only patriotic song AFAIK that has more lyrics than the star spangled banner.
If by "more lyrics" you mean "longer", then Greece's national anthem, with 150 verses, has it beaten easily. I think the Internationale (6 verses of 8 lines each, plus a 4-line chorus) is also longer, as are many others- for instance, the Marseillaise, with its 8-plus-6 lines per verse, and 6 verses plus the rather unsettling "childrens' verse".
 
Hence why I'd rather have The Maple Leaf Forever as the national anthem.

Think about this:
-It was created in 1867, when Canada was created. O Canada, OTOH, does not have that link to Canada's beginnings.

-It was our unofficial anthem before O Canada was designated by parliament.

-Its the only patriotic song AFAIK that has more lyrics than he star spangled banner.

-As well, if you actually read the song, it has relatively few reference to beating the French (ie, General Wolfe).

Overall, it was an awesome anthem.

As an anthem for ANGLO Canada, sure. As an anthem for CANADA, it comes close to being an incitement to riot. Be like 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' for the US. Very like that, actually.
 
In 1960s Polish communist leader, Władysław Gomułka, was very fond of the song "Ukochany kraj" ("Beloved Country"). Allegedly there was some talking about making it communist Poland's national anthem, since Gomułka considered "Dąbrowski's Masurca" ("Poland Is Not Yet Lost") too imperialistic and nationalistic. Thankfully, someone realized that would have been too much for Poles to swallow and it didn't happen. But what if it did?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SuyxX4lQBo
 
I'd love to see "Condor Pasa" as the Peruvian anthem.

Here it is in Andean instruments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtUZzCe6-bk&feature=related

Here's a more "formal" version in European classical tradition by Placido Domingo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qmOKsDb3AY&feature=related

Honestly, most Latin American countries have mind-numbingly boring Italian-style operatic anthems that don't at all reflect the folk cultures.

"Matando Gueros" for Mexico's new national anthem...just kidding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU3imKFz5NI

Really, my choice for Mexico would be "Sangre de Indio" by Banda Machos. Note that you say the band name "Mah-CHOS" not "MAH -chos".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NvwL7M1yjk


Sangre de Indio (Indian Blood) by Banda Machos

Through my father's veins
As well as through mine
Is running Indian blood
That keeps silent, that cries, that loves
That knows how to suffer, that Indian man
My mother loved because she knows
He's a faithful man
Thank God I inherited
Am an Indian like him

Chorus:
I'm not living in so much poverty anymore
I live like my father’s dreams, I don't
Aspire to be rich either
The Indian blood I have is better

My brothers also have
Indian blood like me
The blood that painted the earth
The earth (land) that my father worked so much.

My father left the land and my mother
Crying after him, they were clearing the way
All that for granting me what later on
Life gave me.

(Chorus)
 
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If the whole of Ireland had been granted as the Free State, they could have the song currently used by the (united) Irish Rugby team:

Ireland's Call

Starting at about 1 minute into the video.

Simple, effective, rousing, and possessing a key change! :D
 
Dumb question: Why is "Waltzing Matilda" considered a good candidate for a national anthem? It's about a hobo who steals a sheep and drowns himself when the cops show up.

I thought that "Australians are descended from criminals" thing was just a stereotype?

I did hear that it was really about an arsonist hired to burn down a barn during a sheep shearers strike and who drowned whilst trying to escape from the traps. The origonal settlers were convicts as Australia was used as a penal colony. In a way it is in accordance with the Australian spirit and it is a rousing tune it was played in North Africa at the early stages of the desert war before the Germans became involved and was played when HMAS Sydney sailed into Alexandria after sinking an italian cruiser.

There is of course "And the band played Waltzing Matilda" which however is an Anti War song written by Eric Bogle and probably not suitable for a national anthem but the song itself suggests Waltzing Matilda was played regularly at Anzac Day parades.

On the theme of gloryfying crime there is "the Wild Colonial Boy"

However is there an Aborigene song that could be put forward after all they arrived there long before the convicts and the biggest crime wasn't the arsonist or the Kelly gang but the theft of land from the Aborigene's
 
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