A good national anthem is much more than a rousing song. The best national anthems function like an emotional anchor, a symbol of shared identity, and a call to collective purpose, resonating deeply with both the citizens of that nation and, on occasions, with the wider world.
We've been listening to some of the best national anthems from around the globe. Here are 14 that have particularly sparked our curiosity, which you'll hear at the World Cup, European Championships, Olympics, Six Nations and many other sporting events.
Best national anthems
1. The Netherlands: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
Why it's here: It's the oldest, and it's very long
For sheer longevity alone, The Netherlands’ ‘Wilhelmhus’ deserves a place on our list – in use since around 1570, it is the oldest national anthem in the world. The words are in the first person, as if spoken by William of Orange, who led the fight for Dutch independent from the Spanish in the 16th century.
2. The United States of America: The Star Spangled Banner
Why it's here: It has a brilliant original story
We've included this one because of the very rousing and inspiring moment that prompted its creation. The lyrics to America's national anthem were penned in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, after watching British ships bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812 between the USA and Britain.
Key was inspired when he saw the USA flag, itself known as The Star-Spangled Banner, flying high during the conflict. His poem, called Defence of Fort M'Henry, was set to the tune of John Stafford Smith's popular song, To Anacreon in Heaven. It became known, like the flag that inspired it, as The Star-Spangled Banner and became the USA's official national anthem in 1931.
3. France: La Marseillaise
Why it's here: It's iconic. Sacré bleu!
After The Star-Spangled Banner, La Marseillaise is probably the most instantly recognised national anthem in the world. It is certainly one of the most rousing. Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792 to inspire French troops against Austria, it was initially called ‘Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin’ (War song for the army of the Rhine) and marches in 4/4 time with an unmistakable sense of purpose and confidence: ‘Aux armes, citoyens; Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons!’
4. Argentina: Himno Nacional Argentino
Why it's here: It's seriously good music
Some national anthems, let's face it, are just things you sit through while waiting for a football match or other such grand occasion to get underway. Yes, it's fun to see which of the players are belting the words out at their tops of their voices and which ones are mumbling, but the pieces of music themselves are not always absorbing.
Not so with Argentina's national anthem. Typically running somewhere between three and four minutes, the Himno Nacional Argentino is a very enjoyable piece of music in its own right, with some fabulous brass work and rousing voices. It seems to traverse distinct various moods too. Definitely one to chant with pride, your fist at your chest.
5. Germany: Das Lied der Deutschen
Why it's here: It's the only one by a bona fide composer
For many English listeners, this fine anthem has become ominously familiar as the musical prelude to yet another German-inflicted exit from a major football tournament. Until recently, at least.
Das Lied der Deutschen is also the only national anthem to have been written by a composer of significant fame. That was Joseph Haydn, who composed it in 1797 as an anthem for the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. Germany, which didn’t exist as a single country in Haydn’s day, adopted it as its anthem in 1922. More flowingly lyrical than most national anthems, its tune was used by Haydn in his Op. 76 No. 3 String Quartet.
More best national anthems
6. Italy: Il Canto degli Italiani
Why it's here: It's like a tiny opera
Some countries have national anthems. Italy boasts what appears to be a Verdi opera in miniature. After a sizeable orchestral introduction, Il Canto degli Italiani get the sort of melodious chorus that could quite easily have found its way into, say, the great composer’s Il trovatore.
As if this were not enough, we then move into a sturdy march, rounded off by a rousing ‘l’Italia chiamò!’ (‘Italy has called!). However, despite being a leading figure in the Risorgimento movement for Italian unification, Verdi did not write this 1847 masterpiece. It was, in fact, the handiwork of Genovese composer Michele Novaro.
7. Kenya: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu
Why it's here: Unusually, it's in a minor key
In a world dominated by national anthems written in major keys, Kenya’s stern minor-key tune is a welcome rarity. Unlike many others, too, it was not written by a composer shipped in from elsewhere but, based on a traditional Pokomo tune, was the work of local people led by a government commission set up after independence from the UK in 1963.
With opening lines that mean ‘O God our strength Bring a blessing to us’, expect to hear it regularly at the Olympic Stadium, often (though not exclusively) after long-distance track events.
8. Ethiopia: Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia
Why it's here: It's a seriously feelgood piece of music
Ethiopia’s jaunty national anthem – also a regular at Olympic track events – could scarcely be more different in style from that of neighbouring Kenya. It’s also one of the most uplifting of them all. Its tune was composed by Solomon Lulu Mitiku and adopted by the country following the fall of the Marxist government in 1992, and its title translates as ‘March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia’.
9. Jamaica: Jamaica, Land We Love
Why it's here: It's gorgeously mellow
Another national anthem that has become very familiar to Olympics enthusiasts in recent years. The bursts of raw power and awesome speed displayed by the likes of Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on the track are, though, a world away from this laid-back melody. It’s really rather gorgeous.
Like many anthems, it dates back to independence – on this occasion from the UK in 1962. Separate competitions were held to come up with words and a tune, the former being won by Hugh Sherlock, the latter by Robert Lightbourne.
10. Japan: Kimigayo
Why it's here: It's a fascinating fusion of Western and Japanese styles
The host nation of the 2020/1 Olympic Games also boasts one of the most arresting national anthems. Its words are among the oldest – dating right back to the tenth century – and the shortest too. The tune for Kimigayo, possibly written by Hiromori Hayashi in the early 20th century, mixes western classical style with Japanese traditional court music and, rather disconcertingly for western ears, finishes not on the tonic note as we are accustomed to but instead on the super-tonic (the note above the tonic).
Best national anthems: our final five
11. Liechtenstein: Oben am jungen Rhein
Why it's here: It reminds us of something else... hang on
You don’t need to listen too carefully to Liechtenstein’s national anthem, Oben am jungen Rhein, to spot its similarity to Britain’s very own God Save the King. This is because the two tunes are exactly the same, but sung with different words.
The reason for this lies in the fact that, in the early days of national anthems, several countries started out by simply borrowing the British one – Blighty got there first when it came to such matters - and adapting it for their own purposes. One by one, other countries eventually got round to writing their own, but Liechtenstein chose to stick with what it was familiar with… and still does today.
12. South Africa: National Anthem of South Africa
Why it's here: It's a linguistic feast for the ear
How are your language skills? Most countries simply have one national anthem in one language. A fair few diplomatically have one anthem that can be sung in two or more different translations, depending on where (and by whom) in the country it is being sung. Two well known national anthems to be sung in more than one language are the Canadian national anthem, and the (trilingual) national anthem of Belgium.
And then there’s South Africa’s, which has five different languages in one single hymn, beginning in Xhosa then making its way over the following three stanzas through Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English. The current anthem was adopted in its present format by president Nelson Mandela in 1997, derived initially from a combination of the Xhosa hymn Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and the former Afrikaans national anthem Die Stem van Suid-Afrika.
13. Spain: Marcha Granadera
Why it's here: No words. No, really: no words
Of course, one way to avoid diplomatic pitfalls over the choice of language in one’s national anthem is to have no words at all. And that is exactly what marks out Spain’s national anthem Marcha Granadera.
The anthem itself dates back to the 18th century and the years between have seen various attempts to add lyrics but, given a population that consists not just of Spaniards but also Basques, Catalonians, Galicians and others, choosing a language – not to mention national sentiment – that is acceptable to all has proved a nigh-on impossible task. Bosnia, similarly, has chosen to go wordless with its national anthem.
14. Uruguay: Orientales, la Patria o la tumba
Why it's here: You can't hurry this one
You may want to sit down and make yourself comfortable before listening to Uruguay’s national anthem, Orientales, la Patria o la tumba. Do pour yourself a glass of wine and put the cat out too. Composed by Francisco Jose Debali in 1845, and inspired equally by bel canto opera and hatred for the Spanish, this is the longest national anthem in the world.
By the time you’ve got through the orchestral introduction and 105 bars’ worth of Debali’s Bellini-style twists and turns, more than five minutes will have passed. That’s roughly nine God Save Our Gracious Queens end to end.
15. Wales: Land of our Fathers / Hen wlad fy nhadau
Why it's here: It makes the hair stand out on the back of your neck
‘Land of our fathers’ is as stirring as it gets – even the stoniest-hearted Englishman surely feels the hairs standing on the back of his neck at the sound of ‘Gwlad! Gwlad!’ being belted out from a packed-out Principality Stadium during the Six Nations rugby tournament.
Find the lyrics to your favourite national anthems so you can sing along with gusto
Top pic by UNclimatechange via Flickr
