I agree about Australia's "Advance Australia Fair" - dull, emotionally flat and lyrically bland. . "Waltzing Matilda" has spunk, means a lot to us Irish Australians but probably not so much to millions of Australians from greek/italian/chinese etc backgrounds.

kaiser willy ..you LIKE the Japanese anthem ? urgh, I have to listen to it at every graduation ceremony, its gloomy,slow and has not uplifting nature at all.

Most national anthems sound like church hymns... and I've always thought (even when I went to church) that church hymns were the least interesting musical form there is. The ones that break out from that bland austere sleep walking sort of structure are my favorites. I've not heard too many that I like... but I'd second JECE for the old Iranian national anthem... pretty stirring. I also like France's pretty well.

I always thought that Australia's official national anthem was God save the King. May be wrong though. On the Australian point, I agree with a few people that waltzing matilda is good as a kind of national song , but I don't reckon it'd work as an actual national anthem.
I still love the barmy army( for those who don't know, a group of English cricket fans) version to the same tune where the lyrics are changed to "we've all shagged Matilda"-priceless.

USA USA USA!!!!
(Blind Patriotism)

@aum - It isn't the anthem itself that brings tears to people's eyes but what it represents at the moment it is being sung or played. Many here are right, most national anthems (my own nation's includeD) are really rather blase.

OMG Octavious! O_O You agreed with me! You don't have any credibility on this forum now. ^^

@RB - thanks :)

"I've never seen the British national anthem bring tears to anyone's eyes or inspire respect." ~ I have.

@aum - The US National Anthen DOES have a direct reference to God. Better check the lyrics...there is more than one verse, you know.

I like ours (US) but I mean... I agree with whoever said that no matter what it is, if you love your country you probably love the anthem. It inspires me. I also agree that it is one of the few times when people will shut up and pay some respect. I say this mostly to the apolitical ignorant types who don't know shit about all the sacrifices that went into making the US what it is, and thus, their lives what they are. The only time they're forced to recognize that, stand up and put their hand on their hearts is then.

There's something to be said for that, I think. Call me a jingoist or whatever lol but that's what I think.

damned jingoist! (Or whatever you are!!). Tell you what, when I brother was serving in Bhagdad and getting shelled on a regular basis our anthem brought a tear to my eye, and my daughters, too, knowing that my brother (their uncle) and a bunch of other volunteers were putting their lives on the line for their beliefs - the freedom of others. (Disclaimer: This was not intended to start a political/Iraq debate, please.)

I suspect the same is true of anyone of any nation with lives on the line (except those damned French! :P just kidding, chamois)

@Krellin
I have never, ever heard that stanza be sung. Bonotow mentioned the difference between a national anthem's lyrics and the poem source from which those lyrics are derived. Say what you will, I have never heard that stanza from presidential inaugurations to sporting events. You could say that Francis Scott Key's poem has that stanza but not the anthem. I mean, "Het Wilhelmus" has many, many stanzas in its poem source as does "God Save the King" but you never hear them.

If you've never felt emotional about your national anthem then you either live in a small, insignificant country or you do not agree with your country's government (e.g. a Tibetan's reaction to the PRC's anthem, even then there would be emotion albeit a strongly negative one). To most veterans, veterans, expatriates, and even plain old citizens, the anthem usually means something very much indeed.

Two words. Soviet Union

Americas anthem compared is like a joke. russias anthem is not the same and for me lacks the same feeling, not because of change in words but if you listen to russia and soviet you notice. Britains is overrated. Germany's anthem today is slow and boring. It used to be fast and upbeat(aka the one before the nazi one).

@aum - most moronic Americans can hardly stay calm for the first verse, let alone the 4th lol That doesn't mean it isn't a part of the anthem!!! Maybe you should go to church...I've heard that verse in church around Memorial Day many times...

Saying nobody is aware of the verse and therefore it isn't relevant is the equivalent of saying Shakespeare consists in it's entirety of the phrase "To be or not to be..." because nobody knows the rest. That's ludicrous. I'M aware that it is part of the anthem! Just because YOU weren't doesn't mean it doesn't count!

@SS-assmunch : America's is a joke? yeah...whatever. Uh....maybe you should pick up a paper. There is no Soviet Union anymore...

anybody that says, "You countries anthem is stupid...mine is better..." is pretty much a shallow putz. An anthem is national and patriotic and individual at the same time. Who the hell are you to say to anybody else the feelings evoked by your anthem are a joke or whatever. Frankly...it's kind of a ridiculous discussion meant to divide people instead of join them. "Mine's bigger than yours...ha ha...."

all country anthems are stupid...

aum "If you've never felt emotional about your national anthem then you either live in a small, insignificant country or you do not agree with your country's government " huh? Even people who live in small countries feel national pride, what a silly thing to say.

personally Im not patriotic at all about Australia, love the people but. National anthems dont do anything for me

I find USA national anthem not bad but boring. The Battle hymn of the Republic is far better and much more "glorious" : "Glory Glory Hallelujia!". Of course it is to religious...

I have a fair few patriotic bones in my body. I have felt stirred when swearing the oath to serve the Queen, hand on bible etc, when joining the army. I have been deeply moved when taking part in a remembrance day service with the regimental colours and union flag flying with dignified grace above. A national anthem would not have been out of place at both such events, and may well add something to them. But the anthem on its own inspires about as much feeling within my soul as a pair of union jack boxer shorts. Without context it is nothing.

lol can i get some union jack boxer shorts btw

I start this post with the warning that I do not have much knowledge of anthems.

I enjoy the United States anthem being from the US. I think it is unique as for the ones that I know in that it is the story of a battle from Key's perspective, captured upon a ship of the enemy. And all the verses of his poem are all the verses of the anthem. It is sung in church around memorial day.

I strongly dislike the British anthem not for its music or lyrics but for what it stands for. I am strongly in favor of a united Ireland, and I cringe when I hear the anthem and the very idea of an oath of loyalty being given to the queen by anyone that lives on the island of Eire.

Waltzing Matilda is a great song, and I would love to hear that as the Australian Anthem. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda is a great song as well, and I think it is a song every diplomacy player should know :)

@krellin

Do you have a large insect up your ass? You seriously need to take a chill pill! You somehow manage to get really whiney and annoying on almost every forum.

If you actually take the time to listen to the anthem of the old Soviet Union, you will probably find that it is an extremely well composed piece of music, much moreso than that of the United States. I'm not talking about what message is behind either or what battles each was played at or whatever you might bring up in the knee-jerk anti-Soviet bloodrage you usually go into. I'm just talking about the music, and in terms of music alone, the anthem of the Soviet Union is pretty much better than that of the United States. (And don't get into an argument about music with me)

@sean
You need to look at the grammatical construction in my sentence. IF you don't have emotion, then you may live in a small, insignificant country. The converse (if you live in a small, insignificant country, you don't have emotions concerning your national anthem) is NOT necessarily true. Do you teach English for a living over there?

@krellin.
Hmm, maybe. I somehow have gone for all this time without ever hearing it.

@patizcool
"God Save the King" sounds like a funeral dirge to me. I know the monarch is supposed to be a figurehead of the nation but the song does nothing but talk about her! I always thought something like "Rule, Britannia" would be more fitting to represent all the constituent nations of the United Kingdom. England sometimes uses "Jerusalem" as a national song at sporting events e.g. rugby but that song is more like a hymn than an anthem.

Any anthem that praises Britain would have me cringe :)

For those who don't think national anthems are a big deal, just go to the World Cup or Olympics. Stand with your fellow citizens in a (probably) foreign land and sing your song in your language for your country, flag, and team. There's a reason why both athletes and soldiers get so emotional when their song is played. If that doesn't get you going, then I don't know what will.

@patizcool
Haha, damn that self-effacing British sensibility. I think the webdiplomacy member here "Rule Britannia" would beg to differ with you. ;-)

Patizcool -487938927
:(

@aum - As would I

@ krellin - Saying that the extra three stanzas are a part of the national anthem is ridiculous. No one ever sings them and they only stay part of the anthem because no one cares enough to get it changed officially. That being said, I think our national anthem kicks ass.

@ figle - I didn't know the Sex Pistols wrote the British national anthem ;)