The National Anthem Thread

[DZComposer]

OK, SF-O, it's time to learn some geography!

This is the National Anthem thread. Find anthems. Listen to them as music. Discuss them.

I will start with three anthems.

1. USA - Star Spangled Banner.

I am not really a fan of this tune. The poem set to them is nice, but it deserves a better tune! The one who I fell came the closest to saving this tune is Igor Stravinsky. Unfortunately, the officials in Boston did not like Stravinsky's use of dissonance. I have posted Stravinsky's version here. What do you think?

2. Germany - Deutschlandlied (Song of Germany)

OK, so this really isn't Deutschlandlied. It's the second movement of Haydn's Kaiser quartet, which is based on his own "Gott Erhalte Franz den Kaiser," written for Kaiser Franz of the Holy Roman Empire. Deutschlandlied uses this melody. I'm not a huge fan of the baroque period music, but there is something about Haydn. I love this piece and it is probably my favorite anthem tune, though it's a tough call between this and Alexander Alexandrov's "Gosudarstvenny Gimn SSSR" (Soviet).

3. Zimbabwe - Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe (Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe)

I like how this anthem uses both Western and African chords. It's a nice piece. Also, Zimbabwe.

THIS IS NOT A THREAD FOR DISCUSSING COUNTRIES OR WORLD POLITICS. ONLY THE MUSIC.

[Talyl Landmaster]

I think that "My country tis of thee" would be a better American national anthem, but I don't mind the one they have.

[unoservix]

my money has to be on "God Save the Queen" because it contains the following verse

 

O Lord our God arise,

Scatter her enemies,

And make them fall:

Confound their politics,

Frustrate their knavish tricks,

On Thee our hopes we fix:

God save us all

 

and it's just so completely british to have lines like "confound their politics" in your national anthem

 

seriously read all the lyrics it's hilarious

[Dr. Orange]

DZ embraced Zimbabwe.

DZ has joined our Zimbabwe family in full.

Welcome brother DZ.

 

All African anthems it seems to have these almost tribal-European sounds. 

I like the Zimbabwe and this one Swaziland has a great example of what I'm talking about.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPHW9UNPrkM

 

But my absolute favorite anthem has to be the Scottish Anthem. Because:

• Bagpipes
• That Scottish Drum

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnKkN-DjXt8

[DZComposer]

I think that "My country tis of thee" would be a better American national anthem, but I don't mind the one they have.

Except that it uses the same tune as the British National Anthem. We can't have that, now.

Speaking of God Save the Queen, it's been mentioned but not posted.

Here is an awesome version performed for the Queen's birthday:

 

That Scottish Drum

Actually, that isn't a traditional Scottish drum. It's a line of modern marching snares, such as these:

Now if only the snare line in that Scottish Anthem recording played this clean.

[Redeemer]

Scottish drums are along the lines of these:

 

'>

 

^ I have seen these guys so many times in Glasgow, like every weekend that I went not long before I went to Germany. It's amazing to see in person, the drum beats right into your goddamn chest and makes your blood run like fire, jesus christ.

 

My people.

 

But, snare like drums aren't too new and have been used in military bands for years, I would expect them in our national anthem more than the good stuff I posted above. They're not exactly Scottish but they are typical British.

[Dr. Orange]

I might be thinking of the hand drum/snare the Irish play. I wish I remembered the name but I love the sound of those things.

[LazerMaster5]

The song "The Pride" by five Finger Death Punch would make a great updated national anthem.

[Scourge]

I always prefered the REAL american national anthem: