golfrewind.com

...when the Presidents Cup was last played in America, all the national anthems of the International team were (in part) played at the opening ceremony. When it came to Carlos Franco`s turn I couldn`t help but notice how everyone was about to sit down when they had to stand up again because the anthem hadn`t finished, this happened a couple of times because the anthem was quite long and had pauses...even Carlos wore a wry smile at the end of it.
I just wondered, if you had to choose an anthem that wasn`t your own, what would you go for... ...and you can`t eliminate/choose country just because you like/dislike the nation ...it`s the anthem that`s the important thing here
Here`s a shortlist of just some from a recent heated debate down the pub...but these are just the one`s I remembered (it`s a guy thing )
1. Spain`s
2. Russia`s
3. Ireland`s
4. America`s
5. Germany`s
6. France`s
7. Italy`s
8. Australia`s
I think Italy`s wins easily...if you go to www.national-anthems.de you`ll be able to hear extracts ( the 101 second version found there of Italy`s is hard to beat...although I`m willing to be swerved by other suggestions).

C B C

That is part of the Olympics I enjoy, hearing other nations anthems. There are some pretty impressive ones out there. I really like the Canadian anthem.

I like listening to the national anthems at the Olympics too, and how well the gold medalist can take in the moment, be it ......... ..... or...... .
At the European Championships (football) the anthems build up the crowds anticipation, which the BBC always show. However, the independant network have sometimes bypassed an anthem to fit in another commercial break...how rude is that?
Having listened to Carlos Franco`s Paraguayan anthem again, at the above website (all 134 seconds of it) I think I would have sat down, stood up and sat down again too, and then had a quick nervous look sideways . .

cccccccccccccccccccccbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb... ...........................................c

Ditto that. "We stand on guard for thee" maps nicely onto the melody, IMO.

I like Russia's, too. Can't conjure the melody at the moment, but very contemplative (and somewhat mournful, it always seemed to me).

I love the French national anthem....

and, many apologies but, Im not too keen on star spangled banner, or God save the queen.

If it was up to me I would have Jeresulam or land of hope and glory as our anthem.

I really like Canada's also. Perhaps because it's the only other one I know so well. BTW, that sounds like some potentially dangerous pub conversation C-B-C.

"The Star Spangled Banner" is not the best of our patriotic songs here in the States, to be sure, certainly not in melodic beauty, ease of singing, or stirring qualities, so no need to apologize here--at least to me. However, a lifetime of hearing it and associating it with the best moments of our national life has conferred on it a special place in my heart. If I had my way "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" would be the US anthem.

Personally, I'd give a slight edge to Germany over Canada for the most stirring anthem. Oh, an Northern Ireland's "Londonderry Air" is very hard to beat.

Italy? are you kidding? Even England's is better than that!

Great topic!

"British hymn" is a very nice way of saying an English drinking song, Donnakay!

If we're going to go modern here, how about Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA"? But I like the Greenwood choice too, exceptionally good. However, we don't want to alienate the non-believers, do we?

I like "The Star Spangled Banner" very much , though I'd probably prefer "America The Beautiful". "God Bless America" is very nice, too. Doesn't Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" lean a bit left for you Val ? Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA", with all due respect to those who like it, has to be one of the most God-awful pieces of "music" to ever achieve such popularity, if we're just talking music & not patriotic sentiment.

Lean? Heck, I can bend over backwards to be fair and balanced.

Courage!

If I'm correct, "The Star Spangled Banner" didn't become our national anthem until 1931. In 1931 we were in the middle of World War II and the country felt that the song was more fitting in a time of war and it was adopted over America the Beautiful in 1931 as our national anthem and has been ever since.

The Star Spangled Banner

Really? We sing it regularly at our VFW Auxiliary functions - as a matter of fact, a recent National President used it as her "Song of the Year". Have never heard anyone describe it as a "God-awful piece of music".

And the lyrics make me "proud to be an American" where we "don't forget the men who died". But then, Waz, that's just red-white-and-blue blooded me.

Give me America the Beautiful......if we were to ever switch. I never tire of hearing Ray Charles' stirring rendition.