oh! I thought it was Japan or Holland, I didn't know it was Japan AND Holland. You sure about us though?

Wow, this thread has gotten quite lengthy and diverse. Amazing, sorry, I just feel it's like my child or something that I have given life to. Anyway, anybody know anything about international anthems? I know esperanto (the language) has one, and "Ode to Joy" without the lyric's is Europe. Any other national anthems that span borders? --- Vh16

We are talking about what, unfortunately, is a retrospective verification which may or may not have more subjectively motivated bias than is needed.

The Japanese anthem lyrics, the Kimigayo, has been a verse uttered to commemorate special occasions of a certain politico/religious signficance since about the 10th Century. And the Dutch Anthem's melody has been sung more or less for this and other purposes from around the 1570s.

You're right that it is unclear but at least some say so. The way in which God Save the Queen/King is the oldest complete anthem is by dint of the fact that it was sung for such official purposes for a period of time - ca. 1740 well before it was "offically" made the anthem in the 187?. By 1832, it already was considered to be the national anthem although, technically, it is the Royal Anthem.

La Marseillaise dates to 1792.

Does the UK have a sepparate national anthem then? I know England and the others all have their own special ones. --- VH16

God save the Queen/King is the UK national anthem - it is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I've always wondered; "God save the Queen" from *what* exactly?

foul rabbit-heads. the line referring to them was expunged when Yvonne Goolagong won Wombledon.

from...the sun newpaper? who's razor sharp journalism will eventually bring the monarchy down unless every patriotic brit shuns the paper and only buys it for the topless girls.

anyone else see the last night of the proms....last night? had a bit of renewed national pride for some reason.

eeek! jingoistic emotionalism infecting the purity of Arconic cynicism? no no my world is falling apart, first i find the Lion King is against forum rules, now this...

aww shurup, elgar really gets me going, not to the extent of getting that bulldog tatoo or something, but did make me smile. I have national pride, but its in the small things.

*sobs* noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I saw the last night of the proms Archie - twas great.....and unsuprisingly had the same bloke with the "horn" in the audience as last year!....and the year before that...

Tried to catch it every weekend (every Saturday), but only managed a couple. Gotta get me some Digital TV for next year.....as it has extensive coverage! Looks like those Digital BBC channels show some good stuff too (lots of filler, but also some decent programming!)

*edit* - oh yeah, very patriotic too! Excellent choice in music to really get the "England" feel - but although its "tradition" - it does make you think for the last hour that you are watching a replay of the previous years. Whilst ending with the same tunes is nice...i don't think they should have the last hour the same every time...a bit too much.
The songs were pretty amusing too....


Edited by - Chips on 9/12/2004 4:10:59 PM

If anyone is interested, my tiny online nation of Evestria now has its own national anthem, custom composed by another ficticious online nation called Ericadia. You can hear its glory at http://www.geocities.com/defsinfugi/owlsflight.html. Enjoy, --- VH16

@Taw: Can it you itallian ponse, no one likes you anymore.
@chips: the last night is all about doing EXACTLY THE SAME. and that asshole with the horn needs to be taken outside and shot. he pissed me off the whole duration, and whoever thought bringing an airhorn to a classical concert was a good idea needs to be introduced to the sun at close proximity.