Amateur Analysis of Other People's National Anthems that Gave Me Goosebumps

OysterOmelet · May 20, 2019, 1:10am

Israel
Jews were in exile for close to 2000 years, and the whole time they’ve yearned to create a democratic Jewish state in their ancestral homeland. Of course, their country was born in original sin; they had to ethnically cleanse 750,000 Arabs to create a Jewish majority. Most young Jews know this, but a lot of the older generation is still in denial. Still, it’s great they have a country of their own, safe from annihilation.

As long as in the heart, within,
A [Jewish] soul still yearns,
And onward, towards the ends of the [east],
an eye still gazes toward [Zion];

Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope two thousand years old,
To be a free nation in our land,
The land of Zion and [Jerusalem].

Korea
The Korean anthem looks like one about blood and soil. It goes through the country’s different landmarks, and talks about the "Great Korean people"and the “Great Korean Way,” (whatever that means).

Until the day when the East Sea’s waters and
Mt. Baekdu are dry and worn away,
God protect and preserve us.
Long live our nation!
Three thousand Li of splendid rivers and mountains,
filled with Roses of Sharon;
Great Korean People,
stay true to the Great Korean way.
The pine tree atop foremountain
stands firmly unchanged under wind
and frost as if wrapped in armour,
as is our resilient spirit.

ROC (My own translation)
For the record, I’m Green, but I don’t believe in discarding everything the GMD brought over. The anthem is kinda cool. It starts with the Three Principles, and is loaded with Confucianism.

Three Principles of the People

[Democracy, Nationalism, Prosperity]

Towards the Party Lies our Devotion.

It’s talking about the Chinese Nationalist Party, fighting the Communists at the time.

Upon these principles we establish the Republic.
Upon these principles we advance towards the “Great Harmony.”

The “Great Harmony” (大同) is a Confucian ideal where all everybody everywhere is at peace. I assume this is written at a time when China was carved up by Japan and Western powers and forced to accept unequal treaties.

Intellectuals serve as the vanguards of this people.

Based on the Confucian ideal that rulers should be scholarly.

The Rest is just Rah Rah Rah

KHHville · May 20, 2019, 1:14am

first of many times I heard the ROC anthem was watching movies in Taipei movie theaters when they still played it before the start of the film

Brianjones · May 20, 2019, 1:14am

Ireland

Pretty much all about guns and bullets backing up the peoples will and freedom.
We should update it!

Anthems are mostly a load of ole rubbish.

My anthem is Molly Malone.

Brianjones · May 20, 2019, 1:19am

I got in trouble before because I didn’t bother standing for the anthem at a Republican pub at closing time (seriously an anthem played at closing time sung by drunk people lol). I’m not into being told what to do, anthems are a part of being told what to do and think .

Dawud · May 20, 2019, 1:27am

A few favorites:

Composed by Aram Khatchaturian:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv02g_5eMfA

Sounds like the soundtrack for a kung fu movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBnAZ_qSYJU

Reminds me of the Imperial March from Star Wars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-dH_SQgNXo

In terms of lyrics, the final verse of Armenia’s current anthem (also the anthem of the first, pre-Soviet Armenian republic) observes that “Death is the same everywhere,” and that “A man lives but once,” while the second verse (from a female perspective) speaks of creating a tricolor flag and “bathing it in my tears.” (I hope it won’t spoil the effect to note that the original poem was actually referencing the Italian tricolor.)

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

OysterOmelet · May 20, 2019, 1:48am

What’s the relationship to Italy?

Dawud · May 20, 2019, 2:37am

The original poem was titled “The Song of the Italian Girl.” So the reference to a tricolor would be to the Italian tricolor. (One of the verses–not sung in the Armenian national anthem version–calls for death to Austria!)

hansioux · May 20, 2019, 2:39am

Absolutely incorrect.

You would only arrive at that conclusion if you buy into CKS’ revisionist version of “history.”

The lyrics of the ROC anthem came from a speech SYS gave at the opening of KMT’s party military school in 1924. SYS, KMT, and the military school (Huang-pu military school) at the time were funded and staffed by the soviets.

The military school came as a result of SYS signing the Sun–Joffe Manifesto with Adolph Joffe on January 26, 1923. SYS at the time was far from being the leader of China. The internationally recognized Chinese government at the time was under the control of a series of Northern warlords, and SYS was merely a minor warlord in Guangdong. Adolph only opted to cooperate with SYS because SYS promised to let Russia retain control over Mongolia and several Russian built railroads in China if he ever came in to power.

At the time of signing, CCP was like 2 years old. SYS was very left leaning himself, and he sent CKS to Russia to study Russian military and political system.

So instead of the “吾黨所宗” line be talking about fighting communists, by 吾黨 SYS most likely meant “we, the communists.”

If fact, many high ranking CCP generals graduated from Huangpu military school because it was a communist military school, and they were trained by the soviets, with CKS as their principle.

Taiwan_Luthiers · May 20, 2019, 2:56am

There are 2 ROC anthems.

The first one is what you hear, and in school (at least back in the 80s) is played in the morning when the ROC flag is raised.

The second one is different (some say is better) and is played at the end of the day when the ROC flag is lowered. I never really paid attention to what the lyrics say. I kinda got stuck with the Star Spangled Banner for so long…

If you ever end up conscripted you’ll sing so many songs you’ll get sick of it. One is called “The Camels of China”, again I don’t really know what’s the significance of that but maybe it was written when they had the long march or something.