What is your favourite national anthem?

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

I think this might be an interesting question.

Personally I would say the Russian one, but if sub-national entities are included I should mention I love the anthem of Wales.
Not that the Italian anthem is bad either, of course.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Marche Henri IV and Grand Dieu Sauve le Roi, but they're no longer in use. Of current anthems, I like Het Wilhelmus because it's the oldest and - being from the Renaissance - necessarily has a very good melody, plus a ton of 16th century historical references.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Marche Henri IV and Grand Dieu Sauve le Roi, but they're no longer in use. Of current anthems, I like Het Wilhelmus because it's the oldest and - being from the Renaissance - necessarily has a very good melody, plus a ton of 16th century historical references.

Oh, Het Wilhelmus is great too (and it's completely unsurprising that it's your favourite).

[Santander]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

[buritobr]

Living: Russia, France, Italy, Uruguay

Dead: German Democratic Republic

[Meclazine for Israel]

When Michael Schumacher won in a Ferrari, they played the German and Italian anthems back to back.

Michael Schumacher

2006 F1 Podium at Monza

https://youtu.be/64X_GZ9EUhM

And I thought they were one together with a really cool 'key and tempo change' in the middle.

[Kingpoleon]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

As a proud Francophobe, this is the worst possible answer, mon ami.

[KaiserDave]

Republic of China National Flag Anthem! South Korea and North Korea as well. As for Europe, I say Russia, Poland, and Norway are all great!

[Santander]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

As a proud Francophobe, this is the worst possible answer, mon ami.

If hearing La Marseillaise doesn't make you wish you were French, you have problems.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The Soviet anthem and nothing else even comes close. I also do really love Il Canto Degli Italiani, though.

La Marseillaise is pretty overrated honestly. It has really jarring tone shifts that make the whole melody not add up too much.

[Alben Barkley]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

As a proud Francophobe, this is the worst possible answer, mon ami.

If hearing La Marseillaise doesn't make you wish you were French, you have problems.

Literally the greatest scene in the history of film, and it's not even close:

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

As a proud Francophobe, this is the worst possible answer, mon ami.

If hearing La Marseillaise doesn't make you wish you were French, you have problems.

Literally the greatest scene in the history of film, and it's not even close:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM

No. The only acceptable answer to "what is the greatest scene in the history of film?" is the Odessa steps in Ėjzenštejn's Battleship Potëmkin, especially the part of the baby carriage rolling down.

[Alben Barkley]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

As a proud Francophobe, this is the worst possible answer, mon ami.

If hearing La Marseillaise doesn't make you wish you were French, you have problems.

Literally the greatest scene in the history of film, and it's not even close:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM-E2H1ChJM

No. The only acceptable answer to "what is the greatest scene in the history of film?" is the Odessa steps in Ėjzenštejn's Battleship Potëmkin, especially the part of the baby carriage rolling down.

I'm sticking to my Casbalanca opinion; though that IS a great film/scene, it doesn't move me even 1% as much as the Casablanca scene does, for several reasons.

First, Battleship Potëmkin is Soviet propaganda and this scene is based entirely on lies and fabrications intended to serve a despicable political purpose; however artistically excellent it may be in execution, that is a little difficult for me to completely get past. The scene is technically outstanding, and often imitated for good reason, but it's ultimately as coldly mechanical as the Soviet Union itself; it just doesn't reach me the way something like Casablanca does.

Second, the actors in the Casablanca scene were mostly actual refugees fleeing the Nazis. Those tears you see on that woman's face are genuine. There is NOT a better capture of raw emotion to be found anywhere else in film.

Thirdly, the symbolism of the multicultural and international crowd drowning out the Nazis' singing with the French anthem was -- particularly at the time of Casablanca's release in 1942 -- incredibly powerful. Even our reluctant protagonist Rick gives the go-ahead to blast the anthem out, knowing it would anger the Nazis he is beholden to, in an early sign that he will ultimately do what is right at his own great personal risk. At that moment, the movie and Rick might as well have represented the entire anti-Nazi world; the future was uncertain, the risk was great, but we saw suffering that we longed to correct, and evil that we longed to defeat. ALL of this was captured perfectly in less than 2 minutes. The best and worst of the entirety of humanity are all laid bare in that scene, with the best ultimately triumphing. It moves me every damn time I watch it. NOTHING else has ever come close.

[President Johnson]

Actually The Star Spangled Banner.

I don't like the German one.

[muon2]

The Soviet anthem and nothing else even comes close.

As a child of the Cold War I mostly learned the tunes to the national anthems by watching the Olympics every 4 years. The State Anthem of the USSR was one of the most majestic to be heard. Given the athletic performances it was also ever-present (except in Los Angeles 1984).

[Technocracy Timmy]

The only answer is La Marseillaise.

Their anthem is a call to arms for their citizens to soak their fields with the blood of their enemies. Easy answer.

[Mr. Smith]

The Soviet one.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Actually The Star Spangled Banner.

I don't like the German one.

Deutschlandlied has the opposite problem as La Marseillaise - the basic tune is actually excellent, but it's a bit too short and same-y, leaving you wanting for more. Also, the "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" stanza is the only good one, the other lyrics are a bit silly.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Many good options for me. I guess I have to have Russia 1st, America 2nd, and Germany, France, South Africa, and the Netherlands in the top 10. Honorable mentions: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, India, Pakistan, Burma, Singapore, Indonesia, PRC, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
I also like Thailand's one (was even listening to it when typing this out) but the Honorable Mentions list is already crowded to begin with.

[Kingpoleon]

Actually The Star Spangled Banner.

I don't like the German one.

American exceptionalism by foreigners is always great to see.

[Wikipedia delenda est]

Somehow I forgot about the German national anthem, but that's one of my favorites as well. It's composed by Haydn after all, so how can't it be good? It's funny how the tune was composed for the Austrian Habsburg Emperor but is now the German anthem; it shows how the perception of Austria as a German state has changed since it was at the head of the Holy Roman Empire for all those centuries.

[Never Made it to Graceland]

Europe - Ode to Joy.
USSR - State Anthem of the Soviet Union

Worst
United States

[American2020]

USA, Uruguay, Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon

[LAKISYLVANIA]

From ones i've heard: France and Brazil.

Mostly only heard those of big football nations.

[buritobr]

For those who like german anthems, in this video it is possible to listen to the two german anthems played before that soccer game in 1974 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX-JQpdfNro