Snapshots Part IV
I realized something at the United game on Saturday that, if this site were read by anyone, would get me flamed up the yin: our national anthem isn't very inspiring.
It kinda blows. Specifically, the pacing and the rhythm are pretty poor.
It's a very pretty song, and the last four words are great for high school sports (replacing "home of the brave" with "home of the Hawks" for instance), but the song is like a dirge.
We need something more up, more proud, more of a march. Europe comes through for me here. Germany, for instance: "Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles/uber alles in der Welt..." (if you like the pre-WWII version) and "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit/ fur das deutsche Vaterland," for the more politically correct Germanophiles.
Ukraine too: "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina, Ni slava, ni volya/ Shche nam bratiya molodiyi, usmichnetsha dolya."
(Although, I suppose the words don't convey the rhythm if you don't know the rhythm. Most of you know the general German song, and one of you knows the Ukrainian one. I was just showing off that I still remembered them without Google assistance).
Replies: 6 comments
You are right, that that would be both numero uno contender and a disaster, but that song wouldn't be any better at all, now would it?
Posted by @ 07/19/04 5:33 a.m. ET
there's the catchy Neil Diamond song... or maybe "surfin usa" by the Beach Boys
Posted by @ 07/19/04 6:07 a.m. ET
I've always liked Canada's anthem. It's a stirring, inspiring tune. Most people can sing it. And the ending is nice and simple: "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee."
Posted by @ 07/20/04 2 a.m. ET
GBA.
Posted by @ 07/20/04 10:12 a.m. ET
the other problem with our national anthem is the fact that the notes go from so low to so high that nobody can actually sing it well. plus there are words in there that 99%+ of our population doesn't understand. seriously how many people know what a rampart is?
Posted by @ 07/26/04 7:48 a.m. ET
God help us all.
Posted by @ 07/19/04 5:25 a.m. ET