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Category: Languages
World class athletes are converging on Vancouver this weekend for the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics — which means that languages from around the globe will also be coming together.
When you hear the national anthems of the world playing during the multitude of Olympic awards ceremonies in the next few weeks, think about their fascinating histories:
Australia: “Advance Australia Fair”
“Advance Australia Fair” began as a patriotic song written by Scottish-born Australia resident Peter Dodds McCormick. It beat “God Save the Queen” and popular tune “Waltzing Matilda” in a vote for the best anthem.
Since then, however, many Australians have voiced discontent, calling the song one of the most boring national anthems of the world. A senator said in 2001 that the tune was “so boring the nation risks singing itself to sleep.”
Sample lyrics:
“We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea.”
Argentina: “Himno Nacional Argentino”
Before it was one of the national anthems of the world, this anthem began in a play, as a fictional national anthem sung on stage. Vicente López, upon hearing the song, was so moved that he wrote new lyrics to accompany the tune.
Although the original composer, Blas Parera, was asked to create new music for the new national anthem of the world, he declined, worrying the new lyrics had too much anti-Spanish sentiment. Instead, he submitted the same music he had composed for the play, and left the country afterward.
Sample lyrics:
“Let us live crowned in glory
or let us swear in glory to die!”
Bangladesh: “Amar Shonar Bangla”
“Amar Shonar Bangla” was written by the celebrated poet Rabindranath Tagore in 1906, when Bengal had been divided into two parts by the British government. Tagore wrote the song to bring the people of both sides together. Sixty-two years later, the first 10 lines of the song were excerpted to become the national anthem of Bangladesh.
The title — “My Golden Bengal” in English — makes use of two meanings of the word “gold.” The lyrics express the precious nature of the country to its people, while also describing the golden paddy fields before harvest time.
Sample lyrics:
“Your air set my heart in tune
As if it were a flute.”
Nigeria: “Arise, O Compatriots”
A recent addition to the national anthems of the world, “Arise, O Compatriots” was written in 1978 in an unusual way: the lyrics were adapted from five winning entries in Nigeria’s national anthem contest.
After the winners were decided and the lyrics were cobbled together, the Nigerian Police Band set the poem to the music we can hear today.
Sample lyrics:
“Great lofty heights attain,
To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.”
Sweden: “Du gamla, Du fria”
Although “Du gamla, Du fria (“Thou ancient, Thou free”) is often considered to be the national anthem of Sweden, the song is not officially recognized. There have been several proposals to give the song official status, but they have so far been unsuccessful.
Unlike many national anthems of the world, Sweden’s national anthem doesn’t include any clear references to the country itself. That’s because it was written to pay tribute to all the Scandinavian countries; the original title was “Sång till Norden” (“Song to the Nordic”). Later verses were added with mentions of Sweden, but they are rarely sung.
Sample lyrics:
“I know that you are and you will be as you were,
Yes, I want to live, I want to die in the North!”
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