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Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)

25. Oh, I get that.

Mon Nov 16, 2015, 04:29 PM

Nov 2015

And I understand why it would resonate with South Africans, particularly those who sang the song in protest. I lack that emotional context, however, and to me it reads like any other patriotic composition: a bunch clichéd geographic metaphors laced with saccharine appeals to liberty and freedom.

It's all subjective, of course. If you like the song, more power to you. It just doesn't do it for me.

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Our national anthem sucks. [View all] Archae Nov 2015 OP

and few can sing it properly niyad Nov 2015 #1

Except Roseanne, of course KamaAina Nov 2015 #2

If that bothers you then you are missing the point. Nt Logical Nov 2015 #24

I can make any point I choose. niyad Nov 2015 #50

Bad singers don't do well with it, whathehell Nov 2015 #29

A bit harsh GummyBearz Nov 2015 #3

Most veterans, democratic or republican get it. My WW2 father knew first hand the horror B Calm Nov 2015 #26

This is the same in my family GummyBearz Nov 2015 #34

I don't know that the lyrics are all that hard to remember Orrex Nov 2015 #4

That is rather amazing to me also. redwitch Nov 2015 #43

The French lyrics are something! I don't think they are easier to remember than our own, though... yawnmaster Nov 2015 #5

Agreed, not any easier or less war-like than ours. It just sounds better in French. brush Nov 2015 #7

'America The Beautiful' is so much nicer and easy to sing. CurtEastPoint Nov 2015 #6

That's my favorite too. And This Land is Your Land n/t TexasBushwhacker Nov 2015 #64

Methinks you don't speak French... jeff47 Nov 2015 #8

All national anthems suck. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #9

I disagree yeoman6987 Nov 2015 #14

Keep in mind the anthem is a waltz DonCoquixote Nov 2015 #30

I went to a funeral that was Unitarian and this land was plated. So awesome yeoman6987 Nov 2015 #44

Youre forgetting about this one: Nac Mac Feegle Nov 2015 #53

The problem with this one DonCoquixote Nov 2015 #61

+100. nt whathehell Nov 2015 #32

I rather admire the South African anthem in five languages struggle4progress Nov 2015 #16

I admire that it was written for five languages... Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #19

It reflects a brilliant political reconciliation, combining the national anthem struggle4progress Nov 2015 #22

Oh, I get that. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #25

Sez you.. whathehell Nov 2015 #31

Yes, says me. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #33

Lol, I think I understand how subjectivity works better than you whathehell Nov 2015 #38

Did I state an opinion as a fact? Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #41

Yes. whathehell Nov 2015 #62

"War Song for the Army of the Rhine" - La Marseillaise's original name. nt hack89 Nov 2015 #10

Horrible, clunky, hard-to-sing tune. Paladin Nov 2015 #11

At least we don't have a God reference. Imagine singing God Save the Queen LittleBlue Nov 2015 #12

God shows up in the fourth verse Retrograde Nov 2015 #36

Yeah but we don't sing the other verses LittleBlue Nov 2015 #37

I've got to agree with you on the French anthem - COLGATE4 Nov 2015 #13

Better link SwankyXomb Nov 2015 #49

Much better. Thanks. nt COLGATE4 Nov 2015 #63

That clip from Casablanca will always be the most moving version, imo Hekate Nov 2015 #66

We should change it struggle4progress Nov 2015 #15

You forgot one. immoderate Nov 2015 #54

+ struggle4progress Nov 2015 #56

Canada's is nice too! KT2000 Nov 2015 #17

I disagree. It sounds excellent at Baltimore Orioles games. Tommy_Carcetti Nov 2015 #18

I've suggested here before that Springsteen's "My Hometown" should be our national anthem. nt raccoon Nov 2015 #20

When I become Emperor our national anthem is going to be Louie, Louie... hunter Nov 2015 #21

I love our anthem...always chokes me up. nt clarice Nov 2015 #23

I like our national anthem.. whathehell Nov 2015 #27

La Marseillaise, verse one: guillaumeb Nov 2015 #28

i wish anthems weren't so much about war. nt restorefreedom Nov 2015 #35

I think our anthem is strikingly poetic. uawchild Nov 2015 #39

I kind of like this one: The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2015 #40

I won't go that far as to say that Blue_Tires Nov 2015 #42

Do you know French? Glassunion Nov 2015 #45

I like it. bigwillq Nov 2015 #46

Other national anthems only WISH they were ours derby378 Nov 2015 #47

Jose Feliciano did a great version as well in '68 Mnpaul Nov 2015 #48

I thought that too. Got to see him do it at the Atlanta redstateblues Nov 2015 #57

For something scribbled down during a battle, it's pretty damn good FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #51

Uruguay's is ripped from a Donizetti opera and has a cadenza Recursion Nov 2015 #52

The French is a military march written for the Marseilles militia Yorktown Nov 2015 #55

I think we should change it to "Sweet Caroline" but Albert Brooks had another idea: Gidney N Cloyd Nov 2015 #58

Being Latvian, I really like this one... tavernier Nov 2015 #59

Mexico National Anthem Unknown Beatle Nov 2015 #60

In French theirs says they'll water the furrows with the impure blood of their enemies. Cool, huh? Hekate Nov 2015 #65