09 March 2012

National Anthem of the Soviet Union


Performed by the Red Army Choir.  When I was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, this seemed to be the theme song for the summer Olympics.  It really is quite a moving piece of music.

Via Reddit, where the thread also included links to other rousing anthems, and other performances by this choir, including La Marseillaise and "God Bless America."

Please feel free to post links to the best YouTube version of your national anthem in the comments.

18 comments:

  1. MangawitchMarch 9, 2012 at 12:37 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMI5wpwXTCY

    The Welsh national anthem 'Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau 'Where it truly comes to life - at the start of a great rugby match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

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  2. WBRMarch 9, 2012 at 1:11 PM

    I nominate an anthem for our planet:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDXNHPeRB0k

    "My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,

    and sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine.

    But other lands have sunlight too and clover,

    and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

    This is my song, thou God of all the nations;

    a song of peace for their land and for mine."

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  3. AnonymousMarch 9, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    I love a signer who can stop in the middle and let the crowd carry it for awhile...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j5ucKaBtR4

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  4. Green StoneMarch 9, 2012 at 2:42 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meLpuF9UMvk

    I'm no Oilers fan, but this is how the Canadian anthem should be sung.

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  5. ChrisMarch 9, 2012 at 4:14 PM

    Still the Russian anthem now IIRC. They just changed the lyrics.

    We're in a bit of an odd situation here in England, as we're the one part of the UK without a national anthem of our own. "God Save the Queen" (an awful dirge of a thing) does double duty for both England and the UK.

    We do use Jerusalem (weird British Israelite poem) sometimes, and Land of Hope and Glory fills in unofficially.

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    1. DanackMarch 10, 2012 at 12:05 AM

      the UK anthem is at better than Advance Australia Fair which includes the line 'Our home is girt by sea'.

      Delete
    2. CherryMetalMarch 16, 2012 at 9:13 AM

      Ah, there's nothing wrong with "girt" - everybody gets so hung up on that! Just one little archaic word in a pretty good song. Mate, we're young and free, and you've gotta rejoice in that.

      Delete
  6. FUZZARELLYMarch 9, 2012 at 5:48 PM

    I love the Red Army Choir singing with The Leningrad Cowboys. Their version of Sweet Home Alabama is the bomb.

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    1. Jerry SmithMarch 9, 2012 at 9:56 PM

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lNFRLrP014&feature=player_embedded

      Delete
  7. VincentMarch 9, 2012 at 7:35 PM

    I like the "Flower of Scotland" although it is not an official anthem (Scotland does not have any). It is mostly played before sporting events.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vkYiCdn834

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  8. AleksejsMarch 10, 2012 at 2:10 AM

    Being from Latvia (that was occupied by USSR), one of fifteen republics, I can't say that I enjoy this particular anthem.

    Being said that - it really is a powerful music. Right now the current anthem of Russian Federation has the same music but slightly modified lyrics.

    Did you know that every republic in USSR had its own anthem as well? No? Here you can listen (and see the different flags that each republic had - and yes Russia as a republic had it's own flag different than the flag of USSR):
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emxM3RUbsAI&list=PLBF1D779682E53CD9&feature=plcp&context=C4fd505eFDvjVQa1PpcFNPg-ydPcDA6X3KUDqnzSS_09X4YHuUKqg=

    In particular anthem of Latvia SSR:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvyRqpNJtDk&feature=related

    Right now of course my favourite anthem is "Dievs, svētī Latviju" - "God bless Latvia" - the restored anthem from 1918:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCfX2gGohjU&feature=related

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  9. AnonymousMarch 10, 2012 at 1:17 PM

    I only listen to our national anthem before a soccer match. It was written during the Dutch Revolt in the 1570s.

    http://youtu.be/l4cADXvNnSk

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  10. promisistiMarch 10, 2012 at 3:11 PM

    I used to listen to our national anthem years ago, when at midnight, it was broadcasted every night on the radio. But: this was not the version, which thick men on the soccer field used to play with their brass instruments. Our national anthem is the only (or one of a handfull?), that has been composed by a professional musician: Joseph Haydn had composed it as the "Kaiserquartett". Today it's the German anthem. I still prefer the traditional Haydn-sound, produced by strings. But on youtube I found another exciting version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTVa6cUCm1k&feature=related. Enjoy it :-).

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    1. MinnesotastanMarch 10, 2012 at 4:33 PM

      I cringed when I saw the title at the link, but was surprised that it was quite well done. Perhaps I'll blog it this week. Tx, promisisti.

      Delete
  11. Sugar MagnoliaMarch 15, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    You know, being from Texas (it's like a whole other country, because, well, it once was!) I can't resist bragging. Well, that's not entirely true. No brag, just fact. We have our own "national" anthem, and here it is along with scenery of my beautiful state:

    http://youtu.be/STMRklYD_G8

    Y'all come on down! The bluebonnets are in bloom, barbecue is a-smokin' and you'll find the hospitality is as abundant as this blessed land.

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    1. MinnesotastanMarch 15, 2012 at 9:03 AM

      That brings back some memories; I lived in Texas for ten years.

      Delete
  12. Sugar MagnoliaMarch 15, 2012 at 5:36 PM

    I KNEW there was something about you that I liked, Minnesotastan! :D

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