National Anthems: The Worst Songs In The World

David Pate

Every nation has one, but the vast majority of national anthems wouldn't meet the kind of basic criteria we'd apply to a song for inclusion in a school concert. Almost every anthem is sexist, sectarian or violent. Or all of the above. This series looks at the bad, the worse and the ugly of anthems - from the movie theme song that is now the national anthem of one of the world's most powerful nations to the celebration of death, violence and blood-letting that dominates so many national songs. Using music from around the world, we'll look at how anthems came to be and why it's so hard to make even the most basic of changes to make them more inclusive and less offensive. Presented by veteran Scottish-Canadian journalist and broadcaster David Pate, this is a global journey that will leave you wondering if nations really need theme songs - and if they do, then maybe the best solution is the one adopted by countries that prefer anthems without words. Like the podcast? Then you'll love the book! Changing Our Tunes will be published in September, 2024 by Dundurn Press.

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Our Editor's Take

The National Anthems: The Worst Songs In The World podcast analyzes these songs. The host is David Pate, a Scottish journalist who moved to Canada to help set up the first news network. He describes the act of everyone singing together to "O Canada." It's a tune he defines as one of the worst songs in the world. How did these songs begin? What do the lyrics mean? David explores these questions, examining anthems across the globe and their histories.

David encourages listeners to picture stadiums of people singing the national anthem. He asks how many people know what the lyrics mean. In the first podcast episode, he discusses "The Marseillaise," France's national anthem. It starts with a warning that soldiers are on their way to attack. With themes of death and war, David asks listeners to imagine watching kids singing along. Should anthems be rethought or made more representative and inclusive? Why are they taught in schools?

The host reviews the history of national anthems throughout the National Anthems: The Worst Songs In The World podcast. The United Kingdom's anthem, "God Save the King," dates back to 1745. During this turbulent time, loyalists wanted to show allegiance to the king. The opening line referenced King George, but European countries soon copied the tune.

Each episode explores the anthems chosen by different countries. One focuses on abandoned anthems, some of which David believes deserve remembering. Another discusses songs that started as acts of rebellion but lost their ambition. The episode "The Star-Spangled Banner" focuses on the US anthem, one of the most-played songs. It's heard at almost every US event, from local sporting events to the NFL Super Bowl. David talks to guest and author Mark Clague about its history.

The National Anthems: The Worst Songs In The World podcast is an insightful exploration of some of the most well-known songs in the world. David investigates their history and questions how they came to be so popular. His ultimate question is about how people view them today. Should they be more relevant? New episodes debut on an irregular basis.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture
Start Here
16. China to Denmark
Oct 2 2023
16. China to Denmark
China's anthem is one of the most fiercely-protected anthems in the world. We start there - and end with one of only two countries that has two official anthems: DenmarkSupport the show

Episodes

16. China to Denmark
Oct 2 2023
16. China to Denmark
China's anthem is one of the most fiercely-protected anthems in the world. We start there - and end with one of only two countries that has two official anthems: DenmarkSupport the show
15. Burkina Faso to Chile
Aug 4 2023
15. Burkina Faso to Chile
The next stage in our anthem odyssey takes us from Burkina Faso to ChileSupport the show
14. O Canada
Jun 19 2023
14. O Canada
Most countries with more than one official language simply translate the words of their national anthem so that everyone is at least singing the same song. But in Canada, there are two songs called O Canada and they have absolutely nothing in common. The original French song was written as a pro-Quebec nationalist song but the tune was co-opted by English Canada and turned into a pro-Canadian song. With the help of music critic Robert Harris, author of Song of a Nation: The Untold Story of Canada's National Anthem, this episode looks at the origins and history of a song that was almost lost to historySupport the show
13. Long to Reign Over Us
Apr 12 2023
13. Long to Reign Over Us
Countries haven't always had national anthems. Most were adopted fairly recently. The idea of a national anthem was born out of a British political crisis, when Bonnie Prince Charlie was marching on London in 1745 to claim the throne his grandfather had been forced to quit. The Scottish-led rebellion was crushed, but the song that London theatregoers sang to rally their spirits stuck around. Jacobite historian Paul Monod and composer and conductor Philip Sheppard (who arranged the anthem music still used by the Olympics) share their views on the British anthem's past - and possible future.Support the show
12. Belize to Bulgaria
Apr 6 2023
12. Belize to Bulgaria
The journey through the 193 UN member anthems continues, from Belize to BulgariaSupport the show
11. Armenia to Belgium
Mar 10 2023
11. Armenia to Belgium
The journey through the 193 UN member anthems continues, from Armenia to BelgiumSupport the show
10. Afghanistan to Argentina
Jan 31 2023
10. Afghanistan to Argentina
There are 193 members of the United Nations. That's 193 anthems from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. I'm going to tell you about all of them, in alphabetical order.  Support the show
9. The Star-Spangled Banner
Jan 23 2023
9. The Star-Spangled Banner
The US anthem is one of the most instantly recognizable tunes in the world. It's also one of the most-played anthems, thanks to the uniquely American practice of playing the song at almost every public occasion, from local fairs to Super Bowls. So how did this song rise to such prominence? The story of the US anthem is told in the bestselling book O Say Can You Hear: A Cultural Biography of the Star-Spangled Banner. Author Mark Clague joins me to talk about his book and the fascinating history of the anthem.Support the show
8. God Loves Lots of Countries
Dec 19 2022
8. God Loves Lots of Countries
Most national anthems like to toss in an appeal to God to favour one nation over all others. That religious basis helps explain why so many anthems sound like Christian hymns: in fact, many anthems are actually referred to as "national hymns." Maybe it's time to rethink religion in our national songs to make them more inclusive and less churchy.Support the show
7. Rebel Songs With a Cause
Dec 2 2022
7. Rebel Songs With a Cause
Some national anthems didn't start out that way: they were rebel songs that acquired respectability by being declared national symbols. We look at some of the rebel songs that made the journey - and how they lost their edge by becoming tools of the stateSupport the show
World Cup Special Part Two
Nov 7 2022
World Cup Special Part Two
We rarely get to hear other countries' anthems. The World Cup is a chance for us to listen to 32 national songs. It's also one of the major international events - along with the Olympics - that helped shape the modern anthem by setting limits on how long they could run. The abridged versions arranged for sports have now become the default songs that we recognize. We'll take a quick look at every anthem in the 2022 World Cup.Support the show
World Cup Special Part One
Oct 30 2022
World Cup Special Part One
We rarely get to hear other countries' anthems. The World Cup is a chance for us to listen to 32 national songs. It's also one of the major international events - along with the Olympics - that helped shape the modern anthem by setting limits on how long they could run. The abridged versions arranged for sports have now become the default songs that we recognize. We'll take a quick look at every anthem in the 2022 World Cup.Support the show
6. The Search for Perfection
Aug 27 2022
6. The Search for Perfection
So your country has a national anthem featuring violence, God and/or sexism. What should you replace it with? The Swiss did their best to come up with a perfect anthem that everyone can relate to. But somehow, it just doesn't hit the right notes. We'll look at how hard it can be to pick a good anthem and why the best solution may be just to grab an existing tune that everyone already loves.Support the show
5. The Soft Power of Song
Jul 27 2022
5. The Soft Power of Song
Some countries just stumble into national anthems because they suddenly realize that they're expected to have one. And what comes first is usually the music. Because it's the music that touches our emotions. Music can topple even the mightiest of regimes. We'll hear how the Baltic States sang their way to independence from the Soviet Union. And how nations and armies have always used music to encourage troops to fight - and have banned songs that send a different message.Support the show
4. They're Playing Our Song
Jul 27 2022
4. They're Playing Our Song
Anthems aren't just for nations. There's a long and bewildering history of corporations adopting company songs in what seems like the ultimate CEO vanity project. They are almost always embarrassingly bad. Some companies then spend years trying to erase the evidence - but thanks to the internet, most of these terrible tunes still live on. We'll also look at how communities within nations adopt anthems and why the state of Tennessee may have stumbled across the solution to problematic national anthems.Support the show
3. Abandoned Anthems
Jul 27 2022
3. Abandoned Anthems
Welcome to the virtual warehouse of abandoned anthems, where we can find national songs of nations that no longer exist piled alongside works that were dumped unceremoniously after regime changes.  Most are deservedly forgotten - like Rhodesia's anthem and the song adopted by the US Confederate States. Others - like East Germany's - live on in surprising places. And some are so heartbreakingly beautiful they deserve to be remembered, even if the country they represent is forgotten by the world.Support the show
2. Changing the Message
Jul 27 2022
2. Changing the Message
When Argentina sent a naval vessel to Spain to promote relations between the two countries, there were some awkward moments during the playing of the Argentine anthem which included lyrics calling the Spanish vile and bloodthirsty tyrants. So Argentina's government removed the most offensive verses, describing them as a "product of another era." But that's a rarity. Most countries don't seem willing to tone down the musical rhetoric. We'll look at countries that should change the words - but don't - and ones that have come up with more inclusive messages.Support the show
1. Them's Fighting Words!
Jul 27 2022
1. Them's Fighting Words!
The idea of national anthems isn't an ancient one. It really all started back in the mid-18th century and took a long time to catch on. You can blame the English for that, but at least their national anthem isn't as violent and bloodthirsty as some. We'll also look at how anthems came to be associated with sports - and how the Olympics and World Cup helped shape the anthems we hear today.41pSWivDsge2zADGyFL4Support the show