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A good national anthem is much more than a rousing song. The best national anthems function like an emotional anchor, a symbol of shared identity, and a call to collective purpose, resonating deeply with both the citizens of that nation and, on occasions, with the wider world.<\/p>
We’ve been listening to some of the best national anthems from around the globe. Here are 14 that have particularly sparked our curiosity, which you’ll hear at the World Cup, European Championships, Olympics, Six Nations and many other sporting events.<\/p>
Why it’s here:<\/strong> It’s the oldest, and it’s very long<\/p> For sheer longevity alone, The Netherlands\u2019 \u2018Wilhelmhus<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 deserves a place on our list \u2013 in use since around 1570, it is the oldest national anthem in the world. The words are in the first person, as if spoken by William of Orange, who led the fight for Dutch independent from the Spanish in the 16th century.<\/p> Why it’s here:<\/strong> It has a brilliant original story<\/p> We’ve included this one because of the very rousing and inspiring moment that prompted its creation. The lyrics to<\/strong> America’s national anthem<\/strong><\/a> were penned in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, after watching British ships bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812 between the USA and Britain.<\/p> Key was inspired when he saw the USA flag, itself known as The Star-Spangled Banner, flying high during the conflict. His poem, called Defence of Fort M’Henry, was set to the tune of\u00a0John Stafford Smith’s popular song, To Anacreon in Heaven<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. It became known, like the flag that inspired it, as The Star-Spangled Banner and became the USA’s official national anthem in 1931.<\/p> 2. The United States of America: The Star Spangled Banner<\/strong><\/h3>