Stirring national anthems

I went to see Scotland play South Africa at rugby yesterday. South Africa won – but then they are one of the top 4 rugby nations in the world. I am taking consolation from the fact that they only scored 3 points in the second half.

Before the game – as is tradition the world over – the national anthems of the countries involved were played.

We were amongst a large number of South African fans – there is a very large South African community in Edinburgh in any case – and I have to say I found their national anthem a wee bit hard to  grasp . But the fans sang it with gusto.

As for Scotland – when the nations that make up the UK play rugby their own anthem is played. Ours is “Flower of Scotland”. The worlds remind us of ancient battles ( sometimes I think we Scots should move on ..) but the tune is great and really asks to be sung with passion.

Although I am a proud Scot I am happy to sing “God Save the Queen”. It is a bit of a dirge but it swells beautifully in the middle to make the hairs stand up.

The Welsh and Irish have lovely repetitive lines which build to a crescendo.

The French  and Italian sound like operatic works to be – and great to hum along to.

I have heard national anthems sung on all sorts of occasions and it usually stirs something in me  - that is of course the point.

Whether it is “Advance Australia Fair”, “Oh Canada” or “The Star Spangled Banner”  remember how it felt to sing along the last time you did.