Why are national anthems and the responses to them so varied? To understand the answer, we must look at where national anthems come from, how they’re written, and what influence that has on the people who claim that anthem as their own.
Understanding National Anthems: Where They Come From
National anthems are a nearly ubiquitous part of a country’s identity. With only a few exceptions, every country lays claim to a piece of music that is uniquely its own (Cyprus is a rare exception, with no anthem of its own). Typically, these anthems arise from poems or famous songs. Why anthems develop at all comes down to history, specifically the moment a country first consolidated its national identity.
For many countries, this time period was the mid-1800s to early 1900s, when modern nation-states were taking shape. Anthems are tied closely to nationalistic sentiments, so they tend to form when people come together as a country. For example, when the Dutch gained their independence, they penned the words that would become their anthem to establish their distinct identity.
What Goes into a National Anthem?
One thing you might notice if you watch the World Cup on TV or attend in person is that people respond very differently to anthems. These differences reflect how a country sees itself and what it values. The Greek national anthem, for instance, has been significantly shortened from its original 158 stanzas. The lyrics were chosen from the work of Dionysios Solomos, a national poet who wrote the stanzas in honor of the Greeks’ war of independence against the Ottomans. To the Greeks, this hallmark of history was a defining moment, and compromising on the poem would limit the impact of that victory and transformation. Thus, while the performed version of the anthem is shorter, it is “officially” 158 stanzas long as a tribute to the storied history of Greece.
The Power of Collective Song
You can analyze the form and function of a national anthem, but analysis alone can’t capture what it feels like to sing one. In that minute or two of music, the words and notes take on an entirely different meaning: they bind people in commonality, fostering a sense of belonging that can be hard to find elsewhere.
Collective song holds significant power. It is a means of identifying the “in-group” and creating what many perceive as a safe, welcoming, and supportive place to be. It also extends identity outward, sharing one culture’s unique story with everyone else present. Paradoxically, the anthem both separates and unites, with each country asserting its distinct identity within a shared celebration of the sport.
Language also plays an important role in national anthems. To some extent, there is an inherent form of exclusion that comes with singing an anthem in a specific language. But this is not a problem! In fact, for many people, it means they feel closer to other people from their country. It also exposes other teams to the singers’ unique culture, further fostering a multicultural appreciation of the players and the countries they represent.
Some anthems use wordings that are poetic, while others are only decades old and feature more modern construction. No matter the format and content, what remains true is that national anthems can bring people together and help them stand apart: both of which create the rich, culturally dynamic environment you’ll see at the World Cup. So as you watch people stand and sing (or not) their national music, consider not just what it means to their history but what it means to them, together, in that moment, as well as to the people (like you!) listening.
