How did Francis Scott Key's poetic tribute to the defense of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 come to be one of the most revered and recognizable songs in America, gaining legal status as the official song of the United States? In fact, some people might argue that the song wasn't always American. Though a celebrated part of American culture today, 'The Star Spangled Banner' has not always been America's national anthem. Poland: Jeszcze Polska nie zgineta ( Wybicki trad.). Norway: Ja, vi elsker dette landet ( Bjørnson, 1864 Nordraak). Netherlands: Wilhelmus von Nassouwe ( Marnix, c.1570 mus. Italy: Fratelli d'Italia ( Mameli Novaro, 1847). Israel: Kol od balevav (known as Hatikvah ( N. Ireland: Sinne Fianna Faïl at' fé gheall ag Eirinn ‘Soldiers are we whose lives are pledges to Ireland’ ( Heaney Kearney). Greece: Segnorizo apo tin Kopsi ( Solomós Mantzaros, 1828). Great Britain: God Save the King (Queen). Haydn) since 1950, Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit (to Haydn's tune).

Germany (before 1945): Deutschland, Deutschland über Alles ( Fallersleben J. France: Allons, enfants de la patrie, known as La Marseillaise ( R. Finland: Oi maamme, Suomi synnyinmaa! ‘O our native land’ ( Runeberg Pacius, 1848). Denmark: Kong Kristian ( Ewald ? Rogert, 1779). Czechoslovakia: 1 (Czech): Kde domov müj? ‘Where is my home?’ (Tyl Skroup) 2 (Slovak): Nad Tatrousa blýska ‘On Tatra mountains lightning strikes’ (Matúška trad.). China: March on, brave people of our nation (collective text Nie Erh, 1932). Chile: Dulce patria, recibe los votos ( Pintado, rev. Belgium: Après des Siècles d'esclavage, known as La Brabançonne ( Dechet, whose text was replaced 1860 by another by Rogier F. In 1919 a new anthem, Deutsch-Österreich, du herrliches Land ( Renner Kienzl, 1919) was chosen, but abandoned in 1929 when Haydn's tune was reinstated until 1947). Mozart) (before 1919): Gott erhalte unsern Kaiser ( Haschka J. Austria (since 1947): Land der Berge, Land am Strome ( Preradovi mus. Among the best-known (with author and composer, where both are known) are: Australia (since 1974): Advance Australia Fair ( P. when a competitor is awarded a medal in the Olympic Games. on official occasions and to represent them at int. Songs or hymns adopted by certain nations to be perf.

Listen to the star spangled banner song