The only clue for France that I can see is that the anthem was born out of the French Revolution during which thousands of nobles ("vile despots") had their heads cut off.
The 'vile despots' referred to in La Marseillaise were the absolute monarchs of Prussia, Austria and Russia who jointly declared war on France before the French Revolution had even properly started. It's got nothing to do with domestic nobles.
Oh dear this is embarrassing. I'm Canadian and yet nearly missed Canada altogether; I only ever hear the original French version (or the bilingual one sung at Habs games in which the first half is in French), and the French and English "Ô Canada" are two completely different songs. It was easier to guess the other countries, as those were literal tranlsations in English. Well, I'll go to bed a little less ignorant tonight.
I see that Vietnam was the one that most people missed. For me 'the gold star' was a dead giveaway, seeing as Vietnams falg is basically a gold star on a red background.
working backwards yes there is logic. But a) there are several countries wth stars on their flags and b) how would you know it was even about flags?? there are uncountable amount of stars in the sky and all countries could be referring to them. It is a word that is used metaphorically so often.
and afaik the star on the flag isnt fluttering unless they have put LED's in it. But it still wouldnt on paper etc. A fluttering star makes you think of a real one or atleast a symbolic one, not a flag.
I guess I was thinking of flickering or something. Sometimes it is hard to translate from english, when different languages use (nearly) the same word but in a slightly different way. Other times... it is sleepdeprevation haha.
I don't know how anyone could make a quiz like this and not add the German national anthem. in my opinion, its the best, especially when you realize what it actually means when you translate it!
"Deutschland über alles" is no longer part of their official anthem. Their current anthem is very generic. The French anthem, on the other hand, is full of blood and guts.
The lyrics were never changed, but they avoid to use the verse with "Deutschland über alles". Anyway, that text is obviously Lutheran. On the other hand, the Marseillaise is a revolutionary song, with all the violence that implies...
"Unity and justice and freedom for the German fatherland! Let us all strive for this, brotherly, with heart and hand! Unity and justice and freedom are the foundation of happiness. Bloom in the sparkle of this happiness, bloom, German fatherland!" Seems like it might be too much of a giveaway.
I only knew the US, Australia, the UK and France, but got them all thanks to the abundant clues - mostly with very little time. Norway and Russia I briefly struggled with, but got there.
Almost missed the Netherlands clue altogether because I'd never seen the words in English. It is only when I saw "Orange" that I translated the rest of the sentence and realized that it was "Wilhelmus".
GSTQ is the National Anthem of the UK, including Wales and Scotland. At sporting events, they sing Land of my Fathers or Flower of Scotland, but that does not alter the fact.
Only missed Norway and France. Where is New Zealand? "God defend our free land". Good clue - it rhymes with "God defend New Zealand." Of course. And "Guard Pacific's triple star from the shafts of strife and war".
If you're looking for a tricky one, here's Poland (crude translation): "we were given an example by Bonaparte how to win". Little people would have thought it's Poland, rather France or sth.
The anthem comes from the very end of the 18th century, when Poland was annexed by Russia, Prussia and Austria (1795) and a bulk of Polish soldiers went to France to help Napoleon in his fight against these countries, hoping for the independence of Poland. Napoleon did introduced a semi-independent Polish duchy afterwards, but in the end nothing worked out.
It all depends what parts you choose. If you want to confuse people you could say : I am of German blood (descend) and have always honoured the king of Spain. Which is in the dutch anthem...
There are so many beautiful anthems but for me, the Icelandic anthem is the most beautiful and haunting. "Iceland's thousand years, Iceland's thousand years: one small flower in eternity with a quivering tear, which worships its God and dies." I could be biased, though. :)
It is indeed quite beautiful, poetic and sort of tragic. Flowers with trembling tears, and "from heavenly starbundles thou braided a wreath of thine legions gathered through time".
(perhaps I switched subject and indirect object though.. the complete translations I can find are all over the place so I decided to analyse it myself, but this is a hard distinction to figure out in many languages, if give you and you give has no difference or something added like give to)
Úr sólkerfum himnanna hnýta þér krans þínir herskarar, tímanna safn = Your legions/troops/armies, the collection of the ages, weave for you a wreath out of the heavenly solar systems.
southern in relation to Russia. There is no country with territory in the arctic that touches the Southern Ocean, so if you think about it for a second it becomes pretty obvious.
There, in fact, is such a country, and it is Norway - as they have Bouvet island as a part of their territory (uninhabited, sure, but still part of their land).
The clue is from the (never, EVER sung) third verse. The translation of the part that is sung is "Let's go, children of the fatherland, the day of glory is come. Against us is tyranny, the bloodied standard is raised! The bloodied standard is raised! Do you hear these fierce soldiers howling in our fields? They are coming all the way into your arms to slit the throats of your children, of your partners! To arms, citizens, form your battalions! Let us march, let us march, and may impure blood water our furrows!"
Just letting you know, no one in Australia ever normally sings the second verse of our national anthem, and the majority of the population doesn't know it at all. So perhaps you could change the chosen lyrics to something from the first verse?
Wanted to guess an English-speaking country for Vietnam because the lines rhyme in English. Must be a poetic translation rather than literal, unless the Vietnamese words for "afluttering" and "suffering" also rhyme. Ha.
and afaik the star on the flag isnt fluttering unless they have put LED's in it. But it still wouldnt on paper etc. A fluttering star makes you think of a real one or atleast a symbolic one, not a flag.
The anthem comes from the very end of the 18th century, when Poland was annexed by Russia, Prussia and Austria (1795) and a bulk of Polish soldiers went to France to help Napoleon in his fight against these countries, hoping for the independence of Poland. Napoleon did introduced a semi-independent Polish duchy afterwards, but in the end nothing worked out.
(perhaps I switched subject and indirect object though.. the complete translations I can find are all over the place so I decided to analyse it myself, but this is a hard distinction to figure out in many languages, if give you and you give has no difference or something added like give to)
is just that. Mexicans have been self-deporting from the USA for the last twenty years. For illegals, look to Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.
Another reason why Cyprus should be regarded as European, but that's another topic...
Surprised at how low hungary was though, since it has the most obvious clue it basicly spells it out for you.
Infantile emotional bollocks…
English-
They are coming right to your arms.
To cut off the throats of your sons and companions!
To arms, citizens!
French-
Ils viennet jusque dans vos bras,
Egorger vos fils et vos compagnes!
Aux armes, citoyens!
I know French culture. And don't tell me you got it from wikipedia, I wouldn't if I were you, just saying.
In my defence, I’ve haven’t heard our national anthem in over a decade, and even then, it’s normally sung in Irish.
"to arms citizens" (aux armes citoyens) in the chorus is however the most famous part.