Tuesday 8 June 2010

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave!

During my final year at University one of my housemates and I decided to stay up and soak up the atmosphere of the Superbowl in the USA. For such a spectacular sporting and entertainment event, with amazing scenes of madness going on from the teams bursting through huge banners to the camera flashing-firework exploding bonanza of the coin toss the one thing that stuck out was the singing of the National Anthem.

So strong was the impression left by Kelly Clarkson's rendition of the wonderful Star Spangled Banner that one of the studio analysts went on to announce that was in his 'Top 3' of anthem performances. What a bizarre statement we thought as we looked at each other bemused and amused. Did this man really have a list of great national anthem performances?!

After a little thought however I can see why he would have such a list. The National Anthem for me is one of the most exciting parts of the World Cup, moving grown men to tears and subconsciously forcing you to stand a few inches taller with pride at your nations call to arms and unity. With the World Cup fast approaching, and having recently been reminded of my experience watching the Superbowl anthem I have taken a leaf out of said Superbowl commentators book and compiled my own list of top anthems for the teams in the World Cup. I tried to whittle it down to top 3 but felt compelled to include a top 5 to do the teams justice.


The Proudest moment for any player

The moments when the teams line up in symmetry with the crowd in the stands and the first few notes of the national anthems start booming from the roof tops you know the World Cup is upon us.

In Fifth and Fourth place respectively we have the rousing German Anthem and the most enjoyable Brazil Anthem. Both bring back memories of previous tournaments, and as both sides are usual suspects towards the latter stages of the tournament they are both anthems that are familiar with your average football fan. However both anthems miss out on a top 3 spot due to the magnificence of the French Anthem and the absolute brilliance of the Italy Anthem.

Yet for all the emotion and excitement evoked by such works of musical art, nothing can come close to the rising crescendos of the superb Star Spangled Banner. The USA Anthem comes out on top as no one does national pride quite like the Americans. The very basis of the American psyche is to be a beacon of light for the world to follow and the Star Spangled Banner screams with pride and joy at being the 'Land of the Free and Home of the Brave'.

Humorist Richard Armour said of the American Anthem:

Bombs were soon bursting in air, rockets were glaring, and all in all it was a moment of great historical interest. During the bombardment, a young lawyer named Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Spangled Banner, and when, by the dawn's early light, the British heard it sung, they fled in terror!"

Many in the American camp at this years World Cup will be hoping for a similar affect on the English players on Saturday night in Rustenburg.


Picture Credit: MCT Direct
Picture Credit (2) :Bob Thomas, Getty Images

No comments:

Post a Comment