Should sports reps sing their national anthems?
Before the 2nd test France vs the All Blacks I noticed how the French sang their national anthem with pride and vigour. And how the All Blacks didn’t. Well, most of them didn’t.
A couple did sing with sincerity, a few were mumbling something, but the majority were closed-mouthed and stoney-faced.
Sure, they’re focussing on the game, trying to remember everything coach Henry told them to do, but I think it’s a shame they don’t sing. It’s a poor reflection on them as representatives of their country. Professionalism is all very well, but I’d hate to think that they view playing for New Zealand as just a day job.
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Best and worst national anthems
After spending many a gruelling minute listening to national anthems, here are my picks for best and worst (if YouTube is being a pig and not loading my links, you’ll just have to go search directly):
Best
1. South Africa – still gives me goosebumps knowing the history, haunting and stirring at the same time.
2. Russia – extremely rumpty tumpty music but a bit long so my ears glazed over.
3. France – of course, theirs had to be immortalised in one of the best movies of all time (see also Casablanca).
Worst
1. Greece – please wake me when it’s over (all 128 verses of it).
2. Australia – it’s not actually that bad but they do say their land is girt by sea, which of course we Kiwis would change to ‘dirt by sea’.
3. Italy – perhaps the silliest, starts out like something from the Nutcracker and then goes all Verdi.