National melodies

Why is the King of Spain mentioned in the Netherlands' national anthem?

The purpose of a national anthem is to foster a sense of patriotism and unity among the citizens of a nation, but there are as many ways to achieve this as there are nations. While some anthems reflect on glorious deeds of the past, others express a shared desire for peace and prosperity, or celebrate love for their country, its lands, its leaders, and, at times, even the leaders of another nation. Let’s take a look at 10 national anthems with curious stories.

We all know the story of how The Star-Spangled Banner was written after a battle, but did you know it was not officially adopted as the national anthem for over a century? Composed during the War of 1812 under the title Defence of Fort M’Henry, it quickly became popular as a patriotic song and was officially adopted by the U.S. Navy in 1889. It was not declared the national anthem until 1931.

Some critics point to references in the third stanza—particularly language interpreted as relating to slavery—as well as the documented views of its author, Francis Scott Key. However, opposition to the song’s adoption at the time was more often based on its difficult vocal range and competition from other popular patriotic songs. Despite these debates, the poem—especially its first stanza—has long been regarded as a symbol of national unity.

Composed in 1572, it is one of the oldest national anthems still in use. The lyrics are written from the perspective of William of Orange—the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Empire—and reflect his inner struggles between his loyalty to the Spanish King and his duty to his people.

Though the original text has at least 15 stanzas, only the first stanza and sometimes the sixth are sung today, which can be confusing for those unfamiliar with the historical context, as the first stanza ends by declaring undying loyalty to the king of Spain.

After the 1917 Russian Revolution, the newly formed Soviet Union adopted the socialist anthem The Internationale as its national anthem. In 1944, the Soviet government replaced it with a new anthem centered on Soviet Russia, with lyrics that emphasized the Soviet fatherland and Joseph Stalin’s leadership, though it was often performed without lyrics after Stalin’s death.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russian Federation adopted an instrumental piece known as The Patriotic Song, composed in 1833 by Mikhail Glinka. After a decade of debates, and citing the need for an anthem that people could sing, the government decided to restore the former Soviet melody, this time with newly written lyrics.

How many countries can say that they owe their national anthem to a moment of panic? At least one. Malaysia’s national anthem was adopted after its independence from the United Kingdom, using the melody of the anthem of the state of Perak. But where does that melody come from?

When the Sultan of Perak attended the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, his delegation was asked to provide their state anthem. Not having one, he improvised and adapted the melody of a popular tune from the Seychelles. This melody was later adopted as the official anthem of Perak and eventually became the basis for Malaysia’s national anthem.

Composed and adopted as the national anthem during the Argentine War of Independence, but before the formal declaration of independence from Spain, this song was initially called the Patriotic March. It was much longer than the current anthem, and its lyrics were controversial, as they portrayed Spain as a tyrannical and bloodthirsty nation.

The anthem originally contained nine stanzas—including accusations towards Spain—which were used until 1924, when improved diplomatic relations with Spain and the arrival of thousands of Spanish immigrants led the government to shorten the lyrics and omit the more controversial parts.

Famed for having lyrics in five of the twelve official languages of the country —Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English— this anthem was officially adopted after the end of apartheid, and reflects a broader desire for national unity.

The post-apartheid government initially retained the former Afrikaans anthem, while also adopting the Xhosa hymn Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa), which had long been used as a song of resistance. Maintaining two anthems proved impractical, so their lyrics were combined and translated into other majority languages to create a single national anthem that could represent all South Africans.

When Czechoslovakia existed as a single state, it adopted a combined national anthem consisting of the first stanza of the Czech song Kde domov můj ("Where Is My Home?"), followed by the first stanza of the Slovak song Nad Tatrou sa blýska ("Lightning over the Tatras").

After the country’s peaceful dissolution in the Velvet Divorce (1992), Czechia retained Kde domov můj as its national anthem, while Slovakia retained Nad Tatrou sa blýska, which is typically performed with two stanzas and in its traditional form.

Though its lyrics come from a poem dating to the 8th-10th centuries, Kimigayo was not adopted as Japan's national anthem until 1888, and it's one of the world’s shortest anthems. After World War II, it was not officially designated as the national anthem due to its imperial associations, though it continued to be used. It regained formal legal status in 1999.

Often translated into English as His Majesty's Reign, its initial verse is commonly rendered as "may your reign [continue]." The word kimi has historically been used for the emperor, and the song's brief lyrics express a desire for the Imperial reign to endure for thousands of years, "until the tiny pebbles grow into massive boulders."

In a similar fashion to the Wilhelmus, the Netherlands anthem, Andorra’s anthem is also written from a first-person perspective, this time not from an individual but the country itself, remembering its glorious past.

Composed in the early 20th century, it was adopted as the national anthem in 1921. In the lyrics, Andorra presents itself as a princess, daughter of Charlemagne, and describes itself as the "only remaining daughter of the Carolingian Empire."

A relatively new anthem, _Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka_—adopted in 2007—replaced the Shriman Gambhir following the abolition of the monarchy in Nepal. It’s notable for its distinctive melody, upbeat and joyful, quite different from other solemn or martial tone anthems.

The lyrics describe Nepal as a garland woven from hundreds of flowers, stretching from one corner of the country to the other, and emphasize the diversity of its people and landscapes.

Word twins that aren’t

You think you know what these words mean... But you probably don't!

Image: Eileen Pan

You’re not the only one who thinks the English language plays tricks on us. Plenty of everyday word pairs sound like they’re interchangeable, but using the wrong one can make all the difference. You know what they say: the devil’s in the details. So today, we’re unpacking a few of those tricky duos that people tend to mix up. Buckle up for a fun little language tune-up. It’s never too late to outsmart your spellcheck.

Image: Victor G

Contrary to what you might think, negative reinforcement isn’t about scolding—it’s actually about removing something unpleasant to encourage a behavior. Punishment, on the other hand, involves adding something unpleasant to stop a behavior.

So, if you want to discourage your dog from chewing shoes, a punishment might be a firm "No!", while negative reinforcement could involve removing a leash restriction after the dog stops barking. Remember: one removes to reward, the other adds to deter.

Image: Tim Mossholder

Prejudice lives in the mind: it’s a preconceived opinion about someone based on group identity. Discrimination? That’s when you act on that opinion. For example, someone might think all redheads are hot-tempered (prejudice), but if they refuse to hire one (discrimination), that’s when it crosses the line. Both are harmful, but one’s silent, and the other speaks volumes. And we would advise against both anyway!

Image: Joeyy Lee

This one’s a classic. While race often refers to physical traits like skin color—think White, Black, or Asian—ethnicity digs deeper, encompassing culture, language, and ancestry, like Irish American, Korean, or Ashkenazi Jewish.

You can belong to the same race but be part of very different ethnic groups. For example, two people might be considered "Asian" by race but have entirely different cultures if one is from India and the other from Japan.

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Here’s a helpful distinction: disease is the malfunction; illness is the experience. Disease is what the doctor diagnoses—say, bronchitis. Illness, on the other hand, is how you feel while you’re stuck in bed binge-watching old Westerns with a box of tissues.

It’s possible to have a disease and feel just fine, or to feel ill without knowing the exact disease yet. Sociologists use this distinction to better understand how culture and emotions influence how people seek treatment. It’s why two people with the same diagnosis might cope in very different ways.

Image: mali desha

They both feel unpleasant, that’s for sure—but anxiety and fear are not the same. Fear is your brain saying, "Danger is here!" Anxiety is your brain saying, "Something might go wrong," even if it’s just in your mind.

Fear is about an immediate, unavoidable threat. Anxiety is more like a long-term guest who overstays their welcome, even after the threat is gone. They also show up differently in your body and brain. Knowing which one you’re experiencing can help you cope more effectively.

Image: Saulo Meza

These two are emotional cousins, but most people use them interchangeably. Empathy is when you feel with someone, like you step into their shoes and walk around a bit. Sympathy is when you feel for someone, offering comfort from the outside.

Empathy connects more deeply but takes more energy; sympathy is often where people start. Both are kind, but one reaches across the table, and the other passes the tissues. Either way, we need more of both in the world, don’t you think?

Image: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona

Let’s clear this one up: a delusion is a belief that isn’t based in reality, while a hallucination is a perception that isn’t based in reality. Think of it this way: if someone believes the government is watching them through their TV (when it isn’t), that’s a delusion. If someone sees people in the room who aren’t there, that’s a hallucination.

One is about what’s believed to be true; the other is about what’s actually sensed. Both are serious symptoms often linked to mental health conditions, but they’re very different in nature and require different approaches to treatment.

Image: Deniz Demirci

If you’ve ever said, "I’m obsessed with crossword puzzles," you’re probably not using the clinical definition. In psychology, an obsession is an intrusive thought or image you can’t shake. A compulsion is the ritual or behavior you feel forced to do in response.

Obsessions might involve a fear of germs; compulsions might include constant handwashing. According to the DSM, compulsions follow rigid rules, while obsessions are mental intruders. They often go hand in hand, but they’re distinct players in the OCD story.

Image: Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu

Testing is all about collecting data, scores on an IQ test, and answers on a personality inventory. Assessment is putting those puzzle pieces together to understand the person or situation as a whole.

A single test score can say something, but an assessment interprets what it means in real life. Scientists use both to theorize and come up with explanations and solutions. But confusing the two can lead to misunderstanding the process, and your results.

Image: Viktor Talashuk

These two terms are often tossed around interchangeably in movies, but they’re not the same. Psychopaths are typically cold, calculated, and harder to spot in a crowd. Sociopaths are more impulsive, emotional, and prone to erratic behavior.

What do they have in common? Both fall under the broader category of antisocial personality disorder. While the terms aren’t used as official diagnoses, they describe different shades of the same behavioral spectrum.