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.

Reach for the stars

Are you using them correctly? 10 space idioms and their curious origins!

Image: Mathew Schwartz

Outer space has fascinated human beings since ancient times. We have studied and explored it so much over the years that space and everything we know about it has even found their way into our everyday language! Today, we're discovering the origins of 10 famous space-related idioms. Get ready for an astral journey!

Image: Javier Miranda

You forgot your wallet, missed your appointment, and left your phone at home. You're totally on another planet today.

When your friends explain that board game five times and you still don't get it, when you're completely unaware of the latest news, or you just can't focus on what you're doing, we could say you're "on another planet."

This expression gained popularity during the era of space exploration when people began contemplating the possibility of life on other planets, with customs, languages, and ideas entirely different from our own.

Image: nousnou iwasaki

He promised me the moon, but I knew it was too good to be true.

Undoubtedly, the moon plays a starring role in our language. It's not only the main character of poems, but it also features in many idioms we use! But be careful: if someone "promises you the moon," you should be a bit suspicious.

Who could bring down the moon? It’s an impossible mission! That’s why the expression "promise the moon," which became widespread in the mid-1800s, refers to promises that are unrealistic or very difficult to fulfill.

Image: Greg Rakozy

Their love story seemed like it was written in the stars, always meant to be.

In the past, many people believed the position of the stars at the time of one's birth could significantly influence their destiny. Based on this belief, when something is described as "written in the stars," it means it was fated to happen.

A similar concept appears in Shakespeare's famous 16th-century tragedy Romeo and Juliet. In the play, the term "star-crossed lovers" describes Romeo and Juliet, whose tragic end was seen as inevitable, destined by the stars.

Image: Norbert Kowalczyk

She spaced out during the lecture and didn’t hear a word the professor said.

When you can’t concentrate at work, find yourself daydreaming, or are so tired that you’re just staring blankly, you’re "spaced out." It can also describe moments when you’re simply not paying attention.

Someone is spaced out when they're distracted, disconnected, or mentally absent. This expression is believed to have originated in the 20th century, gaining popularity in the 1960s when space exploration was at its height and sci-fi movies and TV series were booming.

Image: SpaceX

Don't worry! Assembling this furniture is not rocket science; anyone can do it.

When humans began actively exploring space, organizations like NASA emerged. They not only showed us that reaching the moon was possible but also revealed how incredibly difficult and complex rocket science can be. That’s why the popular idiom "it’s not rocket science" is used to suggest that something is simple, straightforward, or doesn’t require much analysis. You know, tasks like making scrambled eggs or brewing your morning coffee really shouldn’t be rocket science!

Image: Alberto Bigoni

She's absolutely down to earth, despite being a successful CEO.

While being "on another planet" or "lost in space" suggests a detachment from reality, being "down to earth" means the complete opposite: having a practical, grounded perspective.

Someone who is down to earth is rational, pragmatic, and realistic. Much like saying someone has their "feet on the ground," the expression is tied to the idea of staying grounded in reality and being firmly aware of everyday human existence.

Image: Manouchehr Hejazi

She always encouraged her children to reach for the stars.

The famous and celebrated Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil features the Latin expression ad astra, which translates to "to the stars." In Virgil's work, the expression is associated with high ambitions, the pursuit of greatness, and elevated desires. This is believed to be the origin of the idiom "reach for the stars," which carries the same meaning. When you set high goals or strive for extraordinary achievements, you’re definitely reaching for the stars!

Image: Sanni Sahil

I don't usually eat fast food, but once in a blue moon, I'll grab a burger.

Astronomically speaking, each season typically lasts about three months and contains three full moons. However, if a fourth full moon appears within a single season, it’s known as a "Blue Moon."

But here's the thing: a fourth full moon is an extremely rare occurrence! That's why the idiom "once in a blue moon" is used to describe events or situations that happen occasionally, or rather, very rarely.

Image: Neven Krcmarek

She was over the moon when she found out she got the job!

When something happens that fills you with happiness or makes you want to jump for joy, you're said to be "over the moon." The origins of this idiom are believed to stem from the old 16th-century nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle, which goes, "Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun and the dish ran away with the spoon." One of the first appearances of the expression in print can be found in Charles Molloy’s 18th-century play The Coquet: "Tis he! I know him now: I shall jump over the Moon for Joy!"

Image: Matthew Henry

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I'll stay home and rest.

The position of the Earth relative to the Sun at specific times directly impacts our atmosphere, which in turn drives the seasons and various weather phenomena. The popular idiom "under the weather" is used to describe feeling unwell, whether physically or emotionally.

But what's the origin of this particular expression? It's believed to have arisen in the nautical language in the 19th century: when sailors felt sick or unwell, they were said to be affected by the harsh weather conditions; in other words, they were "under the weather"!