National Anthems- Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Written by: Jordan Pearson  (2013)

Edited by: Jesús Hidalgo (February 2015)

Click here to return to the main page- National Anthems: The Music of the World Cup. This page has a directory to link you to all the national anthems for the teams in the 2014 World Cup.

Uruguay

 

Himno Nacional de Uruguay

CHORUS:
Orientales la Patria o la Tumba!
Libertad o con gloria morir!
Orientales la Patria o la Tumba!
Libertad o con gloria morir!
Es el voto que el alma pronuncia,
Y que heroicos sabremos cumplir!
Es el voto que el alma pronuncia,
Y que heroicos sabremos cumplir!
Que sabremos cumplir!
Es el voto que el alma pronuncia,
Y que heroicos sabremos cumplir!
Que sabremos cumplir!
Sabremos cumplir!
Sabremos cumplir!
Sabremos cumplir!

National Anthem of Uruguay

CHORUS:
Eastern landsmen, our country or the grave!
Freedom, or with glory to die.
Eastern landsmen, our country or the grave!
Freedom, or with glory to die.
This is the vow that our souls take
And which we know how, courageously, to fulfil,
This is the vow that our souls take
And which we know how, courageously, to fulfil,
Know how to fulfil,
This is the vow that our souls take
And which we know how, courageously, to fulfil,
Know how to fulfil!
Know how to fulfil!
Know how to fulfil!

 Analysis

Just like other Latin American epic anthems, Uruguay’s national anthem resembles an Italian opera. The Hungarian composer Debály Ferenc József, who changed his named to Francisco José Debali when he migrated to South America in 1838, allegedly composed the music of the Uruguay anthem in 1848. The poet Francisco Esteban Acuña de Figueroa wrote the lyrics for the government after his homeland gained its independence from Spain in 1828.

Even though only one verse is sang today, performing the anthem takes nearly five minutes if the musical introduction is included, making it the longest hymn in the world. [1]

Keep an eye on Edinson Cavani, Uraguay’s top forward.


Costa Rica

 

Himno Nacional de Costa Rica

Noble patria tu hermosa bandera
Expresión de tu vida nos da:
Bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo
Blanca y pura descansa la paz.

En la lucha tenaz de fecunda labor

Que enrojece del hombre la faz,
Conquistaron tus hijos, labriegos sencillos,
Eterno prestigio, estima y honor,
Eterno prestigio, estima y honor.

¡Salve oh tierra gentil, salve oh madre de amor!
Cuando alguno pretenda tu gloria manchar,
Verás a tu pueblo, valiente y viril
La tosca herramienta en arma trocar.

¡Salve oh patria! tu pródigo suelo
Dulce abrigo y sustento nos da;
Bajo el límpido azul de tu cielo
¡Vivan siempre el trabajo y la paz!

National Anthem of Costa Rica

Noble homeland, your beautiful flag
Express for us your life:
Under the limpid blue of your skies,
Peace reigns, white and pure.

In the tenacious battle of fruitful toil,

That brings a glow to men’s faces,
Your sons, simple farm hands,
Gained eternal renown, esteem and honour
Gained eternal renown, esteem and honour.

Hail gentle country, hail loving mother!
If anyone should attempt to besmirch your glory,
You will see your people, valiant and virile,
Exchange their rustic tools for weapons.

Hail O homeland! Your prodigal soil
Gives us sweet sustenance and shelter.
Under the limpid blue of your sky,
May peaceful labour ever continue.

 Analysis

Manuel María Gutiérrez composed the music for this anthem in 1852 after the government asked hum to write a national anthem. In 1900, a contest was held to replace the lyrics and the winning lyrics by José María Zeledón Brenes are still used today.

Though the anthem and lyrics were both in common use, the hymn was not officially adopted until 1949.

Make sure to watch Bryan Ruiz, Costa Rica’s attacking midfielder.


England

 

God Save the Queen

God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

Analysis

Before everybody tears me apart, let me clarify that I know it: the flag shown in the video is not England’s. However, because the English country is part of the United Kingdom, its national hymn is officially “God Save the Queen,” the national anthem of the UK. There are other anthems that are often associated with England’s national sporting teams and thus considered by many England’s unofficial national hymns- namely, “Land of Hope and Glory,” and “Jerusalem.” “God Save the Queen” is, nevertheless, always sang during international soccer competitions and the World Cup.[3][4][5]

Watch out for Wayne Rooney, one of England’s important forwards.


Italy

 

Il Canto degli Italiani

Fratelli d’Italia
L’Italia s’è desta,
Dell’elmo di Scipio
S’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò

Fratelli d’Italia
L’Italia s’è desta,
Dell’elmo di Scipio
S’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò

CHORUS:
Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò.

Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò! (Sì!)

The Song of the Italians

Italian Brothers,
Italy has awakened,
She has wreathed her head
With the helmet of Scipio.
Where is Victory?
She bows her head to you,
You, whom God created
As the slave of Rome.

Italian Brothers,
Italy has awakened,
She has wreathed her head
With the helmet of Scipio.
Where is Victory?
She bows her head to you,
You, whom God created
As the slave of Rome.

CHORUS:
Let us band together,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called us.

Let us band together,
We are ready to die,
We are ready to die,
Italy has called us! (Yes!)

 Analysis

Goffredo Mameli composed Il Canto degli Italiani (“The Song of the Italians”) in 1847 and the hymn is often referred to as  Fratelli d’Italia (“Brothers of Italy”) nowadays. There has been recent debates about the possibility to replace the anthem since the lyrics refer to past events that have little resonance with contemporary Italy. For instance, senator Umberto Bossi proposed to adopt “Va, pensiero,” an excerpt from a Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Nabucco, as the national anthem.  Many people also say that the music does not do justice to the works of many other great Italian composers. However, the melody is iconic and has caught on with so many Italians that some say it would be hard to replace it in the near future.[6]

Be sure to watch Mario Balotelli Italy’s team. Here is a little more about him.


References

[1]  “Uruguay » nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

[2] “Costa Rica » nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

[3] “England (‘Jerusalem’)» nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

[4] “England (‘Land of Hope and Glory’)» nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

[5] “United Kingdom » nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

[6] “Italy » nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

How to cite this article: “National Anthems: The Music of the World Cup,” Written by Jordan Pearson (2013.) Edited by Jesús Hidalgo (2015.) World Cup 2014, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University, http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp (accessed on (date)). 


2 thoughts on “National Anthems- Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

  1. Pingback: How Does Your Country Sound? | GROVES Blog

  2. Peter

    If you or your readers speak and understand Italian, you will enjoy this incredible monologue by the inimitable Academy Award-winning actor Roberto Benigni. It was broadcast live during the Festival di Sanremo on national TV.

    Benigni entered the theater on a white horse (sic!) and went on to explain the true meaning, history, and political significance of the anthem composed by Goffredo Mameli, a patriot who died at the tender age of 21:

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=73xWk8zfuU8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D73xWk8zfuU8

    Reply

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