National Anthems- Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Written by: Jordan Pearson  (2013)

Edited and updated 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.

Brazil

 

 Hino Nacional Brasileiro

Ouviram do Ipiranga às margens plácidas
De um povo heróico o brado retumbante,
E o sol da liberdade, em raios fúlgidos,
Brilhou no céu da Pátria nesse instante,

Se o penhor dessa igualdade
Conseguimos conquistar com braço forte,
Em teu seio, ó, Liberdade,
Desafia o nosso peito a própria morte!

Ó Pátria amada, Idolatrada, Salve! Salve!

Brasil, um sonho intenso, um raio vívido,
De amor e de esperança à terra desce,
Se em teu formoso céu, risonho e límpido,
A imagem do Cruzeiro resplandece.

Gigante pela própria natureza,
és belo, és forte, impávido colosso,
E o teu futuro espelha essa grandeza

.CHORUS:
Terra adorada, Entre outras mil, és tu, Brasil,
Ó Pátria amada! Dos filhos deste solo és mãe gentil,
Pátria amada, Brasil!

Brazilian National Anthem

The Ypiranga’s placid banks heard
The resounding shouting of a heroic people.
And the sun of freedom, in bright rays,
Shone at this moment in the homeland’s skies.

As the promise of this equality
Was secured by our strong arms,
In your bosom, O Freedom,
We are ready to die!

O beloved, idolized homeland, hail, hail!

Brazil, a vivid dream, a lively ray
Of love and hope settles on the earth,
As in your beautiful sky, smiling and limpid,
The image of the Southern Cross shines resplendent.

A giant by nature, you are beautiful,
Strong, an intrepid colossus,
And your future mirrors this grandeur.

CHORUS:
O land we adore, among a thousand others
You are the beloved one.
You are the gentle mother of the sons of this land,
Beloved homeland, Brazil!

Analysis

Since the Brazilians reached the semifinals in the World Cup they hosted, we heard their national anthem several times. Upbeat from the beginning, this hymn is a tribute to the free spirit and beauty that characterize the five-time World Cup champions. Francisco Manoel da Silva wrote the lyrics in 1822, and the anthem was made public at the very beginning of the Imperial Period (1831-1889.) When Brazil became a republic in 1889, the imperial hymn was disbanded in favor of a new republican version. However, the population disapproved it and the original was reinstated in January 1890. The anthem was merely instrumental until the current lyrics were officially adopted in 1922.[1]

Click here for an analysis of Neymar, considered the star of this year’s Brazilian team.


Croatia

 

Lijepa Naša Domovino

Lijepa naša domovino,
Oj junačka zemljo mila,
Stare slave djedovino,
Da bi vazda sretna bila!

Mila, kano si nam slavna,
Mila si nam ti jedina,
Mila, kuda si nam ravna,
Mila, kuda si planina!

Our Beautiful Homeland

Our beautiful homeland,
Oh dear, heroic land,
Fatherland of ancient glory,
May you always be happy!

Dear, as much as you are glorious,
Only you are dear to us.
Dear, where your land is flat,
Dear, where it is mountainous.

Analysis

“Our Beautiful Homeland,” pretty much sums up the gist of this anthem. It is a tribute to the geographic beauty and elegance of the country, specifically highlighting the Croatian flat and mountainous areas. Though unofficially used since the 1840s, Croatia officially adopted this as its national anthem in 1972, when the country was technically still part of Yugoslavia. The lyrics were slightly changed in 1990, when Croatia gained independence.[2]

Darijo Srna is the player to watch on the Croatian team. Find out more about him here.


Mexico

 

Himno Nacional Mexicano

Ciña ¡oh Patria! tus sienes de oliva
de la paz el arcángel divino
que en el cielo tu eterno destino
por el dedo de Dios se escribió.

Mas si osare un extraño enemigo
profanar con su planta tu suelo
piensa ¡oh Patria querida! que el cielo
un soldado en cada hijo te dio.

CHORUS:
Mexicanos, al grito de guerra
el acero aprestad y el bridón
y retiemble en sus centros la tierra
al sonoro rugir del cañón.

National Anthem of Mexico

O Homeland! may your brow be wreathed with the olive
By the divine archangel of Peace
For in heaven, your eternal destiny
Has been written by the finger of God.

But if a foreign enemy should dare
To profane your ground with his step,
Think, o beloved Homeland! that heaven
Gave you a soldier in each son.

CHORUS:
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
Grasp the steel and the bridle,
And let the earth’s core tremble
To the roar of the cannon

Analysis

Though an unofficial name, this anthem is often referred to as “Mexicanos, al grito de guerra,” or “Mexicans, to the War Cry.” Unlike most of the anthems in this World Cup, the lyrics for the Mexican one were written first and the music composed later, both as part of a national competition. The ten-verse poem highlight epic scenes from Mexican history. For the World Cup, a shortened version is played, consisting of the chorus, first verse, and then the chorus again.[3]

“Chicharito” will be the Mexican player to watch. Click here to find out more.


Cameroon

 

Ô Cameroun, Berceau de nos Ancêtres

Ô Cameroun berceau de nos ancêtres,
Va, debout et jaloux de ta liberté.
Comme un soleil ton drapeau fier doit être,
Un symbole ardent de foi et d’unité,
Que tous tes enfants du Nord et Sud,
De l’Est à l’Ouest soient tout amour!
Te servir que ce soit le seul but
Pour remplir leur devoir toujour.

CHORUS:
Chère Patrie, terre chérie,
Tu es notre seul et vrai bonheur.
Notre joie, notre vie,
A toi l’amour et le grand honneur.

O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers

O Cameroon, thou cradle of our fathers,
Holy Shrine where in our midst they now repose,
Their tears and blood and sweat thy soil did water,
On thy hills and valleys once their tillage rose.
Dear Fatherland, thy worth no tongue can tell!
How can we ever pay thy due?
Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace,
Will be to thy name ever true!

CHORUS:
Land of Promise, land of Glory!
Thou, of life and joy, our only store!
Thine be honour, thine devotion,
And deep endearment, for evermore.

Analysis

Cameroon, a French-English bilingual nation, boasts a set of official lyrics for “O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers,” in each of the two languages. Interestingly enough, the English and French lyrics are strikingly different in content: a translation of the French lyrics does not match up with the English lyrics at all.[4] However, the general message of both versions is the same. Both underline filial piety and the duty that Cameroonians proudly have: to be loyal to and serve their country.

Be sure to watch Samuel Eto’o, the forward on Cameroon’s team. Here is a little more about him.


References

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

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

[3] “Mexico» nationalanthems.info.” nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 9 Dec 2013.

[4]  “Cameroon» 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)). 

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