I’d like to discuss the background of the two national anthems of my mother country - Vietnam and Australia. It also involves the comparison and my point of views between these two national anthems.
First of all, I would like to discuss the Australian national anthem: “Advance Australia Fair”. The words and music to this song were written in 1878 by Peter Dodds McCormick, a Scotsman who emigrated to New South Wales in the 1850s. For a brief history, Australia Government ran a competition in 1973: the Australia national anthem quest. Out of thousands of nominees, six were chosen including Advance Australia Fair. But the judges couldn’t agree on a winner. Then, a plebiscite held in 1977 overwhelmingly favoured Advance Australia Fair, but it would be another eight years and another change in government before it all became official. Finally, the song became the national anthem of Australia and was officially declared on 19 April 1984. A new national anthem was required because Australia became more independent that many people didn’t think the old one was relevant anymore.
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Recently, there are many mixed opinions that many people willingly stand up for an alternative while the others are proud and preserve this song. In my opinion, the Advance Australia Fair is the spiritual dish of the Australians, so all of them need to be satisfied with their national anthem. To achieve that satisfaction, altering a national anthem is not too difficult.
Next, I am going to show you Vietnamese national anthem “Tien Quan Ca” - “Marching Song”, which were written and composed by Van Cao in 1944. The 'Marching Song' was adopted as the national anthem of North Vietnam in 1945, and was declared as the national anthem of the new unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976 (after the reunification of both North Vietnam and South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War). The “Marching song' was composed during the struggle against the French colonialists of the Vietnamese. Therefore, it was used to encourage and motivate the soldiers’ spirit to fight against foreign invaders to preserve our territory.
I am a student myself, so I could feel the smouldering of blood in the hearts of people longing for a bright future when I sing the national anthem during the flag salutation every Monday. We were forced to sing the national anthem with words (without backing music). By that way, we proudly enunciate every majestic word and represent our patriotism, gratitude of ancestors who sacrificed. It also shows national pride and motivation for the younger generation
In comparison these two national anthems, there are some similarities and differences that I find out myself. The first common point of them is that the person who composed them is an 'outsider'. Advance Australia Fair was composed by an original Scottish composer Peter Dodds McCormick. The strange thing is that the Australian national anthem was not composed by an Aboriginal but by a foreigner. Quite similarly, the Vietnamese National Anthem was originally written in the form of a march to encourage soldiers outside the battlefield. But at that time, Van Cao did not even know the war zone as well as the revolutionary soldiers. He was just thinking of writing a simple song for them to sing. Secondly, both of them have lyrics that emphasise the desire for freedom and independence. As mentioned above, the language style used in the Advance Australia Fair is poetic, uplifting and playful in some way. “Tien Quan Ca” used a lot of Sino-Vietnamese words so it is more serious, stately, and even redolent of gunpowder. Other difference is in the theme of the songs. “Advance Australia Fair” is a bit praising the natural beauty of the country. Meanwhile, “Tien Quan Ca” of Vietnam is inclined of patriotism, profound hatred of the enemy and triumphant victory. Besides, Australian national anthem was composed and voted when the country was completely independent, but the Vietnamese national anthem was composed when the country was divided between the North and the South due to the Vietnam war. Last but not least, the melody of these two songs is not bustling, cheerful or rollick, they sound a bit eloquent, dignified and even dirge-like. But in my personal opinion. Advance Australia Fair is somewhat brighter while The Marching Song is more majestic.
Subjectively, I love the national anthem of my country - Vietnam more than any others in the world because I probably understand its historical context and the profound meaning of each word. 'The national anthem is the soul of the nation. If we don't appreciate it, how can we educate the younger generation?” Said, Vietnamese President. Objectively, the Marching Song is still better than the other anthems I know. I can not explain this! But not only me, everyone has a place to belong to and has a national anthem that they consider to be the best in the world.
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