Interesting Facts

The comedy national anthem from Baron Cohen's film Borat was played at a medal ceremony for Kazakhstan's shooting team at championships in Kuwait, instead of the real one. (The Kazakhstan anthem goes:- Sky of golden sun, Steppe of golden seed, Legend of courage - Take a look at my country! From antiquity Our heroic glory emerged, They did not give up their pride My Kazakh people are strong! Chorus: My country, my country, As your flower I will be planted, As your song I will stream, my country! My native land – My Kazakhstan! The way was opened to posterity I have vast land. Its unity is proper, I have an independent country. It welcomed the time Like an eternal friend, Our country is happy, Such is our country. Chorus The lyrics to Borat's version goes:- Kazakhstan greatest country in the world all other countrys are run by little girls. Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium! Other countries have inferior potassium. Kazakhstan h...

Apparently the national anthem of Greece has 158 verses! (Well, not quite. The original was written by Dionýsios Solomós in 1823 and had 158 stanzas.  Fortunately for us in the Olympics next year, they now only use the first two!)

The Spanish national anthem has no words. (The French sing the Marseillaise, the British chant God Save the Queen. But Spain's anthem, the Royal Spanish March, one of Europe's oldest national anthems, has never had an official verse to go with the tune. Listen Here .

The American national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner," is set to the tune of an English drinking song ("To Anacreon in Heaven"). (Now that was a good idea.)