Dan Banks answered
Most of the differences between an official national anthem and a national song of a country arise in the song's use and application. Typically, both a national anthem and a national song have plenty in common in terms of both the written music and the lyrical content.
Differences between a national anthem and a national song.
SImilarities between a national anthem and a national song.
Differences between a national anthem and a national song.
- National anthems are traditionally played on national holidays, festivals and important state occasions. Nowadays national anthems are more commonly heard during international sporting events. National songs are not used in these cases.
- A national anthem is a national song which the state has considered the most important, because of either its age or lyrical content.
- Usually a national anthem is the best known national song of a country.
SImilarities between a national anthem and a national song.
- The vast majority of both national anthems and national songs are hymns or marches.
- Usually they are both powerful songs written in major keys, which makes them sound upbeat. Although there are some exceptions - the Bulgarian and Turkish national anthems are written in a minor scale!
- National songs and anthems contain nationalistic lyrics which are supposed to evoke a deep feeling of patriotism when sung by citizens of that country.
