Main content
What makes a great national anthem?
Every country has one; sometimes bellicose, sometimes wistful, occasionally jaunty and usually intensely patriotic. But what makes a good national anthem?
The journalist Alex Marshall has written a book on the subject, called Republic or Death: Travels in search of National Anthems.
He spoke to Nick Higham about some of the world's best-known anthems, some of the more unexpected, and why he dislikes our own quite so intensely.
Duration:
This clip is from
More clips from 20/08/2015
-
What a world leader's vehicle says about them
Duration: 03:03
-
The brothers kept in virtual isolation for 14 years
Duration: 04:30
More clips from Today
-
Lily Allen's new album: Does brutal honesty sell?
Duration: 04:22
-
Aid to Gaza should not be 'weaponised' - WHO Director-General
Duration: 10:01
-
Sir Bradley Wiggins: My past does not define me
Duration: 12:56
-
Jeremy Bowen: Chances of peace in the Middle East
Duration: 10:01