Nathional anthems and characterisation in Hetalia

[drcalvin]

I noticed a couple of things when I looked up various national anthems - some of them seem to match their nation-tan really well. Has anyone else noticed this? Do you think it's just coincidence or something Hidekaz used as inspiration for creating his characters?

Comments

[drcalvin]

I know *sweatdrop* That's really not Hungary-tan at all... It would (only Hetalia-wise now, not to insult anyone!!) fit poor shivering Latvia more. Instead his song is pretty cheerful

[drcalvin]

I know, my family comes from Hungary so I've heard plenty tales of woe.

My grandmother: The downsides of living on a giant plain in the middle of everything, is that everyone's army will march over you on their way to the real war ^^;;

[mwuuh]

Norway:
"Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with the thousands of homes.
Love, love it and think
of our father and mother
and the saga night that sends
dreams to our earth.
(repeat the last two lines)"
Or so Wikipedia says. I've never really thought of the lyrics before. Uh, feel free to interpret? I sense there's something mystical about the two last lines. "Love and think of our father and mother"? Now I haven't seen Norway's parents, but since apparently he considers Iceland to be his brother, we could quickly change "mother and father" into "brother", and then it would fit. ♥ Oh, Iceland.
(Oh, hey, look, they made an English version, too. Why haven't I seen this before?)

[drcalvin]

The old saga motif in the end of the first part fits well with Norway's troll companion (or whatever that thing is)

[m_clancy]

Also, don't forget that Norway refer to both Denmark and Sweden as his 'brothers'.

The enemy threw away his weapon,
up the visor went,
we, in wonder, to him hastened,
because he was our brother. (Sweden)
Driven forth to a stand by shame
we went to the south; (Denmark in the South)
now we three brothers stand united,
and shall stand like that!

[mwuuh]

Oh! That's lovely!
Hehe, I didn't notice it before. I've sung all the verses, like, once. But I love this. Lovely~

[glareola]

Well, of course Austria's anthem is the prettiest *is shot by the other countries* Okay, okay, Switzerland has a very nice anthem too...

You shouldn't sing the first stanza of the "Deutschlandlied" (=Germany's Song) in Germany. Never. Only the third stanza is the national anthem.
Though honestly... I like the second stanza best! It's so fitting, I must give you the translation:

German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song
Shall retain in the world
Their old beautiful Chime
And inspire us to noble deeds
During all of our life.
|: German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German song! :|

Women and wine, eh, Germany? I always knew he was that kind of guy...

[mcmitters]

I think Italy is rubbing off on him.

[iroh_fancier]

*giggles inappropriately*

[drcalvin]

To be quite honest, I would never in life dare to try and sing the German anthem anywhere in Germany. I'll just leave that to the Germans and hope they know when (and what!) is appropriate...

Hahaa. Now that sounds more like a Hetalia-song - they've all been about food so far, haven't they?

[shiruji_chan]

Wow these fit amazingly... OoO NOW I understand why there are two italian brothers! XDD;

After reading this it hit me that you actually might have a point there.
I found that the Norwegian anthem reminds me of Norways characterisation.
-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUtiIMZIVOU / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja_vi_elsker
Espescially the two lines that go: og den saganatt som senker/ and the saga night that sends
drømmer på vår jord./ dreams to our earth.
It gives off Norway's "mysterous" personality and has a sort of magic (?) feeling to it. There are also mentions of Sweden and Denmark.

[drcalvin]

True, true.

Aw, scandinavian love ^_^ Except when they fight each other. Ah well, such is family?

[shiruji_chan]

Yes indeed XD;
They are actually referred to as brothers in the anthem... Ah the sibling love XDDD;

[aki_bara]

Yeah, out of all the anthems, I found his the most fitting. Then again.. he's one of the characters the fandom knows the least about. xD

Nice icon btw. B]

[mind_turpizm]

Actually if you look at the beginning of Poland's anthem:
"Poland's not dead yet, as long as we're alive"
I guess it fits its "Hetalian" comparision to phoenix?
I mean, Poland had been mocked hard and even erased from the map ("killed") at some point, but the Poles were always able to bring it back to life again.

[drcalvin]

Yeah, that fits him really well! =)