World Cup of Anthems: Week 4

[degenerasian]

Welcome to Week 4. From last week, Uzbekistan, Tonga and Chad advance into Round 2. I moved Chad forward based on "The Chad Song" comments.

For tournament format, go to original Post.

Week 1, Round 1, Group 4 (Sierra Leone, Burundi, Georgia, Turkmenistan, San Marino, Malta, Maldives, Liberia, Rwanda, Lithuania)

Vote for as many as you want. Anthems are below, in most cases, I have tried to find a solo singer version. Voting is from Monday to Monday.

[+] spoiler

Sierra Leone



Burundi



Georgia



Turkmenistan



San Marino


Malta



Maldives


Liberia



Rwanda



Lithuania

[bapo!]

Oman got bounced already? I'm 0-3, with all of my favorites losing in the first round. (I'm still angry about Saint Kitts.) Well, let's hope that all of this week's anthems are terrible so that I won't feel an emotional attachment to any of them.

[Pruitt]

Oman got bounced already? I'm 0-3, with all of my favorites losing in the first round. (I'm still angry about Saint Kitts.) Well, let's hope that all of this week's anthems are terrible so that I won't feel an emotional attachment to any of them.

A farce! Oman was a good.

[+] spoiler

Horrible performance by the African sides. Liberia had no melody, Rwanda's sucks, Sierra Lameo and Burundi "Recognized as worthy of self-government"?
Malta sounds like an 80's love song and San Marino is disqualified for mentioning another country in the lyrics. Has to be a violation of the World Cup of Anthems' statutes.
Lithuania's sounds like the Nazi song "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" from Cabaret. My ancestors didn't fare well with Lithuanians, and this anthem made me want to hide in the basement until the pogrom ended.

Georgia, Turkmenistan (short version) and Maldives get my votes

[bapo!]

Burundi has some unexpected rhythms. It sounds like it was written by some skinny bearded Williamsburg kid in 2006.

I can't decide if I like Liberia, or if I just really like that particular arrangement.

Maldives got my third vote this week. I expect to be disappointed when the results are posted.

[degenerasian]

Friday bump. Need more votes.

[Nonlinear FC]

Sierra Leone - I feel like I've heard this same anthem now (at this point in the tournament, which is an unfair knock but tough to shake.) (0) Kinda digging the change of pace in the middle of the stanzas. (+1) REALLY nice kicker at the end... Got me in the feels. (+2) The official version is just a bit too long. (-1) = +2

Burundi - This one got fucked up because the live version is SO BAD and it came first. But that's not Burundi's fault (stares daggers at degen) (0) That said, the "formal" version sounded like the vocals were being backed by one of those one man bands with a cymbal between his knees, a tuba and an accordion. What a cacophony! (-3) I couldn't get through the whole thing. = -3

Georgia - Woof. Starts off like a mix of Star Wars and Medieval Times. (-1) Something is clearly off with the translation because saying My icon is my motherland, and the whole world is an icon stand... I dunno man. (0) Huh. Again, I wonder if the translator was wanting to move on, because that's a lot of singing for what amounts to 4 rhyming stanzas.(0) I'm cool with an anthem you are compelled to shout-sing. (+1) = 0

Turkmenistan - I'm kind of digging the schizophrenic nature of this song. Is it Arabian Nights? Is it Pennsylvania Polka? Who cares, it works! (+2) *Taps on imagined watch* Three minutes and fucking thirty seconds!!?? Edit that shit, Turkmen Leaders. (-1) Live version slapped (though, holy fuck, homogenous much? Jeeesus.) (+1) = +2

San Marino Woof. BoooooRING. (-2) Sounds like Opera Man just winging it. (0) Now you're throwing the honor of Italy? Have some fucking self-respect (-1) This is the first anthem that has angered me. = -3

Malta - Jeez, paranoid much? First two lines are about the need to be guarded. (0) I mean, it's fine. Not really moving the needle much. = 0

Maldives - Ok.. Now we're cooking with gas! Strong instrumentals out of the gate. Let's get to marchin' or some such adjacent activity. (+1) And now we're whipping through some peppy lyrics! Fucking Maldives, who knew? (+2) That's how you anthem! *stares at Burundi* = +3

Liberia - HellYEAH... Great start out of the gate... Grab 'em in the feels! (+2) Official version... C'mon man. I don't have all fucking day. (-1) I was really hoping the alternative version was going to help them out... Nope. (0) = +1 (provisional... I really like the anthem, especially if they have a shorter version... You're really gonna make a crowd sit there for 3 full minutes before a soccer game?)

Rwanda - Just kinda like a hymnal, and not in the black Baptist Church awesome way. (-1) Never really gets off the ground. The alternative version puts a little life into it, but not much. = -1

Lithuania - Ah, back to the basics... But in a good way. (+1) You can really put your back into this one. Alternate version sniffs around the heft and gravitas of O, Canada. (+2) = +3

[sancarlos]

RE: Malta - you’d probably be a little paranoid if for your entire recorded history you’ve been a punching bag for Phoenicians/Romans/Sicilians/French/Spaniards/Ottomans/pirates.

(I learned this on a plane one time when I sat next to a guy from Malta. He was a bit frustrated that the only thing most Americans know about his country is The Maltese Falcon - which is just a fictional movie maguffin.)

[Nonlinear FC]

RE: Malta - you’d probably be a little paranoid if for your entire recorded history you’ve been a punching bag for Phoenicians/Romans/Sicilians/French/Spaniards/Ottomans/pirates.

(I learned this on a plane one time when I sat next to a guy from Malta. He was a bit frustrated that the only thing most Americans know about his country is The Maltese Falcon - which is just a fictional movie maguffin.)

That was my joke!

[Nonlinear FC]

There are 3 monsters on this board... Fucking Burundi??

[bapo!]

There are 3 monsters on this board... Fucking Burundi??

I like things that surprise me. It reminds me of all of that experimental noise rock I was listening to 15 years ago. I've sat thru a lot of mediocrity the past few weeks, so it was nice to hear something with spirit.

[sancarlos]

RE: Malta - you’d probably be a little paranoid if for your entire recorded history you’ve been a punching bag for Phoenicians/Romans/Sicilians/French/Spaniards/Ottomans/pirates.

(I learned this on a plane one time when I sat next to a guy from Malta. He was a bit frustrated that the only thing most Americans know about his country is The Maltese Falcon - which is just a fictional movie maguffin.)

That was my joke!

What? Not a joke - it really happened.

[Nonlinear FC]

RE: Malta - you’d probably be a little paranoid if for your entire recorded history you’ve been a punching bag for Phoenicians/Romans/Sicilians/French/Spaniards/Ottomans/pirates.

(I learned this on a plane one time when I sat next to a guy from Malta. He was a bit frustrated that the only thing most Americans know about his country is The Maltese Falcon - which is just a fictional movie maguffin.)

That was my joke!

What? Not a joke - it really happened.

My joke was acting like I didn't know why they were being paranoid. I'm aware of their history.