Story Behind the Anthem
Welcome to Story Behind the Anthem, a new series that seeks to appreciate the beauty of one of the most important symbols of a country: the national anthem. Every two weeks, we’ll focus on the music, the lyrics, and the stories of how they came to be, one beloved Latin American country at a time.
Argentine National Anthem (Himno Nacional Argentino)
Since May 11, 1813, Argentines celebrate Anthem Day every year to commemorate the date that their anthem was officially declared by the Asemblea General. Originally called Marcha Patriótica, it was written by Vicente López y Planes and set to music by Blas Parera.
The anthem went through a modification process throughout the years. The name was changed several times, and the music was modified in 1860 by Juan Pablo Esnaola. However, the lyrics were modified as well. The original lyrics written by López expressed hatred of the Spanish colonizers. As more Spanish immigrants inhabited Argentina, the words of the anthem began to seem offensive. Therefore, in March of the year 1900, General Roca, who was president at the time, ordered the anthem to be abridged, leaving only the first and last stanzas, and the chorus.
Lyrics
Oíd Mortales, el grito sagrado:
¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!
¡Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas:
veddel trono a la noble Igualdad!
Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron
las Provincias Unidas del Sud,
y los libres del mundo responden
¡Al gran Pueblo Argentino salud!
Al gran Pueblo Argentino salud!
Y los libres del mundo responden
al gran Pueblo Argentino salud!
Y los libres del mundo responden
al gran Pueblo Argentino salud!
Coro
Sean eternos los laureles
que supimos conseguir
que supimos conseguir:
coronados de gloria vivamos
o juremos con gloria morir!
O juremos con gloria morir!
O juremos con gloria morir!
Mortals! Hear the sacred cry:
“Freedom, freedom, freedom!”
Hear the noise of broken chains,
see the noble Equality enthroned.
The United Provinces of the South
have now opened their very honorable throne.
And the free people of the world reply:
“We salute the great people of Argentina!”
“We salute the great people of Argentina!”
And the free people of the world reply:
“We salute the great people of Argentina!”
And the free people of the world reply:
“We salute the great people of Argentina!”
Chorus
May the laurels be eternal
that we knew how to win,
that we knew how to win.
Let us live crowned with glory…
or swear to die gloriously!
Or swear to die gloriously!
Or swear to die gloriously!
About Cindy Tovar
Funny. I always thought that the phrase “en los campos, las espinas, y en el centro de mi corazon, el espirtu de Argentina” was from the anthen. But I was wrong. Somehow that refrain was stamped in my head in my preschool days in Buenos Aires. And yet now, I can’t remember anything else about it. Weird, no?
I love this concept. Looking forward to reading about other countries!!!
Awesome! This is why I love BL. I’m also looking forward to it.
This is awesome, I love the focus on one country at a time!
… Try singing the Anthem… Yikes…
Latin American countries have one of the best National Hymns in the world some have up to 15 stanzas. Makes ours look a bit small, lol
This is great!! Thanks!!
A funny note to put aside, there is still a dispute over where Carlos Gardel, the famous tango artist was born. Some people say he was born in France, others say he was born in Uruguay or Buenos Aires, in Argentina. My grandfather always liked tango music and always had a special place for Argentina. I suppose its because he had his own radio station program during the early 60′s before immigrating to the US. Thought that was an interesting topic to share about.
Son los colores. Hermoso. Mi tierra
Are you going to feature the one where the Mexican music stars took the United States anthem and they sung it Spanish and changed all the words? I would like to read the spin you put on that one. I wonder how Mexicans would feel if we took their and sung it in English with all the lyrics changed and it was sung in Mexico City.
Must you demonize Latinos every chance you get, Mario? And you wonder why people call you a “self loather”. Just about every reference you make towards Latinos is a negative one. You love to point out the negative on your own people, don’t ya?
Sure I do. Especially when the Latinos here are arrogant and indulge in feats of nonsensical, reverse racist, self gratification, blame others for their own problems without looking within, and continue with an entitlement mentality that is not good for the country and is going to make non Latinos resent you even more. Hate me all you want but I am not the only one here that thinks this way. Besides, these are all opinions no matter what. On a case by case person to person basis I would not act this way. But as a group…you say I drink the Kool Aid, but you guys have drunk the whole Kool Aid factory and all its nation wide distribution centers!
Please, you’re hooked up to the Kool Aid I.V.!! Repeating vile right wing rhetoric that does nothing but divide not only the Latino community, but the nation as a whole. We say equal rights, you hear racism. You hear womans rights, you scream feminazi. Funny that conservatives are to preach love of neighbor but every single stance taken by the right screams otherwise. Lack of empathy. No sympathy for those who are less fortunate. Everyone on welfare is a leach. You classify entire groups under the same umbrella. It’s disgusting.
What exactly is reverse racism? By definition this term is nonsensical!
It does seem a particular cognitive dissonance, a distortion of facts and intent to twist things against your own people…
Reverse racism = contradiction in terms and it’s conservative code for “f—k minorities who complain.”
I blame no one, arrogant self hating Latina that I am!
Oh man, lol conservatives, these are much of the supremacist rich dudes who dont really care about anything else than exploiting the true working class, creating wars with other nations, interfering with everybody, teaching egocentrism, and trying to impose theocracy upon a democracy. Conservatives are the reason why the world hates us, and why were 87th in the list of countries with the best foreign policy and why we havent been able to breath peace for just a moment, because we’ve been at war for over 200 years.