National Anthem Comparison
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Serbia
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
126
126 years apart
✓
Same continent
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Intermeco
Comparison Analysis
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Bosnia and Herzegovina's "Intermeco" was written in 1998, while Serbia's "God of Justice" dates to 1872.
Both anthems share themes of Unity and Identity. Bosnia and Herzegovina additionally explores Peace, while Serbia also touches on God / Faith, Freedom and Resilience.
The emotional tones differ: Bosnia and Herzegovina's anthem is Solemn, while Serbia's is Prayerful.
Serbia's anthem predates Bosnia and Herzegovina's by 126 years, having been written in 1872 compared to 1998.
Bosnia and Herzegovina changed its national anthem in 1999, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Bosnia and Herzegovina
🤝 Unity ☮ Peace 🏛 Identity
Serbia
✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience 🏛 Identity
Shared themes:
🤝 Unity 🏛 Identity
Metadata
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1998 | 1872 |
| Adopted | 1999 | 2006 |
| Lyricist | Instrumental (no official lyrics) | Jovan Djordjevic |
| Composer | Dusan Sestic | Davorin Jenko |
| Language | bs | sr |
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Intermeco
Instrumental (no lyrics)
Serbia
Боже правде
Original
Боже правде, ти што спасо
од пропасти досад нас,
чуј и одсад наше гласе
и од сад нам буди спас.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Сложи српску браћу драгу
на свак дичан славан рад,
слога биће пораз врагу
а најјачи штит и град.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Нек на српско бојно коло
тврда вера стоји стражу,
на наш штит удари само
и на наше злато свражу.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Из мрачнога сину гроба
српска круна засија,
обновљено царство ново
ново коло народа вија.
Моћном руком води, брани
будућност српске земље,
Боже спаси, Боже храни,
српске земље, српски род.
Боже спаси, Боже храни
моли ти се српски род!
Translation
God of Justice, You who saved us
from destruction until now,
hear our voices from now on
and be our salvation still.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
Unite the dear Serbian brothers
in every glorious and noble work,
Unity shall be the defeat of the enemy
and the mightiest shield and fortress.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
Let firm faith stand guard
over the Serbian battle circle,
Let it strike upon our shield alone
and upon our golden banner.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
From the dark grave shines forth
the Serbian crown,
a renewed kingdom anew,
a new circle of people weaves.
With Your mighty hand, lead and defend
the future of the Serbian land,
God save, God protect,
the Serbian lands, the Serbian people.
God save, God protect,
the Serbian people pray to You!
Interesting facts
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 1. The anthem is one of only a handful in the world that has no official lyrics; the wordlessness is itself a deliberate political compromise among Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs.
- 2. It became official on 25 June 1999 by direct order of High Representative Carlos Westendorp under his Bonn powers, after the Parliamentary Assembly could not pass the law itself.
- 3. The previous anthem, "Jedna si jedina," was arranged by Dino Merlin from the Bosnian folk song "S one strane Plive"; Bosniaks still sing it informally.
- 4. Lyrics titled "Ti si svjetlo duse," written by composer Dusan Sestic with Benjamin Isovic, were approved by a parliamentary commission in 2009 but have never been formally adopted.
Serbia
- 1. The anthem is one of the few in Europe written as a prayer; its structure closely mirrors an Orthodox Christian hymn, reflecting Serbia's deep ties to the Serbian Orthodox Church.
- 2. During the Yugoslav era, the song survived as an unofficial patriotic tune performed at church gatherings and private celebrations, keeping it alive for over 80 years before its official restoration.
- 3. Davorin Jenko, the Slovenian who composed the melody, also wrote the music for what would become the Slovenian national anthem, making him the composer behind two different countries' anthems.
Listen
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
