National Anthem Comparison
Colombia vs Venezuela
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
77
77 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Colombia and Venezuela, both South America nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Colombia's "National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia" was written in 1887, while Venezuela's "Glory to the Brave People" dates to 1810.
Both anthems share themes of freedom and battle / war. Colombia additionally explores independence and god / faith, while Venezuela also touches on revolution, flag and unity.
The emotional tones differ: Colombia's anthem is proud, while Venezuela's is fierce.
Venezuela's anthem predates Colombia's by 77 years, having been written in 1810 compared to 1887.
Shared themes
Colombia
🕊 Freedom 🗽 Independence ⚔ Battle / War ✝ God / Faith
Venezuela
🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War 🔥 Revolution 🚩 Flag 🤝 Unity
Shared themes:
🕊 Freedom ⚔ Battle / War
Metadata
| Colombia | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1887 | 1810 |
| Adopted | 1920 | 1881 |
| Lyricist | Rafael Núñez | Vicente Salias |
| Composer | Oreste Sindici | Juan Jose Landaeta |
| Language | es | es |
| Region | South America | South America |
Lyrics Side by Side
Colombia
Himno Nacional de la República de Colombia
Original
[Coro]
¡Oh gloria inmarcesible!
¡Oh júbilo inmortal!
En surcos de dolores
El bien germina ya.
Cesó la horrible noche,
La libertad sublime
Derrama las auroras
De su invencible luz.
La humanidad entera,
Que entre cadenas gime,
Comprende las palabras
Del que murió en la cruz.
Translation
[Chorus]
Oh unfading glory!
Oh immortal joy!
In furrows of sorrow
Goodness now germinates.
The horrible night has ceased,
Sublime liberty
Spreads the dawns
Of its invincible light.
All of humanity,
Which groans in chains,
Understands the words
Of the one who died on the cross.
Venezuela
Gloria al Bravo Pueblo
Original
[Coro]
¡Gloria al bravo pueblo
Que el yugo lanzó,
La Ley respetando,
La virtud y honor!
¡Abajo cadenas! (bis)
Gritaba el señor; (bis)
Y el pobre en su choza
Libertad pidió.
A este santo nombre
Tembló de pavor
El vil egoísmo que otra vez triunfó.
[Coro]
Gritemos con brío: (bis)
¡Muera la opresión! (bis)
Compatriotas fieles,
La fuerza es la unión;
Y desde el empíreo,
El Supremo Autor
Un sublime aliento
Al pueblo infundió.
[Coro]
Unida con lazos (bis)
Que el cielo formó, (bis)
La América toda
Existe en nación;
Y si el despotismo
Levanta la voz,
Seguid el ejemplo
Que Caracas dio.
[Coro]
Translation
[Chorus]
Glory to the brave people
Who shook off the yoke,
Respecting the law,
Virtue and honor!
Down with chains! (bis)
Cried the lord; (bis)
And the poor man in his hut
Asked for freedom.
At this holy name
Vile selfishness trembled in fear,
Which had once again triumphed.
[Chorus]
Let us cry out with vigor: (bis)
Death to oppression! (bis)
Faithful compatriots,
Strength lies in union;
And from the empyrean,
The Supreme Author
Breathed a sublime spirit
Into the people.
[Chorus]
United by bonds (bis)
That heaven formed, (bis)
All of America
Exists as a nation;
And if despotism
Raises its voice,
Follow the example
That Caracas gave.
[Chorus]
Interesting facts
Colombia
- 1. The full anthem has a chorus and eleven stanzas, but it is almost never sung in full: most Colombians, and most official ceremonies, sing only the chorus and the first stanza.
- 2. The first stanza invokes Christ: all humanity, 'groaning in chains', understands 'the words of the one who died on the cross'.
- 3. Under Law 198 of 1995, radio and television stations that broadcast around the clock must play the official version of the anthem every day at 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM; stations with shorter schedules play it when they open and close their daily broadcasts.
Venezuela
- 1. Venezuela was the first Spanish American colony to formally declare independence, on July 5, 1811, and its anthem reflects this pioneering revolutionary spirit
- 2. The lyricist Vicente Salias was executed by Spanish royalist forces in Puerto Cabello in 1814; accounts of the composer Juan Jose Landaeta's death differ, with some historians saying he died in the Caracas earthquake of 1812 and others that royalists executed him in Cumaná in 1814
- 3. The anthem's authorship has been debated; some historians attribute the music to Lino Gallardo rather than Landaeta, and the words to Andrés Bello rather than Salias
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Colombia
Venezuela
