National Anthem Comparison
Montenegro vs Serbia
3
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
132
132 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Montenegro and Serbia, both Europe nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Montenegro's "Oh, Bright Dawn of May" was written in 2004, while Serbia's "God of Justice" dates to 1872.
Both anthems share themes of Identity, Freedom and Resilience. Montenegro additionally explores Nature and Love of homeland, while Serbia also touches on God / Faith and Unity.
The emotional tones differ: Montenegro's anthem is Proud, while Serbia's is Prayerful.
Serbia's anthem predates Montenegro's by 132 years, having been written in 1872 compared to 2004.
Montenegro changed its national anthem in 2004, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Montenegro
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland 🏛 Identity 🕊 Freedom 💪 Resilience
Serbia
✝ God / Faith 🕊 Freedom 🤝 Unity 💪 Resilience 🏛 Identity
Shared themes:
🏛 Identity 🕊 Freedom 💪 Resilience
Metadata
| Montenegro | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 2004 | 1872 |
| Adopted | 2004 | 2006 |
| Lyricist | Sekula Drljevic (original poem) | Jovan Djordjevic |
| Composer | Traditional Montenegrin folk melody | Davorin Jenko |
| Language | sr | sr |
| Region | Southern Europe | Southern Europe |
Lyrics Side by Side
Montenegro
Oj, svijetla majska zoro
Original
Oj, svijetla majska zoro,
Majko naša Crna Goro,
Sinovi smo tvog stijenja
I čuvari tvog poštenja.
Volimo vas, brda tvrda,
I stravične vaše klance,
Koji nikad ne poznaste
Sramotnog jarma lance.
Dok lovćenskoj našoj misli
Naše more tiho teče,
Dok za narod srce bije,
Biće hrabrih za vjekove.
Translation
Oh, bright dawn of May,
Our mother Montenegro,
We are the sons of your rocky cliffs
And guardians of your honor.
We love you, hard mountains,
And your fearsome gorges,
Which never knew
The chains of shameful bondage.
While our thought reaches to Lovćen,
Our sea flows quietly,
While our hearts beat for the people,
There will be brave souls for ages.
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
Montenegro
- 1. Montenegro's anthem has no official lyrics in practice; at most public events, including sports matches, only the instrumental version is performed because the text remains politically contentious.
- 2. The original poem by Sekula Drljevic was controversial because Drljevic later collaborated with the Nazis during WWII, leading to ongoing debates about separating the art from the artist.
- 3. The folk melody predates the lyrics by centuries and was traditionally sung by Montenegrin warriors before battle, making it one of Europe's oldest anthem melodies still in use.
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
Montenegro
Serbia
