[Jimbee (OP)]

I just wanted to ask this question, if anyone knows the answer. Why is the Ode to Joy the default melody for every new national anthem? There are a lot of classical melodies after all.

As I said on another message board, I was thinking "He Shall Feed His Flock" from Handel's Messiah. Or perhaps even another one.

Plus the Ode to Joy? It's kind of catchy. But I don't know if I like it that much.

[Bored chemist]

Why is the Ode to Joy the default melody for every new national anthem? T

How many new national anthems are there?

I had a look.
Here are the new countries
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/newest-countries
And the first 3 anthems

None of them is the Ode to Joy.

So... what were you talking about?

[alancalverd]

Methinks he is confused by the European Union's adoption of the OtJ.

[Jimbee (OP)]

Good point/s.

Anyways, just to answer bored chemist's question...

Well, I already knew the European Union. I thought Esperanto movement used it. But they don't.

I knew at least one African country used it. It is "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia" (or "Voices of Rhodesia"), the national anthem of Rhodesia.

Also, this quote is interesting:

Over the years, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" has remained a protest anthem and a celebration of music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Joy

So alancalverd I'm curious. Why did the european Union adopt it as their anthem?

[Bored chemist]

Good point/s.

Anyways, just to answer bored chemist's question...

Well, I already knew the European Union. I thought Esperanto movement used it. But they don't.

I knew at least one African country used it. It is "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia" (or "Voices of Rhodesia"), the national anthem of Rhodesia.

Also, this quote is interesting:

Over the years, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" has remained a protest anthem and a celebration of music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Joy

So alancalverd I'm curious. Why did the european Union adopt it as their anthem?

So... you think Rhodesia is a new nation.

Methinks he is confused by the European Union's adoption of the OtJ.

I think he's more confused than you expected.

[alancalverd]

So alancalverd I'm curious. Why did the european Union adopt it as their anthem?

I am unable to think of a logical reason why the EU ever did anything, apart from maintaining market prices. The Commissioners being devoid of any spark of originality, I assume they just took a tune that they had all heard at whatever dreary middle-of-the-road  concert they once attended and assumed that it was "safe" and out of copyright.

[Bored chemist]

As  usual, if you want to find out something (unimportant) about the EU, you can google it.

https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/symbols/european-anthem_en

"The poem "Ode to Joy" expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers - a vision Beethoven shared."

I am unable to think of a logical reason why the EU ever did anything

Your inability to think of things may be more a characteristic of you, than of them.