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Our ongoing search for the world's best national anthem powers on to Ghana and God Bless Our Homeland Ghana:

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Composed by Philip Gbeho and originally known as Lift High the Flag of Ghana, the Ghanaian national anthem dates back to 1957 when the country became the first in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from a colonial power. (Us.)

Following a coup, Gbeho's lyrics were scrapped in 1966, however, and eventually replaced by a new text, written by student Michael Kwame Gbordzoe.

Pumped full of pomp and circumstance, it's easy to see the British influence on God Bless Our Homeland Ghana and, in this case, it works pretty well.

Fun Ghana Fact: The word Ghana means "Warrior King".

Bonus Ghana Fact: Ghana's national football team are known as the "Black Stars" (like on the flag), the Under-20 team as the "Black Satellites", and the Under-17s as the "Black Starlets".

7.5 out of 10

Source: Complete National Anthems of the World

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Posted on YouTube by ronnyn74:

The Masters of the Universe star makes a surprise appearance at the Swedish version of A Song for Europe.

• For more moving pictures, see the Stumpy Moose YouTube Group

A scan of a real card that Mikey D & Wendi sent me from Canada.

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Meine schwindlige Tante! Our search for the world's grandest national anthem brings us to Germany and Das Deutschlandlied ("The Song of Germany") -- also known as Das Lied der Deutschen ("The Song of the Germans") and Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit ("Unity and Justice and Freedom"):

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Adopted in 1922, a good 11 years before the Nazis came to power, Das Deutschlandlied weds lyrics written in 1841 by poet August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben to a melody composed by Joseph Haydn in 1797 for the Austrian emperor's birthday.

Originally three stanzas long, Das Deutschlandlied was cut down to just one stanza (the first) under the Nazis and combined with the notorious Horst-Wessel-Lied ("Horst Wessel Song").

After the war, the anthem was banned until 1952 when it was reinstated, this time only using only the third stanza, which puts the emphasis on "unity and justice and freedom" rather than German nationalism.

Before writing this review, I'd always assumed the German national anthem was called Deutschland über alles ("Germany Above All") -- the first stanza's opening line -- but that turns out to be a popular misconception. (Mental note: good trick question for pub quiz.)

Set aside any dubious associations, however, and Das Deutschlandlied remains a seamless blend of beauty and power and is undeniably one of the world's great anthems.

Bonus Haydn Fact: Joseph Haydn's head was stolen from his grave by phrenologists shortly after his death.

9 out of 10

Source: Complete National Anthems of the World

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Posted on YouTube by rarevideosUK (via Coilhouse):

For whatever reason, the "zombiecise" video never really caught on.

See Also: Linnea Quigley's Horror Workout Scene - Part 1

• For more moving pictures, see the Stumpy Moose YouTube Group