Spain go head-to-head with England tonight in the Euro 2024 final, but the national anthems left some fans scratching their heads.
The Spanish anthem, known as ‘Marcha de Granaderos’ or ‘March of the Grenadiers’, first made its appearance in 1761 in a Military Marches book for the Spanish Infantry. It quickly gained traction and was eventually adopted as the Royal march for the Spanish monarchy.
In 1908, the tune was revamped by Bartolome Perez Casas, the Head Musician of the Royal Corps of Alabarderos Guards, and it’s this version that rings out before every Spanish international match, according to AS. However, there are no lyrics for fans or players to sing along to – a result of the Spanish public never settling on a set of words they all agreed on.
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Back in 1870, General Prim instigated a competition inviting poets and musicians to pen some stirring lyrics for the anthem. But the contest was a complete flop, with judges unable to agree on any of the submissions.
This left the March of the Grenadiers lyric-less, and it remains an instrumental anthem that stirs the hearts of millions of Spaniards before each international game, reports the Mirror.
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The most recent attempt to add lyrics to the national anthem took place in 2007, led by the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE). This time around, they selected a winner – opera singer Paulino Cubero – and lyrics were drafted and rehearsed.
The English translation of the proposed lyrics goes like this: “Long live Spain! Let’s all sing together with different voices and one heart. Long live Spain! From the green valleys to the immense sea, a hymn of brotherhood. Love the Homeland because it knows how to embrace, under its blue sky, all the peoples in freedom. Glory to the children who give justice and greatness to history, democracy and peace.”
But the tune never hit the halls of Spain’s Congress for approval after Spanish vocal groups kicked up a fuss, leading to a massive hoo-ha that saw the COE ditch the idea, and the lyrics were shelved, never to be dusted off again.
Spain isn’t alone in the no-lyrics club when it comes to national anthems – they’re in the company of Kosovo, San Marino, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. So while the England fans are giving it large with ‘God Save the King’ tonight, the Spanish supporters at Olympiastadion Berlin will have to make do with the instrumental ‘March of the Grenadiers’, hoping it’ll pump up their lads for another win.