Spain looks for lyrics for national anthem

If Spaniards are caught humming the country’s national anthem, it’s not because they’ve forgotten the words. It’s because there aren’t any. However, now the Spanish Olympic Committee is hoping to change that, calling for ideas on lyrics. The story is even more topical after the man who stands to become Belgium’s new Prime Minister appeared not to know his country’s anthem.

Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, is calling for submissions, saying parliament will make a final choice.

Spanish teams at international sports events are often said to be embarassed humming along to the anthem, with spectators from other countries wrongly thinking they don’t know the words.

Observers say finding something that reflects all values may be tricky, and there is also the fact that Spain has at least five regional languages.

However, proposals have already started to be performed, raising hopes that finding something appropriate may be possible.

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