The new version of the Slovak national anthem was broadcast by Slovak Television and Slovak Radio in the first minutes of 2025. The arrangement was prepared by the MK in cooperation with the Slovak Philharmonic. The author of the arrangement is Slovak composer, conductor and producer Oskar Rózsa. The moment it sounded, the Slovaks split into two camps. One praises her, the other criticizes her.
Former tennis player and politician Karol Kučera joined the critics. He expressed his impressions in an extensive post on the social network.
“First of all, I want to say the fact that for me Oskar is a great musician and hats off to his art. But… Apart from the “dictatorial awarding of the order”, all the vicissitudes, unfortunate comments and tense situations that accompanied the wait for a new musical outfit and the arrangement of our state symbol, I really tried all autumn/winter of last year just to follow as a fan, not to comment and wait for the result,” started Kučera.
“Given the fact that I like music very much, respect individual performers, and dare to say that I know a significant part of the music community personally, I am also a fan of many Slovak musicians of various genres. For the first? Unfortunately. I don’t like it. Not even musically, it’s too much for me (too much, editor’s note)!” he continued, saying that he doesn’t want to play an expert and it’s a purely layman’s opinion of a music fan.
“Specifically? There’s more, but I don’t like the singing the most. Balance of male and female vocals. While in the old version (text by J. Matúška and music by L. Burlas) the male and female vocals sing the whole song in a balanced and even manner, and where (for me) the male vocal dominates a little more and the female one accompanies him throughout the anthem (which for me evokes, among other things, a classic Slovak traditional family), so in Oskar’s version, there is a mess for me in those songs that I didn’t understand,” continues.
It does not suit him with the newly added proper dose of pomp. And as he admitted, neither did the scumbag.
“Sorry. Oskar, it’s just a layman’s opinion. But those opinions and music experts will probably increase, and at least you know how our hockey players feel every year after the World Cup. Or athletes. Some will like it, others won’t. I had to, I wanted to give my opinion as well, because the Slovak anthem should be for everyone, right? That’s how I expressed my opinion about the new version of our national anthem,” declared the extenist. But he didn’t stop there.
“Not even morally the whole way it went, it left a kind of an aftertaste that will hang over our national symbol from today. Too bad. Little was enough, more choice, less shouting/more music – as they say. And especially more humility. Apparently, there is nothing left but to get used to it, or I’d rather listen to the original, Burlas-Matúšková. I also got to the instrumental version and it is much more acceptable for me. At least that way,” added Kučera in conclusion on his Facebook page.
Rózsa commented on the publication of the anthem on January 1, 2025 on Telegram. It was preceded by the criticism of many personalities and colorful defense of the artist. “I greatly appreciate your support, wonderful reactions and insights. I’m glad that what I intended and subsequently tried to realize in conditions that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, managed to be transferred to you despite callous and characterless attacks, whose intention is to manipulate and influence you and hurt me,” he wrote.
“My personal story with the national anthem will probably forever be marked by a lump in the throat and tears in the eyes, nothing can be done about it. I take, I accept. I never wanted to impose anything on anyone or harm anyone or anything. What actually succeeded or failed, only time will tell… And with regard to who the new regulation is or is not for, I was right again, I apologize,” said Rózsa.
