Spain National Anthem — Marcha Real

Because it has no words, the "Marcha Real" carries its meaning entirely through music: a stately, ceremonial march that stands for the Spanish state and crown rather than any particular verse or slogan. Its wordlessness has itself become part of Spanish identity — a source of both pride and periodic debate, since Spaniards cannot sing along at matches and ceremonies the way other nations do.

The "Marcha Real" has outlasted monarchies, a republic and a dictatorship, dropping and regaining its status with each change of regime. Words were attached during some periods — notably under Franco — but abandoned as politically tainted. A 2007 nationwide contest to give Spain singable lyrics drew a winning entry that was quickly withdrawn amid controversy, leaving the anthem wordless to this day. It remains one of only a handful of national anthems, alongside a few others, that are performed with no text at all.

The "Marcha Real" is an instrumental anthem whose melody was first documented in 1761 in Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros' collection of military calls, and which was adopted as a royal march around 1770. It has no official composer credited and, uniquely among major anthems, no official lyrics.