-They've kept the melody (which, I agree, as far as national anthems go, is the one to beat) - but the lyrics have changed, three times I believe in Soviet time

-They've kept the melody (which, I agree, as far as national anthems go, is the one to beat) - but the lyrics have changed, three times I believe in Soviet times and then again as it became Russia's anthem. Now they're stuck with it, though - all versions had lyrics written by the same guy, Sergei Mikhalkov, who died in 2009.