Spain Rejects New National Anthem Lyrics The English proudly sing their national anthem. The Americans croon to theirs. And then, there’s Spain. Hold it. The Spanish anthem doesn't have any words. This man won a nationwide contest with his lyrics for the anthem. But then, suddenly, the Spanish Olympic Committee, which sponsored the contest, withdrew the winning entry. Once Spaniards heard these lyrics, they sparked a lot of controversy, even rejection. "Viva Espana," or "Long live Spain," is how the now-discarded lyrics began. The phrase struck a sour note. Critics say it hearkens back to the long, right-wing dictatorship of Francisco Franco. You have to understand that many Spaniards do not consider the national anthem as their own. It was played a lot under Franco. Spain is now a democracy, but many still bristle at the military march that served for more than two centuries as the national anthem. Spain is made up of many different peoples and five languages are spoken across the country. So, naturally, getting agreement on one set of lyrics is no easy task. The anthem should give us goose bumps. Spain's long history and diverse culture should show in the lyrics. The Spanish Olympic Committee says the search will go on. But in Beijing and elsewhere, Spanish athletes will likely have to just hum along to the wordless anthem as they've done for years. It's a tune almost every Spaniard knows. Al Goodman, CNN, Madrid. ?