Before Queen's "We are the Champions", was there a default/obvious go-to victory song?

by SchighSchagh
PirateDuchess

Not that I know of, but there are several notable examples of victory/gloating songs throughout history.

After Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, a song called Boney was a Warrior was written. This song goes over Napoleon's military career until he loses at Waterloo. It was popular because war between England and France was still very fresh in peoples minds. Some of the lyrics are as follows. The rest can be seen here.

 Boney went to Waterloo
 Away, a- yah!
 There he got his overthrow.
 Jean Francois!

 Then they took him off again
 Away, a- yah!
 Aboard the Billy Ruffian.
 Jean Francois!

 He went to Saint Helena,
 Away, a- yah!
 There he was a prisoner,
 Jean Francois!

The famous ballad "Yankee Doodle" is also a song that was used to mock enemy troops. It was used by the British to taunt American troops during the American War for Independence

Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony;
He stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle keep it up;
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy

This short song is full of meaning, but to get down to the bones of it. A dandy is basically a fancy man, who is fussy over his clothes and how he looks. The term "macaroni" refers to a way of dressing that was popular in 1760s and 1770s. Exaggerated wigs, tight jackets, fancy shoes. So "stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni" just means that the Yankees are sticking feathers in their hats and considering themselves to be fashionable.

So basically, the Yankee in the song is being accused of being unfashionable, can't dance, and needs to be reminded to be good with women.

Sources:

Reason Behind the Rhyme: 'Yankee Doodle"

Boney Was a Warrior, Popular Ballad