ShalomNewYork.com

“In this context, a unique miracle of recent times is worthy of attention. Just as every nation has a flag of its own, every nation has a national anthem. France too possesses a national anthem, a melody rooted in the core of the French Revolution, and composed exactly two hundred years ago, on the eve of the French assault on Austria. It was with the chords of this melody that throngs of eager thousands were to celebrate the authority that had been wrested from the monarchy. Thus this melody came to symbolize precisely the self-assertive Napoleonic spirit which grew out of the Revolution, and which the Alter Rebbe opposed.
Several years ago,however, this melody was adopted by chassidim and sung together with the words of the hymn HaAderes VeHaEmunah, which proclaims G-d’s universal sovereignty. Shortly afterwards, certain chords and rhythms of this song were altered. Seeking to explain this phenomenon, certain elder chassidim have commented that it is as if France willingly gave over its national anthem to the chassidim. And indeed, it is miraculous that a country should change its national anthem, particularly one related so intrinsically to its history. This fact bears testimony to the unique spiritual changes that have transpired in France.” Sichos-in-English.com