The UK national anthem - sucks really...

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-05-21 06:00pm

Maybe it's just my opinion, but I don't think the British national anthem is a particularly good one. I mean, the French have a really fantastic national anthem, full of spirit and all that, the US national anthem always sounds good, but what does the UK have?

A dirge, one with lyrics that noone knows (that's not an invitation for people to post the lyrics to prove me wrong

), I mean, I know more of the French and American national anthems than I do of my own.

That's not something I'm particularly ashamed or proud of, since Patriotism in the UK, in my experience, used to be (and probably still is) associated with the far-right and the BNP, and only recently got away from that when we actually started getting somewhere in sporting events. Those events when the country does come together for sport are beautiful occassions, when free from hooliganism or unsporting booing of other nations, but the unity brought by the singing of the national anthem is ruined by the fact that it cant be sung with gusto or spirit.

I think we need something like Land of Hope and Glory or something, you know, something with spirit, those who watch the England games will know what I'm talking about, supporters sing Rule Brittania and Land of Hope and Glory with far more enthusiasm than our national song.

So, do we need a new national anthem? a patriotic rekindling? singing lessons? Or am I making too much of this?

Lord Sander · Post by **Lord Sander** » 2003-05-21 06:22pm

Hmm, change it to Rule, Britannia. I like that one.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-05-21 07:49pm

I thought Rule, Brittania was the UK national anthem.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-05-21 08:00pm

I think its God Save the Queen

TheDarkling · Post by **TheDarkling** » 2003-05-21 08:22pm

It is God save the Queen, I would prefer Rule Britania .

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-05-21 09:05pm

TheDarkling wrote:It is God save the Queen, I would prefer Rule Britania .

As would I

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-05-21 09:09pm

Well, for those who like the Star-Spangled Banner, perhaps we should keep the annexation option open...

Lord Sander · Post by **Lord Sander** » 2003-05-21 09:13pm

HemlockGrey wrote:Well, for those who like the Star-Spangled Banner, perhaps we should keep the annexation option open...

Eck, that one's worse than God Save the Queen

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-05-21 09:16pm

Eck, that one's worse than God Save the Queen

It commemorates the asskicking of the British.

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2003-05-21 10:18pm

Try something modern. Barbie Girl! Just for kicks.

Saurencaerthai · Post by **Saurencaerthai** » 2003-05-22 01:00am

To quote Eddie Izzard (From his Dressed to Kill show):
But in Britian, we don't win many gold medals at the olympics...because we've chosen not to! It's a political statement! Because, we hate our national athem, because it's "god save the queen", you see.
Now, the Queen lives in a very big house, she has barbed wire outside, and people with guns in front of that. That's one SAVED fucking Queen, I'll tell ya.

That's the problem! She's overly saved! She has no idea of the struggle of human existance! We have to work for a living, raise a family. We don't have nannies running all around the places.
And so it's "God save the Queen"? Nooooo, she's too saved, it's "God attack the Queen", that's what it should be!
(to the tune of "god save the queen)
"God Attack the Queen/
Send big dogs after her/
That bite her bum/
......"
That'd be fantastic! Then she'd have to fight the crazy dog with a handbag with a brick in it. And maybe, JUST MAYBE, she might kill the crazy dog and everyone would go "Well, fair play to the queen!" And she would have self respect for the first time in her life!

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-05-22 05:54am

Keep it. "God save the Queen/King" is part of your history and culture, it would be the act of a phillistine to do away with it. Have you no sence of your own history?

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-05-22 06:01am

I'm quite aware of the importance of history and culture, thanks, I don't need a national anthem for that

, I was looking at it more from a aesthetic point of view rather than in a historical context. As I said, the national anthem doesnt have the right vibe for me, I'd rather it was something with a bit more gusto to it, something that could be sung with enthusiasm.

Just because it's part of tradition and culture doesnt mean I have to like it

.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-05-22 06:11am

The_Lumberjack wrote:I'm quite aware of the importance of history and culture, thanks, I don't need a national anthem for that , I was looking at it more from a aesthetic point of view rather than in a historical context. As I said, the national anthem doesnt have the right vibe for me, I'd rather it was something with a bit more gusto to it, something that could be sung with enthusiasm.

Just because it's part of tradition and culture doesnt mean I have to like it .

No you dont have to like it, but then the mere fact that you would be shot of it dosnt bode well for your, ie you, sense as a nation. NZ's national anthem is grotty, but I wouldnt abandon it just because people think it sounds like a funeral dirge.
But if you do get rid of it..go for Elgar's 'Land of Hope and Glory', its a nice number that does not have some of the Imperial baggage that Rule Britannia has.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-05-22 06:21am

Stuart Mackey wrote: No you dont have to like it, but then the mere fact that you would be shot of it dosnt bode well for your, ie you, sense as a nation.

Got me there, I'm hardly the biggest flag-waver in Britain, I can't even remember when St George's day is, never mind St Andrew or St David, and even if I could remember when they were, I doubt I'd do anything about them. Mind you, no-one in my family or in my direct group of friends at home is particularly patriotic in the traditional sense, we have a couple of anti-royalists, a large group of people who don't give a damn (and who I doubt know the national anthem either), and only one bloke who has a strong sense of national identity.

And he can be mildly Xenophobic at times.

I do celebrate Burn's night. But that's a family thing really.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-05-22 06:22am

And yes, Land of Hope and Glory would be my first choice as well, that has spirit...

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-05-22 07:03am

The_Lumberjack wrote:
Got me there, I'm hardly the biggest flag-waver in Britain, I can't even remember when St George's day is, never mind St Andrew or St David, and even if I could remember when they were, I doubt I'd do anything about them. Mind you, no-one in my family or in my direct group of friends at home is particularly patriotic in the traditional sense, we have a couple of anti-royalists, a large group of people who don't give a damn (and who I doubt know the national anthem either), and only one bloke who has a strong sense of national identity.

And he can be mildly Xenophobic at times.

I do celebrate Burn's night. But that's a family thing really.

Well, I for one would only ever observe ANZAC day, but most people here do, aside from that we tend to take things in a very laid back sort of way. Most Kiwi's are patriotic, but we are quite rserved about it to the point, some would say, of apathy. Wll we just dont show our patriotism, but its there if you know where to look.
But I think thats good, wouldnt want to be thought of as a wannabe America like Aussie

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-05-22 07:32am

I have always thought that Star Spangled sounds sort of wimpy.

No real go in it no pomp nothing just a whimper.

The old USSR now there was a anthem that really made a statement

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-05-22 07:51am

Faram wrote:
The old USSR now there was a anthem that really made a statement

So much so that Putin had the old music reinstated (after Yeltsin's bizarre flirtation with an anthem that didn't even have lyrics), and got the (still living) composer to write new lyrics- which he has done

Now that's honoring your history- the new version is just as good.

Thunderfire · Post by **Thunderfire** » 2003-05-22 09:32am

The_Lumberjack wrote: So, do we need a new national anthem? a patriotic rekindling? singing lessons? Or am I making too much of this?

Your anthem isn't even unique. Gemany use it with a different text for some time.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-05-22 11:13am

According to the royal website thing, the UK national anthem was penned sometime in the 1700's and was taken abroad by composers, as was the idea of a national song, so it may not be unique, but it probably came first...

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-05-22 01:17pm

You can have the Canadian one, I won't miss it. "Oh Brittania, our home and native land..."

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-05-22 02:18pm

Hm, I still think the scottish anthem should be "Scots Wae Hae" by Rabbie Burns.

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-05-22 05:32pm

When talkign about the UK's National Anthem I'm always reminded of a rant Billy Connoly had on it. It needs changed. At the olymipcs the fecking banana republica re lapping us at the flag ceromony. Change it to the archers theme, then the imagrants can learn it on the war from the airport to the dole queue.

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2003-05-22 06:30pm

Rum ti ti di di dum di dum di dum...

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