Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 16:59:30 GMT
I started this topic on the Original STP and as there are some members here who contributed and ones who haven't I thought it an ideal time to resurrect it. Do you think the English, Northern Ireland and or the UK national anthem should be changed?
Firstly watch this video on Youtube with Billy Connelly's point of view;
Joking aside about what should be the national anthem I feel that the current one doesn't say anything about the country's that have it. Its all about saving the Queen, alright she is our head of state and does an important job, not only for tourism, but charities and makes our country almost unique. Although I feel that England should adopt the victory anthem used in the Commonwealth Games, Land of Hope and Glory but with one word changed, I'll come back to that. The United Kingdom should have Rule Britannia. I'd like to know what you from overseas think about our national anthem and what you would think if you had a God save the President or Prime Minister as your national anthem.
Here are the lyrics to my selected songs;
England Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extole thee, who are born of thee, Wider still and wider shall thy hopes* be set God who made thee mighty make thee mightier yet God who made thee mighty make thee mightier yet.
*Hopes changed from bounds to escape from the British Empire/invading reputation.
United Kingdom When Britain First at Heaven's Command Arose from out the azure main Arose, Arose, Arose from out the azure main This was the charter, the charter of the land And guardian angels sang the strain
Rule Britannia, Britannia Rule the waves* Britons never never never, shall be slaves
*We may not have the Empire, but our main religion is Christianity and we have been the most successful team on the water in at least the last two Olympics. We also rule the waves that are in British Waters.
*Sorry about not leaving an option for changing the Northern Ireland anthem.
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Post by Skarloey on Nov 10, 2006 17:54:06 GMT
Definitely The Archers for the new national anthem! Nah, seriously, I'd like Jerusalem to be the national anthem, because it's a lot more interesting and livelier than the near-funeral march we currently have. Rule Britannia is also a very good song but best when sung by a very large crowd with a massive orchestra. As for Land of Hope and Glory... well, I prefer the rest of Pomp & Circumstance to be played, too.
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Post by FlyingScotsman on Nov 13, 2006 15:56:39 GMT
I agree that it should be changed to... well, almost anything. You listen to other national anthems, they're catchy and stirring. The British one just sounds like a sleepy person going "Nur nur nur nur nur nur" as the Nightol takes hold.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2006 17:51:33 GMT
Would the 4 who have voted without posting care to share the reason for their opinion with us?
I only find God Save the Queen rousing at the start of an International Match when the fans shing it or when Bryan May plays it on the guitar, but they aren't the real versions.
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Post by Jim on Nov 14, 2006 22:54:58 GMT
I voted that it should be replaced, but am uncomfortable in commenting on someone else's national anthem. But since you ask...
It must be the only national anthem that can be played whilst lying down. Perhaps it should be relegated to be played only at Her Majesty's official functions, much in the same way 'Hail to the Chief' is often played for the President of the United States.
As for what to replace it with, I don't feel entitled to suggest any. I believe that decision is for Britons to decide.
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Post by Ryan on Nov 14, 2006 23:04:33 GMT
I also dislike the UK National Anthem, purely on the strength that it doesn't reflect all the parts of the UK, namely the bit with "crushing Scots"...hardly a welcoming notion is it for us lot north of the border?
Mind you, Billy Connolly, although in a comical way, made a lot of sense when he suggested the theme from "The Archers" - it's catchy, there's no words to it and it's a jolly tune. No-one's offended by it, everyone's keen to hear it!
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Post by FlyingScotsman on Nov 15, 2006 11:25:26 GMT
The crushing Scots verse isn't part of the National Anthem. It was part of the original song, but when that song was made the National Anthem that verse was omitted (apart from anything else, the events to which it referred were long gone).
I think Rule Britannia is the natural choice, based upon the fact that it's catchy, no more offensive than any other National Anthem and everyone knows it anyway. Plus it's basically the second song of Britain anyway (how many American television programmes have you seen that use a snatch of Rule Britannia to indicate that a scene is, in fact, set in Britain?)
Land of Hope and Glory is quite stirring (particularly towards the end, when the percussion section gets worked up), but a little slow. I Vow To Thee, My Country and Jerusalem are also very catchy, but neither of them are particularly about how great Britain is (in fact, Jerusalem is basically about Britain being rubbish).
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OldBoiler
Passenger Engine
With thanks to Colin Bowden, owner of the Mint Cake Mine
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Post by OldBoiler on Nov 16, 2006 18:25:32 GMT
Although I wouldn't really know what to suggest as replacement to the National Anthem I do agree that it is a little slow and boring. At least it doesn't drag on for too long though! I do feel that the current National Anthem maybe causing us to not really compete well in international competitions, everyone's so bored that they need the starter pistol to get them to start to move, let alone catch any body!
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Post by Cläy on Nov 17, 2006 0:56:35 GMT
Have you got any Khe Sanh/Sounds of Then songs that glorify Britain? I reckon a lot more people would want to hear that than some self-important trumpeting of a monarch. As far as I can think in Australia, Advance Australia Fair has been opposed a few times as our Anthem, with stuff like the bove and even Waltzing Matilda suggested a replacements.
Maybe the Benny Hill music...?
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Post by Alaric on Nov 17, 2006 10:07:42 GMT
Maybe the Benny Hill music...? Hmm... *Imagines our athletes at the Olympics running onto the field in a wavy line, chasing a nurse whilst running away from a policeman.* I like it!
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Post by Jim on Nov 17, 2006 18:00:53 GMT
Maybe the Benny Hill music...? An anthem set to 'Yakety Sax'? Writing new lyrics set to that tune would be a challenge. You'd need to be an auctioneer to sing it. Seriously though, I once read that 'There'll Always Be an England' was once proposed in a list of potential alternative anthems. It wasn't a popular choice. People were apparently tired of hearing/singing it during WWII. I'll sneak in a comment about my own country's anthem. I prefer "The Maple Leaf Forever" with the new lyrics over "O'Canada" hands down. I find it more stirring than the existing one.
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Churchy
Main Line Engine
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Post by Churchy on Nov 28, 2007 18:24:05 GMT
England should not be singing God Save the Queen, if Britain as a nation are singing it. Jerusalem would be a better option in my opinion.
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Post by trainzfan on Nov 29, 2007 8:07:18 GMT
Surely there's another obvious candidate... Flanders & Swann's "The English, the English, the English are best".
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Post by Super Train Station H on Dec 7, 2007 2:46:23 GMT
I'm American, so I'm not going to really say anything about anthems in the UK specifically, but I do think that a lot of countries have really boring or overly dramatic anthems. Look at Brazil's anthem, its energetic and happy while still remaining patriotic. I think more anthems should be like that. LINK:
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Post by Skarloey on Dec 7, 2007 17:43:35 GMT
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, anyone? Perhaps a music video, too, featuring members of the royal family (the bunch of cocoNUTS!)
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Post by Father Austin Purcell on Dec 17, 2007 15:51:01 GMT
I propose that the English national anthem should be Flanders and Swann's Song of Patriotic Prejudice. . (If there's any overly-sensitive members of the PC brigade out there, it's a joke.)
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