Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:23 pm  

rover49 wrote:

Land of Dope and Tories is more the mark these days.

Or Land of Soap and Tory (as I have always said)?

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:45 pm  

Dally wrote:

So either a Hymn or a Triumphalist, Imperial Anthem that invokes God to help us. Never thought I'd see anyone on this site suggest such things!

Its a poem, not a hymn.

Dally wrote:

Him wrote:

Meh. It was written at a time when "England" was often used to describe all of GB. In the same way Americans often say "England" when they actually refer to the whole UK. We sing it at sporting events. The Grand Final etc it was also sung at GB matches.

Surely you don't mean "all of GB." The anthem is supposed to be for the UK, not GB. The bit you missed out, being the most patriotic.

No I meant GB considering the time it was written the nation was generally known as GB and not the UK. The fact that things have changed in 200 years is hardly a massive shock.

Anyway, as I said, my reasons for the change are tuneful and nothing more.

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:50 pm  

Him wrote:

...No I meant GB considering the time it was written the nation was generally known as GB and not the UK. ..

Even today, the ISO country code for the UK is "GB".

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:06 pm  

Him wrote:

Its a poem, not a hymn.

It's also a Hymn - as you say, things change over time.

As to GB - things change over time - so the history is irrelevant as the OP was talking about the UK.

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:03 pm  

It always raises a smile when there are objections re GSTQ as anachronistic, but then Jerusalem or LOHAG get advanced as alternatives

LOHAG is easily the best tune for this sort of thing, and in the land of the greatest ever lyricists it shouldn't be beyond the wit of UK man (or indeed woman) to come up with a 21c set of words for it, and that would be my vote.

Jerusalem? Good hymn, as far as hymns go, also a decent sing-song, but apart from "England's green and pleasant land", the words really are a crock of utter shyite.

Land Of Hope And Glory 2012 anyone?

Hello : Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:07 pm  

We'll stick with Flower of Scotland, thanks....You lot can carry on singing about your Germanic rulers for as long as you like.

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:41 pm  

I like our national anthem.

It's British arrogance at its best. SO convinced we are that our country is the greatest in the world, we don't have to mention our country in it, whereas other nations do.

On a similar note, look at our big organisations. We have THE FA, not the English Football Association; THE RFL, not the British RFL; THE Automobile Association, rather than the BRITISH Automobile Association. There are many more.

We're the greatest. End of. Any country wants to challenge that can always declare war on us.

God Save The Queen

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:29 pm  

Instead of an anthem about the Queen, we could have an anthem by Queen, what about We Will Rock You, how good would that be before major sporting events.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please be up standing, for the national anthem, of the United Kingdom..."

Bang bang clap - bang bang clap - bang bang clap - bang bang clap - buddy you're a boy make a big noise playin in the street gonna be a big man someday....

Re: UK national anthem : Tue Feb 14, 2012 8:48 pm  

Always prefered the Sex Pistols's cover of the national anthem....Its a bit more gritty and tuneful, and coupled with the slight lyric change (which probably reflects public opinion more?) it says a lot more about our country.

Re: Hello : Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:20 pm  

WIZEB wrote:

We'll stick with Flower of Scotland, thanks....You lot can carry on singing about your Germanic rulers for as long as you like.

I prefer Caledonia myself, if they could agree on a lyric for Highland Cathedral then that would be the hands down winner.