Why do we have a rubbish National Anthem?

[kurtz]

How come all these other countries have great national anthems such as;

USA The Star spangled Banner, rockets bursting in air...all that very stirring

France Le Marselies (apologies for spelling) blood of invaders spilling on to the ground...way to go

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D

and what do we have? Some dreary little ditty asking some deity of middle eastern provenance to look after some unelected foriegner who's been placed in charge of us.:damn:

Now I've got some suggestions;

Jerusalem, I know this kind of negates what I said about the present National Anthem, but it's a great singalong kind of song. In fact I think the British citizenship test should be to be able to sing both verses of this, then eat a pork pie and drink two pints of bitter (possibly mild) in a half hour ladies can have lager (in half pint glasses!) anyway I digress, onwards

I vow to thee my country, I'd drop the last verse though, smacks of godbothering:-?

Rule Brittania, trouble is I think people from other countries might point at us and laugh given the current state of the navy.

Land of Hope and Glory, ditto Music far better though (IMHO).

an honourable mention goes to Billy Bragg's Between the Wars, I'll put it on the poll just in case.

Okay any other suggestions post them with comments, I'll put a don't know and I'll redo the poll if there are any other sugestions.

Mike.

[The Avon Lady]

and what do we have? Some dreary little ditty asking some deity of middle eastern provenance to look after some unelected foriegner who's been placed in charge of us.
Where in "God Save the Queen" is this mentioned? :-?

[Chock]

I think we should replace the United Kingdom's national anthem with Joe Dolce's Shaddappayourface, or possibly the Birdy Song.

Yes they're crap, but so is our national anthem, so why not? :rotfl:

Alternatively: Nothing wrong with preposterous innaccurate lyrics in an anthem, so nothing wrong with using Rule Britannia, even though we don't actually rule any waves further than about 300 yards off our beaches. After all, look at the French national anthem, bloody brilliant, very stirring stuff, but goes on about forming battallions and manning barricades etc, which is not exactly what they did in most wars, however you don't see any lyrics in their anthem mentioning dropping your rifle at the first sign of a German tank and then waiting for everyone else in Europe, Russia and America to come and rescue you while you're busy running a cafe and serving Germans cheese and wine.

So yeah, Joe Dolce, or possibly Rule Britannia.

:D Chock

[kurtz]

and what do we have? Some dreary little ditty asking some deity of middle eastern provenance to look after some unelected foriegner who's been placed in charge of us.
Where in "God Save the Queen" is this mentioned? :-?

Where it says "God Save the Queen"

[The Avon Lady]

and what do we have? Some dreary little ditty asking some deity of middle eastern provenance to look after some unelected foriegner who's been placed in charge of us.
Where in "God Save the Queen" is this mentioned? :-?
Where it says "God Save the Queen"
Aha! :know:

[Skybird]

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D
Just for the record, that 1st and 2nd verse of that song is cleaned from the German anthem. Only the 3rd verse is accepted, and it goes like this:


Unity and Rights and Freedom
For the German Fatherland
Let us all strive for that
Brotherly with heart and hand
Unity and Rights and Freedom
Are the foundation for happiness
Bloom in the glow of happiness
Bloom German Fatherland

[CCIP]

I don't know, my favorite anthem is still the Soviet/Russian one, and while the lyrics to it were and are utter bull***t, I just love the music. Who cares about words :p

[Camaero]

You guys should totally use the main theme to star wars!:lol:

[Sea Demon]

I don't know, my favorite anthem is still the Soviet/Russian one, and while the lyrics to it were and are utter bull***t, I just love the music. Who cares about words :p
I gotta admit, that anthem makes one want to march.

You guys should totally use the main theme to star wars!:lol:
Good one! :lol:

[Biggles]

"always look on the bright side of life" by Monty Python would be a good anthem, wouldn't you agree?:)

[Onkel Neal]

I don't know, my favorite anthem is still the Soviet/Russian one, and while the lyrics to it were and are utter bull***t, I just love the music. Who cares about words :p

Yes, a very stirring anthem :yep: I think the removed the Stalinist lyrics a few years ago.

French national anthem is damn good, too.

[Oberon]

No, no, no, no, no, I'm sorry guys....but the Big Yin has beaten you to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odNNgEn5l6s

:arrgh!:

See? Problem solved. :up:

(Language of course.)

[gnirtS]

Luckily Hen wlad fy nhadau is a much nicer anthem than the English one.

Hating the royal family and being welsh not english GSTQ is something to be ignored, sit down for or time to go and make some coffee.

Agree though GSTQ is a depressing repetetive durge and needs changing. England should use jerusalem or something.

[bigboywooly]

Land of hope and glory
End of
:rotfl:

[XabbaRus]

I don't know, my favorite anthem is still the Soviet/Russian one, and while the lyrics to it were and are utter bull***t, I just love the music. Who cares about words :p

What I found most amusing was when Russia had its new anthem and no one knew the words to it. In fact I don't think there were. So everyone sang the old one. Well the Russians I knew. Now the new old anthem no one seems to know the words to it so they sing the soviet words. :)

[Tchocky]

The theme from the Archers, natch

[CCIP]

I don't know, my favorite anthem is still the Soviet/Russian one, and while the lyrics to it were and are utter bull***t, I just love the music. Who cares about words :p
What I found most amusing was when Russia had its new anthem and no one knew the words to it. In fact I don't think there were. So everyone sang the old one. Well the Russians I knew. Now the new old anthem no one seems to know the words to it so they sing the soviet words. :)

Exactly! I never bothered remembering the new one. Whenever I hear the anthem nowadays, I just automatically launch into singing the old words (in an obviously sarcastic fashion). I remember when one new year's, my family just randomly sang the whole Soviet thing together while the music-only (as it was at the time) anthem played, and then laughed our asses off for the next half hour about it :lol:

[Polak]

Assimilate the Polish national anthem, change your state flag to the Polish one too.
Half of Polands population has moved to the UK soon... :-?

D±browski's Mazurek, Poles marching and taking back what once was theirs with sabres in hand.

[Antidike]

It's sad we have such a dull one, it gives me sad feelings!:nope:

By the way I'm Kurtz's daughter call me Emelye, Em, or Antidike ( it's greek it's pronounced Anti-deekee [Emelye in the ancient Greek times would be Emelius for a male or Emelia for a girl or spelt something like that and that means enemy and my brother couldn't find enemy in greek so he put in adversary and the rabbit just jumped straight out of the hat!])

[jumpy]

I always liked "To be a Pilgrim" by John Bunyan, when I was at school.

Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent,
To be a pilgrim.


Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He'll with a giant fight,
But he will have a right
To be a pilgrim.


Hobgoblin, nor foul fiend,
Can daunt his spirit:
He knows, he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He'll fear not what men say,
He'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be_a_pilgrim

it was also played in 'Clockwise' - a film about an english school headmaster who goes off his nut, played by John Cleese.

Not too much about god or monarchy, or zealous patriotism, and it has the word 'hobgoblin' in it, seems like a good choice for a national anthem for England/UK to me. Plus it doesn't go on for too long, like some other indulgant national anthems I'll not mention here.... :arrgh!:

EDIT: removed hotlinked image of the first letter of the first verse.

[Skybird]

It's sad we have such a dull one, it gives me sad feelings!:nope:

By the way I'm Kurtz's daughter call me Emelye, Em, or Antidike ( it's greek it's pronounced Anti-deekee [Emelye in the ancient Greek times would be Emelius for a male or Emelia for a girl or spelt something like that and that means enemy and my brother couldn't find enemy in greek so he put in adversary and the rabbit just jumped straight out of the hat!])

"Neal, you need to search another navy angel avatar...!" :p that is almost three in a row! :lol:

[Prof]

I see only one other person has joined me in voting for keeping 'God Save the Queen'...I was beginning to think I was the only person in the UK who actually likes it.

Every time I hear it I think of what Britain should be; stately and proud, not the politically correct, emotionally obsessed freeloaders' paradise that it has become.

[kurtz]

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D
Just for the record, that 1st and 2nd verse of that song is cleaned from the German anthem. Only the 3rd verse is accepted, and it goes like this:


Unity and Rights and Freedom
For the German Fatherland
Let us all strive for that
Brotherly with heart and hand
Unity and Rights and Freedom
Are the foundation for happiness
Bloom in the glow of happiness
Bloom German Fatherland

One great anthem it almost broke my heart when just recently we were buying some jewellery with germanic runes on and the 's' rune was removed because it was ruled after WWII that it was ruled illegal. I'm angry with the Nazis for taking away our heritage by taking letters from our runic alphabet and also with the the EU community, it's just like taking the letter E from the alphabet and saying it's illegal to have it there.

That last bit was done by Emelye ( me I'm typing for daddy 'cos he seems slow and it's making annoyed just watching someone go in slow motion).

[Frenssen]

Land of Hope and Glory. It`s an emotional pompous piece of music, perfect for a national anthem. I wish Elgar was Norwegian, then we could use it;)

[kurtz]

Luckily Hen wlad fy nhadau is a much nicer anthem than the English one.

Hating the royal family and being welsh not english GSTQ is something to be ignored, sit down for or time to go and make some coffee.

Agree though GSTQ is a depressing repetetive durge and needs changing. England should use jerusalem or something.

There are great moments in peoples lives and the one I'll remember forever is being on the touchline at the Cardiff Millenieum Stadium and hearing the crowd sing "Land of muy fathers" [pause for misty eyed reflection] and that's when I had the moment about our own national anthem. There was such feeling and belonging in that song in another language....

I want so much for England to have such a song.

[XabbaRus]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MKO-Tt1CHoE

This should be the British Anthem.

Bloody Beuatiful and not nationalistic at all. Serves all countries of the union.

BTW the lady singing is well fit.

[XabbaRus]

BTW until we don't let our sailors get caught, build 2 CVFs and get all the new Astutes we can't really have Rule Britannia can we?

[Antidike]

It's sad we have such a dull one, it gives me sad feelings!:nope:

By the way I'm Kurtz's daughter call me Emelye, Em, or Antidike ( it's greek it's pronounced Anti-deekee [Emelye in the ancient Greek times would be Emelius for a male or Emelia for a girl or spelt something like that and that means enemy and my brother couldn't find enemy in greek so he put in adversary and the rabbit just jumped straight out of the hat!])

"Neal, you need to search another navy angel avatar...!" :p that is almost three in a row! :lol:

Wow yay! this sounds great fun it'd be great to get to know you guys apart from kurtz i know plenty about dear papa!;)

[Antidike]

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D
Just for the record, that 1st and 2nd verse of that song is cleaned from the German anthem. Only the 3rd verse is accepted, and it goes like this:


Unity and Rights and Freedom
For the German Fatherland
Let us all strive for that
Brotherly with heart and hand
Unity and Rights and Freedom
Are the foundation for happiness
Bloom in the glow of happiness
Bloom German Fatherland

Still my favourite "Deutsche Frauen, Deutsche Trauen", beween us we're saxons and I feel thats a good tie:D

Sorry postedon emelye's login too much brandy!

[Nostromo]

Rule Britannia, there need be no argument, it involves the entire union, its aggressive, imperialistic and rousing, everything the Empire should be, all others are wishy washy. Great Britain isn't defined by her monarchy, its changed enough times to be truly separate. Rather Britain is the people and the strength of her spirit.

[Camaero]

Why didn't you guys pick up White Cliffs of Dover? I guess it works more when your country is in deep peril, but since there is almost always some crisis going on, why not?

[Antidike]

Why didn't you guys pick up White Cliffs of Dover? I guess it works more when your country is in deep peril, but since there is almost always some crisis going on, why not?

We don't have bluebirds we may have the cliffs but you have the blue birds so it doesn't really work!

:smug: I'm amazing for a little girl!:smug:

OWNED!!!

[kurtz]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MKO-Tt1CHoE

This should be the British Anthem.

Bloody Beuatiful and not nationalistic at all. Serves all countries of the union.

BTW the lady singing is well fit.

We're singing from the same songsheet mate:up:

[kurtz]

Why didn't you guys pick up White Cliffs of Dover? I guess it works more when your country is in deep peril, but since there is almost always some crisis going on, why not?

Listened to a radio prog about this recently apparantely it was quite a cynicval attempt to drag you usually reticent yanks into WWII. Still thank v. much for helping, I'm sure it wouldn't have gone so well without you:D

[mapuc]

Here in Sweden our national anthem is "Du gamla du fria" directly translatet= You old you free.

But many voices has said that we should replace it with Ulf Lundells "Öppna landskap"= Open land

Markus

[robbo180265]

I voted for Jerusalem. It's the only song likely to bring a tear to my eye, and it sounds lovely in a stadium:up:

[Happy Times]

I dont think the British anthem is that bad. The best anthems that i know are German, Russian and French. In Finland there is also been talk about what to use as an anthem. Currently we share one with Estonia. Its called "Our Land" "Maamme".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlAuPOUew4

The other candidate is "Finlandia Hymn",
many think it is better, including me.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fbndUSHL9A0

[Ramius]

I see only one other person has joined me in voting for keeping 'God Save the Queen'...I was beginning to think I was the only person in the UK who actually likes it.

Every time I hear it I think of what Britain should be; stately and proud, not the politically correct, emotionally obsessed freeloaders' paradise that it has become.

Wel, thats what i voted for. Not really because i like it, but the other options dont really hold for an English National Anthem.

You can't really choose Rule Britannia, when "Great Britain" doesnt exist anymore (or is on the verge of splitting up).

[Jimbuna]

I see only one other person has joined me in voting for keeping 'God Save the Queen'...I was beginning to think I was the only person in the UK who actually likes it.

Every time I hear it I think of what Britain should be; stately and proud, not the politically correct, emotionally obsessed freeloaders' paradise that it has become.

Wel, thats what i voted for. Not really because i like it, but the other options dont really hold for an English National Anthem.

You can't really choose Rule Britannia, when "Great Britain" doesnt exist anymore (or is on the verge of splitting up).

Ditto :up:

[AntEater]

Well, Skybird is only partially right (this time:D).
The third verse of the "song of the germans" by Hoffmann von Fallersleben is sung at official occasions, but the entire song is regarded as the national anthem.
It is a bit problematic, as the anthem is not specifically mentioned in the constitution, in contrary to the flag.
But public singing of the first verse is generally regarded as a right-wing political statement, while the second verse is ignored by everybody...;)
Problem with the first verse is the "borders" from Maas (Belgium) to Memel (Lithuania) from Etsch (Austria) to the Belt (Denmark). These were the borders of the german language area in 1846, when Fallersleben wrote these lines at Heligoland, but they are not the borders of the current german state and governments of the respective states could be offended by having their rivers stated as natural german borders (especially the poles, which currently try their best to beat the muslim world in being offended by everything :D).
So the first verse is a bit problematic politically, the second is to winey and unmanly (Fallersleben originally intended to write a drinking song!) for martial occasions like parades, so only the third one is left...
Actually the german anthem until 1918 was the same as the british, only with different (german) lyrics which basically meant the same.
The melody for the current german anthem is the one of the Kaiserhymne of old Austria, written by Josef Haydn, so Germany basically stole the anthem of (Habsburg) Austria.

[gnirtS]

This thread is diverging a bit.

Some are on about a British national anthem, some an English national anthem - 2 different things.

Wales and Scotland have their own, England is the only country in the union that does not have its own and uses the GSTQ durge.

A separate issue is Britain as a whole (different from ENGLAND) and that anthem. GSTQ as well as being uninventing and dull is also incredibly annoying for the majority of the country who want rid of the royal family - they last thing they're going to do is sing something in support of them. Its hardly a song to unite everyone as a result of that!

[dean_acheson]

You guys should totally use the main theme to star wars!:lol:


Oh my. That was funny!

[Fish]

How come all these other countries have great national anthems such as;

USA The Star spangled Banner, rockets bursting in air...all that very stirring

France Le Marselies (apologies for spelling) blood of invaders spilling on to the ground...way to go

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D

The Netherlands:

William of Nassau, scion
Of a Dutch and ancient line,
I dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyalty.



I've ever tried to live in
The fear of God's command
And therefore I've been driven,
From people, home, and land,
But God, I trust, will rate me
His willing instrument
And one day reinstate me
Into my government.



There are 15 of them. ;)

So, it's not only the oldest national anthem of the world, but probable also the longest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Het_Wilhelmus


Actually, Wilhelmus is my baptism-name. :shifty:

[Biggles]

Here in Sweden our national anthem is "Du gamla du fria" directly translatet= You old you free.

But many voices has said that we should replace it with Ulf Lundells "Öppna landskap"= Open land

Markus


I will emigrate to England if that happens. I swear: NO WAY I'm singing that song to honor our country!

[Antidike]

How come all these other countries have great national anthems such as;

USA The Star spangled Banner, rockets bursting in air...all that very stirring

France Le Marselies (apologies for spelling) blood of invaders spilling on to the ground...way to go

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D

The Netherlands:

William of Nassau, scion
Of a Dutch and ancient line,
I dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyalty.



I've ever tried to live in
The fear of God's command
And therefore I've been driven,
From people, home, and land,
But God, I trust, will rate me
His willing instrument
And one day reinstate me
Into my government.



There are 15 of them. ;)

So, it's not only the oldest national anthem of the world, but probable also the longest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Het_Wilhelmus


Actually, Wilhelmus is my baptism-name. :shifty:

15 verses! wow that must take ages to sing I'd prefer to dive into a mine instead of having to sing that many verses:help:. How long did it take them to think up that many?! :hmm:

[Jimbuna]

Looks like since about 1572 :hmm:

[AntEater]

Actually, there's an argument wether "duytsche" means of "dutch" or "german".

William of Orange certainly was of german blood, as Hesse-Nassau is nowhere near the present netherlands. But on the other hand, back in the 16th century, dutch and german was not yet as problematic as post 1940..
Anyway, Wilhelmus was quite popular as a protestant combat song in the 30 years war in Germany as well, and apparently used as a choral even later, as the protestant states and church of Germany always regarded the netherlands as something of a role model.
But "oldest anthem" is a problem, as Wilhelmus was certainly THE national song of the Netherlands, but not the official anthem of the Netherlands until 1932.
The Kimigayo of Japan exists since the 10th century, as a song of reverence to the Tenno, but also was not a formal national anthem until the 1870s, when it was rearranged for a western style orchestra by a german composer working in Meji Japan.
I suppose the british "god save" really has to be considered the oldest. Haydns Kaiserlied (present day german anthem with different text) is also quite old, but the state it stood for (Habsburg Austria-Hungary) does not exist anymore.

[kurtz]

This thread is diverging a bit.

Some are on about a British national anthem, some an English national anthem - 2 different things.

Wales and Scotland have their own, England is the only country in the union that does not have its own and uses the GSTQ durge.

A separate issue is Britain as a whole (different from ENGLAND) and that anthem. GSTQ as well as being uninventing and dull is also incredibly annoying for the majority of the country who want rid of the royal family - they last thing they're going to do is sing something in support of them. Its hardly a song to unite everyone as a result of that!

Hmm the less than popular 3rd verse

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade, May by thy mighty aid, Victory bring. May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush, God save the King. So I think we can take that as pro Union:know:

[Jimbuna]

This thread is diverging a bit.

Some are on about a British national anthem, some an English national anthem - 2 different things.

Wales and Scotland have their own, England is the only country in the union that does not have its own and uses the GSTQ durge.

A separate issue is Britain as a whole (different from ENGLAND) and that anthem. GSTQ as well as being uninventing and dull is also incredibly annoying for the majority of the country who want rid of the royal family - they last thing they're going to do is sing something in support of them. Its hardly a song to unite everyone as a result of that!

Hmm the less than popular 3rd verse

Lord, grant that Marshal Wade, May by thy mighty aid, Victory bring. May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush, God save the King. So I think we can take that as pro Union:know:

I just bloody knew it!! :lol:
I was wondering when someone aws going to post that verse :up:

[tycho102]

It's a long way to Tipperary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Long_Way_to_Tipperary)

[Fish]

How come all these other countries have great national anthems such as;

USA The Star spangled Banner, rockets bursting in air...all that very stirring

France Le Marselies (apologies for spelling) blood of invaders spilling on to the ground...way to go

Germany German Women, German Wine, German Song...prefer red myself so I'll pass on the Reisling...:D

The Netherlands:

William of Nassau, scion
Of a Dutch and ancient line,
I dedicate undying
Faith to this land of mine.
A prince I am, undaunted,
Of Orange, ever free,
To the king of Spain I've granted
A lifelong loyalty.



I've ever tried to live in
The fear of God's command
And therefore I've been driven,
From people, home, and land,
But God, I trust, will rate me
His willing instrument
And one day reinstate me
Into my government.



There are 15 of them. ;)

So, it's not only the oldest national anthem of the world, but probable also the longest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Het_Wilhelmus


Actually, Wilhelmus is my baptism-name. :shifty:

15 verses! wow that must take ages to sing I'd prefer to dive into a mine instead of having to sing that many verses:help:. How long did it take them to think up that many?! :hmm:

We use to sing just the two first verses. ;)

[d@rk51d3]

You guys should totally use the main theme to star wars!:lol:


Oh my. That was funny!


That brought a smile to my face too, but I prefer the Emperors theme tune......

Naa naa naa, na na naaaaaa na na naaaaaaaaaaa.:rock: :rock: :rock:

[Egan]

Does anyone remember when an Irish guy won the boxing in the 92 olympics and they couldn't find the Irish national anthem so they played 'Danny Boy' instead? :up: Superb - the guy just couldn't stop crying. Brilliant choice.

(note: It is entirley possible I drempt this but I'm pretty sure it happened...:D)

Don't like 'God save the Queen' though - dreary nonsense. I'd go for the Billy Bragg one. Mind you, I think he should be prime minister anyway.

[Antidike]

Looks like since about 1572 :hmm:

Wow well I guess a good national anthem takes time :).

[Jimbuna]

Does anyone remember when an Irish guy won the boxing in the 92 olympics and they couldn't find the Irish national anthem so they played 'Danny Boy' instead? :up: Superb - the guy just couldn't stop crying. Brilliant choice.

(note: It is entirley possible I drempt this but I'm pretty sure it happened...:D)

Don't like 'God save the Queen' though - dreary nonsense. I'd go for the Billy Bragg one. Mind you, I think he should be prime minister anyway.

I do...not sure of which year though :hmm:

It had to be the Irish :lol:

[lesrae]

No, no, no, no, no, I'm sorry guys....but the Big Yin has beaten you to it.

Beat me to it :D

[Antidike]

Just wondering how long will it be till I get a suitable girly picture?

[Safe-Keeper]

Hilarious title, and the fact that the creator is in the brig makes it even better.

What'd I do without this site:rotfl:?

Bah, just adopt the German anthem. As a matter of fact, all nations should adopt the German anthem. Prettiest tune I ever heard:up:.

[Antidike]

Hilarious title, and the fact that the creator is in the brig makes it even better.

What'd I do without this site:rotfl:?

Bah, just adopt the German anthem. As a matter of fact, all nations should adopt the German anthem. Prettiest tune I ever heard:up:.

German National anthem does sound good and I know some of it!:rock:

[Antidike]

Oh and this is to all Kraftwerk fans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP1tkspU5yw&playnext=1

[Jimbuna]

Oh and this is to all Kraftwerk fans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP1tkspU5yw&playnext=1

:lol: :rock: :up:

[kurtz]

Hilarious title, and the fact that the creator is in the brig makes it even better.

What'd I do without this site:rotfl:?

Bah, just adopt the German anthem. As a matter of fact, all nations should adopt the German anthem. Prettiest tune I ever heard:up:.

Didn't we have this suggestion many years ago:D

Would make the olympics a but dull come medal time.

[Antidike]

Bah forget medal time it's more important having pride and the german national anthem has plenty of it!:up:

[MGR1]

This thread is diverging a bit.

Some are on about a British national anthem, some an English national anthem - 2 different things.

Wales and Scotland have their own, England is the only country in the union that does not have its own and uses the GSTQ durge.

A separate issue is Britain as a whole (different from ENGLAND) and that anthem. GSTQ as well as being uninventing and dull is also incredibly annoying for the majority of the country who want rid of the royal family - they last thing they're going to do is sing something in support of them. Its hardly a song to unite everyone as a result of that!

Well, I certainly hope the Welsh anthem is better than ours!

"Flower of Scotland" is hell of a lot worse than "God Save the Queen"!!!!:shifty:

Personally, I voted for "Land of Hope and Glory". Might as well have some optimism!!

Mike.:)

[Mudrik]

I've always thought that the current national anthem is dreary. You just couldn't march about to it could you. I love to watch the F1 and it's always grim to hear "God Save" played at the podium ceremony alongside something racy like the French or Italian anthem.

As an aside, the Hungarian National anthem mentions "ripen grapes of Tokay" which I believe is to Hungary what Brandy is to France or Whiskey is to Scotland (please correct me if I'm wrong). What a fab idea to mention your national tipple in your anthem.

Then there is the whole issue of National vs English anthem which I see is being discussed. I feel that Jerusalem is the best candidate for English anthem as it always brings a lump to my throat despite my total lack of religious beliefs (the Billy Bragg fans amongst you will be pleased to hear that it's his choice too).

As for national anthem, it would have to be by a British composer, how about "Parklife" or "Vindaloo" for a good old knees-up with plenty of smiles. Or "Smack my bitch up" which would be fantasitic at the start of an international sports event! :lol:

Has anyone seen the Al Murray (pub landlord) take on the national anthem? He goes on about how where ever in the world she is, if there's any danger nearby, all it takes is for one Brit somewhere in the world to stand up and sing the national anthem and call out to god, he is our god afterall, to stop what he's doing and save the queen! Very funny indeed.

[Antidike]

I've always thought that the current national anthem is dreary. You just couldn't march about to it could you.

The best you could try is dragging yourself if you're in an energetic mood:lol: .

[kurtz]

As an aside, the Hungarian National anthem mentions "ripen grapes of Tokay" which I believe is to Hungary what Brandy is to France or Whiskey is to Scotland (please correct me if I'm wrong). What a fab idea to mention your national tipple in your anthem.



Well the germans 2nd verse


Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang



Praise their women and their wine (on reflection I think I'd prefer their women)

[Tchocky]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odNNgEn5l6s

:D

Tchock

(lets make this confusing)

[The Avon Lady]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odNNgEn5l6s

:rotfl:

I love Connolly! :yep:

[Heibges]

There have been various efforts to get the US Nation Anthem changed from the unsingable Star Spangled Banner to America the Beautiful.

http://www.answers.com/topic/america-the-beautiful

[Jimbuna]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odNNgEn5l6s

:D

Tchock

(lets make this confusing)

Never get sick of watching that "An audience With Billy Connolly" :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Smaragdadler]

and what do we have? Some dreary little ditty asking some deity of middle eastern provenance to look after some unelected foriegner who's been placed in charge of us. Where in "God Save the Queen" is this mentioned? :-?
Where it says "God Save the Queen"
The term god has nothing to do with the Jewish יהוה.

Etymology of the name God:
http://wahiduddin.net/words/name_god.htm

Names of God in Judaism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Judaism

In old German dialects, 'got' was the general term for a numinous being - the kind of primal power that affected everything, without having a definite shape of its own. 'Got' was not to be mixed up with Wotan or Odin, which were already concrete formulations. 'Got' thus corresponded to the Indian 'Atman', while the gods were seen as mortal beings.
----
The earliest written form of the Germanic word "god" comes from the 6th century Christian Codex Argenteus. The English word itself descends from the Proto-Germanic *ǥuđan. Most linguists agree that the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European form *ǵhu-tó-m was based on the root *ǵhau(ə)-, which meant either "to libate" or "to call, to invoke".

The capitalized form "God" was first used in Ulfilas' Gothic translation of the New Testament, to represent the Greek Theos, and the Latin Deus (etymology "*Dyeus"). Because the development of English orthography was dominated by Christian texts written in Latin, the capitalization (hence personalization and personal name) continues to represent a distinction between monotheistic "God" and the "gods" of polytheism.
The name "God" now typically refers to the Abrahamic God of Judaism (El), Christianity, and Islam (Allah). Though there are significant cultural divergences that are implied by these different names, "God" remains the common English translation for all. The name may signify any related or similar monotheistic deities, such as the early monotheism of Akhenaten and Zoroastrianism.

God at wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God

[Antidike]

Here's a good national anthem for the world i think!:up: :rock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WktxIqbGAj0&playnext=1

[The Avon Lady]

I'm speechless (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070605/od_nm/spain_anthem_dc;_ylt=AutrKv.if0oMZsD0zE2raHHtiBIF) .

[kurtz]

@ Smaragdadler

Fascinating links thanks, but as one of the points out (wiki I think) the term has come to represent the Abrahamic deity.

Mike

[Tronics]

Can't change the star spangled banner, it would take an act of Congress, and Congress usually defers to tradition.


If they were going to propose changing it in a semi-serious light, then I'd rather it become 'My Country Tis of Thee' instead of 'America the Beautiful'.

[TteFAboB]

Given the latest BBC thread, which reminded me of the story about a failure to find reasons for British proudness, I suggest this as the new non-rubbish British national anthem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa8TyF6lo80