Why do we have a rubbish National Anthem?

[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?

Originally Posted by 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?

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

I'm amazing for a little girl!

OWNED!!!

[kurtz]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

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

[kurtz]

Originally Posted by 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?

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

[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

[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".



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

[Ramius]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by Ramius

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

[AntEater]

Well, Skybird is only partially right (this time).
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 ).
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]

Originally Posted by Camaero

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

Oh my. That was funny!

[Fish]

Originally Posted by 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...

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.

[Biggles]

Originally Posted by 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

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

Originally Posted by Fish

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.

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. How long did it take them to think up that many?! :hmm: