National Anthems and local traditions

There’ll always be an England would do well. Not necessarily the whole lot but a couple of verses, but wait . . .
It mentions red white and blue, so there’ll be outcry about that, then somebody won’t like the other words or feel they aren’t inclusive enough.
I’d like Land of Hope and Glory, but again there’d be complaints.

I don’t think designating a song as a national anthem can work. The Welsh national anthem still isn’t ‘official’, it was just a song originally which has been sung more and more over time, as it was sung increasingly at Eisteddfods, sports matches and national occasions. It’s a song that captures the national mood, imagination, and joy of singing (all of which we are good at in Wales), so we have adopted it.

Love the Marseillaise, I agree the lyrics are bloodthirsty, but it is what it is & a more stirring tune before a rugby game you couldn't wish for. Like the german too, & Londonderry air for Northern Ireland.

icanhandthemback

I love our Nation Anthem. Whilst it might not be modern or as PC, it is traditional. I don't want all our traditions to disappear.

We could still have the National Anthem for occasions involving the whole of the UK.

But England, Scotland and N Ireland really need their own individual anthems.

The united Ireland anthem is good Irelands call ,it’s sung at rugby matches where the players come from across Ireland The Irish anthem is very rousing ,I know it well my granny used to march us up and down our hall singing it ,it’s The Soldiers Song .Hopefully one day not too far off Scotland wil have our own anthem .

Remember when we lived in Australia, and I did some supply teaching, the Australian anthem was sung at each assembly. I got to know it quite well.... Also joined a local choir; we used to be called to sing at civic occasions where the anthem was called for.

Visgir1

I agree with Billy Connolly, we need a happy Anthem he suggested The Archers theme tune, yep fine with me.

Please no, not the Archers theme!😨😁

I love our Nation Anthem. Whilst it might not be modern or as PC, it is traditional. I don't want all our traditions to disappear.

4allweknow

Flower of Scotland is awful. It's so slow and basically invites violence against another part of UK. Scotland the Brave is uplifting and refers to the qualities of the country, not a battle.

God Save The King is just as bad. Verse 6 goes -

"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."

Just shows that you shouldn't write and adopt a national anthem (or national identity and policy) that depends heavily on negativity toward your nearest neighbour and current worst enemy, as time may bring them much closer to you.

Allira

I can just about remember singing God Save the King then having to get used to God Save the Queen.

I remember thinking that God Save the Queen sounded as if it was about Queen Victoria.

Benjamin Britten made an arrangement of our National Anthem that almost made it sound interesting! It’s usually played at the Last Night of the Proms.

Flower of Scotland is awful. It's so slow and basically invites violence against another part of UK. Scotland the Brave is uplifting and refers to the qualities of the country, not a battle.

tanith

Although I know it’s not the official anthem of England but Jerusalem never fails to move me.
Also agree re: the Welsh anthem is wonderful.

I agree that Jerusalem is a very rousing Christian hymn. Not a good choice of anthem for our multicultural society. I know what Blake was referring to. ie Jerusalem being the New Jerusalem of the new testament. Some people might like the idea of another country's capital being planted in our green and pleasant land but not me What about Muslims , Sihks etc. Considering the situation in the middle east, I think the hymn should stay in Church and away from football terraces .
I prefer Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory. Even that has it's detractors

Marg75

I absolutely love the Italian national anthem!

I love the unofficial Italian anthem “Va Pensiero”, the slaves chorus from the opera Nabucco.
I remember singing “Rose of England” by Ivor Novello at school, that seemed appropriate.

How about “I vow to thee my country”…

Granmarderby10

Our national anthem is a dirge.

But if we’re talking music, so is the Welsh song and the Scottish one and the Londonderry Air isn’t much better.

Something rousing -great idea. Something that won’t offend at least one group is impossible.

Our national anthem is a dirge.

Ours is a bit of a dirge. I like I vow to thee my country but again it’s a bit slow and gloomy. Trying to think of something uplifting, rousing but yet appropriate is difficult.

Translate the Italian and French anthem!!!!

I think our national anthem is an absolute dirge, it's really depressing. When I listen to other anthems they are mostly meaningful and even inspiring but ours is just the opposite. It's an ode to one person and as many people in the country are not royalists it becomes meaningless. Imo we need something that seeks to inspire pride in the country not an individual.

Agree National Anthem is very outdated and not relevant. Love the US,French and Italian NA. I'm a Scot and Flower of Scotland has become a dirge! It has been slowed down over the years....😴. Need something more rousing! Love Welsh and Irish one

I like the tune of the German one and I like the Marseillaise

Has anyone mentioned the Russian anthem (which was the Soviet anthem before)?
youtu.be/VJcnuZB4Xt4?si=30o3UXGDcU184zpK
And the Israeli one (although I think the composer listened too much to Smetana's Moldau! 🙃):
youtu.be/c_9N1ldPtQ8?si=2jDgCu1J338DflSq

But the South African anthem is up there too.

I can just about remember singing God Save the King then having to get used to God Save the Queen.

"Our national anthem, to me, was God save the Queen - it reminds me of an era when we were trained in the Brownies to be blindly dutiful. And I'm sorry but it should have changed when the Queen died..."

Dear gentleshores, it DID change when the Queen died - to 'God save the King', as it has done on and off for the past 300 years, and will continue to do so in the future, reflecting the sex of the reigning Sovereign.

Hellogirl1

I`d love our anthem to be Jerusalem, it was our school song and I`ve always loved it. My favourite anthem is the Welsh one, especially sung by a crowd in Cardiff Arms Park, wonderful1!!

It was our school song too :-) And I also love it - it still rouses me hugely. I also remember the Emerson Lake and Palmer version of it ha ha. When I was about 15, at a party, wearing a maxi dress and a choker - we all sang it out loud along to Emerson Lake and Palmer.

Our national anthem, to me, was God save the Queen - it reminds me of an era when we were trained in the Brownies to be blindly dutiful. And I'm sorry but it should have changed when the Queen died. I'm never singing God save the King.