National Anthems and local traditions

I remember an interview with Terence Davies, the film director, talking about his inspiration. He was brought up in Liverpool, and was taken regularly to the cinema by his fiercely Nationalist Irish nan. She was so anxious to leave the cinema BEFORE the National Anthem was played, that they always missed the last few minutes of the film! He would lie in bed, imagining the endings.................

Posters have mentioned the South African national anthem, it is indeed beautiful, it starts with the verse Nkosi Sikelele Afrika (in Xhosa) then each following verse is sung in 4 different languages including Zulu, Sotho and Afrikaans. The final verse is in English.

I absolutely love the Italian national anthem!

Never mind the tune of God Save the King, how about changing the words?

May England be the best,
Outscoring all the rest,
Come on England!
Whate'er the sport we play,
Be sure we'll win the day,
Encouraged all the way:
Come on England!!

Or

Let us now celebrate:
Our worthy Head of State
Stands for us all.
Here's to our Head of State,
May they not hibernate,
But strive until it's late,
Ans'ring our call!

Or

Praise our Prime Minister!
Dexter or sinister,
May they succeed.
Only some time will tell
Whether they govern well.
In times of need.
If they turn out a flop,
Then they will get the chop,
Just like a weed.

Enjoyed that grumppa !

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.

"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.

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

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

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 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.

Translate the Italian and French anthem!!!!

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.

Our national anthem is a dirge.

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.

How about “I vow to thee my country”…

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!😨😁

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.