National Anthems and local traditions

If it was for sport it wouldn’t be a National anthem. It would be a sporting anthem. Not the same at all. Though I do agree tha Gsave the K is a bit of a dirge.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

The English need their own for sporting events as GStK is for everyone. Something rousing would be good!

I rarely agree with you, FriedGreenTomatoes2, particularly about politics, but in this case I think you are spot on. I don't like GSTK, but as you say, it is for everyone and it is annoying when the English take it over!

Go for it, England, and find something rousing!

I’d like an anthem/national song just for England. The national anthem without words can sound quite good and also has the virtue of being short.
Since there’ll never be agreement about what it should be (see endless GN, FB, Twitter, X posts on the matter -inclusive, exclusive, whose religion is mentioned, should be non-religious, doesn’t mention all parts of the UK etc, etc) then how can we change it?

Or sung even

Ive always found the french 'Marseille'very rousing especially when its sunday at a French/english rugby match

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!!

Perfectly happy with our N/A, Jerusalem maybe if it's changed. Please not something trendy which will be old hat inside he years.

England needs its own anthem.

After all, if the home nations compete in sporting events, Wales has an anthem, Scotland an unofficial one as does N. Ireland, but England has to sing the anthem of the whole United Kingdom.

My hometown, Holmfirth has it's own anthem - "Pratty Flowers" that was always sung with gusto at the Sing. It isn't particularly rousing but we enjoyed it.

The Belgian National anthem is stirring and lively. It's super

Sorry - even when I checked I didn't get Ireland right

Mizuna

My county of Cornwall has its own official anthem called Trelawny. To hear it sung by a host of local people is wonderful. If you Google The Fisherman's Friends/Trelawny you'll hear a lovely rendition.

I can't stand our national anthem, so dreary!

When I was young in England (nowhere near Cornwall) we were taught all the 'home countries' National Anthems. I look back with interest that were didn't even think about Northern Oreland, but we did learn Trelawnym - bing told that the Cornish 'thought they were a separate country'! I have acquired relatives through marriage who live in Cornwall (lucky me!) and although Trelawnwy remain popular, they tell me that there is a great deal of love for the 'new anthem' Cornwall My Home, and having seen it sung there, I think there is:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5xNgKocsO8

I would vote for changing the UK anthem to "The Ying Tong Song" by the Goons.

The English need their own for sporting events as GStK is for everyone. Something rousing would be good!

I hate ours (GStheK) and believe it’s the only one that is ‘for’ a person rather than the country? Also asking ‘God’ clashes with so many different faiths and those of us with none.
Still, I guess we’re stuck with it, as I can’t see William changing it.
I do like other ‘anthems’ sung at sporting occasions.

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

The German NA is very tuneful, music by Haydn.

God save the King is more a processional anthem, for a solemn slow walk, not one to stir the blood while you listen to it standing tall and to attention before going into battle or a sporting competition. It always seems to take longer than most national anthems and the words of some verses are downright divisional, not inclusive. It would be better to have two - one for that kind of procession, one for generating emotions of pride in your country.

I am very conscious of the words of national songs, and The Marseillaise is a good example of a stirring melody attached to war -mongering lyrics, where patriotism slips into nationalism.

Our NA is more like a dirge it is so sombre.
Perhaps Bernie Taupin and Elton John could
create a new one which is more inclusive of
our four countries and not so obsequious.

In order of preference:

Welsh
Scottish
French
American

God save the King is old hat, dreary and doesn't represent everyone. I think that generations coming through, who are ever increasingly non royalist, will demand change at some point. With any luck!

Yes the South African one is good. Also La Marseillaise, of course. One of our footy teams has hi jacked that, though - Brisbane Lions. Cheek !

I love the Welsh National anthem and also the South African one although I don’t know what it’s called and I believe it’s a new post apartheid one.

The National Anthems that make me giggle are the ones that seem to go on for ever and nobody seems to know the words.

My county of Cornwall has its own official anthem called Trelawny. To hear it sung by a host of local people is wonderful. If you Google The Fisherman's Friends/Trelawny you'll hear a lovely rendition.

I can't stand our national anthem, so dreary!

I love Flower of Scotland - when it's sung at Murrayfield when the rugby is on, it makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up!