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The National Anthem

(162 Posts)
Eloethan Wed 16-Sept-15 00:32:51

It seems to me that if we call ourselves a democracy then anybody should be perfectly at liberty not to have to sing the national anthem. It is, in my opinion, a horrible dirge of a song anyway with ridiculous words that concentrate wholly on the monarch rather than on the country and its people.

There has been almost universal condemnation of Jeremy Corbyn for not singing words with which he does not agree. No doubt, if he had sung the national anthem there would have been a lot of sneering remarks about him being a hypocrite. Some people snigger at other countries for treating their leaders as if they were divine beings and yet it seems to me that many people in this country have a similarly strange attitude towards the monarch who is, after all, just another human being.

Tegan Wed 16-Sept-15 20:53:53

...and the Jerusalem bit as well, perhaps....

rosesarered Wed 16-Sept-15 21:00:34

and the burning spear, and the arrows of desire and......

Ana Wed 16-Sept-15 21:10:54

We couldn't have that anyway - it only refers to England! shock

Tegan Wed 16-Sept-15 21:12:05

not much left really..and most people can't reach the high notes#yetanotherreasonwhyididn'tjointhewi. How about the Wheels on the Bus?

whitewave Wed 16-Sept-15 21:14:07

teg most of the wheels have fallen off so that is no good.

Rowantree Wed 16-Sept-15 21:14:21

Jerusalem? Ooooh, dodgy....

Rowantree Wed 16-Sept-15 21:15:05

Alice the Camel is a good one

Rowantree Wed 16-Sept-15 21:17:03

But if you want rousing, there's always Tomorrow Belongs to Me.
That's the trouble with anthems....

Anniebach Wed 16-Sept-15 21:20:47

No rosesarered, I mean the UK

rosesarered Wed 16-Sept-15 21:28:25

Not Britain?

NotTooOld Wed 16-Sept-15 21:37:10

Yellow Submarine is easy to sing, let's have that.

Ana Wed 16-Sept-15 21:39:26

It's my Party and I'll Cry if I want to? wink

Tegan Wed 16-Sept-15 21:44:04

grin

MaizieD Wed 16-Sept-15 21:47:30

I don't think you lot are taking this very seriously...

How about 'We're simply The Best'

NotTooOld Wed 16-Sept-15 22:01:05

'Simply the Best?' - could we do it with the Tina turner stomps and hand clapping? That would be quite good.

Tegan Wed 16-Sept-15 22:07:48

Oh no; I've now got an image of all the party leaders dressing like that man in that price comparison advert [the one with Sharon Osborne and the dog and the man wearing high heels].

NotTooOld Wed 16-Sept-15 22:12:19

Tegan - grin

merlotgran Wed 16-Sept-15 22:12:53

How about, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life?

Ana Wed 16-Sept-15 22:20:06

Yes, that would get my vote, merlot! grin

NotTooOld Wed 16-Sept-15 22:26:54

With stomping?

trisher Wed 16-Sept-15 23:12:01

We are the Champions? Ooh maybe not the words are not quite appropriate!!!

Ana Wed 16-Sept-15 23:31:37

Just thought though - wouldn't Always Look on the Bright Side of Life involve whistling? Which I (and no doubt many others) can't actually do?

Hmm...back to the drawing board.

ajanela Thu 17-Sept-15 06:13:29

For me the Queen represents my country so singing God save the Queen is saying God save my country etc.

Corbyn made a mistake for me by not singing. I loved his comments when he was told that he would have to kneel to the Queen when he was made a privy councillor. Not sure his politics can work but I always enjoy listening to him speak and I can't think of another politician I would say that about.

absent Thu 17-Sept-15 06:45:36

I think this thread has indicated very clearly how trivial all this is. What fun!

annsixty Thu 17-Sept-15 07:18:35

I just think the battery in his hearing had failed. It's as good a theory as any other.