The British National Anthem

well get fked then queenslandrangers, if you dont like it fk off back to ****hole london

 

good car sticker going atm, if you dont love it, leave and go back to the shytehole where you came from, might apply to you queenslandrangers

 

Let's try and be a bit tolerant about this, lads. I didn't want this thread to be divisive or I'll have the mods after me (!).

Imaz is right, England should have an anthem that is inclusive. We are predominantly a Christian country, as James (almost) said, but we're a broad church in England now, and the anthem (which unites the country) should reflect this.

As to the Aussie comments, I know plenty of Aussie's who call England their home now but support green and gold sport, and I respect that. Likewise, I used to visit Sydney regularly for work, and it struck me how many English emigrants maintained their loyalties for the old country (particularly over the English cricket team)- BUT ask them whom their children supported, and it was always Oz.

 

Portugal is a Christian country?

Va' se foder, velhote...

 

Iv just finished Uni, grammar and punctuation are the last things on my to do list when writing on here after withstanding it for the last 4 years
But was surprised by the majority reaction from your bunch about the matter. Iv always thought your lot to be more layed back and tolerant, didn't seem so much the case on this subject. Especially considering how trivial it all is. Welsh guys don't sing (a lot of people don't sing), lets single them out and criticise their commitments to the team. Outrageous.

 

If I was Welsh I certainly wouldn't sing the anthem of a country that excludes Wales (unllike Scotland and an Ireland that is no longer part of the UK) from its national flag. Insulting to put it mildly.

 

Yes, Imaz PORTUGAL is a Christian country! as is Spain, every Sunday the churches are full . Also Italy!!

 

Bullshìt the churches are full. Do you have anything to do with portuguese people, can you speak portuguese.

 

I honestly think James you are a sad UK export possibly haven't even integrated into your country of residence ... like a load of UK ****ers that have come to France... then refuse to speak the native language and still buy tins of beans, make cricket leagues while harping on why they to make the change to get away from the UK ... only then to praise it at every chance ...If you are home sick then come home and get forgotten... there are money spinning retirement homes in every town. Churches full then look at Wimbledon some time.. its alive and kicking. If you live abroad then my tip is to integrate and learn as generally English people are thought to be up their own arses and you seem to be testament of that. Are you in Portgual for one thing cheap sun like all the other wrinkly cattle? ... makes me taste bile. James you have lost touch

 

In one, well said.

The Algarve... probably never even passed his mind why it is called such.

 

Thought this thread was about a British anthem of some kind. That's a tough ask given our conflicting backgrounds but certainly something worth thinking about since our present and futures include not just the four home nations but also neo-Brits like me and the scions of immigrants from many other places.

No denying that we could do with an anthem for we citizens of the 'British' Isles then. Lyrically speaking, neither God Save the Queen nor Rule Britannia have any relevance in the modern age - and no denying GStQ's a dirge no matter what the percussive arrangement. So what would best reflect our largely Celtic heritage and at the same time stir both soul and pride sufficient to make me/us overcome our inhibitions to sing aloud and proud in public?

In terms of melody at least, it seems our separate 'unofficial' anthems have more to offer. Of Jerusalem, Flower of Scotland, Land of My Fathers and Soldier's Song, I find Flower of Scotland the most rousing especially with its repeatedly profound and haunting hook line, 'tae think again'.

There are of course a few other contenders for would be anthems such as Athenry, Danny Boy and the universally popular but for me fatally sombre, Abide With Me. That's if we're looking to the past and/or our sufferings. But is this what we really want to sing in honour of who we are and what we're all about today? Perhaps we should be doing a Spitting Image and adjusting the lyrics of more contemporary, commercial 'rock-type' anthems which invariably lift the roof off at gigs. Stuff like Brick in the Wall, Shout, Sit Down or even I Get Knocked Down to suit national competitive sentiments. No, maybe not.

At the end of the day, there's no denying that Rugby Union best presents anthems as themes heralding at once our national pride and universal competitive spirit - without harking on about war and/or ethnic superiority. In this context Soldier's Song rightly gives way to Ireland's Call (sorry NUTS!) and to this end there's only one anthem that's as rousing both in melody and lyrics: World in Union. Generic I know and smacks of the rugby world cup but for me the best anthem ever. If we could find something similar to represent these islands, our teams could at last step out with pride and sing as one.

There's a dream, I feel
So rare, so real
All the world in union
The world as one

Gathering together
One mind, one heart
Every creed, every colour
Once joined, never apart

Searching for the best in me
I will fight what I can beat
If I win, lose or draw
There's a winner in us all

It's the world in union
The world as one
As we climb to reach our destiny
A new age has begun

We face high mountains
Must cross rough seas
We must take our place in history
And live with dignity

Just to be the best I can
Sets the goal for every man
If I win, lose or draw
It's a victory for all

It's the world in union
The world as one
As we climb to reach our destiny
A new age has begun

It's the world in union
The world as one
As we climb to reach our destiny
A new age has begun.

 

Thanks for posting that, good lyrics of the sort we should all aspire to. If it can't be the Internationale that's an excellent choice.

 

Good lyrics, Brix, and I agree with Imaz, they're something to aspire to.

I sense a new anthem may not be that far off, but probably not during the current E II reign, out of respect for her. Nothing personal against Charles, he seems a reformed character, but I'm b*ggered if I'm going to burst into a song when he's the monarch that calls him gracious and noble, when he spent years shagging other men's wives (Camilla, Kanga etc..). I suspect quite a few will feel the same

 

Let's get this straight, England is not a Christian country. I believe a study a few years ago showed that it was sliding down the table in terms of practising adherents. The Christianity of agnostics is tenuous at best. Also, should us devout atheists leave the country too?

It's a very narrow view that condemns those that aren't similar.

We can still show pride, passion and patriotism and similar to Brix's suggestion, a new anthem borne out of a very British, rousing piece of classical music with new lyrics would be as good a place to start.

Not sure World in Union should be used for anything other than a globally unifying song (a bit like Beethoven's 9th is sorry of a European anthem).

 

Completely agree Matty.

Fact what we British Islanders are great at these days is respect and tolerance for human diversity. No mean feat that in any age.

Any new unifying anthem should - like the collage that is the union flag for instance - blend that feat in with the main stays of the more common aspects of our cultures. Whilst that might not appear to be as sexy as historical wars and sufferings in lyrical form, the words to World in Union says otherwise.

 

Above all we need a new decent tune, one that can be sung by a 100,000 and still sound OK. The Soviet Union and France both had good tunes. The Soviet Union tune was so good that Russia changed its mind and went back to it albeit with changed lyrics.

My personal favourite is Indonesia Raya which sounds good whatever way it's sung be that 100,000 in a stadium or a 10 year old kid on their own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auzWGS4X030&feature=related

 

Here's an option for an English ( unfortunately not British) anthem which may resonate with a few posters. I'm not with Billy Bragg on everything, but he is definitely a good bloke and a fine songwriter. I like his introduction to this very much, and his attempts to claim patriotism back from the Little Englanders. Matt, thanks for saving me from having to comment re 'belief', spot on mate.

[video=youtube;ekc7Bsw-FaQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekc7Bsw-FaQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]

 

Excellent lyrics to the Billy Bragg song. His heart's in the right place even if his music sometimes isn't all that.

Nationalism can very often have its negative side so the best we can do is incorporate a tolerant internationalist message into our interpretation of it.

 

Thank you DT and you funny friend ismas, To enlightening you both , I have said before and I repeat AGAIN, when in ROME (That is the capital of Italy) do as the romans do! Yes, I do know what the word ALGARVE means, but it seams that you do not? you must have gone to one the dumbing down type of socialist schools! I do not mix with winkled old English, I mix with very rich Portuguese Friends, they are very rich, that means they have money and have worked very hard to get since the 1974 25th. April Revelation, by the way I here then, before, and after! Where you lot just out of short pants??? You both seam to be VERY up tight of people who make good by hard work, have you tryed that yet or are both still on the doll?? living of the state that most of your type do. good evening young gentlemen and I use that term loosely. Just a thought, did the French not kick out baggers, How did you not get colt DT? in hiding i guess! And your pal, is his pals still stoning woman to death, hanging homosexuals??? And you DT still hiding behind woman ans children, while firing at real solders?

 

wtf