Time to change the national anthem?

[srw]

National anthems are tricky. Few are as good as La Marseillaise. Australia got rid of the irrelevant and awful God Save The Queen, and replaced it by popular vote with the nearly-as-awful Advance Australia Fair, a terrible late victorian song by one of those types of poets who thinks "our home is girt by sea" is more poetic than 'we live on an island". Most of the verses had to be removed, and several lines changed - including the first one - to make it suitable for the 20th century. Most people have no idea of the lyrics of the second verse, so it's reduced to an embarrassing mumble until it gets back to the chorus. I think Waltzing Matilda was rejected because a song about sheep stealing and suicide while fleeing the law wasn't the best thing for state funerals.

THe best anthem out there is trans-national:

Freude schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was die Mode streng geteilt;
Alle Menschen werden Brüder,
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.

(of course, officially as an anthem it has no words.)

The second best anthem also has no words:

 

[srw]

Massive disagree. It's probably the most beautiful of all anthems

I could be really dull and explain why, as tune it really doesn't work - using words like "pentatonic" and "modulation" and "uncomfortable mixture of the Western and Japanese classical traditions" - but I think "dirge" and "dodgy words" sum it up so much better.

 

[John the Monkey]

Needs more dubstep

 

[John the Monkey]

I have always thought that "I do like to be beside the seaside" nicely reflects our island heritage.

It's quite a jaunty little number as well.

I second this motion. Especially if we can have the Reginald Dixon version.

 

[srw]

If only this could be used with different words, listen from 5.28, does it for me.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-v-DZjZ9iY


This girl could sing an anthem for us, if you haven't seen it before prepare to be amazed

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDqTBlKU4CE


I think this would be my choice though

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76UgSJgG7oQ

Let's just say that your taste in singers isn't the same as mine....

Unfortunately both the Bizet and the Holst suffer from the same problem - they have a range which is impossible for ordinary people to sing (one of several reasons I hate the hymn "I vow to thee my country"). Most of the population is an untrained singer with a range of about an octave and a third - so anything wider than that puts the tune out of the reach of the majority. And an anthem which can't be sung is completely useless. (Yes, I know I've just argued against Beethoven and Charpentier).

The hymn book is full of stonkingly great tunes, one of which could easily be adopted and adapted. Just off the top of my head, how about Little Cornard by Holst. Looking up the words, the first and last verses could very easily be secularised and then be very representative of the UK. I've even made up the secularisation in case @Jeremy Corbyn comes calling after the next election...

Hills of the North, rejoice;
River and mountain-spring,
Hark to the advent voice! [Hark to the British voice!]
Valley and lowland, sing!
Though absent long, your Lord is nigh; [Through day and night, your people call]
He judgment brings, and victory. [We fight for peace and justice all]

Shout, while ye journey home!
Songs be in every mouth!
Lo, from the North we come,
From East, and West, and South:
City of God, the bond are free, [Country of ours, our people free]
We come to live and reign in thee!

There - a stirring Republican anthem which won't even scare the monarchists.

[edit]
And here's the original words, performed with reasonable passion a mile or so from here. Believe e - a better organist would make it sound much livelier.

 

[winjim]

At state occasions and sporting events they should just play whatever happens to be number one in the pop charts at the time. It's as much a barometer of the nation's collective values as anything else.

 

[User32269]

At state occasions and sporting events they should just play whatever happens to be number one in the pop charts at the time. It's as much a barometer of the nation's collective values as anything else.

Your gonna have me googling important 20th century dates now to find out what anthem would have been played...arrgh!

 

[DRM]

I think Swords of a thousand men by tenpole tudor would do for England.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Please could we have Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine?

 

[marknotgeorge]

We could have this:

I know a song that'll get on your nerves,
Get on your nerves, Get on your nerves
I know a song that'll get on your nerves,
Get, get get on your nerves

 

[John the Monkey]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhkj25fBKzo


You know it makes sense - but as a compromise, I might, MIGHT accept Bluebell Polka.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfF9ELhPW1Q

 

[TwoPosts]

There is always this one.


Peter

 

[TheDoctor]

I wish I could linky on the tablet...
How about Tim Minchins Pope song? It's quite easy to learn, and has a very catchy tune.
Go on, do a YouTube search for it. May be less-than-suitable for Catholics.
*hides*

 

[Joffey]

Why can't we have a more current song?

I'd go for Wonderwall or Roll With It

 

[fimm]

I like "Hills of the North Rejoice" but I'm not sure that it is the easiest thing to sing.
I understand "You'll Never Walk Alone" is quite tricky (it starts low and ends high, and if you don't start low enough, you'll be in trouble at the end) but it doesn't stop football crowds singing it. Not National Anthem material (in case anyone thinks I'm suggesting it).