our national anthem

[mank!]

load of shite, ain't it? it sounds like a dirge. doesn't stir any emotions.

the jocks have flower of scotland.
the taffs probably have a song about leeks, daffodils and sheep.
the english have a song about a pointless monarchy that nobody really gives a toss about anymore.

my suggestion for a new - or alternative - national anthem is blake's jerusalem. it never fails to give me goosebumps. especially when i hear it sung at the cricket.

failing that, fight the power by public enemy would be nice.

so what are your suggestions you patriotic nutters?

 

[leggy]

It is quite crap but can you imagine trying to replace a song about the Queen?

I can't see it happening. But if I was to change it I would vote for:

The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now.

 

[Tom]

Bike - Pink Floyd. I reckon it'd be perfect.

 

[taB]

God save the Queen!

 

[Chilly]

its not the kind of thing you can change. specially while old Lizzie is about.

 

[dysfunction]

I think quite a few people do actually quite like the Queen. I think this is shown by how many people turned out on her special do a short while back...

Perhaps you are not really English at all if you don't feel any good emotion towards the National Anthem....

 

[Chilly]

if you can define English properly I'll give you a fiver. I don't believe it can be done with anything short of an essay.

 

[throdgrain]

I can define it easily. Its me.


Sorted.


I dont mind the national anthem either.

 

[leggy]

I can define it easily. Its me.

I think Dennis Farina (aka Cousin Avi) summed it up better in Snatch:

"Fish, Chips and Cup-Oh-Tea."

 

[Calaen]

I think the National Anthem is gash as well.

 

[dysfunction]

if you can define English properly I'll give you a fiver. I don't believe it can be done with anything short of an essay.

You can't really define any nationality precisely without going into any great length...its not uniquly an English thing.

BUT If forced to be concise I guess I would attempt to define "British" using TV shows. It would be a bit of Fawlty Towers, Little Britain, Catherine Tate Show, The Kumars, Peter Kay's Shows, David Attenb Docs...

 

[dysfunction]

Being British is being Tolerant, fair, responsible, even handed, polite, courteous, good manners, multicultural, generaly tolerant of beliefs and opinions. Being clever, creative, innovative, cultural, witty, quirky, individualistic. but all that being tainted with a darker side of yobish culture, football hooliganism, binge drinkers, xenophobic, lack of ambition, ill educated, under qualified, expect failure, sneer at success, work shy, lazy, rude and loutish...

 

[pez]

i remember there was that petition on the government website to get it changed to Gold by Spandau Ballet.

that would be cool

 

[mank!]

well this went quickly off topic.

 

[Mobius]

I think Dennis Farina (aka Cousin Avi) summed it up better in Snatch:

"Fish, Chips and Cup-Oh-Tea."

hehe

i don't mind god save the queen. obviously i don't give a shite about the sentiment, but it does stir something inside me when i hear it at the world cup/euro championships etc. i expect it's just because i associate it with the big occasion. when i hear it before a friendly i just switch over. at least we have something to sing along to, spain don't even have lyrics for theirs.

i would like to hear fifty-thousand england fans singing along to alexei sayle's "dr martens boots"

 

[cHodAX]

failing that, fight the power by public enemy would be nice.

Gets my vote to be honest. Lets burn this mother fucking house down biatch!

(Not burn down FreddysHouse of course, Deebs might get pissed and unleash his evil minions upon us!)

 

[Kryten]

There's a few tracks I could name. Strangely enough I always thought Bohemian Rhapsody would be good.Overrated as many think it is, but mostly due to being played FAR too much.

However if it ever did come to replacing it, no doubt it would be up to the likes of the same morons that did the Olympic logo.
Which would mean it would turn out a garbled load of shit that gives some people fits, makes the others puke, and makes everyone think "How the fuck much did they spend on THAT?" - it would pretty much leave us with some form of R&B come hip hop track probably as it "embodies our multiculturalism" or some bollocks.

"Yo, god save da muddafukkin queen, yo, pop a cap in will's ass, innit, ennit"

Sorry if that sounds a little stereotypical, not meant to be.

 

[mank!]

doesn't anyone agree with me about jerusalem, though?

 

[Jupitus]

doesn't anyone agree with me about jerusalem, though?

IF we were to change it that would be on the list, aye.

 

[taB]

doesn't anyone agree with me about jerusalem, though?

Jerusalem is an excellent hymn, and ofttimes when I have sung it, a very emotional one. The words and the tune are uplifting on a level few others are.

For this reason alone, it couldn't replace the national anthem for me, but then I'm pro-royalty. I'd suggest that republicans fo to Australia, but they can't oust the Queen there, even though their polls suggest that they all want independence from the Commonwealth.


And was Jerusalem builded there,

Ben.

 

[mank!]

i want it played at my funeral, along with lord beginner's 'victory test match' and someone handing out tabs of acid on the door.

but that's well off topic...

my feelings towards the monarchy aside, i still think god save the queen is a terrible 'anthem'. it sounds like a funeral march and the sentiment doesn't mean anything to a lot of people nowadays. at least jerusalem celebrates 'england's green and pleasant lands' and it always seem to be so descriptive of part of the english mentality.

i love the fall's version of it as well. mark e smith and william blake, not a bad combination.

 

[GekuL]

Well, technically you could use a different anthem for England without replacing God save the queen, as that's the British rather than the English anthem. England should really use something else.

 

[pez]

I don''t know, while stirring, i always thought 'jeruselam' was a little silly.

 

[Trem]

RATM - Freedom.

That gets my vote.

 

[Raven]

doesn't anyone agree with me about jerusalem, though?

i like it but doesn't it upset lefties? would never happen

 

[mank!]

i'm a fucking leftie you ****.

 

[Jimmy]

im quite in to bill baileys take on the anthem

YouTube - Bill Bailey - National Anthem Sugestion

 

[Bodhi]

How about the theme from the Archers?

 

[ECA]

How about:

YouTube - Rule Britannia - Long Version


At least its got some fucking emotion.


Or:

YouTube - Stupid Dancing (Tag team - Whoop! There it is!)

 

[DaGaffer]

How about the theme from the Archers?

You've seen Billy Connolly too

Clearly it should be Land of Hope & Glory. National athems should be stirring and make you want to sing; Jerusalem is a fine hymn but nearly as dirge-like as God Save The Queen. Plus Jerusalem is basically a Christian hymn and you need something secular.

One thing you can say for the septics and the frogs, their national anthems are good.