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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think our UK national anthem sounds boring

71 replies

MissionItsPossible · 07/07/2017 02:10

Not boring per se, but singers like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga manage to overdo it make theirs sound dramatic and uprising but ours seems dull and slow in comparison and can't imagine someone singing it at an event and making it sound good and inspiring that would have people applauding afterwards. Or is it just me Smile

OP posts:
Faez · 07/07/2017 02:16

It's a right dirge. anthem4england.co.uk/previous-polls/

nocoolnamesleft · 07/07/2017 02:37

I guess it would be less boring if we put back in the verse about crushing the rebellious Scots? Grin

Topseyt · 07/07/2017 02:45

I can't stick it. It is an utter dirge.

Girlgoneglobal · 07/07/2017 02:52

Nothing makes me feel more unpatriotic or uninspired than our national anthem.

La Marseillaise however....

Tailypo · 07/07/2017 02:56

Girl I love the Marseillaise too! I listen to it on Spotify when I'm psyching myself up for something (saddo) and it just feels so uplifting and powerful! After I've listened to it, I feel like I could take on the world Grin

HappenedForAReisling · 07/07/2017 03:03

I'm British but don't know the words to the national anthem. I know all the words to the anthem of my country of residence. It's quite a bit more cheerful and quite a lot shorter than the British one.

Girlgoneglobal · 07/07/2017 03:19

Tailypo I can't imagine not winning any sporting event after listening to it! And the bit in Casablanca always makes me cry.... Vive La France!

And I'm English.

Whiterabbitears · 07/07/2017 03:21

I agree! I think its awful. I would prefer something less monarchy centred, surely there's more to Britain than the queen? I would certainly vote to change it, the thought of our anthem being sung about Charles one day doesn't inspire me with great joy or pride.

thebigbluedustbin · 07/07/2017 03:23

I actually really like it! It can be powerful.

Guepe · 07/07/2017 03:56

It's a real dud.

The Welsh anthem on the other hand is one of the best.

KoalaDownUnder · 07/07/2017 04:00

It is a bit of a dirge.

I like ours (Australia). I find it quite cheerful.

claraschu · 07/07/2017 04:08

I like it. It is simple, but I think the tune is moving.

SabineUndine · 07/07/2017 04:12

It's miserable and it's also used by other countries (I think Liechtenstein is one). We'd be much better off with Land if Hope and Glory.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/07/2017 04:17

I have to say that my adopted anthem, Canadian, is better than the UK one. However, all the unofficial and individual ones (Jerusalem and Flower of Scotland, for example) are great.

And so insulting and royalist. I mean, missing out the 'crushing the Scots' verse isn't the same as having an anthem that doesn't contain that verse to start with.

SuperBeagle · 07/07/2017 04:21

It's awful.

I don't love Australia's when sung in that high-pitched opera shite, but I do like the verses. Still think we should go to Waltzing Matilda though and it nearly bloody won the referendum years ago and probably would win now

KoalaDownUnder · 07/07/2017 04:27

I don't love Australia's when sung in that high-pitched opera shite, but I do like the verses

Oh, true. Or when they warble the fuck out of it, extending all the notes like some kind of torch singer. Grin

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/07/2017 04:35

All the Aussies are up at this time of night Grin

May I suggest the rewritten Canadian one. "All the sexy Ryans..."

nooka · 07/07/2017 04:35

I'm in the process of acquiring a new nationality and will quite enjoy singing O Canada I think (especially if the gender neutral version ever ends up being adopted). The best thing about God Save the Queen is it is short, sung pretty rarely and never sung by operatic or pop singers. Way too much exposure to the Star Spangled Banner here!

lizzieoak · 07/07/2017 04:51

When I was a kid in school (in Canada) we had to sing God Save the Queen at every assembly. Clearly the voices of thousands of tiny Canadians have worked as she's still going strong.

Our (Canadian) anthem is okay.
Most people I know sing the "sons" line as "in all our hearts command". And some song "our home and native land" as "our home and natives' land" as an affirmation of Indigenous pride.

I live Jerusalem, think it's quite rousing.

lizzieoak · 07/07/2017 04:52

Bloody hell, phone. Love the song Jerusalem, not live.

BitOutOfPractice · 07/07/2017 05:03

It is dirges and difficult to sing I think.

Also, as a atheist republican the words don't do much for me either

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/07/2017 05:06

Most people I know sing the "sons" line as "in all our hearts command". And some song "our home and native land" as "our home and natives' land" as an affirmation of Indigenous pride. Me too. I sing it as "our home... and Native Land" if you see what I mean. The punctuation is in my head but it's here.

And it's important for an anthem to celebrate while not implying anything else about other countries. Which is where "send her victorious" and "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles" fall down.

MrsTerryPratchett · 07/07/2017 05:15

I've found the best one. . In Māori and English. And they all seem to sing it. Nice tune too.

I may be slightly over-invested.

HappenedForAReisling · 07/07/2017 05:16

lizzie I don't think I've actually heard anyone sing "in all of us command" instead of "in all thy sons command".
Even at hockey games the official singer sings the sons line.

MorbidBibliomancy · 07/07/2017 05:23

'Jerusalem' is a much more stirring song imo, but I don't think it's entirely appropriate in this day and age.

Get Eddie Izzard to write a new one. His bit about the Queen fighting off big dogs with a handbag is so much more entertaining.