To think our UK national anthem sounds boring

[MissionItsPossible]

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

While "God Save the Queen" is a bit dirge-like, it's over quickly and it can be belted out with fervour.

Unlike the Australian national anthem with its awful "girt by sea". And its censoring of the three verses which are all about Australia being fab because it's, er British.:o

I haven't a clue how to put it on here, but have you ever seen Billy Connelly talking about this? It's on YouTube and it's brilliant!

This version from Euro 96 is belted out by the fans. So much so that the singer (is it Paul Young?) only sings 'God save...' audibly.

Personally, I like the French and Australian ones better. New Zealand's is pretty good too but my husbands a Kiwi and I have to listen to him singing it every time they play rugby!

It's dull, dull, dull. The Italian one on the other hand... Fantastic!

Is it this one NoddysBell?

The Italian anthem is just beyond fantastic, I love it.

I do love ours too - maybe it can't be sung extravagantly or whatever; but it can be very stirring.

I've said for long time that either Rule Brittania or Land of Hope & Glory would be far better than the depressing dirge that we have just now!

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

I'd like to see them try

Billy connelly talking about it during ilympicsnis hilarious. I refuse to recognise it as it is racist to the Scots (ok the verse was removed but still), I don't believe in god and it is very englified. It is meant to be the British national anthem so why the hell do england teams use it at matches (team GB is a different matter). Land of hope and glory is much better.

Another Italian anthem fan here. It's so jaunty and varied, and just the right length

Ours is one of the worst in the world :-(

The Russians have the best!

I'm so glad as a Welsh person I've had little reason to sing GSTQ during my lifetime. Land of My Fathers is a proper belter, and listening to it be sung before big rugby matches can bring a tear to your eye.

Now if they changed the British/English one to Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem or even I Vow To Thee My Country, I'd very happily sing along.

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

This will be outing but I used to honestly think this was the Australian anthem for a while. To be fair, if it's not the anthem it should be!

Ours isn't even about the country, it's just endless droning verses about the monarch. I like Jerusalem, I know it's only relevant for England and it doesn't make much sense (did those feet in ancient times walk upon England's pastures green? Um, no they probably didn't) but the words are awesome with all the arrows of desire and and satanic mills, and you can sing it with real gusto.

There is one version of the national anthem that I think sounds fabulous. Arthur Sullivan incorporated it into the finale of his ballet Victoria & Merrie England and it sounds fabulous, uplifting and dramatic. But it's in a very uncomfortable key to sing in, sadly.

My Mum maintains that GSTQ would sound far far better if played as a waltz, not a march. Also at about 1.5times the speed it's normally sung at.

Is it Eddie Izzard or Bill Bailey that suggested using the Archers theme tune instead?

Not the greatest anthem IMO though the lyrics about confounding their politics and frustrating their knavish tricks are quite fab.

I love the Russian national anthem. The melody, that is. I'm more than a bit about the reasons it was resurrected but it is certainly a rousing tune. I only know the old Soviet lyrics, though. In fact, I don't think anyone over the age of 20 actually knows the new words.

It's a bit cringey isn't it. The french one is bloody good.

MrsTerryPratchett

That one was brilliant!

I agree Land of Hope and Glory would be much better, more relevant lyrics and a nicer tune.

We could nick the French one but add our own words? What do you think?

I hate it. I never sing it, because I don't agree with the words, and believe the anthem should be about the country, rather than one fucking person. Plus I'm anti-monarchy, so the words mean nothing to me.

I've lived in the U.S for over a decade, and I am a U.S. citizen (have been since birth, as mother was American), and Star Spangled Banner gives me the chills. Now that's an anthem.

The bit in "Rule Britannia" about ruling the waves would certainly send the right message to those pesky furriners about our expectations in post Brexit fishery negotiations or not.

"Jerusalem" has the best tune, and is pleasingly potty. I believe it's about the legend of Jesus Christ having visited Britain with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea.

Although I'm a fan of the "Marseillaise", various right on French friends have been horrified when I've confessed that to them. There's a bit about watering furrows with the blood of the impure which is considered rather, er, de trop nowadays....

I hate warbling.