To think England has one of the worst National anthems in the world?

[1066vegan]

I was reading the thread about the neighbours who want to follow the much loved/greatly dreaded Thursday clap with a neighbourhood singalong.

The Welsh and Russian national anthems were both mentioned and it got me thinking. I really love the Welsh and French national anthems (I live in 1066 country now but was born in Wales to Welsh parents so when it come to rugby or national anthems I'll always assert my right to call myself Welsh 😊), the Russian anthem is pretty rousing and the South African anthem is also great.

But dear God, the English national anthem is terrible. The words are about sucking up to royalty rather than love for the country. The origin of the lyrics and the usually omitted verse about the Scots make them even worse. The tune is a complete dirge.

Surely not many countries can have a national anthem that's even worse than God Save the Queen.

The verse about the Scots gives me the rage. Wouldn’t most people prefer Land of Hope and Glory or Jerusalem? They are a bit more rousing, not that I’m at all religious.

It should definitely be land of hope and glory

You are right about it being a dirge - I have less of a problem with the words because it is an old anthem, and is of its time.

I am a fan of anthems - I love rugby anyway, but I get extra enjoyment from the rugby World Cup and the six nations, because of the anthems. I get the words up on my tablet and join in. And I love how different they are - from the Italian anthem, which is pure Gilbert and Sullivan, to the bloodthirstiness of the Marseillaise, or the South African anthem that is bits from the different languages put together in a bit of a cut-and-shut fashion that really works.

I think the welsh anthem is one of my favourites - I love hearing Male voice choirs, and really admire the choral tradition in Wales. I always feel that, no matter the result of the actual match, the Welsh always win the singing!

There isn't an English national anthem is there ? God Save The Queen is the UK national anthem. As mentioned above Jerusalem is often considered England's unofficial anthem.

England doesn’t have a national anthem.

HTH.

It's quite a slow dirge, isn't it? However, don't agree with you about praising the monarchy as opposed to praising the country. Being stoutly un-patriotic is a very British thing - we're all about quiet pride. We don't pledge allegiance to the flag or shout 'God bless the UK', and we'd all shudder with embarrassment if our national anthem had lines like 'Germany Germany over all, over all in the world' (much though I love the tune).

So thanking the monarchy seems one of those ironic compliments that seems very British. But yes, the tune could do with being a bit more upbeat. I do wonder how bloody bored HM gets hearing that tune all day though...

God Save the Queen is not England’s national anthem 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not this shit again.
Bash the English in any given way.

The obvious choice:

When the world, leaves you feeling blue
You can count on me, I will be there for you
When it seems, all you hopes and dreams
Are a million miles away, I will re-assure you

We've got to all stick together
Good friends, there for each other
Never ever forget that
I've got you and you've got me, so

Reach for the stars
Climb every mountain higher
Reach for the stars
Follow your heart's desire
Reach for the stars
And when that rainbow's shining over you
That's when your dreams will all come true

It’s got a horrible, dirge like tune too. I have no idea what the words to the Italian anthem are, but years of DH watching Grand Prix racing has taught me it’s got a fantastic, jaunty tune to envy.

God Save the Queen IS the anthem sung when England play the other home nations or other nations, and it is the anthem that is played at things like the Commonwealth games, when England win a medal - so whether or not it has been officially decided, GSTQ is clearly the de facto English national anthem as well as the British one.

@Hingeandbracket was just thinking the same thing .. Like the English rugby anthem thread all over again

I always thought it was Swing Lo Sweet Chariot for the English rugby team 🤷‍♀️

And all the other "God Save the Queen is crap/racist/nasty" threads.
Bash the English, they ruined everything and are directly responsible for all bad things in the universe.
I'm not exactly proud to be English but I'm fucked if I want to apologise for stuff that has nothing to do with me.

I quite agree. It’s a dreadful song with a terrible sentiment. Absolutely shit.

The Scottish (unofficial) nation anthem, Flower of Scotland is conversely superb.

It's a bloody dirge, and as someone with lots of friends and family working in the NHS and other front line services, I'd rather we sang about saving the workers.

Apologies for calling it the English national anthem rather than the UK national anthem. Not sure if it was a mistake through not concentrating or a Freudian slip because I was trying to disassociate myself from it.

On my phone so can't see pp,s, but whoever said it was an English bashing thread, it most definitely wasn't intended to criticise England or the English (should have been referring to the British anyway); it is a criticism of the awful national anthem (and praise of some far better ones).

Italy has a great national anthem, so exuberant and jolly, a really rousing tune that swings along!

Being foreign, I was quite surprised about how little the national anthem is used here. I took the citizenship ceremony some 10 years ago and no one sang the national anthem. They just played god saved the queen through the speakers and the mayor and the officials all just stood there. I was shocked! I didn't sing it because I didn't know how to other than the first line 'God save the gracious queen'.

In comparison, we sang the national anthem quite often at my school in NZ. DH also knows our anthem really well, so it's not just me. When there were occassions to sing it, everyone will sing it with pride. DD1 is in year 4 here in England and I bet my money she doesn't know the national anthem at all.

If anything I think the OP is right, and that most people here doesn't like the national anthem.

I'd forgotten about Flower of Scotland. The UK really does seem to have drawn the short straw.

I like Jerusalem but it is the anthem of the WI really. Bring me my Chariot of fire!

@MyView2 - the crowd often sing Swing Low Sweet Chariot at England rugby matches, but the official anthem that is sung before the game is GSTQ.

I’d rather you’d enabled voting! YANBU, assuming you mean the UK anthem. On the other hand it and the name tell you all you need to know about the place. It has an aristocracy. Your chances and opportunities here are largely determined by birth.

YANBU to think it’s a woeful dirge
YABU to call it the English national anthem

Flower of Scotland is awful as well. I prefer Scotland the Brave