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.

I agree so many english bashing threads on here it's getting boring now.

Elgar hated the words added to Land of Hope and Glory. He lost friends in the Great War (see Nimrod ) and Jingoism got right up his nose.

It can be rousing if everyone is singing with gusto.

Whats Jingoism please?

@june2007 jingoism is extreme, unthinking patriotism, a sort of my country right or wrong attitude, especially when thinking about foreign policy in general or war in particular.

Extreme nationalism including thinking your country is the BEST.

I didn’t know that about Elgar, Mockers. I think the words of both Land of Hope and Glory and I Vow To Thee My Country really cheapen the wonderful tunes. Especially LOHAG, I love Elgar’s music.

GSTQ has the same tune as the US My Country ‘Tis Of Thee as well.

You can hate me but I like ‘god save the queen’ and get a lump in my throat when it’s sung en masse. I do prefer Jerusalem though.

Lots of love for the Italian anthem on this thread - where were you when my drunk neighbour was singing it through an amplifier on his balcony last night?

I love it too (normally) but as far as tunes (rather than lyrics go) I think the Marseillaise is top.

I would like it to be either Jerusalem or land of hope and glory.

I love being English, and I wish we had our own anthem

Isn’t England’s anthem land of hope and glory?

It should be something optimistic.
“Always look on the bright side of life.”
Now that would get folk singing.

Some of us (lots of us) don't want to get folk singing.

Ignore that last post - I was thinking this was the singing with the neighbours thread.

I'd always thought Jerusalem would be a good choice but Always Look on the Bright Side of Life would make a brilliant national anthem.

I'm with Billy Connolly. It should be the Archers theme tune.

"Abide with me" gets my vote!

Love the Marseillaise. Also rather partial to Canada’s National anthem.

I don’t hate GSTQ but it’s not often sung with enough gumption to be rousing.

If I got to choose it’d be Tubthumping by Chumbawumba .

*Chumbawamba sorry. In fairness it’s a tricky one.

I like it. I sing it loudly and proudly every time it’s on.

Abide with me tends to be a funeral hymn, @Nolie100.

Abide with me tends to be a funeral hymn, @Nolie100.

I'll get me coat....

I don't much care for our dirge-like national anthem either.

Much to my amusement my French husband didn't like La Marseillaise and thought GSTQ was wonderful.
I did wonder if was a case of familiarity breeding contempt.

so many english bashing threads on here it's getting boring now.

This is not an English bashing thread.

God Save the Queen is utterly dire . Abide with Me is a funeral hymn. Land of Hope & Glory is much better, as is Jerusalem.

The French is best, Wales and Scotland joint second place.

I think Highland Cathedral would make a great Scottish national anthem but also love Flower of Scotland and Scotland the Brave. We're spoiled in Scotland for great traditional anthemic songs.
I love hearing other national anthems, especially during the 6 nations.

I'm sure England have other things to sing proudly about rather than the queen though. I like when national anthems are about their history/love for the country.

I also really love abide with me but couldn't shake the associations with funerals

I’m not British but I love both God Save The Queen and Jerusalem.
I often feel that where Wales and Scotland have their own anthems for football say, but England use GSTQ? So usually think of it as England’s anthem even though it’s not actually true.