To wish we had a different national anthem

[katmeouws]

Just listening to The Marseillaise, which I much prefer to "God Save the King". Cant we have something more appropriate to a 21st century democracy.

Now that was a bloody good idea!

Unfortunately I think the national anthem was replaced by Fat Les' Vindaloo approximately a decade ago

All the good, that was my understanding also as I remember feeling uncomfortable with the lyrics year's ago and did some research.

Britons were being stolen and kidnapped for the slave trade,and they strengthened the navy.

I'm still not fond of it though.

I'd prefer Jerusalem

The thing I hate most about the national anthem
is that the English use it for their anthem as well. Get your own bloody anthem! It’s for the whole of the UK (although I agree it’s crap) - it shouldn’t also be used to represent only one part of it as if the rest didn’t exist.

Wales, scotland etc have their own anthem but then the England anthem is also the anthem of Great Britain (or UK, can never remember the difference). I think there should be another separate one for all the uk countries together

God yes. It is AWFUL. It makes my skin crawl. Everything about it is dreadful. A horrible, dreary, monotonous sound, and lyrics that make us look like a bunch of servile peasants. I hate, hate, hate it. Land of hope and glory would be better.

Music can stir you so much. As a kid, I remember watching the old veterans parade in front of the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. This was back in the 1980s, when quite a few WW1 veterans were still alive. Jesus, when they played Elgar, and you saw all those proud old men, it sent shivers down my spine.

I think Ruling the waves was more about defeating the Dutch and the Spanish. I don’t think Britons being kidnapped by Turks was a big problem in the 18th century. That certainly did happen, especially in earlier centuries, but was fairly niche and mostly happened in the Mediterranean to traders rather than off the south coast of England.

How about I vow to thee my country as the English anthem?

Still very religious and mostly about glorifying giving your life for your country. I personally don’t think laying your dearest and your best on the altar is a great idea.

Maybe the current UK national anthem just needs a make over? 😃

m.youtube.com/watch?v=8sG1ibc9Hvc

Yanbu.

The tune of Rule Britannia is good but the lyrics get awkward - not as awkward as the original god save the king though!

We didn't use it in the commonwealth games.

Abide with Me - Isn't that sung at some national events?

I'm English. You're right.

I associate it quite a lot with rugby... still probably too religious though

Ah yes, @Kimya I thought I'd heard it at some sporting event. It is rugby, you're right

England used Jerusalem at this year's Commonwealth Games. They have used Land of Hope and Glory in the past.

I don't know why it's used, just know that's the big event I've heard it at.

My husband hates our anthem and thinks it should be the land of hope and glory.

Ours is great 😉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Also a big fan of La Marseilles and the Irish and Scottish anthems. Englands is a bit of a dirge...Land of Hope and Glory is at least more cheerful!

Our National Anthem 'Flower of Scotland is great. I'd never sing God Save The Queen/King - anti Scottish Royalist guff that it is.

I mean, wow. Those lyrics to the French national anthem. I wouldn't really be a big fan of that being sung at the start of every sporting event. It's hardly relevant to modern day France. Good tune though!

Abide With Me is sung at the FA Cup Final. It has never been sung at rugby matches.

What do YOU think?

Best anthem and best flag!

Yes