There's a bit of debate going on today on whether English teams should drop 'God Save the Queen' as our national anthem.

I'm interested to know what you all think of this? To me, GStQ, where I ask somebody I don't believe in to save somebody I care very little about doesn't stir any passion in me at all and I wouldn't object to it being replaced.

Depends, can the new anthem be Slayer's Reign in Blood?

Yes.  I agree with Huttsey.

 

I saw a suggestion on twitter that it should be replaced with Wonderwall on the basis that at least everyone knows the words!  Imagine thousands of people belting that out!

I saw a suggestion on twitter that it should be replaced with Wonderwall

 

 

Please God no!!

 

I genuinely think Sven Sven Sven would be a better choice than that featureless, drawling mess. Even a 20-minute Emerson, Lake & Palmer instrumental would be preferable.

Please God no!!

 

I genuinely think Sven Sven Sven would be a better choice than that featureless, drawling mess. Even a 20-minute Emerson, Lake & Palmer instrumental would be preferable.

 

I knew some of you would react like that!  

 

How about Knees up Mother Brown?

how about "we're on the road to nowhere" 

As a Finn I don't really have anything to say on the matter other than that I sometimes wish Sibelius' Finlandia was the national anthem of Finland.

As a Finn I don't really have anything to say on the matter other than that I sometimes wish Sibelius' Finlandia was the national anthem of Finland.

Yes! And instead of words everybody should go Pah-pah-pah or Boing-boing-boing to accompany the instruments.

The Dutch anthem is a 16th century protest song containing 15 verses. If we would sing them all before a match, we would win every match by default, having bored everybody to death. As it is, we only sing the first verse (in theory anyway, many people don't seem to know the words).

As a Hungarian I usually do not talk about our anthem... Except for the fact that I'd dearly love to change it.

I like our national anthem but I do understand the desire to change. If we did though I think Jerusalem would be a terrible choice, it's too slow and dreary, hard to get much passion into it.

What about Cockney Sparrer's England belongs to me.

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by Barn

Apparently the debate is just between Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem. 

 

Which is a shame because... 

 

My suggestion would be this. 

 

OK, OK, my serious suggestion would be this. 

Why do you guys sing that you have German blood, Valerie?

 

 

Always funny.

Especially when you are playing against the Germans.

Is a national anthem necessary, Huttsey?

Please not Jerusalem.

 

In fact I don't think we have anything suitable for the 21 century.

 

Why not have a brand new anthem made.

 

Do what the Irish RU did, commission  a new anthem, something uplifting to the people.

 

Apparently the debate is just between Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem. 

 

Which is a shame because... 

 

My suggestion would be this. 

 

OK, OK, my serious suggestion would be this. 

 

Bit predictable that it's between Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem.  I actually quite like them both but was hoping for something a bit less obvious - like your suggestions!  

 

Three Lions?  Though it always makes me cry as my dad died the night England were knocked out of the world cup in 1998.  

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by Beerqueen

Bit predictable that it's between Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem. 

 

I'm sure the Nutty Boys are excited about that.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
            How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
            Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;
            God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,
            God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

 

No problem with Land of Hope and Glory, the right pace, the right composer.

 

But we cannot have these old fashioned lyrics, they need updating, nobody talks like that any more.

Personally, I quite like the old-fashioned words - it's like the Lord's Prayer - I think it sounds much better with "thy name" rather than "your name" etc.

At the last Commonwealth Games in 2014 Jerusalem was played when an English competitor was awarded a gold medal. Prior to that Land of Hope and Glory was played. I believe that GSTQ was played many years ago but am not sure when the change to Land of Hope and Glory was made. For competitors from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales the anthems Flower of Scotland; Londonderry Air and Hen Wald Fy Nhadua are played respectively. Jerusalem is also played at the start of England's cricket matches. Correct me if I'm wrong, I think that GSTQ is only played for the England football and rugby (Union and League) matches so a change to Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory or I vow to thee my Country or any other song would bring the football and rugby teams in line with other sports I've mentioned. 

 

I was always led to believe that GSTQ is the National Anthem of the whole of the United Kingdom and not just for England. I like Coco's suggestion of composing a new national anthem for England and following the example of the IRFU: a song was written for both sides of the Irish border.

 

A slight aside, GSTQ is also played before Northern Ireland football matches. 

Personally, I quite like the old-fashioned words - it's like the Lord's Prayer - I think it sounds much better with "thy name" rather than "your name" etc.

 

But you may as well sing it in French if the majority of the nation don't know what the hell it's meant to mean.

 

"God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,"

 

What the heck is that meant to be saying ? God didn't make me.

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by coco

But you may as well sing it in French if the majority of the nation don't know what the hell it's meant to mean.

 

"God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,"

 

What the heck is that meant to be saying ? God didn't make me.

It's not that difficult, though is it?.  "Thee" just means "you" (not me as you seem to be thinking), so it's saying "God,  who made you (England) mighty, make you even mightier. "

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by Beerqueen

It's not that difficult, though is it?.  "Thee" just means "you" (not me as you seem to be thinking), so it's saying "God,  who made you (England) mighty, make you even mightier. "

 

How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?

            Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set; 

 

 

??

How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?

            Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set; 

 

 

??

How shall we praise you, who are born there (in England)

Your boundaries should be bigger and bigger (let's conquer more countries, especially Scotland and Wales!) - nowadays you could interprete it metaphorically - just, "aim to be greater" but at the time it probably meant let's invade everyone!

Edited January 14, 201610 yr by Beerqueen

How shall we praise you, who are born there (in England)

Your boundaries should be bigger and bigger (let's conquer more countries, especially Scotland and Wales!) - nowadays you could interprete it metaphorically - just, "aim to be greater" but at the time it probably meant let's invade everyone!

 

Cheers BQ, knew i should of listened more during English Lit, especially Shakespeare. 

How shall we praise you, who are born there (in England)

Your boundaries should be bigger and bigger (let's conquer more countries, especially Scotland and Wales!) - nowadays you could interprete it metaphorically - just, "aim to be greater" but at the time it probably meant let's invade everyone!

 

 

Conquer Scotland???  WE had to provide England with a King when they had run out of royals!!