national anthems

[sunny jim]

at al big international sporting events a national anthem is played.The welsh and scots have their own but we english have the dreary national anthem.Why

[Pippa68]

This has been debated here quite a lot. It has been pointed out that not only is it dreary, it is also a song about a monarch and not England...a song for Great Britain rather than England to boot!

I vote for Jerusalem.

[Quizmonster]

Jerusalem is such utter nonsense!

"And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?"

(No, they didn't!)

"And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?"

(No He wasn't!)

"And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?"

(No, it didn't!)

"And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?"

(No, it wasn't!)

But still...you're welcome to it as a national anthem.

[Quizmonster]

Land of Hope and Glory is used as England's 'anthem' on occasions such as the Commonwealth Games, when an athlete's success has to be marked specifically in a way to show his/her Englishness as opposed to Scottishness, Welshness or Northern Irishness...not to mention Australianness and so forth!
However - as Pippa says above - the 'land' in the original version referred to the UK and not just to England. It was, after all, a line in the Coronation Ode written by AC Benson to accompany Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 music. It was for Edward VII's coronation and he - just like the present queen - was monarch of Great Britain and not just England.
So, it is a �national anthem' only in the sense that 'Flower of Scotland' is a �national anthem'...ie merely an occasional one.

[Pippa68]

It may be utter nonsense, Quiz..but it is a nicer tune, eh?

[brionon]

Since the Aussies don't want it what about ''Waltzing Matilda'', or ''We are the Champions''.

[suffragette]

I'm with Pippa and vote for Jerusalem, though I'd be happy with Land of Hope and Glory as well. In fact, I'd prefer the Hokey Cokey to God Save The Queen, anyday.

Stand up and salute, gang, though I believe this version is being played by a band of six year olds.

http://12121.hostinguk.com/Glory.htm

[cameo]

Here's an idea -

www.sportsnationalanthem.piczo.com

[Quizmonster]

I quite liked Billy connolly's idea of a few years ago when he, too, was complaining about the dirge-like qualities of Britain's National Anthem. His alternative was the tune from The Archers. That would actually be more 'English' as well.
As you say, Pippa, Jerusalem or The Archers theme tune would be preferable.

[Narolines]

Well, brionon, the Aussies nicked the tune for Waltzing Matilda from us in the first place - it comes originally from Kent..........

[brionon]

Narolines, Now that's the sort of fact I like, being besotted with Folk lore and music. How do you know this, please ?

[treacle-tart]

brioon

This suggests a scottish origin
http://www.nla.gov.au/epubs/waltzingmatilda/1- Orig-Christina.html

Bekki

[brionon]

T'anks.

[jno]

as Quizmonster suggests of Jerusalem... it has been said that the answer to the first verse is 'No' and the answer to the second verse is 'Get them yourself'. But GSTQ is only dreary if you play it that way; it's a waltz and could well have a much livelier tempo

[Narolines]

It comes, brionon, from having played in folk bands of one sort or another for close on 40 years! I can't recall the actual name of the song offhand, but it's called something like "The Rochester Dragoon" or some such. I remember it was quite popular in folk clubs a few years back.