National Anthem

[joe.s-b]

Who decided that Jerusalem was the 'national anthem' of England. I didn't know that we had one. We probable should but who decides and how?

[Wharton]

I don't know either, but it's an improvement on what currently passes for one.

[SeaJayPea]

England does not have a national anthem. Neither does Scotland, for that matter. Wales does. Scotland Rugby started using Flower of Scotland[i a fair few years ago now. It's slowly been taken up by other sports.

England sporting organisations use [i]God Save The Queen[i], which is, of course, the UK anthem. Many people, me included, feel that they shouldn't. When it comes round to Commonwealth Games, England have used a number of things, [i]God Save The Queen, Land of Hope and Glory[i] and now [i]Jerusalem[i]. I'd plump for [i]Jerusalem], largely because the tune is a thoroughly stirring one. It gets played at Twickenham before every England international match and it fair gets you going when 80,000+ people start really belting that out.

[SeaJayPea]

OK AB, why don't the italics work?

[Jomlett]

test

[woofgang]

no one has decided. Who has said that it is?

[Jomlett]

Space after [i] works

[woofgang]

and i don't think its appropriate either, much as I love it as a hymn [i] italic[/i]

[Milvus]

Jerusalem isn't a hymn, though it is sung in some churches. It was written as a poem not for the church and has no prayer to God, so doesn't really qualify as a hymn. Great to sing though

[rockyracoon]

Copied from Wiki

'At the Commonwealth Games, Team England uses "Jerusalem" as the victory anthem from 2010 onwards. The Commonwealth Games Council for England conducted a poll of members of the public which decided the anthem for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The three options were "God Save the Queen", "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and Glory". "Jerusalem" was the clear winner with 52% of the vote; "Land of Hope and Glory" received 32% and "God Save the Queen" 12%.[1]'

[smoneybags]

It's my opinion that 'God Save the Queen' should only be played/sung when the Queen is actually present. There should be an 'English' anthem which could be either Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory.

[ludwig]

God save the queen is a dreary dirge. Compare and contrast with the stirring anthems of France, Germany, USA and Russia.

When the Queen dies they should take the opportunity to change it.

[maggiebee]

Haven't we been through this debate already? Grumpy today!!

[Mick-the-Miller]

A bit of Deja Vu here - this subject has been raised a number of times!

Someone soon will bring up Billy Connelly's suggestion of the Archers theme being the National Anthem - someone else will say there's no words and humming it is not on - then someone will say there are words, they are 'dum-de-dum-de-dumpty-dum' etc etc

I like Jereusalem it's a series of questions - there's a stirring tune we all remember from school - good stuff!

[inksplotter]

I think our National Anthem should go...

"Why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why...!!!"

[Sipowicz]

Why?

[factor-fiction]

Delilah?

[boxtops]

This is also being discussed on this earlier thread http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Sport/Question1353565.html

[LochNessMonster]

The official anthems are as follows.

Wales - Land of our fathers
England - Land of Hope and Glory
Scotland - Scotland the Brave


British - God save the Queen/King