National Anthem

[Pavilionaire]

I agree that GSTQ is essentially a British song, rather than an English song, but it is better than the alternatives of Jerusalem (basically a hymn) and Land Of Hope And Glory (also hymn-like).

I don't think there is anything already out there that does the job, and I quite like GSTQ. It is a tune and a statement that you can really get behind, it doesn't go on and on like other anthems (Italy, Wales spring to mind).

[Cian]

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and let's not forget the homoeroticism of the players and fans. What other sport would you get 15 team members dipping their knobs in a pint of sick before drinking it through a tampon?

Rowing, at least in Ireland.

[Woodchip]

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I agree that GSTQ is essentially a British song, rather than an English song, but it is better than the alternatives of Jerusalem (basically a hymn) and Land Of Hope And Glory (also hymn-like).

I don't think there is anything already out there that does the job, and I quite like GSTQ. It is a tune and a statement that you can really get behind, it doesn't go on and on like other anthems (Italy, Wales spring to mind).

Or RSA's in three languages. I think it's RSA's anyway.

[edna krabappel]

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God Save our Queen

What a pile of sycophantic crap. I don't particularly have an issue with the Queen per se, I do work for her after all (and work half an hour of my day, free, on her behalf), but I can't stand that as a national anthem. I find it utterly cringe-worthy that in 2007, we are expected to sing a song that would have sounded dated in 1955, such is the grovelling, we-are-not-worthy nature of the song.

The fact that half the England footballers do not sing it before games, is sadly, I fear, not so much of a noble political protest against the song, but more down to the fact that they either don't know the words, are embarrassed about their singing voices, or can't be bothered.

But it doesn't break my heart when they don't make the effort. Look at all the great national anthems around the world, look at the passion they generate in their fans/teams:

-La Marseillaise
-Deutschland Uber Alles
-the Star Spangled Banner
-Advance Australia Fair
-even God Bless New Zealand (with two verses, in Maori and English, no less, of which many players can sing both) is better.

And what do we get? A total dirge. A British dirge, no less. Time for a change.

[Pavilionaire]

I was engaged to an Aussie and almost all of the Aussies I spoke to about this thought Advance Australia Fair was shite. Most thought GSTQ was better.

[The Large One]

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I agree that GSTQ is essentially a British song, rather than an English song, but it is better than the alternatives of Jerusalem (basically a hymn) and Land Of Hope And Glory (also hymn-like).

I suppose 'Jerusalem' could possibly be considered partially hymn-like, although only the first three lines make any reference to divinity or deity.

I can't see how Land of Hope & Glory can be seen as hymn-like though. In fact, it was written about the glorification of the expansion of the British Empire, which in itself, ought to knocks itself out as a contender for an English national anthem.

[maffew]

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It is a tune and a statement that you can really get behind, it doesn't go on and on like other anthems (Italy, Wales spring to mind).

personally I dont agree with that. The tunes shit, the lyrics I dont agree with or want to sing and I have never heard a worse "national" anthem than ours

IMO

[Pavilionaire]

What is so bad about the Queen and the Royal Family? The notion of President Blair is both frightening and depressing in equal measure. Then what the **** would we sing?

A real lack of viable alternatives coming through on this thread from all those anti-royalists.

[Woodchip]

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What is so bad about the Queen and the Royal Family? The notion of President Blair is both frightening and depressing in equal measure. Then what the **** would we sing?

A real lack of viable alternatives coming through on this thread from all those anti-royalists.

Even more scary is President Brown. *shudder*

[Uncle Buck]

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What is so bad about the Queen and the Royal Family? The notion of President Blair is both frightening and depressing in equal measure. Then what the **** would we sing?

A real lack of viable alternatives coming through on this thread from all those anti-royalists.

I guess it boils down to having the right to elect somebody to be head of state, opposed to somebody having that role via being born into the ruling family.