God Save The Queen?

First topic message reminder :

OK I'll put my hand up as being in the intersect of the Venn diagram of Englishmen that describes being both republican and atheist (so this OP won't go far).

But did my ears deceive me last week?

Did the bint wot did the singin' at HQ get it wrong?

Did she mux-ip her lines?

Doesn't the chorus go

G s o g q
L l o n q
G s t q

I'm pretty sure she replaced the last definite article with another possessive pronoun. Although tbh I haven't been arsed to re-run the vid.
Bad form don't you think from yet another so-called professional lame blonde chorus leader?

Give me anything else but that ham-fisted dirge anyway.

And don't get those military guns firing at me either.
I'm a pacifist as well. (that Venn intersect diminishes further).

Hey Jude,
Don't make it bad
etc.

No slash and burn, bigotry or xenophobia there.

So long as they get the words right.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:Frankly, I'd sing the Birdie Song or anything for England over GSTQ every time.

Royalist, Unionist, Religious and subservient sh!te is GSTQ.









In my humble opinion.

Well whilst I'm not English but I am a royalist, unionist and religious.... yet don't think GSTQ is reflective in the modern age.

Nothing wrong with believing in your heritage, your monarchy and your country. But the song is just a little odd if nothing else. Its a different age now... I recall when you had to sing the national anthem, swear allegiance to the crown and god, just to join the boy scouts.... and that was in Glasgow of all places!!! Its a different world now.

All the home nations anthems are awful.

France have a good one and Italy's is ok but the others are beyond bad.

If you get rid of the anthems and dances then NZ playing in Ireland could be done and dusted in under 2.5 hours.

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland's call is so much better and appropriate than Amhran na BhFiann which is right up there with God save the Queen as the most dated, painful on the ears load of dog dung out there.

Both are truely dreadful songs.

I agree... as in Amhran na BhFiann and Ireland's Call. Car crash wastage of voices and sound.

Cyril wrote:All the home nations anthems are awful.

France have a good one and Italy's is ok but the others are beyond bad.

If you get rid of the anthems and dances then NZ playing in Ireland could be done and dusted in under 2.5 hours.

I like flower of Scotland. Its a good tune.

Lots of Irish schools use a tailored version of it as their rugby chant. Its a popular enough song I reckon.

SecretFly wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland's call is so much better and appropriate than Amhran na BhFiann which is right up there with God save the Queen as the most dated, painful on the ears load of dog dung out there.

Both are truely dreadful songs.

I agree... as in  Amhran na BhFiann  and Ireland's Call.  Car crash wastage of voices and sound.

Thats not what I said though. Ireland's call is fine. Doesnt deserve the rap it gets at all. Much better song that AnB.

Ireland's Call sounds like an entry for Eurovision.

Cyril wrote:Ireland's Call sounds like an entry for Eurovision.

Yeah but GSTQ is like a cross between a funeral march a hymn and a nursery rhyme. Its dire in every way. AnB sounds like a pub full of alcoholic farmers.

GunsGerms wrote:

Cyril wrote:Ireland's Call sounds like an entry for Eurovision.

Yeah but GSTQ is like a cross between a funeral march a hymn and a nursery rhyme. Its dire in every way. AnB sounds like a pub full of alcoholic farmers.

Agreed. All bad. Get rid of 'em all.

  
Notch, yes fair points. He did view the new industrialisation as satanic.

Cyril wrote:All the home nations anthems are awful.

Land of our Fathers, so long as it is not sung by some dippy Katherine Jenkins wannabe (or Jenkins herself), is the best anthem in the world.


Can you really listen to/watch this and not get goose-bumps?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM4mIlYKG9s



I am willing to sit through the dirge that is GSTQ for the pleasure of this.

Really? Not a fan of Land of our Fathers at all.

It always sounds out of tune to me.

Anthems in general are not very inspiring (which is odd because that's what they are meant to be).

Aye. I agree, GG. GOST represents an Supranationalist nature to the England anthem whilst that Irish one wot you said does the opposite.

I'd vote to get rid of 'em both.

In fact maybe anthems should be just banned altogether.

Maybe everyone should be forced sing the Birdie Song.

I note that someone suggested Delilah for the Welsh earlier. [ed] Adultery Stalking and murder - that's what that's about...

Queen already did one for Wales.
(best imagined in a Freddy Mercury voice) :

" We Were The Champions.. "

Meanwhile Germany is rehearsing for entry to the 7 nations.
All our anthems will look good then.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CripLDmoSCg

gregortree wrote:Queen already did one for Wales.
(best imagined in a Freddy Mercury voice) :

" We Were The Champions.. "

Whoever thought that a sensible discussion about anthems would reduce itself to nationalism?   

Picking on pariah states on top of deliberately misquoting Her Holy Modal Highness's very own toy-boy lookalike band really is beyond the pale.

Shocked is what I am.
Shocked and disgusted.

I'm orf to Tunbridge Wells this minute to pen a letter to The Mail.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I hate our anthem with a passion. Its the most boring uninspring load of dross around.

Imagine having something like "La Marseillaise" to sing your heart out to...

Completely agree. The French anthem has to be the best around. If only we could have Land of Hope and Glory.

I love the Italian anthem, you just can't help but join in there unlike our very own Ireland's call which makes me cringe every time.

I have always thought the English team should sing Jerusalem as I do believe:

A. It's a lovely tune
B. If I was an Englishman it would get my hackles up and blood pumping every time.

GSTQ is not very secular and inclusive in my opinion

La Marsaillaise wrote:
Aux armes, citoyens, To arms, citizens,
Formez vos bataillons, Form your battalions,
Marchons, marchons ! Let's march, let's march!
Qu'un sang impur Let an impure blood
Abreuve nos sillons ! Water our furrows! (repeat)

Cracker.

Shame about the subtext.

I thought for years that the Italian anthem was the theme tune to Formula 1

Heres one for you...Why is the french anthem called that?

My Mother in law who is the most English of people, small (and large) c conservative, lightly racist and avid lover of all things royal always comments that GSTQ should not be used as it's not the English national anthem it's the British one. On a side note I'd also like to see the Norn Iron football team have their own anthem rather than use it for the same reason.

I think there is a case for seperate anthems and Jerusalem wouldn't be a bad place to start, personally I'd rope in someone like Seth Lakeman, John Tams or Kate Rusby to write a new one or update Jerusalem for the 21st century.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Heres one for you...Why is the french anthem called that?

It was originally the marching song of the Marseille revolutionary troops (The men of Marseille), it was adopted as the French Army's battle song and later the National Anthem.

Submachine wrote:I thought for years that the Italian anthem was the theme tune to Formula 1

You mean it's not ?????

Irish Londoner wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Heres one for you...Why is the french anthem called that?

It was originally the marching song of the Marseille revolutionary troops (The men of Marseille), it was adopted as the French Army's battle song and later the National Anthem.

  

Gold star to you...

 I don't care what the English anthem is, as long as Laura Wright continues to sing it.

Irish Londoner wrote:My Mother in law who is the most English of people, small (and large) c conservative, lightly racist and avid lover of all things royal always comments that GSTQ should not be used as it's not the English national anthem it's the British one. On a side note I'd also like to see the Norn Iron football team have their own anthem rather than use it for the same reason.I think there is a case for seperate anthems and Jerusalem wouldn't be a bad place to start, personally I'd rope in someone like Seth Lakeman, John Tams or Kate Rusby to write a new one or update Jerusalem for the 21st century.

Shhhhh you don't want to say that too close to Windsor Park
I do agree with you and I do think hearing 'Oh Danny Boyyyyyy.....' would make for a more rousing anthem.
P.S. I am from N.Ireland and used to never miss a night at Windsor Park.

Campaign for England's Jerusalem please.....

England doesn't have a national anthem. So we should have nothing.

GSTQ is the national anthem of the UK. If some parts of the UK decide to use something else it's up to them. Doesn't mean England has to.

Also, you say your mother-in-law is 'most English of people' and then list a few things. Are these the things that make her 'most English' or in additional to being 'most English'?

Pete, why do think I posted this on the rugby forum - that said it rears it's head on the Our Wee Country site  from time to time, usually ending in an "agree to disagree"....

Could try Liilibolero as an alternative   

I'm actually surprised your national anthem isn't Angels by Robbie WIlliams judging by its Karaoke popularity.

Fleetwood Mac should write a new anthem for England. If they arent interested then give Kate Bush the gig. Her song wuthering heights is very english while still managing to be universally loved, and a genuine classic. Plus Id love to see the English crowd try and sing wuthering heights or something similar.

Hammer - where she was born and lives makes her "English", it's the other things that make her the "most English" person I know - in the context of national character, in another era she'd be one of John Major's aunts on bicycles riding towards the viillage green to make tea for the cricket team who are in the midst of a game - "leather on willow", the "crimson rambler", marvellous....   

Crowd songs and national anthems rarely hit the mark lyrically or musically, there'll always be something inappropriate.

I reckon Land of My Fathers gets closest to the optimum. It's pretty emotive but isn't it Bread of Heaven that is sung spontaneously by the crowd during matches?

Flower of Scotland is a bit of a dirge but seems to have established itself with Scottish fans to the extent that their crowd sing it during the game so that's all that matters.

Ireland's Call is a fair attempt to meet the criteria even though it does seem a bit forced but it's not what the Irish sing when things are going well in the game, that falls to The Fields of Athenry iirc but you couldn't really see that adopted as their 'anthem'.

GSTQ is there by default but what do we sing in celebration during the match, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, which only has relevance to rugby if the actions are performed and I can't see that being acceptable to a straight laced TV audience. Always thought it should be 4 and 20 Virgins when the Scots are at HQ anyway.

The Marseillaise is a great anthem musically but thankfully it's sentiments are not well understood.

Il Canto degli Italiani is a real bit of Italian opera that I don't have clue what it says but it's bright and sunny and feels very Italian. I can't recall hearing Italian crowds bursting into song but I guess they're happy with it.

All in all I think it almost impossible to get it right with a traditional song and maybe even harder with one concocted for the purpose. As a song to inspire, Jerusalem before and during a game is pretty good but we're never going to get a choice.

How is wuthering heights "very English"? Because it's a song from an English person? There a quite a few to choose from if that's the criteria.

Irish Londoner wrote:Hammer - where she was born and lives makes her "English", it's the other things that make her the "most English" person I know - in the context of national character, in another era she'd be one of John Major's aunts on bicycles riding towards the viillage green to make tea for the cricket team who are in the midst of a game - "leather on willow", the "crimson rambler", marvellous....   

OK, so Englishness is about being a racist conservative? Gotcha. All this guff about trying to define 'Englishness' and you've got it nailed in a few key features.

HammerofThunor wrote:How is wuthering heights "very English"? Because it's a song from an English person? There a quite a few to choose from if that's the criteria.

No because it is a song about the Victorian novel Wuthering Heights by the celebrated English novelist Emily Bronte. It is set in a house on the yorkshire moors called wuthering heights. The themes, characters, names and setting are all very English, no?

For example I reckon you would struggle to meet anyone outside England called Heathcliff.

So it's an English song about an Enlgish book that's set in England? Don't know the book but there isn't anything that is 'English' in terms of it covers everything. It's a term that has no real meaning other than geography. Of course people can attach personal meaning to it but there's nothing out there that covers everyone/thing so why bother? What wuthering heights makes me think of is Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Sean Hughes.

I've never met anyone in England called Heathcliff. The only one I can think of is the American cat.

Thunor, your last couple of post have come accross very Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas".

"Your saying She's English? What the F*%$ is so English about your Mother in Law or Emily Bronte?"

GunsGerms wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland's call is so much better and appropriate than Amhran na BhFiann which is right up there with God save the Queen as the most dated, painful on the ears load of dog dung out there.

Both are truely dreadful songs.

I agree... as in  Amhran na BhFiann  and Ireland's Call.  Car crash wastage of voices and sound.

Thats not what I said though. Ireland's call is fine. Doesnt deserve the rap it gets at all. Much better song that AnB.

It deserves my personal rap - as I hate it. Just as you can't stand Amhran na BhFiann. I can't stand either and will continue to state so anytime this topic pops up.

Well if I ever need to find a person rather than a cat called Heathcliff England would still be the first place I'd look.

Fair point re the Buzzcocks.

The Spanish anthems lyrics are better.

Submachine wrote:Thunor, your last couple of post have come accross very Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas".

"Your saying She's English? What the F*%$ is so English about your Mother in Law or Emily Bronte?"

It was more my interpretation that his mother-in-law was the most 'English' person he knew because she was a racism conservative, as though those were the most English qualities a person could have.

[Disclaimer] I have a chip on my shoulder (and it's massive, get it?) about this (stereotyping English people as the John Major ideal).

Let's just play "Wonderwall" and have done with it.

And after alllllllllllllll,
Stu's my wonderwallllllll!

HammerofThunor wrote:

Submachine wrote:Thunor, your last couple of post have come accross very Joe Pesci in "Goodfellas".

"Your saying She's English? What the F*%$ is so English about your Mother in Law or Emily Bronte?"

It was more my interpretation that his mother-in-law was the most 'English' person he knew because she was a racism conservative, as though those were the most English qualities a person could have.

[Disclaimer]  I have a chip on my shoulder (and it's massive, get it?) about this (stereotyping English people as the John Major ideal).

You think you got it bad?  At least Major wears a suit and exists in the modern world.  Try the spuds'n'drinking stereotype for a year or 500

By the way, I'd never class Major as a racist conservative.   Now Maggie might have been closing in on that one but Major?

Not Major. There was an above comment "My Mother in law who is the most English of people, small (and large) c conservative, lightly racist and avid lover of all things royal"

I was querrying whether the racist bit made her more English or not. Then it was to the John Major stereotype. He was supposedly asked once about what 'Englishness' meant and it came back as "A country of long shadows on county cricket grounds, warm beer, green suburbs, dog lovers, and old maids cycling to holy communion through the morning mist."

But that's his personal view and just because it's divorced from the vast majority of the population doesn't make it any less his view of course.

But then I'm from a football area and got into rugby in Wales, maybe I'm the one out of touch with English rugby supporters

Oh and Irish Londoner, don't worry about it, I know what you meant. I'm being a dick

HammerofThunor wrote:Oh and Irish Londoner, don't worry about it, I know what you meant. I'm being a dick

No worries - "puts toys back in pram and walks away from cage in case he accidentaly rattles it again"     

 

BTW the Brontes are all at least half Irish by descent thanks to the good Rev.  

It's Me! I'm Kathee! I've come home again!

WooOOooOO...

Even after a skinful in the pub/hospitality and pre-loading in the car park,I can't see that happening.

As it stands, nobody knows the anthem apparently.

but wait...

Even the good ole Swing Low rugby song is reduced to a stripped-down barest minimum.

Twickers boiling over on a overheated Kate Bush fire would be a thing to be feared.

English bagpipes!

Go for it!