English National Anthem

[Lateralthinking1]

The biggest positive step this country could take socially is to have a French style renunciation of American culture.

[vinteuil]

The biggest positive step this country could take socially is to have a French style renunciation of America culture.

... the country with the most MacDonald's per person is - of course - France.
n
The idea that the French 'renounce' Americanisation is (sadly) romantic piffle. After all, the French were the only 'civilized' nation who admitted that they enjoy Jerry Lewis...

[John Skelton]

... the country with the most MacDonald's per person is - of course - France.
n
The idea that the French 'renounce' Americanisation is (sadly) romantic piffle. After all, the French were the only 'civilized' nation who admitted that they enjoy Jerry Lewis...

Ah - but approximately 52% of the meat comes from French cattle. http://www.mcdonalds.fr

[MrGongGong]

We do have this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF0AqPujjaM

and this one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtUH2YSFlVU

Spiral Scratch is a true classic IMV

National anthems are a bit daft really, I have an old version of the complete music for all of them , what strikes you when looking is how similar they all are (with a few exceptions , India's was written by Tagore ) they are all designed for military bands , there are some without words at all ........ a good strategy IMV

which is why Hymnen isn't Stockhausen's greatest work

though this is also a work of genius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGHhSlPJRCI

[BBMmk2]

Somone said ealrier, why wait for Scotland and Wales to break away from the UK?

Come on England be the first to break away!!

[french frank]

Somone said ealrier, why wait for Scotland and Wales to break away from the UK?

Come on England be the first to break away!!

It would be ungentlemanly.

[And it's Cymru am byth from me. Nadolig llawen! Except ... ]

[vinteuil]

Somone said ealrier, why wait for Scotland and Wales to break away from the UK?

Come on England be the first to break away!!

It would be ungentlemanly.

... but (to misquote the comte d'Auteroche at the battle of Fontenoy*)

"Messieurs les Anglais - retirez les premiers... "

* [1745, War of the Austrian Succession - keep up... ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fontenoy

[ahinton]

Do you think it is time to have an English national anthem?

I'm often frustrated by the recognition that we English don't have an anthem we can truly call our own.

Any thoughts on what it should be?

No, I don't think that it's time to have one. When the union dissolves, some might consider it incumbent upon each of its four current constituent parts to have one but, until then, I would have thought it far more important to change the current dreary British one into something more suitable and interesting.

[mangerton]

No, I don't think that it's time to have one. When the union dissolves, some might consider it incumbent upon each of its four current constituent parts to have one but, until then, I would have thought it far more important to change the current dreary British one into something more suitable and interesting.

Couldn't agree more. Why not one of Ives' "Variations on America"? Choose the variation to suit the mood of the occasion.

[ahinton]

Couldn't agree more. Why not one of Ives' "Variations on America"? Choose the variation to suit the mood of the occasion.

Thanks muchly for your agreement but please, no! A fine piece of music with fine words is what's nedeed. My suggestion has long been Purcell's Fairest Isle.

[scottycelt]

Whatever you English choose, it'll be a mighty relief to the rest of us when you finally make up your minds ...

[BBMmk2]

Ah, now Scottycelt, you never know!! Hmmm, I have Scottish ancestary too!! On my father's and mother's side. My grandsmother x2 looks similar to the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother! They were by the name of Boyd on my mother's side, I think Stuart on my father's?

[scottycelt]

Ah, now Scottycelt, you never know!! Hmmm, I have Scottish ancestary too!! On my father's and mother's side. My grandsmother x2 looks similar to the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother! They were by the name of Boyd on my mother's side, I think Stuart on my father's?

Crikey, you might well be the rightful heir to the throne, BBM ...

[remdataram]

No, I don't think that it's time to have one. When the union dissolves, some might consider it incumbent upon each of its four current constituent parts to have one but, until then, I would have thought it far more important to change the current dreary British one into something more suitable and interesting.

I wholeheartedly agree that the current British anthem is too dreary, but do you think it right that the Welsh have a national anthem and the Scots have one for sporting events? England, at the very least, needs an English anthem for sporting events.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wholeheartedly agree that the current British anthem is too dreary, but do you think it right that the Welsh have a national anthem and the Scots have one for sporting events? England, at the very least, needs an English anthem for sporting events.

There is, too the inconsistency of having "God Save the Queen" to represent England, which really covers all the home nations, while the others have their own. I mentioned earlier that "Land of Hope and Glory" is used by England for the Commonwealth Games, but this too is British rather than English, whereas "Jerusalem" specifically mentions England in the text.

Going off at a tangent, my favourite national anthems are the Russian and the Italian...