Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 3:56 pm  

I can't recall the "Love Thy Neighbour" theme tune but maybe that would be a better anthem for these days of a multi-ethnic Britain.

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:29 pm  

cod'ead wrote:

I'd settle for someone putting lyrics to The Archers theme

It changed slightly about ten years ago. It sounds too French now. I'm still not over it.

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 4:45 pm  

vbfg wrote:

Though I admit it sounds great when 80,000 people are asking that stupid question.

Exactly, people like to belt out a good tune, especially after a few bevvies, and frankly the issue of whether some or all of the words are ultimate poetry, indisputable fact or a total bunch of crap doesn't even register, and is entirely beside the point.

I mean, I've seen people crying like a baby to "Danny Boy", who don't even drink Guinness.

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:11 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

..in your opinion, but then perhaps you've never heard it being sung at Wembley (for example). I don't detect much embarrassment, and I'm afraid you've lost me with the mad the dictator stuff. Most people on the planet would recognise the UK national anthem, and I really don't think anyone pays much attention at all to the words, let alone spending anguished hours pondering over their true nature and meaning

Heard it sung at Wembley many times and never been roused by it once. Singing in praise of the descendants of illegal immigrants isn't something I'm really in favour of. Land of hope and glory however, especially before the game v the aussies at Wembley back in the 90's was stunning.

A mad dictator would have a song, as national anthem that was all about him/her, with no mention of the country it supposedly represents. I know the queen is titular head but in law, you and I along with everyone else in the UK are the queens subjects. We aren't citizens, nor do we have inviolable rights guaranteed by constitution. Things like the current national anthem help perpetuate this and it basically gets on me nerves.

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:35 pm  

There’s the version from Human Traffic...

I’m trying to be myself
Understand everyone
It’s a mission and a half

Looking at everyone
Trying to learn something
But I’m getting more confused
It’s hard being cool

Our generation
Alienation
Have we a soul?

Techno emergency
Virtual reality
We’re running out of new ideas
Who is the queen?

I’d like Lemon Jelly’s ‘Nice weather for ducks’.

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:08 pm  

Ski wrote:

Which country shares the tune with us?

Leichtenstein

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:54 pm  

Dally wrote:

I can't recall the "Love Thy Neighbour" theme tune but maybe that would be a better anthem for these days of a multi-ethnic Britain.

Love thy neighbour,
Walk up and say "How be ya
Gee! But I'm glad to see ya, pal,
How's tricks? What's new?"
Love thy neighbour,
Offer to share his burden,
Tell him to say the word "n"
You will see him through
Especially if there should be
a beautiful girl next door,
Say to that girl next door,
don't think I'm bold
But my mother told me to
Love thy neighbor
And you will find your labor,
A great deal easier,
Life'll be breezier
If you Love Thy Neighbor

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:56 pm  

Rooster Booster wrote:

Love thy neighbour,
Walk up and say "How be ya
Gee! But I'm glad to see ya, pal,
How's tricks? What's new?"
Love thy neighbour,
Offer to share his burden,
Tell him to say the word "n"
You will see him through
Especially if there should be
a beautiful girl next door,
Say to that girl next door,
don't think I'm bold
But my mother told me to
Love thy neighbor
And you will find your labor,
A great deal easier,
Life'll be breezier
If you Love Thy Neighbor

That sounds just the ticket.

Re: UK national anthem : Wed Feb 15, 2012 11:51 pm  

Ovavoo wrote:

Heard it sung at Wembley many times and never been roused by it once.

but if you'd had less beer, or brought an alarm clock ... ?

Ovavoo wrote:

I know the queen is titular head but in law, you and I along with everyone else in the UK are the queens subjects. We aren't citizens, nor do we have inviolable rights guaranteed by constitution. Things like the current national anthem help perpetuate this ....

We are both subjects and citizens, but in fact Parliament and the law reign supreme. You need to face the facts as in the 21st century, this is how in reality it works. Oh and our constitution is just fine (I know, - part of my degree was Constitutional Law) and in a global perspective, I don't perceive British citizens as being comparatively short of rights.

The Queen also, for instance, prosecutes every criminal. I've never seen her in court, though.

And I can't for the life of me think how the national anthem helps perpetuate anything.

Ovavoo wrote:

...and it basically gets on me nerves.

well that's fair enough!

Re: UK national anthem : Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:08 am  

V6Chuk wrote:

I’d like Lemon Jelly’s ‘Nice weather for ducks’.

Fal de ral de ral do indeed