13 Aug 2008
As Team GB continues to collect medals in Beijing we are treated to the repeated spectacle of our athletes attempting to sing along to that awful dirge known as ‘God Save the Queen’. I think it’s high time we started a debate about having a new national anthem, one we can all be proud of.
Quite why we have an anthem that says nothing about the UK is beyond me. Instead we sing for a god many don’t believe in to save a woman least in need of divine protection. As one wag pointed out, the Queen is into her eighties – she’s been saved!
The question is, what do we replace it with? And whose anthem is it? Is it the English anthem too? In which case, do the English need their own new anthem, just as the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish have theirs? Should a new anthem be the anthem of Britain or the UK? What sentiments should be expressed in an anthem, and do we need an anthem at all?
Are there any existing tunes or songs we could adopt, or do we need something completely new? What do you think?
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August 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Since the Romans first landed, Britain has been multi-national and multi-cultural. The English language is a mischmasch of German, French, Latin and countless other languages. A so called ‘national’ anthem, which I suppose is necessary (if only to have something to play when a Brit happens to win a sporting event) should somehow reflect this multinationalism. Something by that inspired genius the German Brit Handel springs to mind – not of course, the Hallelujah Chorus, but perhaps something from one of his secular oratorios, like ‘The Triumph of Time and Truth’.
Just a thought…
August 13th, 2008 at 11:51 am
As a Welsh Republican, I would say that we have a sufficient anthem in ‘Hen Wlad fy Nhadau’ already, but as we are not an individual country at the Olympics our athletes cannot sing their own anthem, or wave their own country’s flag either for that matter.
Regardless of the fact that Wales has its own anthem, while we remain as part of the UK, I too believe that the anthem ‘God Save the Queen’ must change. It is outdated and does not reflect the sentiment of the people of the British Isles.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
There is nothing wrong with being patriotic. The important thing is to be proud of where you come from but at the same time respect other lands and cultures.
I agree with Bethan Jenkins, the current national anthem is very outdated. It causes me pain and embarassment as I am patritoic but find it difficult to stand at football matches etc for the Queen.
I’m very pleased for the athletes at the Oylmpics but I’m sure they would also prefer a less embarraing ‘royal’ song that says nothing about their endeavours and everything about royal privilige- an anthema to everything sport stands for.
We desperatly need a new anthem and quite frankly ANYTHING would be better than ‘God save the Queen’
I vote for Land of Hope and Glory!
It’s time British people had their own anthem and that it was nothing remotely to do with the stink of inheritance and privilge.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
[...] athletes must sing God Save the Queen at events where they represent Britain. The campaign group Republic (a group that lobbies for a directly elected head of state in the UK) has recently launched a new [...]
February 9th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Спасибо вам огромное за статью, а ведь это действительно тема
В мемориз однозначно, пригодится! 
June 8th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I have no idea how I ventured on to this site, but since I’m here I’ll say this:
I still like our national anthem ‘God Save the Queen’ but it has to be sung with passion.
The only other anthem I would want to sing specifically as a national anthem is ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ or perhaps ‘Rule Britania’.
Charlie Kiss’s comment was interesting in as much as she says she’s patriotic and yet does not support HM. Perhaps it is because she is ignorant at the amount of good the Queen has done for us over the decades as are all that appose her, being self-important and hateful of British or English values and traditions. You’ll most likely find that ‘at least’ 70% of the British public are in favour of our Queen. Many people also belive in God too as an aditional point, but whatever, right?
Long to reign over us,
God Save our Queen!
June 8th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Piers, Thanks for your contribution.We really don’t want anyone “reigning long “over us .Why should they? This concept should have gone out with the Ark.It is extremely unfair,divisive,and undemocratic.It is nothing at all to do with “values”. The real values of our society have actually been LOST, in spite of the presence of the monarchy. Look at the state our society is in,with all the murders by the knife by children,and many other things,including greed and a gross lack of mutual respect. The truth is that monarchy “floats” on top of our diseased society like a “blob of sour cream “. Of course the queen has done some good things in her time. So did Margaret Thatcher ! So do we all. It is not so much about personalities,( although I think the current queen’s personality has kept monarchy “on the boil” a lot longer in our country), than monarchy deserves. It is true that that most people would still keep our monarchy,at present. However the number of republicans is growing,and cannot be ignored. The more educated and advanced British society becomes,(hopefully spurred on by current economic hardships which have been imposed on us by greedy unprincipalled people),the more untenable monarchy should become. Incidentally, unfortunately,the national anthem is a boring,unmusical tune,( along with quite a few from some other countries,and is not even unique,as another unrelated country uses it. The words are also unacceptable to republicans. Even the old German anthem,(also a well known hymn tune),was better. Also listen to the stirring power of the Russian national anthem.I think” Land of Hope and Glory” could be good,but the words should be changed. It would be good to have a competition in order to produce a song for the new British Democratic Republic ! Lastly, is there any proof about the existence of god? God might ,or might not exist. It is certainly very hard to envisage a benevolent god who would allow such evil to be perpetuated in the World. Why should we assume that “god” wishes royalty to be on any throne,ruling over us ? The coronation service is a completely arrogant piece of spin and window dressing. Thes ideas are nothing at all to do with hatred of anybody,but simply a desire for a fairer society. Please think again,Piers,and join us !