Best national anthem?

[Jimellow]

I've always thought England's sounded very noble, but there're many I've not heard and I'm sure some are great.

America's isn't that great. It's hard to sing, and lacks instruments.

 

[Prestwick]

You may be right, although I think I only had to sing GSTQ once in my life in NZ, and these days it is very rarely sung. Just looked the NZ one... Bloody hell didnt realise it was so long. Given it is sung so bloody slowly, thank god we only sing the first verse... twice.[/b]

The full GSTQ anthem is about the same legnth as that. In theory its not even the 'official' anthem of the United Kingdom or England, in fact there isn't an 'official' national anthem for any of the nations that make up the United Kingdom, its just what has been adopted as an unwritten rule by each nation and the national government.

The most obvious example of this was during the 2002 dive-ball world cup where England were playing against Argentina the Japanese really wanted to impress and so investigated how to properly play GSTQ. Obviously, as there are no official rules about even what national anthem to play, let alone which verses to sing, etc, it ended up with the Japanese playing the first verse (which is what we all know) and then watching in horror as the England team trot away before the second verse started playing. The England team had to quickly scamper back to sing the first verse again before the Japanese hastily cut the tape before it started on the third verse!!!

 

[Buceph]

I posted this on another forum. I'll just copy-pasta it here.

Inspired by the up coming RWC I again am going to go on about National Anthems. If I had to choose on as the best it would have to be the French one, La Marseillaise. It's a proper rousing one, and it sounds good. Completely unlike others, ie the English Dirge, no offence or anything, musically it's just a terrible anthem, see Bill Bailey for more info.

La Marseillaise from Casablanca - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA...ted&search=
Before a match, recorded from the crowd, really inspiring - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWEIUxantVs
Typical French warbly singer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmQFOePKBR

Also up there is Flower of Scotland, I know there's a big argument going on over whether it's the right one for the country but it's also really inspiring, and sounds great musically. Not to mention it actually sounds Scottish.
At a rugby match - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6cnXFiE6I
From the crowd - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRk63wQkWco...ted&search=
Just the bagpipes - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-7fFbCyBRs...ted&search=

And at the end we have the Italian one. I dunno why I like it, it's almost as though its been infused with Fascism while remaining slight jaunty. Great song.
World Cup celebrations - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MVaTdhQnXU...ted&search=

And I dunno how anyone could like Ireland's Call. It's disgusting, it means nothing, the words are turgid and cliched, and it even has that f***ing Eurovision change of key. Mnngh!

And there's no official Brit anthem and none of the Britland countries have an official anthem. http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11623.asp

The Britland Guberments official position.
"The national anthem of the UK 'God Save the Queen' only has that status by convention. It has no official status either by legislation or royal proclamation. Similarly, 'Flower of Scotland', although it is regarded in some quarters as the Scottish national anthem, has no official status. Insofar as a anthem for England is concerned, 'Land of Hope and Glory' is often played when England play in sporting competitions (such as the Commonwealth Games) against other countries of the UK. However, this too has no official standing. The Government has no plans to legislate on this issue."

 

[BOKean]

south african for sure...

it has 3 languages, and a key change

gives me goose bumps

 

[Prestwick]

And I dunno how anyone could like Ireland's Call. It's disgusting, it means nothing, the words are turgid and cliched, and it even has that f***ing Eurovision change of key. Mnngh!

And there's no official Brit anthem and none of the Britland countries have an official anthem. http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11623.asp

The Britland Guberments official position.
"The national anthem of the UK 'God Save the Queen' only has that status by convention. It has no official status either by legislation or royal proclamation. Similarly, 'Flower of Scotland', although it is regarded in some quarters as the Scottish national anthem, has no official status. Insofar as a anthem for England is concerned, 'Land of Hope and Glory' is often played when England play in sporting competitions (such as the Commonwealth Games) against other countries of the UK. However, this too has no official standing. The Government has no plans to legislate on this issue." [/b]

What? The lyrics of Irelands Call are 'turgid' and 'cliched' because it encourages Irishmen of all races and religions to join together and serve the state of Ireland? I think its an awesome anthem, its nice, conciliatory and makes you feel good. It makes you feel accepted and happy to be in Dublin and after all, that sums up typical Irish hospitality!

Yes, as I mentioned before there is no 'official' national anthem in any of the nations of the UK. Hence why different sporting and cultural bodies play different anthems. It is one of the many 'unwritten' conventions of the UK.

Flower of Scotland is just there to mock the English, simple as that. There isn't really any other reason for it being there as Scotland's anthem. Although these days they could save themselves allot of trouble and just read out a list of english construction projects that have gone hideously over budget and have broken in the last ten years...the dome....the wobbly bridge...Wembley Stadium....

Seriously, even Scottish Nationalists, outside of Murrayfield and other national stadia feel a little embarrassed singing the anthem because it just plods along like some terribly boring 82 year old physics professor. When me and my SNP supporting mate went backpacking and met a load of Italians, they exhorted us to sing our anthems. I sang "Jerusalem" with all my heart and they clapped politely while my Scottish mate tried to sing Flower of Scotland but stopped half way because its such a boring anthem when sung by one person out of tune in a dorm room of a hostel...and then we were given a special hearing of fifteen twenty-odds singing the Italian national anthem at the top of their lungs.

Needless to say, we were beaten in the anthem stakes by the Italians by a country mile, whether we have 1 or 100,000 people singing.

 

[mirlos]

Hey, somebody mention the Argentinian one, please!

Oh, juremos con gloria morir...
oh, juremos con gloria morir!
(may we pray to die with glory)

Thats a good line before a big game.

I´m going to choose a classic, anyway. 'La Marseillaise' is the "Satisfaction" of hymns, I think.

 

[mrs cohen]

Anything but the English one <_<

And it's not even the English one, "God Save the Queen" is the British one isn't it?

So well stupid, especially if we are playing another British team....

 

[ecks tartan army]

scotland will have an "official one" in the next 4 years - Mr. Salmond will ensure that.

TBH, the more i think about it, the more i want something other than FoS as our anthem - However then i go back to Hampden/Murrayfield and remember why i like it. ok, musically it may not be the best but when i murrayfield is packed to the rafters singing at the top of their voices before an england game its just unbeatable (see 1990 Grand Slam Decider)

and besides, the other options are Scotland the Brave - would seem tacky (id be embarresed with this), Highland Cathedral - is better for when the teams come out, and theres thousands of different versions.

the only other option would be a purposely written anthem - but that would be similar to us as irelands call to the republic, except worse as they would get some muppet to write it!

 

[Prestwick]

the only other option would be a purposely written anthem - but that would be similar to us as irelands call to the republic, except worse as they would get some muppet to write it! [/b]

Oh, then not as much of a muppet as the dope smoking, long shaggy haired, folk singing hippie who wrote Flower of Scotland after a few two many 'mint' cakes if you get what I mean?

God....I think we need to get an Italian, a Frenchman and a Russian in to make England, Scotland and Ireland some decent anthems. Some freaky version of La Marseillaise and "The State Anthem of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics."

 

[màiri]

Flower of Scotland, Ireland's Call, God Defend New Zealand, and the Land of my Fathers. Can the Haka be concidered as National anthem? If it does I add it to the list! :rock:

 

[wigan_rlfc]

Personally I think every British team should sing God Save The Queen.

 

[Bullitt]

Personally I think every British team should sing God Save The Queen. [/b]

*King

The name of the song is "God save the King".

 

[wigan_rlfc]

<div class='quotemain'> Personally I think every British team should sing God Save The Queen. [/b]

*King

The name of the song is "God save the King".
[/b][/quote]

Officially yes, but at the Moment out head of State is a Queen.

 

[uli85]

Argeninian Anthem. The players sings it whit passion and it's very emotive

 

[ecks tartan army]

Personally I think every British team should sing God Save The Queen. [/b]

if they implemented that i think murrayfield would stand silent in protest!



I am Scottish before i am British! and i for one would refuse to sing the British anthem before a scotland game!

 

[VoLGio]

La Marselleise sounds really good. My vote for the Frenchies.

 

[Will]

Despite the fact I am a Scot I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of "Flower of Scotland". I know I'll get a hard time for saying so but to me it's just a pub song. I would much prefer something like "Scotland the Brave" played and sung at games. Much more rousing.


I do like "La Marseillaise" though. It really does get the blood flowing, though not enough for the Frnch against Argentina obviously!

 

[Fitzblado]

Star spangled banner is my favorite,except when its sung by Cindy Lauper.Flower of scotland is cool ,especially the "stood against him, proud edwards army,and sent him homeward to think again" bit.God save the King is pretty good but its been ripped of in usa,My country tis to thee i think its called.The world in union song is a great song as well.Irelands call for all its political bullshit is still a pretty good one but the key change kills it.

 

[ecks tartan army]

Despite the fact I am a Scot I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of "Flower of Scotland". I know I'll get a hard time for saying so but to me it's just a pub song. I would much prefer something like "Scotland the Brave" played and sung at games. Much more rousing.


I do like "La Marseillaise" though. It really does get the blood flowing, though not enough for the Frnch against Argentina obviously! [/b]

no hard time from me, i think the same most of the time - but after some of the big games (normally against england) i suddenly remember why i like it!



i wouldnt want scotland the brave (would just seem tacky to me) but if we could settle on words for highland cathedral i could be won over!

 

[paco1]

Argetinian players thoughts on Friday:


May the laurels be eternal
that we knew how to win,
that we knew how to win.
Let us live crowned with glory...
or swear to die gloriously!
Or swear to die gloriously!
Or swear to die gloriously!

Now go out there and chop the f***ing frog`s heads off!!!