English National anthem for British athletes

Hey sports fans this is my first thread!
I am extremely interested in athletics, in particular the track events, and this year's world championships proved to be a real success once more perhaps not so much for team GB put there were some noteworthy performances from the likes of Mo farah, Hannah England, Phillipes Idowu, Jess Ennis and Dai Greene to name but a few.
My question to you is whether or not a proud, patriotic welshman such as Dai Greene doesn't find it a tad irksome to hear the 'English/British' national anthem during that fantastic moment when an athlete stands at the top of the rostrum knowing that they are the world's best which must be a mesmeric feeling. Perhaps as I am also a rugby fan, and am all too aware of the animosity towards England from the likes of Ireland, Scotland and Wales who enjoy nothing more than stuffing the English, this may not be the case in athletics but if I was of welsh descent maybe hearing that hated 'English' anthem might just taint their victory? I know this probably means nothing as they have just accomplished something sensational but it was just a thought? What do you think? If you agree do you think, like in the commonwealth games, Britain should be divided into separate countries and athletes hear their own national anthems?
Thanks

??? Rather confused by this post... (lol).... the national anthem of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 'God save the Queen'.

Why would this be offensive to the welsh/scots or northern irish? It is their national anthem too.

I think the point made is that despite that being the official anthem of the UK, many outside England are averse to it according to their political beliefs (or indeed religious ones).

I can't speak for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but as an Atheist, Republican Englishman, there are also quite a few in England who disagree with this awful anthem. And don't get me started on the dreary, plodding music!

Land of Hope and Glory?

I agree a new cheery anthem would be great. Should be voted on by a referendum involving the entire UK. I'm thinking a jazz number, or maybe Ska might be the way to go.

Being English (although I consider myself British primarily), I am not keen on the use of "God Save the Queen" by England teams e.g football, rugby. I would prefer "Land of Hope and Glory" or "Jerusalem".

didn't they sing "Jerusalem" at the CG instead of "God Save the Queen", though this was for England obviously. The problem is that GSTQ is the national anthem of the UK, so not too sure where this is coming from.

trickstat has a point though, GSTQ for English representative sides isn't great IMO.

Not Jerusalem..

a religious hymn singing abput the 'holy lamb of God'.. no thx

hehe my first replies proud moment
so nobody thinks we should do the commonwealth thing and have each individual country in Britain compete at the olympics?

Agree with Jerusalem, it makes me sick when they've done it at the cricket. I dont know why they ever changed the commonwealth anthem from Land of Hope and Glory to it.

I'd be all for Land of Hope and Glory being the anthem but that would hinge on our 4 countries being represented seperately, which I wouldnt really want to be honest. I was born in England but my family are from all corners of the UK and I root for all our athletes, not just the English ones!

LuvSports! wrote:so nobody thinks we should do the commonwealth thing and have each individual country in Britain compete at the olympics?

No way! We're one country, why should we compete as four?

Agree with Jerusalem, it makes me sick when they've done it at the cricket. I dont know why they ever changed the commonwealth anthem from Land of Hope and Glory to it.

Wasn't there some sort of vote put to the public beforehand, or did I imagine that?

Mad for Chelsea wrote:
Wasn't there some sort of vote put to the public beforehand, or did I imagine that?

Yes there was an online poll.

tyranny of the majority

Jerusalem was a total disaster in the last commonwealth games.

All the athletes were expecting to sign land of hope and glory, which is a far better tune and song.

A load of ninnies hijacked a vote to get it changed.

The full version of God Save the King/Queen could be offensive to Scots because of Verse 6:

6. Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the King!

Anthony Treacher wrote:The full version of God Save the King/Queen could be offensive to Scots because of Verse 6:

6. Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the King!

I actually Prefer the song with that in !

But Flower of scotland reefers to them slautering The king of England's army

"And stood against him,
Proud Edward's army,
And sent him homeward
To think again."


im English and don't find that offensive and i doubt the Scots find God save the queen offensive unless they are being pretty pathetic.

I've never really seen the point in any national anthem, however seeing as they are there, I've no objection to the current anthem for GB and NI even although it's pretty dreary, however as a Scot, I absolutely loathe Flower of Scotland, complete dirge and like Scotland in general always looking to the past.

Finding offence in any song though is pretty sad (especially the Old Firm)

'God Save the Queen'. What horrible song. For starters, even if there is a God...im sure he/she/it has more to worry about than some stuckup woman who lives in a big house paid for by Johnny taxpayer

Most people I know find GSTQ a vile dirge and symbolic of centuries of oppression. Even if an Englishman, Welshman or a Scot did take any pride in being British to assume that patriotism goes hand in hand with loyalty to the crown is a very extremely outdated notion

Rather arrogant as well I will note that people on here take this attitude of "Well its the Welsh and Scots just gotta suck it up as its their anthem in Team GB". This the same anthem the 'Old Enemy' sing at every football and rugby game??? No wonder people dont like it

Most English people I know say its stupid they dont have an anthem and I agree with them they should choose another song one that actually means something.

In regards to Team GB though...please choose something else

In the words of the Sex Pistols..."God save the queen/The facist regime/Made you a moron"

Jerusalem for me, love it. Makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up whenever I hear it.

Fists of Fury wrote:Jerusalem for me, love it. Makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up whenever I hear it.

Agree on that one. Lovley song. Would much rather hear that when watching England play football or rugby.

Definitely Jerusalem for me, Land of Hope & Glory can get a bit boring after a while and it's not very 'rousing', Jerusalem on the other hand is fantastic passionate and uplifting. I was surprised how many people totally missed the significane of Bono singing it at Glasto this year. I thought it was amazing but everyone around me was just like "play Elevation..!!".

Did it prove once and for all that Bono was a pretententious tool? Was that the significance?

Or was that proven a long time ago?

.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Definitely Jerusalem for me, Land of Hope & Glory can get a bit boring after a while and it's not very 'rousing', Jerusalem on the other hand is fantastic passionate and uplifting. I was surprised how many people totally missed the significane of Bono singing it at Glasto this year. I thought it was amazing but everyone around me was just like "play Elevation..!!".

No one knows the words.

It is the Women's Institute Anthem.

It was also used in the commonwealth games and was a total disaster.

That's because they played a rubbish version of it!!

I know the words, as do many English cricket fans.

All together now!

And did those feet, in ancient times...

Jerusalem is brilliant at the cricket but agree with Fists that they did use a rubbish version!

I much preferred it when England used Land of Hope and Glory in the commenwealth games, like when they were held in Manchester. Seemed good to me, not sure why they changed it.

Love it at the cricket, rd, absolutely fantastic hearing that as the batsmen are on their way down the steps of the pavilion.

That version is perfect and would have been much more suited.

Ah yeah definitely.

Wish the England football and rugby teams would use it as well, instead of the GB one. As a rugby fan, I'm not a fan of the English anthem! I then get all confused come team GB winning a gold and having to belt it out. My poor brain can't take it

Yeah agree they should use it for all sports. Proper English song is Jerusalem and has a bit of an inspiring feeling to it.

If I recall correctly, the reason "Land of Hope and Glory" was a success at the Manchester Commonwealths was that the words were printed in the programmes. Obviously, this is unlikely to happen when the games aren't in England (e.g. Glasgow 2014!). I, for one, am more familiar with the words of Jerusalem, which I have known to be played at weddings.

Rugby dreamer - I know that BEFORE England Rugby matches at Twickenham commence, they sing Land of hope and glory which is always rapturously received by the home faithful before of course singing the National anthem.
Do Northern ireland and the scots respond favourably to jerasulem? I think it was well received in the ashes at cardiff 09.

It was indeed in Cardiff for the Ashes, I was there in '09 and belted it out myself. Tis a good song that one.

'Land of Hope and Glory' is quite imperialistic and refers to the Monarchy. Its still a lot better than 'God Save the Queen'. Land of Hope and glory though...more like land of no hope and poverty nowadays

Ha very true, Jimmy.

At least with Jersualem we can talk about it in a future sense.

'til we have built Jerusalem, in England's green and pleasant land"

Yep we have some rebuilding to do!

Rubbish Version.

Soft excuse. Rubbish song. Sang at the cricket?

I think that just about puts a line under it.

Also changing our anthem to the capital of contested arab country is not exactly the brightest move in current times.