National Anthems

Monday, November 17th, 2008

I guess these are supposed to be unifying and uplifting songs and many, but not all, are. Whatever, nationality you are, you could not fail to get that shiver of emotion as the Welsh burst into song with 'Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,' at the start of an international Rugby match.

The English have no national anthem of their own (officially) so they sing the British one, 'God save the Queen' and a more awful and less inspiring dirge would be hard to find. I reckon that if the English were polled on this, they would pick 'Land of Hope and Glory'. You only have to watch the joy and enthusiasm with which this is sung on the Last Night of the Proms to understand that. Yes, it is nationalistic and jingoistic but anthems are like that. An Australian once wrote that only the English could thank God for making them mighty and then have the brass-necked cheek to go on and ask Him to make them mightier yet. Well that was in a book entitled, 'God is an Englishman' and who am I to argue?

And what does Australia have? Well they dropped 'God Save the Queen' and came up with 'Advance Australia Fair'. Pretty but hardly uplifting.

The Scots sing 'Flower of Scotland' at special events; I like it a lot. But it's a mournful song and harks to the past. If all you have to sing about is the one battle you last won in 1314, it's time you found something new.

I don't know if Northern Ireland has a national anthem but I guess if they had one, it would be about fighting each other.

I do like 'The Star Spangled Banner' and even more I love the joy and pride with which it is sung. Maybe it's just me but every time I watch it, I feel that for just those few minutes, America is actually the UNITED States.

Try this link - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uontOKXKLJI - for here you get three versions from Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Beyonce Knowles. The website invites you to choose the best. Me, I'd pick Beyonce but then I am biased for she is drop dead gorgeous. Yeah I could be dangerously in love with her.

Mind you each of them could do with a damn good square meal.