h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So in a spin off from the answers on the questions about religious acts and non-believers

Do you sing yours if called upon?

Absolutely, even though it talks of a war against the British, something I have no time for.

I manage the first few lines and the chorus, I don't know the rest and my singing is utterly atrocious!

I can and do sing "Star-Spangled banner" at the drop of a hat. The trick is starting it low enough that the high notes at the end don't have to be done in a screeching falsetto.

There are many people in my country who think "America the Beautiful" should become the national anthem instead. The lyrics are by the distinguished poet Kathryn Lee Bates [not to be confused with the actress Kathy Bates]. And, there's no war involved, just a poignant description of a country's geographical majesty and hopes for the future.

"God Save the King/Queen" used a melody that has been used for patriotic hymns in other countries, e.g. America's "My country, tis of thee" and the Swiss national anthem. I'm rather fond of "Rule, Britannica" and "Jerusalem," archaic lyrics notwithstanding

Austria had it made when Joseph Haydn wrote "Gott Erhalte, Franz Den Kaiser in the late 1790s. It was a distinguished national anthem, so distinguished that Germany expropriated it for their own anthem, "Deutschland, Deutschland, Uber Alles." That left Austria with the same tune, which would not do at all! So Austria took a tune that Mozart wrote for a masonic cantata -- not a particularly grand piece, but who was going to argue about using a tune by Mozart?

I used to be familiar with the Russian national anthem, but they changed it, and I'm too lazy to learn the new one [besides not understanding Russian ].

France and Italy have distinguished national anthems. But then, you'd expect them to, with such grand composers rthere.

Yes, I can sing God Save The Queen, but I can't stand the dirge. One day we'll replace it with Vindaloo.

So, Gnomon, I see you're not ideologically opposed to declaring war on the British - you're just a bit busy right now

I'm with Icy on that awful British dirge, I loathe singing it. Likewise the German one although I do like the tune at least.

What I really like are the ones like the Star Spangled Banner that have a fairly easy tune and the French one which is just so... indescribably fantastic.

The Italian one is too complicated but I do like it too.

The Spanish have a national anthem which is not sung. There are no words. It is only every played.

I think that's a damn good idea by the Spanish.
Saves all the mumbling at the back

Add another one to the list disliking the royal dirge.
Rule Britannia is more fun to sing, even if it is totally inappropriate these days.

It included a verse about rebel Scotts (strange echo of devaloution?)

1745, anti-Jacobite Version

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.

But the Jacobite Scots revised it to

God bless the prince, I pray,
God bless the prince, I pray,
Charlie I mean;
That Scotland we may see
Freed from vile Presbyt'ry,
Both George and his Feckie,
Ever so, Amen.

I think it shows a lack of imagination that every nation feels they need an anthem, and a flag. Why can't countries be a bit different, and have a national 'something-else'?

Well, back to the dirge that is the UK's anthem, I'd certainly prefer a National Mime

I like singing our anthem when it is presented as a sing-along. It can also be presented by a soloist or performing group. Sometimes I'm in the performing group that's presenting it, and we usually invite everyone to sing along. When I'm not playing, sometimes I sign along.

Does anyone other nation have an anthem with as many questions as ours? (Oh, say can you see ...? Whose broad stripes ...? Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave ...?)

Yes I sing the national anthem (God save the Queen). And I realise I'm in a minority here but I rather like the tune.

I only know the first verse, though. If there's more I hum a harmony instead.

Mol

Americans go in for national this and state that. In Massachusetts, for example, they have a State Muffin.

Yeah, they call it paulh.



~jwf~

So mean

A few of the official Florida State Things http://www.flheritage.com/facts/symbols/index.cfm



F S

Thanks for the replies . It is not something I can bring myself to sing.

I do like the German tune and find myself da,da,da,ing along after a Grand Prix

FS, Florida seems to everything covered

I can't remember ever being asked to sing ours apart from the time when we had to learn it at school. I think I can remember about 90% of the t

Also I'm sorry to tell Paulh that it was probably not composed by Mozart. They (experts) are not quite sure about it at the moment.

>>I'd certainly prefer a National Mime

Excellent idea.