I strongly dislike the American National Anthem

I think "The Star Spangled Banner" isn't a very good National Anthem at all.

The lyrics are obscure, and refer to a battle in a war that doesn't much matter. My guess is most people don't understand them at all.

The tune is an old English drinking song.

It's too hard to sing, so we have to stand silently while someone else sings it, usually adding way to many notes in an  effort to sound like a pop star, and the high note in "freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" usually gets applause, which drowns out the last line.

There are so many other good songs that could be the National Anthem. "God Bless America" "America the Beutiful" "Paralyzer" by Finger Eleven. We need to change.

I rather like it. 

The only thing that strikes me as odd about is the fact that the entire first verse is a question.  It doesn't bother me that the was based (or at least is rather similar) to an old drinking song.  What wasn't?

I can't stand the British National anthem (Land Of Hope And Glory is much more sing-a-longable and it hasn't got that naughty verse about the Scots).

I also think England should get it's own National Anthem (all the other UK Countries have them), Jerusalem ( a song about not resting on imaginary laurels).

Much better version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MIr-S6mwFk

Bingowings said:

I can't stand the British National anthem (Land Of Hope And Glory is much more sing-a-longable and it hasn't got that naughty verse about the Scots).

I also think England should get it's own National Anthem (all the other UK Countries have them), Jerusalem ( a song about not resting on imaginary laurels).

Land of Hope and Glory should be England's national anthem, not that of the UK, as it was written by Elgar, whose music, for me, embodies England.  I agree that God Save the Queen is awful.

America the Beautiful is far better than The Star-Spangled Banner too, so I'm with TheBoost on that one.

I definitely agree that "America the Beautiful" should be the US national anthem.

Chewtobacca said:

Bingowings said:

I can't stand the British National anthem (Land Of Hope And Glory is much more sing-a-longable and it hasn't got that naughty verse about the Scots).

I also think England should get it's own National Anthem (all the other UK Countries have them), Jerusalem ( a song about not resting on imaginary laurels).

Land of Hope and Glory should be England's national anthem, not that of the UK, as it was written by Elgar, whose music, for me, embodies England.  I agree that God Save the Queen is awful.

America the Beautiful is far better than The Star-Spangled Banner too, so I'm with TheBoost on that one.

I see nothing wrong with God Save The Queen or The Star-Spangled Banner.   They've been the National Anthems of both countries for years.    I say let it stay that way.

what is this naughty verse about the Scots?

I dislike that our national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) is all about war.  "America the Beautiful" is a much more fitting anthem, with a much more positive message.

And just because it's been the national anthem for years doesn't mean we can't change it.  That seems to be a very stubborn way of thinking to me, like if someone in 1860 said that we shouldn't abolish slavery just because it had always been that way.  (I know they're two radically different things, I'm just trying to make a point.)

ChainsawAsh said:

I dislike that our national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) is all about war.  "America the Beautiful" is a much more fitting anthem, with a much more positive message.

seeing as we fought a war to obtain our country, I think its fitting.  

Warbler said:

ChainsawAsh said:

I dislike that our national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) is all about war.  "America the Beautiful" is a much more fitting anthem, with a much more positive message.

seeing as we fought a war to obtain our country, I think its fitting.  

True, but not THAT war. The War of 1812 was a meaningless debacle for all involved.

And it has only been our National Anthem sense the 1930s.

Warbler said:

ChainsawAsh said:

I dislike that our national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) is all about war.  "America the Beautiful" is a much more fitting anthem, with a much more positive message.

seeing as we fought a war to obtain our country, I think its fitting.  

True, but that doesn't mean we have to have an anthem that seems to glorify war.

Same for the French one ("La Marseillaise"). Anyway, another age begins and those old songs won't have a reason to be anymore. And that's for pretty soon.

Warbler said:I see nothing wrong with God Save The Queen or The Star-Spangled Banner.   They've been the National Anthems of both countries for years.    I say let it stay that way.

I couldn't care less what the national anthem of the UK is.  I'm talking about making Land of Hope of Glory England's national anthem: it doesn't currently have an official one.  As for what is wrong with the aforementioned anthems, I just do not like either and think better alternatives exist.

This is the old verse about the Scots that was at one time in the UK's national anthem. 

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.

This is just anti-Jacobite though really.

EyeShotFirst said:

Say what we want about the National Anthem, it isn't as bad as Canada's.

 

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

what so bad about that?  I rather like it.

ChainsawAsh said:

Warbler said:

ChainsawAsh said:

I dislike that our national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) is all about war.  "America the Beautiful" is a much more fitting anthem, with a much more positive message.

seeing as we fought a war to obtain our country, I think its fitting.  

True, but that doesn't mean we have to have an anthem that seems to glorify war.

I don't think it glorifies war in general.   Its glorifies our victory in one battle.   It glorifies the fact that after the battle, our flag was still flying.   I see no need to politically correct our National Anthem.

Chewtobacca said:

Warbler said:I see nothing wrong with God Save The Queen or The Star-Spangled Banner.   They've been the National Anthems of both countries for years.    I say let it stay that way.

I couldn't care less what the national anthem of the UK is.  I'm talking about making Land of Hope of Glory England's national anthem: it doesn't currently have an official one.  As for what is wrong with the aforementioned anthems, I just do not like either and think better alternatives exist.

What about Rule Britannia?    

Warbler said :

What about Rule Britannia?

Lovely tune but the title sends out mixed messages, other than Britain, Britain should rule nobody.

The anthem is intended to be more about the then British mastery of the sea but it could be abused to become a charter for a return to expansionist Imperial ambitions (though I do think it daft that an island race spends so little on ship building and it's navy).

Warbler said:

EyeShotFirst said:

Say what we want about the National Anthem, it isn't as bad as Canada's.

 

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

what so bad about that?  I rather like it.

I agree.  I have always liked the Canadian national anthem.

Bingowings said:

Warbler said :

What about Rule Britannia?

Lovely tune but the title sends out mixed messages, other than Britain, Britain should rule nobody.  The anthem is intended to be more about the then British mastery of the sea

Exactly!  Bingowings put it perfectly.

btw, did you English know that we Americans play the music to Land of Hope and Glory at our Highschool and College graduations? 

The music is Elgar's Pomp And Circumstance so it's entirely appropriate I myself used to enter the school assembly in infant school to it being played on the piano by the music teacher.

On the subject of Rule Britannia! (other than the hilarious version in Jarman's Jubilee ) this is my fav performance.

Did you guys know that I play Spinal Tap's Shark Sandwich whilst going to the bathroom?

Warbler said:

ChainsawAsh said:

Warbler said:

ChainsawAsh said:

I dislike that our national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) is all about war.  "America the Beautiful" is a much more fitting anthem, with a much more positive message.

seeing as we fought a war to obtain our country, I think its fitting.  

True, but that doesn't mean we have to have an anthem that seems to glorify war.

I don't think it glorifies war in general.   Its glorifies our victory in one battle.   It glorifies the fact that after the battle, our flag was still flying.   I see no need to politically correct our National Anthem.

Well, I do.  And I'm saying this as someone who's generally against "political correctness."

I also strongly believe that "under God" should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, and "In God We Trust" be taken off of our money (though the latter is close to impossible, so I'll let that one slide).  And that we shouldn't have so many hangups about "disrespecting" the flag - it's just a flag, for fuck's sake.

TV's Frink said:

Did you guys know that I play Spinal Tap's Shark Sandwich whilst going to the bathroom?

 That's just nitpicking.

Did you guys know that the USA flag colors were chosen by the founding fathers to create the effect of constipation in performance artists who were attempting to shit on the flag?