English anthem

I don't like Imagine, so sorry, can't join in
even though I am not strongly religious and am broadminded, it's not so much the words (although I don't much like them either)
It's another dirge!

just look at what we churn out for the Eurovision song contest.

Perhaps Gransnetters could do better

I quite fancy us all singing John Lennon's Imagine.
Will not upset the Scots, Welsh or Irish. We all know the words. No jingoism.
Might upset the religious, but the ones I know are very broadminded.

Of course - what other choice could there be? Fat Les and Vindaloo!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=va6nPu-1auE

Okay - I've just had a long chat about this with my parents in law. We decided to put it in the hands of Gareth Malone to come up with half a dozen choirs and half a dozen different song choices - no auditions as the anthem needs to be suitable for anyone to sing - then allow a sing-off to decide the winning song. Simples.

Someone on Twitter made me laugh, (ruefully) with this suggestion. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2oXzrnti4
Time it was a hit all over again. Classic. And very easy to sing.

Oh heaven forfend - please, not something especially written for the National Anthem, just look at what we churn out for the Eurovision song contest.

(Although I may possibly make an exception if someone like John Rutter or a contemporary choral composer were to write it.)

That's the English for you, Annie.

Re national anthems in general, I was at a seaside brass bandstand concert a couple of years ago and when the initial drum roll for "God save Liz" started. (It's rarely played nowadays at such events), Those in the audience who could, automatically got to their feet. Talk about us being deeply programmed.

Rather smug to believe the second coming will take place in England ?

I would choose Land of Hope and Glory - with maybe the words slightly altered. I don't at all like the idea of building Jerusalem in England's green and pleasant land - I've never been there but it looks very dry and dusty and not at all English.

If only we had something like Woody Guthrie's 'This land is your land'.

Just been on BBC4....

Let's have Ralph Mctell's "Streets of London" and change it to "Streets of England" more appropriate and thought provoking than all those proposed so far. Who knows it might make us a more caring society.

Let's have a new one!!

Australia chose one which was already doing the rounds, but no-one seems able to remember the words. Let's keep it rousing and simple!

Oh poor Hubert Parry, change into a party!

We sang Hubert Party's "This royal throne of kings, This sceptr'd island" at school. I have just listened to it on "YouTube". No!! Definitely not suitable.

Anything with red roses in it sounds good to me!

Nellie, the John of Gaunt speech is much misunderstood. He was speaking on his deathbed, lamenting what the country has come to under RichardII, using this hyperbolic description to contrast with the state of England as it has degenerated:
".....this England... / Is now leas'd out--I die pronouncing it-- / Like to a tenement or pelting farm."

Not sure that it could be converted into a new national anthem!

Bernie Taupin writes the words for Elton's songs. Elton only writes the music.

Let's use the tune of Land of Hope and Glory but get someone (Sir Elton? - he's had practice) to rewrite the words so it applies only to England.

Nellie I like the lyrics of "Rose of England" and think they're appropriate but I'm afraid the Novello version does nothing for me.

Alternatively, just let Andrew Lloyd Webber loose on it!

If this is to be seriously considered, composers and lyricists should be asked to compete to produce something singable. Then there could be a TV show for viewers to vote for their favourite.

What about the white Rose ? Not forgetting the red rose was the stupid badge for Blairs new labour

The Olympic Games, gold medal to England silver to SA, not a great idea to burst into Land of Hope and Glory