National Anthem

[Catherine]

Look at the top of my avatar. It says "Veteran, US Army". That means no pass for messing up our national song. My Dad served in Korea, rest his soul, and he won't give you a pass either. I stand and put my hand over my heart for that song, even in my living room. I usually sing along. That's what I was doing Sunday night when the words that come to my lips so naturally no longer matched what I was hearing. Let the service bands play at the big events, not some ignoramus that will mess it up. Phew, had to get that out, Tracey

OH come on.. Its not like its deliberate. She made a mistake

[Devlyn]

I read Christina's apology, and being big enough to acknowledge mistakes counts for a lot. So here's your pass, Christina, and I apologize for calling you an ignoramus. But getting back to my original thoughts, if the service bands make a mistake playing the National Anthem, the firing squad option is always available..........

[rexgsd]

btw i am mostly annoyed going on the fact that she may have just not known the lyrics, not that she screwed up. everyone screws up, for some reason i had the feeling she just didn't care enough to make sure she knew all the words right. maybe im being judgemental on her and 'what type of person' she is but thats how i am so what can i say

[Cindy]

Just chipping in from another country.
I understand Tracey's feelings and that she is big enough to think through all of the stuff, does demonstrate she an understands the words.  And Tracey I do not mean that in any condescending  way. I do feel your Patriotism and I do acknowledge it. And I thank you for what you have done to protect your country and mine, I may not agree with policy but I do appreciate the service that brave people have an do carry through with.

The song is terrible from any singers point of view. But the proud (?) thing that USA has is that less than half the population know the words (World Poll), yet you guys sing it every day at school? (That is a question). Most Australians have not a clue what the National anthem is. Waltzing Matilda, Australia Fair, Sun burnt country, Tie my Didgeridoo Doo Down, God Save the Queen. I think it is one of them. Feel free to poll.

Tekla's memory may recall;  at an  (recent) Olympics the host nation played the totally wrong song for a  country that had won a gold. I don't remember but it was very embarrassing. As the athlete was standing on the podium. I really don't think it is worth going to war on these things. I do remember RB rendition, as an Australian I thought that was disgusting.

Oh well.

Things that heat us up.

Cindy

[justmeinoz]

Given that most people barely know their own country's national anthem, I am surprised there has been so much fuss, but then again the Media were involved from the start.

Has anyone ever sat down and read the words of some national anthems?  Most of them are pretty lame or downright bloodthirsty/morbid. At least the US one is sort of uplifting, even if it is archaically worded. 

Next time there is an international team sport on TV, see how many of the players look like they don't know the words, or wish they were somewhere else.

"Australian all love ostriches, four minus one is three,
We all have sandwiches for lunch, and steak and veg for tea."   Primary School student's mondergreen version!

[spacial]

I do feel your Patriotism and I do acknowledge it.

I would like to add this as well.

We don't have these sensitivities here in the UK. As far as I know, this is quite rare in most societies. But I do try to respect the feelings of others.

But you have to admit, The Sex Pistols were good. 

[Clay]

it happens. i remember one time this girl doing ours (i think it was at some football match, oh shame) messed up the word for flourish and we ended up "boiling in the radiance of bliss"^^
it was rather awkward and i figured she's ashamed enough and shouldn't be bothered further...

[tekla]

Well the USA has Jimmi Hendrix playing the SSB at Woodstock, and that caused no end of outrage, and bonus points for him being a real musician and not a marketing ploy like the SP.

[spacial]

[Nathan.]

I'm so glad the people in the UK aren't as patriotic as america.

I don't even know what our national anthem is and I don't care either I just know it has something to do with the queen , I feel no pride for the bit of land called england or the people who run it. I'm glad I live in a country with good human rights ect but the england is not special in that as other countries do to.

[PixieBoy]

The US anthem is very difficult to sing and has an awkward melody. It's based on the melody of a drinking song. I dislike having to sing it, as I am practically tone deaf and it is not an easy song to sing.

Our national anthem (Sweden), well, people know the first part, "You old, you free, you mountainous North, you silent and joyful beauty, I salute you, the fairest country upon Earth; your sun, your sky, and your green meadows!".
The part people forget is: "Your throne is of memories from proud and ancient days, when honoured your name flew across the Earth, I know that you are and will remain what you were, yes I want to live and die in the North!" Oddly, not once is the word Sweden mentioned, just a vague North.
The mischievous children's version is "You old, you ugly, you ridicuolously fat cow, you eat only chips and Coca-Cola...".

[Catherine]

I'm so glad the people in the UK aren't as patriotic as america.

I don't even know what our national anthem is and I don't care either I just know it has something to do with the queen , I feel no pride for the bit of land called england or the people who run it. I'm glad I live in a country with good human rights ect but the england is not special in that as other countries do to.

Well maybe you ought to leave then. Go and see just how tolerant a lot of other countries really are. When you find out that they don't suit you maybe you will appreciate what you have here in the UK.

[Gilmorton]

Spacial, you crack me up. When I read the first post last night, my mind immediately flew to Billy Connolly taking the p*ss out of our National Anthem! "We're from Jeblovia and we don't give a sh*t!" Classic!

When the National Anthem starts playing in the UK, about a quarter of the audience will stand, a quarter will start getting up and then sit down again, a quarter will shuffle about guiltily in their seats, and the remaining quarter will ignore it completely and carry on a conversation with their mate. Anyone standing up, putting their hand over their heart and singing whole-heartedly is viewed with immediate suspicion, but then this is the UK, where making an exhibition of yourself is seen as the Worst Thing You Can Do (next to blowing your own trumpet and telling poeple how much you earn).

[Gilmorton]

I'm so glad the people in the UK aren't as patriotic as america.

I don't even know what our national anthem is and I don't care either I just know it has something to do with the queen , I feel no pride for the bit of land called england or the people who run it. I'm glad I live in a country with good human rights ect but the england is not special in that as other countries do to.

God Save The Queen, Nathan. Billy Connolly was right - it's a terrible old dirge, but there are some fun verses in it - the bit about crushing rebellious Scots is quite funny, as is "frustrating their knavish tricks". Of course, no-one ever sings it beyond the first verse, and crushing Scots - rebellious or otherwise - is rather frowned upon these days.

[V M]

The first verse is usually all that is sung of the Star Spangled Banner... There are however, four verses 

[Devlyn]

@ Cindy, thanks for the kind words!                             @ Catherine, I would have said the same thing!

[E]

Our national anthem (Sweden), well, people know the first part, "You old, you free, you mountainous North, you silent and joyful beauty, I salute you, the fairest country upon Earth; your sun, your sky, and your green meadows!".
The part people forget is: "Your throne is of memories from proud and ancient days, when honoured your name flew across the Earth, I know that you are and will remain what you were, yes I want to live and die in the North!" Oddly, not once is the word Sweden mentioned, just a vague North.
The mischievous children's version is "You old, you ugly, you ridicuolously fat cow, you eat only chips and Coca-Cola...".

The Norwegian one starts off with "Yes, we love this country as it presents itself. Furrowed, weather-beaten across the water with the thousand homes. Love it, love it, and thinking about our fathers and mothers, and the saga night that lowers dreams over our Earth." We usually leave out the parts where "Even women stood up and fought, like they were men. Others could only weep, but we made up for it" and "All that our fathers have fought, and our mothers wept".

As for messing up your national anthem, it happens. Sometimes people with the best of intentions, who've practiced heavily and prepared themselves in every way, still screw up. It's called being human. I think people who make that kind of mistake need all the support and understanding they can get, 'cause the humiliation alone ought to be all the punishment they need. I understand why people get upset over it, but sometimes even the best of us screw up through no fault of our own. I almost failed Chinese because on exam day, after spending weeks preparing, all the knowledge got sucked out of my brain in the space of about 10 seconds so I could hardly form a basic sentence. This had been my life for quite a while, and I just... forgot every word. If that could happen, I could certainly stand up on stage ready to sing a song - any song - and just forget the lyrics. I like the following saying: "Everyone has a mess-up quota." As far as I'm concerned, this goes on hers, and it's a big one, but provided she doesn't forget that particular song again in an important setting, I'm not inclined to hold it against her.

Also, this was the Super Bowl, I believe? So it's about as high-pressure a situation as a singer is likely to ever find herself in.

[Devlyn]

This is kind of off topic, but it should be noted. If you are able to view or post on this wonderful website, you ought to be a tiny bit thankful to your government and military, they protect your freedom and free speech.

[tekla]

be a tiny bit thankful to your government and military

Actually they ought to be very, very thankful to our government and military or else they'd be writing this stuff in Deutsch.  Twice over.

[Cindy]

Spacial,

Thank you for the BC post. I'd forgotten it. It made my evening.

It has been quite a while since I have been in the UK but I do remember the awkwardness of how people reacted when their NA was played.
I'm also not sure what you do as a foreigner, I presume if the countries NA is played you follow what everyone else does, in the USA that is to stand (?), in the UK it is to ignore it (?)

As Tracey and Tekla have pointed out our freedom to discuss such things has come at a shocking price, and one we should be, and I am, eternally grateful for. Casting our eyes over the Middle East should remind us of what freedom is and what it costs.

Cindy