A lesson from Norway (Part one)

Think of Norway and you often think of fjords, snow and not much else really.  Nine times out of ten, you wouldn't be far wrong; however there are a few things in Norway from which we English could learn a couple of lessons.  One of those things is the matter of the National Anthem...


It's a topic that crops up all over the place on a fairly regular basis; in newspapers, on TV, even in the House of Commons.  The question regarding our National Anthem is one that really doesn't seem to go away.  There is a large number of people (at least 55% according to a BBC poll) who would rather have something other than God Save the Queen as the National Anthem.

I, for one, agree with them.

Let's get things straight though, I am not advocating a complete renouncement of God Save the Queen; it is a cracking Anthem steeped in tradition and famous the world over.  However, the fact of the matter is that it is designated as the National Anthem of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.


If you go to any international sporting occasion around the British Isles (or even the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in India) you will see that England is the only nation within the Union that still uses GSTQ as its Anthem.  The Welsh have "Land of my Fathers"; the Scottish "Flower of Scotland" and the Northern Irish "Londonderry Air", however England still persists in using the Great British National Anthem.


It can't be for the lack of an appropriate song to take its place; both Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory have been used as replacements at times but have failed to provide England with a permanent Anthem.  Both are amazing and incredibly fitting tunes, and also have the propensity to create an awesome din when belted out by a 80,000-strong crowd.


Another option would be for England to have two National Anthems; adopting one of either Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory as an English National Anthem whilst retaining GSTQ as an Anthem for use on Royal or State occasions.

Far-fetched?

That's where Norway comes in, for that is precisely their stance on the situation.

So to conclude, here are the two candidates; but for me, it's Jerusalem by a nose!  Enjoy!


Jerusalem



Land of Hope and Glory