Dear LPG

Do you remember the days when going to the cinema was one of the most popular ways to watch a film and, after the showing, the national anthem would play as the audience stood to attention? Or perhaps the 1950s and 196os when televisions became affordable.  When adverts were preceded with a star and ended with the cost of the product, and channels did not advertise all night?  At close down, the national anthem was played while the family stood to attention?

We all knew the words to the first verse at least, but Britain is such a multicultural place these days I wonder just how many youngsters know their national anthems.  I have always found the British one unique with all the homage it pays to the Queen, but then again, I have to admit to only really knowing the first verse and there is a lot more to it than that. 

If you are Greek, you are amongst the most unfortunate nations in the world because apparently theirs is the longest, and the Japanese have the advantage of needing to learn the least amount of verses, while we Brits are somewhere in the middle.  The Spanish are perhaps amongst the luckiest nations they only need to know the tune; theirs officially has no words and there are a few more nations in the ‘National anthem with no words’ club.  Lord help you if you have dual nationality!

Knowing the words is one thing, but most of them mean nothing to me (mainly because I have been so lazy that in my long life I have only ever mastered the English language), and when it comes to tunes I have to admit to liking the South African one best.

These days you have to want to sit through the Olympics, World Cup or some other international competition to get a taste of these national ditties unless you get up early, have little to occupy your mind and enjoy looking up really odd facts; like me I suppose. 

GK, Penge

GK found some videos of National anthems for those that would like to hear them…

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And LPG offers some related information…

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