National Anthems

It is the day after the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. As I watched the ceremony I experienced a sense of hope. The wonderful words of Alex Gorman reminding us all of what values we should aspire to in this mixed up world.

Lady Gaga’s magnificent performance got me thinking. About National anthems. I woke in the night and I thought further around which ones I like and those I do not. So I thought I would write my own list of favourites down, just for fun.

There are some really bad anthems. ‘Flower of Scotland’ is up there but in truth so is ‘God Save our Queen’ as it carries all sorts of messages that do not appeal to me in the least. I dislike those ‘dual’ anthems that involve a verse in some ‘older tongue’ followed by a change of rhythm and a more modern rendition. Surely places like South Africa and New Zealand and now Australia ought to think that one thing they are trying to respect by recognising heritage in fact signals division.

When Land of My Fathers is played at a Rugby match or indeed at An Ironman start, as I have reported recently, tears flow. However examination of the translated words and the rather unattractive guttural sounds of the Welsh language temper my enthusiasm. The Welsh can really sing though.

Only this week I heard an interview with the rather pompous Simon Halliday who is now Chairman of all things rugby. I remember well when, courtesy of him being an England International as well as my employee, I watched England play France in a world cup semi final in Paris. The French band would come second to no-one and as it struck up the hairs on the back of my neck did too. Alas the drama of the occasion was somewhat dented when the French anthem, belted out in its alternative version by around 30,000 Englishmen, came to the crucial line that in French calls the ‘populous to arms’. I swear we English out muscled the French as we collectively enquired as to where the “toilet paper had gone’!.

The Argentinian anthem is fantastic as it seemingly has the capacity to make some of the best looking men on the planet shed buckets of tears. Then of course Italy and its lilting rhythmic section followed by a staccato pledge of allegiance. There are many more including Japan that I love.

However back to yesterday and Lady G. My mind went back to 1986. There I was living in a Utopia. Riverside Connecticut USA 06878!! Our house like many others sitting on its own 1/3rd of an acre lot. Beautiful tree lined roads and manicured lawns reflecting the various American ‘standard house’ designs. Clapper Boards, Colonials -ours was a ‘Tudor’. Any way Riverside and Old Greenwich is as beautiful a place as you can imagine. The people coexist with great friendship and respect omni present. They are all ‘winners’ and the amenities they have collectively come to share are beyond anything that most could imagine. Liz and my young family were part of it and we could not believe our luck. A good friend Dean Allen invited us to share their family picnic on the occasion of American Independence day, July the 4th. Apparently an annual picnic occurs in the local park and the majority of the population attend we were told. A beautiful hot day and the uniform of choice beach shorts, tee shirts, flip flops and shades. Binnie Park looked splendid its flower beds manicured and filled with beautiful flowers. On the Band Stand the Old Greenwich Fire Department brass band belted out show time favourites. The picnics laid out it was a joyful scene.

At 3 pm sharp there was a roll on the drums and the assembled throng, thousands, not hundreds, turned their attention away from their elected ‘spreads’ and stood to attention. Many placed their right hand on their left breast. To begin with I was not sure what was happening then I did and oh my goodness!!. Men, women, boys, girls belted out ‘The Star Spangled Banner’. The predominantly college educated throng had had much practice at fine tuning their individual contribution to the performance as a result of the intense sporting culture that pervades the various campuses of the country and all its associated pageantry of marching bands and the like.

Men belted out their words women harmonised and descanted. It was quite literally awesome. “As The Rockets Red Glare” rang out I literally shook with emotion as I still do today every time I hear the thing. I did yesterday and it made me feel good. Good Luck Jo and Kamala!!