MPs demand the BBC reinstates the British National anthem at the end of normal programming

January 13, 2002 5:22 AM

MPs demand the BBC reinstates the British National anthem at the end of normal programming They'll be wanting a return to the three day week and rationing next...
posted by feelinglistless (16 comments total)

It could be helpful as an aid to sleep, it is the most boring national anthem on the planet - though the rhyming of 'Queen' with 'team' is handy at sporting events. It won't be as good an insomnia cure as the shipping forecast they use on Radio 4 though. The music they play just before, called Sailing By, has been my way of nodding off for years now.
posted by vbfg at 6:38 AM on January 13, 2002

I wish they would start concentrating on proper issues like getting our pubs open 24 hours a day. If they do that, I'll sing the national anthem whenever they like.
posted by RobertLoch at 6:52 AM on January 13, 2002

For non-Britons, a page with the lyrics to "God Save the Queen," "Rule Britannia," and "Land of Hope and Glory."
posted by Carol Anne at 6:55 AM on January 13, 2002

Forget non-Britons, I would've thought most Brits would be interested to see the lyrics, too. The vast majority of us have no idea what the words are and many wouldn't sing them even if we did know. I'm rather suprised how out of touch those MPs are.
posted by malross at 8:11 AM on January 13, 2002

The British don't have 24-hour TV? No wonder their football fans are so unruly.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:31 AM on January 13, 2002

The national anthem of the Britons goes like this. Or like this, if you don't speak the language of the Britons.

</pedantig>
posted by ceiriog at 9:37 AM on January 13, 2002

Britons have 24 hour TV. The 'News 24' mentioned in the linked article you didn't read is a reference to the BBCs 24 hour news service, not its 24 days in every month news service.
posted by vbfg at 11:51 AM on January 13, 2002

vbfg:

joke (jôk)
n.
Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
A mischievous trick; a prank.
An amusing or ludicrous incident or situation.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 1:43 PM on January 13, 2002

mr_crash_davis:

Sense of humour - an ability to understand, create and relate humorous anecdotes.
posted by vbfg at 1:52 PM on January 13, 2002

So, vbfg, are you saying that the reason you assumed I failed to read the linked article is because you lack a sense of humor, and therefore were unable to understand the joke?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 2:00 PM on January 13, 2002

vbfg & mr_crash_davis:

I believe that an argument just like this may have led to the break up of Andrew and Fergie's marriage. How apt.
posted by feelinglistless at 2:17 PM on January 13, 2002

snark·y
adj. Slang snark·i·er, snark·i·est

1. Irritable or short-tempered; irascible.


2. Having qualities of or pertaining to MeFi users; vicious.
posted by Ptrin at 2:19 PM on January 13, 2002

Retarded debate
noun.

1. pertaining to a debate seemingly conducted by individuals who are learning impaired

2. debate that has little to no purpose other than filling space with comments that arn't really witty

3. What's going on here.
posted by fuq at 3:13 PM on January 13, 2002

people they're tlaking about BBC Radio 4. A non 24 hour station. At about 1 in the moring it cuts away (after sailing by and the shipping forecast) to the BBC world service. At this point they used to play the national anthem. It return to the air at about 5 with the delightful 'farming today'.

Now, where's that 'debate' (sic) gone?
posted by nedrichards at 6:10 PM on January 13, 2002

These MPs are obviously not up with the times.

They should be playing the European 'national' anthem instead.

While I laugh my ass off, let me point out that the European 'national' anthem is way better than 'God Save The Queen'.. indeed, it's the last movement (Ode To Joy) from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
posted by wackybrit at 9:20 PM on January 13, 2002

One of the few benefits of a breakup of the Uk would be that everyone would get better national anthems, because, quite frankly either Jerusalem (or Swing Low Sweet Chariot if you really want to make a point) kick ass.

God Save The <insert reigning monarch here> is just so obviously a patrioitc song from the mid 18th century ment to be sung in theatres.
posted by nedrichards at 2:26 AM on January 14, 2002