What’s next -- our National Anthem?
THe furore over Rule, Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory not being sung on the Last Night Of The Proms has resulted in some blowback against the National Anthem (Letters). Criticism of God save The Queen seems to fixate on the assertion that it is a dirge. I have never understood this because it has always sounded inspirational to me. Its melody is sonorous and sweeping, swelling up to a sensational sound striking out at the line: ‘send her victorious!’ Those who describe it as dreary are projecting their own Left-wing politics onto the music. This hostility seems strange because God save The Queen avoids the nationalistic navel-gazing of other anthems. The singer is not preening their own self-regard, but humbly pledging loyalty to another. You could argue it is less militant and more inclusive than many other national anthems. And it is much easier to sing than the nails-on-a-blackboard shrieks demanded by America’s The star-spangled Banner.
ROBERT FRAZER, Salford, Lancs.
I SUPPORT the Mail’s rallying call after the unbelievable decision by the BBC to omit the lyrics of traditional songs to conclude the Last Night of the Proms. It takes the Mail to bring to the public’s attention a wrong that needs to be righted. I am the proudest person in the country to be British and am a true royalist. Printing the words to Land Of Hope
And Glory and Rule, Britannia was an excellent first step. What should happen next is that we should be inspired by the Thursday evening applause in support of the NHs during lockdown. Let’s stand outside our homes on the Last Night Of The Proms and, when the orchestra strikes up, all of us patriotic souls will sing our hearts out. Tell that to the BBC and pussyfooting politicians.
Mrs JENNIFER PYM, Torquay, Devon.
AT A food production company, I worked alongside kurds and Afghans who referred to the Uk as Hopeland. When I asked why, they responded by singing Land Of Hope And Glory and told me that is why they came here.
HELEN MAWBEY, Sheffield.
BEING raised during the second World War the BBC was then a real anchor in times of great danger. It was truly patriotic and also provided first-class entertainment to raise morale.
Now, however, the BBC has lost its way. It is full of woke, snowflake trendy Lefties and ought to have the word ‘British’ removed from its title. Recent decisions to start charging over-75s the licence fee and to remove words from Land of Hope and Glory show how far it has sunk. Get your finger out, Boris, and find another way of funding this out of control monolith.
O. STEWART, Glasgow.
WHAT songs will the BBC try to exclude next? God save The Queen — not respecting the atheist view. The Beatles’ I Want To Hold Your Hand — contravenes social distancing. Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again — not on the vegan menu. sacha Distel’s Raindrops keep Falling On My Head — didn’t wear a safety helmet.
PIERS MINALL, Leverington, Cambs.