I like the tune.
Over the years many countries have liked the tune, Norway, Russia, USA, France and Switzerland for example have used it as a 'National Melody'. Liechtenstein still does I believe.
However The UK does not have any National Anthem in the legal sense.
Rather like our constitution, our National Anthem just came about by acceptance.
We MAY in fact have The Scots to thank for this as it's general popularity increased massively in 1745 when a verse containing the line
'Rebellious Scots to crush'
was sung in support of General Wades troops being assembled just up the road, readying to head North for Inverness.
The tune has been praised and used by many 'MUSICIANS' including Beethoven, Haydn, and Brahms so it has to have some merit.
However, whatever the history, and much as I will happily stand, rigidly to attention, as soon as the music plays, the words make me unwell.
Trite tosh.
And the relatively recent habit of having them sang at sporting events by a soloist is absolutely cringeworthy.
(This is my rant for the week. If I could have found a 'SOAPBOX' smiley, I'd have used it)
