[GZG] Martians & La Marseillaise

Amusing Guardian column on national (and international) anthems, which
ends with this nice science-fiction-flavoured line:

"When the Martians invade, the world will get its Marseillaise."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2242027,00.html

So, any guesses as to how banal/cloying/triumphal the state songs of
the GZGverse superstates are?

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http://mead.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU:1337/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lBrian
> Burger wrote:
Let's see:

NAC -- the "old guard", the same faction that wants the Navy to re-adopt

the HMS prefix for its ships, probably backs "God Save The King/Queen",
but hasn't convinced Parliament. It's possible that the current (2180s)
anthem is either something we don't know or a re-worked version of an
existing anthem -- "Land of Hope and Glory" with references to England
being replaced by "Albion", for instance. In either case, it'll be
something that lends itself to large-scale orchestration a la Elgar;
something heavy on the brass and percussion with at least pretensions to

/gravitas/ so that it can be included in State occasions and ceremonies,

played either by a full orchestra or a Marine band.

ESU -- depends on the balance in the government between the ex-Russian
influence and the Chinese influence. Either way, it's likely to be
something suitably neo-Communist in style -- big, boastful, made for
mass singing and military bands -- but what it sounds like will depend
on which musical tradition was followed.

NSL -- well, it's going to be Germanic-style on steroids. A march,
definitely -- possibly Mozart (original or re-worked).

FSE -- what's wrong with "Ode to Joy"? The FSE sees itself as the
successor state to the EU, so they'd likely keep the latter's anthem to
promote continuity for their citizens, and as an attraction for anyone from
the other states who wishes to "rejoin the fold". There may well be

a French movement that would like La Marseillaise adopted, but they don't
(yet?) have the votes.

The other powers could have quite different styles of anthems following their
own musical traditions; the OU anthem could be quite interesting if they tried
to incorporate South Pacific influences.

With Humanity spread out among the start in a multitude of nations,
great and small, I can see a return to the old-style anthems of the
pre-20th century Great Powers -- triumphal, bombastic, rather
militaristic and, above all else, /big/, made for large occasions. The
banality of the words is in the ear of the beholder and has more to do with
the context in which they are encountered; songs with complex lyrics requre
simple music if they are to be heard and register, but simple words allow
complex music, which may be more to the taste of the governments.

Phil

> Phillip Atcliffe wrote:
Something like this?
http://warumpi-band-my-island-home-mp3-download.kohit.net/_/421195

Six years I’ve been on this planet And every night I dream of the sea They
say home is where you find it Will this place ever satisfy me

For I come from the salt water people We always live by the sea Here I am
amidst Space's Blackness Far away from Home and Family

My island home My island home My island home is waiting for me My island home
My island home My island home is waiting for me

Then there's this one, with a Norstrilian feel
http://davec.imeem.com/music/Qt1-AaZk/goanna_solid_rock/

Round about the dawn o' time, When dreamin' all began A crowd o' people came
Well they were looking for their promised land Were running from the heart of
darkness Searching for the heart o' light Well it was their paradise

But they were standin' on - solid rock
Standing o-on sacred grou-ound
Living o-on borrowed ti-i-i-ime

> On 18/01/2008, at 02:18 , Phillip Atcliffe wrote:

Er... There *are* no references to England (or even Britain) in "Land Of Hope
And Glory":

Dear Land of Hope, thy hope is crowned. God make thee mightier yet! On
Sov'reign brows, beloved, renowned, Once more thy crown is set. Thine equal
laws, by Freedom gained, Have ruled thee well and long; By Freedom gained, by
Truth maintained, Thine Empire shall be strong.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extol thee, Who are
born of thee? Wider still and wider Shall thy bounds be set; God, who made
thee mighty, Make thee mightier yet God, who made thee mighty, Make thee
mightier yet.

Thy fame is ancient as the days, As Ocean large and wide A pride that dares,
and heeds not praise, A stern and silent pride Not that false joy that dreams
content With what our sires have won; The blood a hero sire hath spent Still
nerves a hero son.

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> N Bryett wrote:
Well, that just makes matter simpler, doesn't it? They don't even have
to re-write it. <g> Dunno what I was thinking of, then -- some song that

gets sung at like occasions, with lines like "England shall <something or
other that I could never make out because the singers always screech out the
top notes>".

Phil

Phil wrote on 01/17/2008 05:51:31 PM:

> Robert N Bryett wrote:

Could it be the one you have to sing everytime someone foolishly says
'mattress'?

Oh, damn, I'll get the tea chest...

The_Beast

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Gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
http://mead.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU:1337/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lMaybe
you're thinking of "Jerusalem"?

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon Englands mountains green?

Etc., dark satanic mills and chariots of fire included. According to
Wikipedia, the Church of Scotland considered changing the references in the
lyrics from England to Albion, so theres a bit of a precedent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_did_those_feet_in_ancient_time

Steve.

----- Original Message ----
From: Phillip Atcliffe <atcliffe@ntlworld.com>
To: gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
Sent: Thursday, 17 January, 2008 3:18:20 PM
Subject: Re: [GZG] Martians & La Marseillaise

> Brian Burger wrote:
[...] any guesses as to how banal/cloying/triumphal the state songs of
the GZGverse superstates are? Let's see:

NAC -- the "old guard", the same faction that wants the Navy to re-adopt
the HMS prefix for its ships, probably backs "God Save The King/Queen",
but hasn't convinced Parliament. It's possible that the current (2180s)
anthem is either something we don't know or a re-worked version of an
existing anthem -- "Land of Hope and Glory" with references to England
being replaced by "Albion", for instance. In either case, it'll be
something that lends itself to large-scale orchestration a la Elgar;
something heavy on the brass and percussion with at least pretensions to
gravitas so that it can be included in State occasions and ceremonies, played
either by a full orchestra or a Marine band.

ESU -- depends on the balance in the government between the ex-Russian
influence and the Chinese influence. Either way, it's likely to be
something suitably neo-Communist in style -- big, boastful, made for
mass singing and military bands -- but what it sounds like will depend
on which musical tradition was followed.

NSL -- well, it's going to be Germanic-style on steroids. A march,
definitely -- possibly Mozart (original or re-worked).

FSE -- what's wrong with "Ode to Joy"? The FSE sees itself as the
successor state to the EU, so they'd likely keep the latter's anthem to
promote continuity for their citizens, and as an attraction for anyone from
the other states who wishes to "rejoin the fold". There may well be a French
movement that would like La Marseillaise adopted, but they don't (yet?) have
the votes.

The other powers could have quite different styles of anthems following their
own musical traditions; the OU anthem could be quite interesting if they tried
to incorporate South Pacific influences.

With Humanity spread out among the start in a multitude of nations,
great and small, I can see a return to the old-style anthems of the
pre-20th century Great Powers -- triumphal, bombastic, rather
militaristic and, above all else, big, made for large occasions. The banality
of the words is in the ear of the beholder and has more to do with the context
in which they are encountered; songs with complex lyrics requre simple music
if they are to be heard and register, but simple words allow complex music,
which may be more to the taste of the governments.

Phil

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Gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
http://mead.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU:1337/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gzg-lStephen
> Bond wrote:
No, but you make the point about what could be done quite nicely. Can't think
what I mistook for LoHaG, but it may have had a similar tune. Not important.

Phil

Sorry, Phil, I thought the same thing, viz. Monty Python's Buying a Bed
(Mattress) skit.

The_Beast

Phil wrote on 01/18/2008 04:59:08 AM:

> Stephen Bond wrote:
Can't think
> what I mistook for LoHaG, but it may have had a similar tune. Not

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Gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
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inordinately fond of old English drinking songs, the United Systems
quickly adopted "The Star-Spangled Banner" -- although during the Siege,
the USN embassy at Terra continuously played an orchestral arrangement of
Chopin's Op 40 No 1 in A Major (Military) over the loudspeakers, for some
reason.

I think the ESU ought to just go with the Internationale. Terrible
ideas, but a stirring melody. ;-)

The NSL could rework the theme from The Guns of Navarone (and you
should hear the ska version--really cool). ;-)

Best,
  Ken
  USN BuShips

> Stephen Bond <daibaka2000@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Maybe you're thinking of "Jerusalem"?

And did those feet in ancient time Walk upon Englands mountains green?

Etc., dark satanic mills and chariots of fire included. According to
Wikipedia, the Church of Scotland considered changing the references in the
lyrics from England to Albion, so theres a bit of a precedent.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_did_those_feet_in_ancient_time

Steve.

  ----- Original Message ----
From: Phillip Atcliffe <atcliffe@ntlworld.com>
To: gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
Sent: Thursday, 17 January, 2008 3:18:20 PM
Subject: Re: [GZG] Martians & La Marseillaise

> Brian Burger wrote:
[...] any guesses as to how banal/cloying/triumphal the state songs of
the GZGverse superstates are? Let's see:

NAC -- the "old guard", the same faction that wants the Navy to re-adopt
the HMS prefix for its ships, probably backs "God Save The King/Queen",
but hasn't convinced Parliament. It's possible that the current (2180s)
anthem is either something we don't know or a re-worked version of an
existing anthem -- "Land of Hope and Glory" with references to England
being replaced by "Albion", for instance. In either case, it'll be
something that lends itself to large-scale orchestration a la Elgar;
something heavy on the brass and percussion with at least pretensions to
gravitas so that it can be included in State occasions and ceremonies, played
either by a full orchestra or a Marine band.

ESU -- depends on the balance in the government between the ex-Russian
influence and the Chinese influence. Either way, it's likely to be
something suitably neo-Communist in style -- big, boastful, made for
mass singing and military bands -- but what it sounds like will depend
on which musical tradition was followed.

NSL -- well, it's going to be Germanic-style on steroids. A march,
definitely -- possibly Mozart (original or re-worked).

FSE -- what's wrong with "Ode to Joy"? The FSE sees itself as the
successor state to the EU, so they'd likely keep the latter's anthem to
promote continuity for their citizens, and as an attraction for anyone from
the other states who wishes to "rejoin the fold". There may well be a French
movement that would like La Marseillaise adopted, but they don't (yet?) have
the votes.

The other powers could have quite different styles of anthems following their
own musical traditions; the OU anthem could be quite interesting if they tried
to incorporate South Pacific influences.

With Humanity spread out among the start in a multitude of nations,
great and small, I can see a return to the old-style anthems of the
pre-20th century Great Powers -- triumphal, bombastic, rather
militaristic and, above all else, big, made for large occasions. The banality
of the words is in the ear of the beholder and has more to do with the context
in which they are encountered; songs with complex lyrics requre simple music
if they are to be heard and register, but simple words allow complex music,
which may be more to the taste of the governments.

Phil