To be honest, Its all in the presentation.
I have heard on a rare occasion. GSTQ, sound utterly fantastic, but it does need to be played, actually a little slower appears usual, and the low/high dynamic needs enhancing. If the anthem starts quietly, say sung as a single choral line, and then builds up from there as the orchestra builds, then it’s great. Don’t forget, it is an anthum, and designed to be sung along to, so I don’t think brass band/military band treatment is particularly kind to the tune, it’s too loud and one note all the way through. A proper conductor, at the right pace, can get a ripple of tension running through the piece, which “explodes” towards the end, turning it into a great tune.
There are however, a large number of people who have never managed to hear a really good rendtion, with some remarkably predictible and frankly tiresomely unoriginal thoughts worthy of any 5th former. I don’t get why someone whouldn’t sing their own, but then moves on to endorse another anthem. Thats being contrary just for the sake of it. Have a principle and stick to it, or don’t.
It also has to be said, all those harping on about “former glories”, are falling into that cliche about GSTQ being some sort of rallying cry for the right wing, or getting all hissy about the history of the nation. Industrialisation happened here first, and to a certain extend, so did parliamentary democracy, and this little nation was a “game changer”. Rather like a child taking its first steps, there were some things that with hindsight were not that great, but the fact is that the queen is largely irrelevant, and that if we can be bothered we can vote out the man with the real power at the top, are principles paid for in blood thoughout the centrries. That people have a freedom to follow whatever religion, again, places us 100’s of years ahead of many states today. We might revile dodgy dave for his cancelling of the bin collection, but Iam free to type this without state police swooping this afternoon on me, and have unfettered access to the internet. Think how many *dont* have that, before you get all upset about singing the anthem. You can rightly still be proud to sing it, without being right wing, left wing or whatever. Jyst remember all the good things, without dwelling too hard on the *mistakes* we, like every nation made along the way in its development.
The next time you hear it, think, despite UK plc appearing a bit tired and run down, and that we have essentially stepped back in the last 100 years from “greaest nation status”, think how many people round the world would much rather it was *their* anthem, for the freedoms it brings.