BBC plunged into 'Rule Britannia' censorship row

By Kate Holton

 

FILE PHOTO: Revellers wave flags during the last night of the BBC Proms festival of classical music at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain September 12, 2015. REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Every year millions tune in to watch a pomp-laden celebration of all things British with flag-waving music lovers boisterously singing along to patriotic anthems performed at the last night of the BBC's Promenade concerts.

 

But a decision by the public broadcaster to omit the words from two of the best known songs in this year's concert from London's Royal Albert Hall has sparked a bitter row over censorship and the country's imperial past.

 

The BBC said an orchestral-only version of "Rule Britannia!" and "Land of Hope and Glory" would be performed to reflect how the Last Night of the Proms concert would take place on Sept. 12 with no audience and a small orchestra due to COVID-19.

 

However, the move follows a media report that the conductor believed the time had come "to bring change" to the concert after the global anti-racism protests spurred by the death of George Floyd in the United States.

 

Rule Britannia! includes the line: "Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves; Britons never, never, never, shall be slaves."

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he had to address the subject.

 

"I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history, about our traditions and about our culture, and we stopped this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness," he told broadcasters. "I wanted to get that off my chest."

 

Outgoing BBC boss Tony Hall said it would be very hard to recreate the atmosphere of a 5,000-strong audience, but declined to say whether the lyrics were dropped because of any colonial links. He said he suspected the lyrics would be back next year.

 

The annual musical jamboree, normally the conclusion to a summer-long series of concerts, has attracted criticism in the past for being jingoistic, while its defenders argue it represents a joyful outpouring of tradition and patriotism.

 

In 1990, the designated conductor was dismissed because he did not want to play the two anthems while Britain was engaged in combat in the Gulf.

 

However, after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the concert did not include the pieces, with organisers saying a more sombre programme was appropriate.

 

The BBC's decision to drop the words made the front pages of Britain's right-leaning newspapers, with the Daily Mail decrying the move as "Surrender" and commentators on some news websites and social media sites saying the BBC had censored the songs.

 

The BBC said it very much regretted the "unjustified personal attacks" on Dalia Stasevska, the principal guest conductor, and said this year's concert would mark the traditions and spirit of the event while reflecting the need for a smaller choir to social distance.

 

A report that Stasevska wanted to modernise the evening because she was a supporter of Black Lives Matter was carried in Rupert Murdoch's Sunday Times and pounced on by critics of the publicly-funded BBC, including some members of the government.

 

Stasevska has not directly commented on the row.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-26

 

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Easy answer... Everybody refuse to pay the license fee, they cant jail millions.

Dame Vera Lynn's version of rule Britainia is at no1 in the Amazon charts this week as a result of this latest own goal by the bbc, one of half a dozen patriotic British entries there, thanks to a campaign by the likes of Lawrence Fox who are fed up to their back teeth of the Beeb's woke agenda.

 

#defundthebbc

 

Edited August 26, 20205 yr by evadgib

18 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

 

The BBC said an orchestral-only version of "Rule Britannia!" and "Land of Hope and Glory" would be performed to reflect how the Last Night of the Proms concert would take place on Sept. 12 with no audience and a small orchestra due to COVID-19.

Now, now, now BBC, don't present rational and perfectly logical points...the right wing elements will not recognise such things.

 

They will only see what they want to see. 

2 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Now, now, now BBC, don't present rational and perfectly logical points...the right wing elements will not recognise such things.

 

They will only see what they want to see. 

Not necessary to divide everything up between Left and Right .

Considering that its mainly the audience who sing the words , one lone person singing the song wouldnt do the songs any justice , bedsides, they would need to get a Black Woman to sing it, in the name of equality and diversity 

Sounds like a proverbial tempest in a teacup to me...

 

But, what's with Boris and his statement about wanting to stop "this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness."  Boris has "wetness"???

 

Putting aside the absurdity time has made of the verse, the Promenaders belting out ‘Rule Britannia’ is a of course a set piece of the BBC Proms.

 

But it’s a set piece of two parts, the song and the Promenaders.

 

The idea of the ‘Rule Britannia’ without the flag waving a Promenaders is absurd as the verse itself.

 

No Promenaders, no song. 

 

The fragile and permanently offended will of course be outraged.

10 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Not necessary to divide everything up between Left and Right .

Considering that its mainly the audience who sing the words , one lone person singing the song wouldnt do the songs any justice , bedsides, they would need to get a Black Woman to sing it, in the name of equality and diversity 

Don’t see any left leaning publications making unsubstantiated allegations and frothing at the mouth about this perfectly logical decision. 

Edited August 26, 20205 yr by Bluespunk

Just now, Bluespunk said:

Don’t see any left leaning publications making unfounded allegations. 

Do you have an opinion about the song being played at the Proms  ?

38 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Rule Britannia! includes the line: "Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves; Britons never, never, never, shall be slaves to the E.U"

.................Just need to add "To the E.U" at the end 

Just now, CorpusChristie said:

Do you have an opinion about the song being played at the Proms  ?

I enjoy listening to it though I find the lyrics banal and nationalistic, I can see why the bbc made this decision. It wouldn’t be the same without the audience. 

The way things are going , any new national anthem will consist of three verses of humming.

 

Only way the snowflakes will be happy.

Good common sense showed by the BBC. 
 

Shame it got Boris all wet, could not been pleasant for the missus. 

57 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

But a decision by the public broadcaster to omit the words from two of the best known songs in this year's concert from London's Royal Albert Hall has sparked a bitter row over censorship 

adds evermore to the compelling case for abolishing the quite archaic license fee that keeps this bloated entity of self righteousness and hand wringing on behalf of whoever is next on the feeling aggrieved list afloat .. and is so bloody typical of the spineless jellybacks like Hall who pervade the Org' and are so desperate to do backflips to please the aggrieved .. Top gear used to be a programme the Beeb sold around the world enhancing their reputation and swelling the coffers .. but Hall forsook that in his desperation to please the outraged brigade in getting rid of Clarkson for one of his faux pas .. May and Hammond also left as a result and the Beebs feeble attempts to reignite it's popularity since have failed to achieve the view figures the previous cast had .. and all in the name of political correctness .. 

 

Edited August 26, 20205 yr by Justgrazing
Sp

1 minute ago, Justgrazing said:

adds evermore to the compelling case for abolishing the quite archaic license fee that keeps this bloated entity of self righteousness and hand wringing on behalf of whoever is next on the feeling aggrieved list afloat .. and is so bloody typical of the spineless jellybacks like Hall who pervade the Org' and are so desperate to do backflips to please the aggrieved .. Top gear used to be a programme the Beeb sold around the world enhancing their reputation and swelling the coffers .. but Hall forsook that in his desperation to please the outraged brigade in getting rid of Clarkson for one if his faux pas .. May and Hammond also left as a result and the Beebs feeble attempts to reignite it's popularity since have failed to achieve the view figures the previous cast had .. and all in the name of political correctness .. 

 

Looks like the BBC's on a slippery slope 

Surely the Proms are an embarassment to all Brits everywhere? A man in a Union Jack suit? Really?

 

Britannia rules the waves? Does it? Really?

 

Why play this Rule Britannia thing at all? It's a terrible song, the Horst Wessel song has a more complicated melody.

 

It's embarassing. Everyone's a winner if this thing is cancelled altogether.

2 minutes ago, Logosone said:

Surely the Proms are an embarassment to all Brits everywhere? A man in a Union Jack suit? Really?

 

Britannia rules the waves? Does it? Really?

 

Why play this Rule Britannia thing at all? It's a terrible song, the Horst Wessel song has a more complicated melody.

 

It's embarassing. Everyone's a winner if this thing is cancelled altogether.

What do you suggest. Last night at the Oompah pa?

48 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Dame Vera Lynn's version of rule Britainia is at no1 in the Amazon charts this week as a result of this latest own goal by the bbc, one of half a dozen patriotic British entries there, thanks to a campaign by the likes of Lawrence Fox who are fed up to their back teeth of the Beeb's woke agenda.

 

#defundthebbc

 

Correction, It's 'Land of Hope and Glory' but the point stands.

Vera Lynn's rendition of Land of Hope and Glory tops iTunes charts after Laurence Fox urged Britons to download it in defiance of BBC's decision to censor its lyrics

Well although it will be played with no lyrics and no live audience I do like to think my Brexit chums on here will still be standing to attention in their living rooms belting the words out.

Yes, there they will be in their union jack underpants waving the little plastic flag they bought for the Queens silver jubilee in 1977, proud of the fact the UK is such a colossus on the world stage. 

 

Enjoy yourselves my friends. In this difficult year there is little fun or happiness to be found so have a ball. 

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Easy answer... Everybody refuse to pay the license fee, they cant jail millions.

would probably happen in any other country than england

11 minutes ago, Logosone said:

 A man in a Union Jack suit? Really?

So now you know why they don't allow Scotland another independence vote, as his suit would be useless

Perhaps now is also the time ban applause as well, & replace it with Jazz Hands. 

 

 

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, Justgrazing said:

adds evermore to the compelling case for abolishing the quite archaic license fee that keeps this bloated entity of self righteousness and hand wringing on behalf of whoever is next on the feeling aggrieved list afloat .. and is so bloody typical of the spineless jellybacks like Hall who pervade the Org' and are so desperate to do backflips to please the aggrieved .. Top gear used to be a programme the Beeb sold around the world enhancing their reputation and swelling the coffers .. but Hall forsook that in his desperation to please the outraged brigade in getting rid of Clarkson for one of his faux pas .. May and Hammond also left as a result and the Beebs feeble attempts to reignite it's popularity since have failed to achieve the view figures the previous cast had .. and all in the name of political correctness .. 

 

Did Clarkson not leave  get sacked because he punched a lowly serf in the face for the outrage of his dinner being somewhat cold? Hardly a faux pas, more the self-entitled arrogance of a pompous Chipping Norton tosser. 

Edited August 26, 20205 yr by RuamRudy

18 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

What do you suggest. Last night at the Oompah pa?

I would suggest that if you want a proper series of concerts with proper music that will really rouse the hair on your forearm go to the Wagner festival instead. 

 

Much better. No silly costumes and real music with some brains and class. I mean this Rule Britannia <deleted> is for, I don't know what, but I doubt people go there for the music.

11 minutes ago, faraday said:

Perhaps now is also the time ban applause as well, & replace it with Jazz Hands. 

 

 

 

 

 

Lets not speak of that even in jest.

 

31 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

Looks like the BBC's on a slippery slope 

Sadly that is highly unlikely

A  nonsensical post has been rmeoved

6 minutes ago, Logosone said:

I would suggest that if you want a proper series of concerts with proper music that will really rouse the hair on your forearm go to the Wagner festival instead. 

 

Much better. No silly costumes and real music with some brains and class. I mean this Rule Britannia <deleted> is for, I don't know what, but I doubt people go there for the music.

Wagner & lederhosen? The mind boggles.

Before getting into this 'traditions verses habits' lark I found this interview quite interesting/entertaining (starts at 1min 15 secs).

Looks like the BBC is managed by Brexiteers.

 

They are slowly destroying their own company, similarly to the others destroying their country

21 minutes ago, Susco said:

Looks like the BBC is managed by Brexiteers.

 

They are slowly destroying their own company, similarly to the others destroying their country

The opposite the BBC love the EU and appear to hate their own country, they find patriotism embarrassing, They stopped being impartial a long time ago and are obsessed with diversity. The number of ethnic actors appearing in roles is actually greater than the numbers represented in the population. Hand wringing this week by one of their red managers about iplayer not being diverse enough. Had a look for the first time in years, here is whats on the first 3 pages of documentaries, BBC wants to celebrate any culture, as long as it's not the British one, seems pretty diverse already

 

Britain's forgotten slave owners-

Black music legends

African Renaissance- series

Acid attacks - Asian

Grime music

Africa with Ade

Aretha Franklin

Muslim girl sport- Bradford

Black and British

Black power- USA

Black is the new Black- Lenny Henry

Black Hollywood

 

Plenty more on the rest of the pages!

Edited August 26, 20205 yr by Orton Rd