The Worst Songs in the World

The Terrible Truth About National Anthems

By: David Pate

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Paperback | 11 December 2024

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Paperback
336 Pages

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21.5 x 13.9 x 2.5

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The best-known songs in the world are violent, sexist, and religious -- so why do we celebrate national anthems when we should be rewriting them?

"Fascinating and thoughtful ... showcases how anthems divide us even as they promise to bring communities together." -- MARK CLAGUE, author of O Say Can You Hear?: A Cultural Biography of The Star-Spangled Banner

This fascinating popular history of national anthems begins in a London theatre in 1745 when the modern idea of anthems was born. They started out as triumphant expressions of national superiority by glorifying violence, claiming the support of God, and mostly ignoring women.

David Pate has experienced the violent side of anthems firsthand: as a schoolboy in Scotland, he was caned for refusing to sing "God Save the Queen." He says it's time to dump lyrics about cutting throats, watering fields with blood, building walls with the bodies of enemies, and celebrating the sound of machine guns.

The Worst Songs in the World looks at the origins of many of the world's anthems, from the movie theme song that became China's national anthem to the English tune used for "The Star-Spangled Banner."

This wide-ranging and deeply researched narrative combines politics, personalities, humour, and vivid storytelling to argue for better national songs.

Industry Reviews

Offers a fascinating and thoughtful interrogation of the too often violent events that give rise to patriotic sentiment in our world, showcasing how anthems divide us even as they promise to bring communities together. By amplifying the discordant nature of anthems across the globe, Pate gives us the opportunity to think differently and suggests a more tuneful path to human connection and global harmony. * Mark Clague, author of O Say Can You Hear?: A Cultural Biography of The Star-Spangled Banner *

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