# Help! Give me the QUINTISENTIAL British song! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015 "2003-04-29T22:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/1 "2003-04-29T22:11:19Z")
The obvious answer is _Rule Britannia_ but I can’t find _Rule Britannia_ in .wav format. I’m working on a PowerPoint presentation for someone (this is _so_ not my job, but oh well) and one of the slides has a picture of the UK flag. This slide needs to be accompanied by _Rule Britannia_. Since I can’t find _Rule Britannia_ can you help me think of another song that screams ‘Britain’ when you hear it? Thanks ever so much. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/2 "2003-04-29T22:12:13Z")
“Parklife” by Blur. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/3 "2003-04-29T22:16:10Z")
OK, I didn’t look that up because Blur’s a metal band, no? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/4 "2003-04-29T22:19:20Z")
Help? (Sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/5 "2003-04-29T22:21:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JuanitaTech \* > \*\*OK, I didn’t look that up because Blur’s a metal band, no? \*\* No. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/6 "2003-04-29T22:26:17Z")
The question is who your target audience is. “Land of Hope and Glory” a.k.a. Pomp and Circumstance (#2, IIRC) by Elgar will stir the hearts of Brits everywhere, but will make Americans think of graduation ceremonies. You might also try “God Save the Queen”, but you still run the risk with the “America the Beautiful” association. There’s also “Jerusalem” (C.H. Parry, orch. Elgar), although that refers more to England than Great Britain or the UK (if you care about that sort of thing), and Americans probably won’t know it. Failing that, try “All You Need Is Love” by the Beatles. Or you could go with Blur’s “Song 2”, which won’t make them think of England but could start a mosh pit. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/7 "2003-04-29T22:29:02Z")
My mistake, then, ruadh. p ruber, _Help_’s already in this presentation, believe it or not! _God Save the Queen_ is the music for _My Country, tis of Thee_ so that’s out. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/8 "2003-04-29T22:34:21Z")
jr8, I see you posted while I was typing my post. It seems that I’m up the proverbial creek, doesn’t it? Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![SteverinoAlaReno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SteverinoAlaReno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteverinoAlaReno)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/9 "2003-04-29T22:37:46Z")
Okay, these are dumb suggestions, but here goes: _Winchester Cathedral_ _England Swings_ _I’m Henry the 8th_ Those are all pop songs, but what the heck? ---
**Author:** ![li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/li_l_Dickie_Dirtz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/10 "2003-04-29T22:41:19Z")
I think I have _Rule Britannia_ as an MP3. It could be converted to a .wav file, couldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/11 "2003-04-29T22:43:57Z")
How about the [British Grenadiers’ March](http://www.cvesd.k12.ca.us/finney/paulvm/h5_britgren.html)? It’s most often associated with the Revolutionary War, but it might work for you. Or maybe something from the Sex Pistols? (Nitpick: the song that put new lyrics to “God Save the Queen”, though the first line is “My country 'tis of thee” is titled “America”, which is different from “America the Beautiful”. ) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/12 "2003-04-29T22:45:45Z")
Does it have to be .wav? There appears to be MP3 versions on various sites. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/13 "2003-04-29T22:48:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by li’l Dickie Dirtz \* > \*\*I think I have _Rule Britannia_ as an MP3. It could be converted to a .wav file, couldn’t it? \*\* Can it? Anyone? I’m not sure, jr8, but I know PowerPoint won’t play a MIDI file. I’ll try an .mp3 and post back. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/14 "2003-04-29T22:53:30Z")
I’m sorry. PowerPoint _will_ play a MIDI but I can’t edit a MIDI file in sndrec32.exe and it can only be a few seconds long. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/15 "2003-04-29T22:58:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panamajack \* > \*\*(Nitpick: the song that put new lyrics to “God Save the Queen”, though the first line is “My country 'tis of thee” is titled “America”, which is different from “America the Beautiful”. ) \*\* Yes, I caught my error after posting. Apologies all around. I could do you an .omg file, but PP won’t play that format either. It may be wav or nothing. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![djxiii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6f9a4e/32.png) [@djxiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djxiii)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/16 "2003-04-29T22:59:59Z")
**Ruadh** nailed it. Parklife by Blur. It was the first song that came to mind when you asked for the MOST BRITISH song. Now had you said “what piece of music…” I would have agreed with you that Rule Britannia is an obvious choice. as for sound editors… download [Audacity](http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) it’s freeware and brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/17 "2003-04-29T23:05:49Z")
I third “Parklife”, and offer “Victoria” by the Kinks. ---
**Author:** ![li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@li\_l\_Dickie\_Dirtz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/li_l_Dickie_Dirtz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/18 "2003-04-29T23:07:53Z")
I’m pretty sure [Easy CD](http://www.poikosoft.com/easycdda.html) can convert MP3 to .wav (or just about anything else). ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/19 "2003-04-29T23:26:10Z")
Oh good lord, I’ve been having a not-so-nice time with Audacity. If I import this flippin’ MIDI one more time, I will scream! ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015/20 "2003-04-29T23:32:16Z")
Some more ideas Queen: Seaside Rendevuz [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-give-me-the-quintisential-british-song/172015.md?page=2)