Lyrics of Rule, Britannia are ‘extremely problematic’, claims host
The lyrics of patriotic song Rule, Britannia! have been criticised by a BBC proms host for being ‘incredibly problematic’.
Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Katie Derham said while the song is now a ‘classical banger’, she understood why some people choose not to sing the anthem.
Writing in the Radio Times, she said: ‘Accompanied by the frantic waving of flags and a sprinkling of inflatable bananas, these songs will delight and enrage large swathes of the population in equal measure, but have become – undoubtedly – de facto national anthems.
‘These singalong classical bangers, like Land of Hope and Glory and Rule, Britannia! were written long ago – the former in 1901 (with lyrics added in 1902) and the latter way back in 1740.
‘Both have lyrics that are of their time and, yes, are also incredibly problematic.’
Former strictly contestant Katie Derham (pictured) said while the song is now a ‘classical banger’, she understood why some people choose not to sing the anthem
The long tradition of a sing-along rendition of Rule, Britannia! is a highlight of the annual Royal Albert Hall concert. Pictured: The audience singing the song in 2014
The audience join in singing ‘Rule Britannia’ at the last night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on September 11, 2010
Ms Derham’s comments come amid an ongoing row over whether Rule, Britannia! should be sung with some seeing it as too celebratory of Britain’s imperial past and role in the slave trade.
Earlier this year, the cellist who performed at Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding called for the anthem to be dropped from the Last Night Of The Proms.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason told Desert Island Discs in January that when he performed at last year’s event he left early to avoid hearing the song.
Former shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire also described the song as ‘alienating’ in March in response to Mr Kanneh-Mason’s comments.
The Labour frontbencher said she wanted culture to be ‘accessible to everyone’ and it was ‘a good debate for us to be having’.
She added: ‘It’s not my favourite bit of music. And the Proms is a fantastic institution and it’s the world’s greatest music festival.
‘It’s a decision for the people who run the Proms and it shouldn’t be politicians who tell people how to run cultural events.
‘I think for a lot of people that feels like a very sort of British moment, which I think has to be respected as well, but for a lot of people, as Sheku Kanneh-Mason said, it will feel alienating.
‘As I want the Proms – I want culture – to be accessible to everyone, I think it’s a good debate for us to be having.’
Rule, Britannia! which originates from James Thomson’s 1740 poem Rule, Britannia and is set to music by Thomas Arne, contains the line: ‘Britons never will be slaves’.
It gained popularity in the UK after it was first played in London in 1745 and became symbolic of the British Empire, most closely associated with the Royal Navy.
In 2020, the BBC was forced into a humiliating U-turn and brought back the singing of the song at the Last Night of the Proms after planning to play an instrumental version.
Boris Johnson, then prime minister said at the time: ‘I do think this country is going through an orgy of national embarrassment about some things that other people around the world love most about us.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 24, tells today’s Desert Island Discs that when he performed at last year’s Last Night he left early to avoid hearing Rule, Britannia! being played
The celebrated black cellist performed at Prince Harry ‘s wedding to Meghan Markle
‘People love our traditions and our history with all its imperfections.’
Former minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the song was ‘uniting’ and ‘about the marvellous history of this country to which every British citizen belongs’.
He also told The Daily Telegraph: ‘The overwhelming majority of people are proud of Britain, proud of its history, and this is encapsulated in the very stirring words of Rule, Britannia!’
