The UK may have the world's least infectious national anthem and France the most irresistible one, according to a study by two music academics with a special interest in why some songs prompt us to sing along more than others.
The pair used a complex statistical model to measure the ability of different national anthems to make listeners spontaneously join in and sing along.
The study was commissioned by the producers of “Sing-a-long-a Grease”, (www.singalonga.net/grease), now on a UK tour to mark the 40th birthday of the original stage version of the classic musical set in a Fifties high school.
“This is the year of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, when we’re all meant to join in”, says Ben Freedman, producer of Sing-a-long-a Grease. “So, we wondered: will our national anthem help us do so? How well does it inspire participation and how does it compare on this with other nation’s anthems.”
The method used to analyse the anthems was developed by Dr Alisun Pawley, an American-born musicologist and singing teacher, as part of her PhD at the University of York, and Dr Daniel Müllensiefen, a German music psychologist at Goldsmith’s, University of London,
Their study examines the national anthems of six nation-states and two UK regions (Scotland and Wales) with national identities.
Their model analysed over 30 musical variables – from “the amount of vocal effort” to “the length of phrases” and “the number of nonsense syllables used at important times” – in order to discover what really influences sing-along behaviour.
While the French anthem, “La Marseillaise”, tops the world “sing-along-ability” league, “God Save the Queen” ranks last among the six nation-states studied, squeezing America’s “The Star-Spangled Banner” into second-last.
Only “Flower of Scotland” scores worse but it’s not an official anthem, just as Scotland itself is not a nation-state. Indeed, this study may not boost its odds of becoming one.
“I don’t think that any country is going to like the results, except the French”, says Dr Pawley.
The French victory in the rankings, says Freedman, is “annoying but probably deserved”.
He adds: “There’s a famous scene in the movie Casablanca, when the Resistance leader orders the band in Rick’s Café to strike up “La Marseillaise” and everyone hearing it, bar the Nazis, spontaneously sings along for all they’re worth”, says Freedman. “It’s hard to imagine the same scene with God Save the Queen.”
England may have beaten Germany in – to quote the football chant – “two world wars and one World Cup” but Germany’s anthem, “Das Deutschlandlied” (Song of Germany), with music by Joseph Haydn, outscores “God Save The Queen” in the anthem rankings.
(If this is the real reason that Germany routinely beats England at football, then it does not augur well for England’s chances against France in this summer’s European Championships. “The French anthem could be worth a goal start to them”, says Freedman.)
“Advance Australia Fair” in second place also outranks “God Save The Queen”, as does “The Star-Spangled Banner” in fifth. Even “O Canada”, the underwhelming anthem of one of the world’s least exciting countries, ranks two places ahead of us in fourth.
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The academics were also asked to measure the sing-along-ability of three of the best-known songs from the musical “Grease”.
Some salve to our national pride is that “God Save The Queen” surprisingly outscored two of the three Grease songs analysed – “You’re The One That I Want” and “Grease Lightning”.
Indeed, all the anthems studied outscored “Grease Lightning’”. “We’re keeping quiet about that”, says Freedman. “But we do note that “Summer Nights” from Grease wipes the floor with all-comers – including ‘La Marseillaise’.”
Indeed, he points out, both the Olympics and the Jubilee are summer events. “So, what better way for us to come together at such moments of national importance than by joining in a sing-along of ‘Summer Nights’? It would surely boost our medal tally and raise the jubilee onto another level.”
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Can Anything Be Done To Rescue “God Save The Queen”?
– Yes, Get Robbie Williams To Sing It
“Yes”, answers Dr Pawley, since the biggest influence on sing-along behaviour is “vocal performance” – who sings a song and how – while the sentiments expressed by the lyrics make little difference.
“First, have it sung in a key that would allow for high chest voice singing, with really clear consonants and lots of energy.”
Second, have it sung by the right person.
“In America you often have a star performing the national anthem”, says Dr Pawley. “We could adopt that tradition in the UK.” But we need a star with the right qualities.
The top five qualities in a singer likely to make us sing along are:
- Using a high chest voice.
- Singing with lots of energy.
- Singing with clear consonants.
- Singing with less vocal embellishment.
- Being a male (Pawley: “The most annoying result, for me anyway”).
The best choice of all, she suggests, would have been Freddie Mercury, the late, great lead singer of the group (fittingly) Queen.
“He had all the right qualities”, says Dr Pawley. “He sang with high energy, a high chest voice and he pronounced all his consonants clearly.”
The best living singer would be Robbie Williams.
“He would be perfect”, says Dr Pawley. “He ticks all the boxes.” He sings with energy and clear consonants. “He uses a straightforward singing style with little vocal embellishment, which is also favourable.”
“He’s also a national icon who appeals to different ages and genders.”
Finally, he is also, of course, male. The study found that a male singer is more likely to inspire participation than a female one, for reasons that may be rooted in evolution or history.
“It might be that men are more reluctant to join in with female voices than the opposite”, suggests Dr Pawley. “Or, it might be linked to a battle-cry and that traditionally we looked to men to lead us in battle.”
Issued by:
Greg Day
Publicity Director
Clout Communications
M: +44 (0)7889 861646
E: greg@cloutcom.co.uk
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Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:57PM 
