• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News Media

Johnson: Country in orgy of embarrassment over traditions & history with all its imperfections

The BBC previously said the pieces would feature without lyrics, following controversy over their perceived historical links with colonialism and slavery, but they will now be performed by a select group of vocalists.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2020-09-02 17:40
in Media, News
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the country is going through “an orgy of national embarrassment” about its traditions and history, as the BBC reversed its decision about the Last Night Of The Proms.

Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory will now be sung at the concert, following weeks of debate.

The broadcaster previously said the pieces would feature without lyrics, following controversy over their perceived historical links with colonialism and slavery, but they will now be performed by a select group of vocalists.

An update on the Last Night of the Promshttps://t.co/A4BawrnU38

— BBC Proms (@bbcproms) September 2, 2020

The BBC announced the U-turn one day after Tim Davie took over as director-general.

Musicians are performing live at the Royal Albert Hall – but without an audience due to coronavirus restrictions – across the final two weeks of the season, ending in the much-talked about Last Night.

The run-up to the Last Night has seen musicians, media industry figures and even the Prime Minister weigh into the debate over the pieces.

Speaking to the new intake of Tory MPs after the BBC announced the change, Mr Johnson said: “I do think this country is going through an orgy of national embarrassment about some of the things that other people around the world love most about us.

RelatedPosts

Trooping the Colour: ‘Multiple injuries’ reported as stand COLLAPSES

Teacher asks kids what they would do if they were royals for one day – these are the heartwarming responses

Mogg will be pleased! Government staff work in corridors over desks shortage

Good Friday agreement: People moved by Liam Neeson’s cameo in final episode of Derry Girls

Imperfections

“People love our traditions and our history with all its imperfections.

“It’s crazy for us to go around trying to censor it. It’s absolutely absurd and I think we should speak out loud and proud for the UK and our history.”

Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the BBC Proms said: “The pandemic means a different Proms this year and one of the consequences, under Covid-19 restrictions, is we are not able to bring together massed voices.

“For that reason, we took the artistic decision not to sing Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory in the Hall.

Cabinet Meeting
Boris Johnson weighed into the debate (Toby Melville/PA)

“We have been looking hard at what else might be possible and we have a solution.

“Both pieces will now include a select group of BBC singers. This means the words will be sung in the Hall, and as we have always made clear, audiences will be free to sing along at home.

“While it can’t be a full choir, and we are unable to have audiences in the Hall, we are doing everything possible to make it special and want a Last Night truly to remember.

“We hope everyone will welcome this solution. We think the night itself will be a very special moment for the country – and one that is much needed after a difficult period for everyone.

Last night

“It will not be a usual Last Night, but it will be a night not just to look forward to, but to remember.”

The BBC’s former director-general Lord Tony Hall previously insisted the decision to remove the lyrics was a “creative” one.

BBC Director General
Tim Davie, new director-general of the BBC (Andrew Milligan/PA)

But he confirmed that the issue of dropping songs because of their association with Britain’s imperial past had been discussed.

Later, the BBC said the traditional anthems would be sung at next year’s Last Night Of The Proms.

The U-turn comes after Lord Hall was succeeded in the role by Mr Davie, the former chief executive of commercial arm BBC Studios.

Mr Davie has said the BBC needs reform “with urgency” and stressed it must be “a universal public service”.

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden reacted to the news, tweeting: “Pleased to see common sense has prevailed on the BBC Proms.”

Pleased to see common sense has prevailed on the BBC Proms

— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) September 2, 2020

A spokesman for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was the “right decision” but that “enjoying patriotic songs does not and should not be a barrier to examining our past and learning lessons from it”.

Some of the lyrics deemed controversial in the songs include the Rule, Britannia! lines, “Britons never, never, never shall be slaves”, and, “The nations, not so blest as thee / Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall / While thou shalt flourish great and free: The dread and envy of them all”.

Land Of Hope And Glory, which was composed by Edward Elgar, also has colonialist lyrics, including: “By freedom gained, by truth maintained / Thine Empire shall be strong”, and, “God, who made thee mighty / Make thee mightier yet!”

Some, including Andrew Lloyd Webber, previously suggested the offending lyrics could be partially cut or adapted to suit modern tastes.

Related – A timeline: How the right wing media manufactured the Proms fiasco

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Film Review: Carmilla

Director claims she was assaulted at Tory Party conference

MEP quits Brexit Party over ‘direct conflict’ of views

How To Make: Chimichurri

‘Cronyism’ adviser behind botched £250m mask order hides earnings

Liverpool trio & Spurs striker shortlisted for 2019 Best FIFA Football Awards

HSBC boss pockets eye-watering bonus as Brits face worst income squeeze in decades

Katie Price denies being twice over limit when she crashed into parked car and bush

Britain First is raiding hotels to harass asylum seekers

‘A despicable lie!’ Dr Cathy Gardner blasts Tories as High Court rules that they broke the law

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.