Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
British Citizens to Sing Praises of Queen During Golden Jubilee
Aired April 25, 2002 - 13:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The Queen hopes that the folks throughout Britain will be singing along, hoping an old Beatles lyric will resonate with the British people during the jubilee celebrations this summer.
Richard Quest, I'm sure will be first in line for this one. Hey, Richard. Good evening to you in London.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And a very good evening to you, Bill. What a stunning, spectacular evening, spring evening it is here in London. In Trafalgar Square, people enjoying the evening. Now, what, of course, by the time we get to the Queen's golden jubilee, they will all be practicing the words of the Beatles, "All You Need Is Love" because the idea is very simple.
At a particular time on June the 3rd, Her Majesty will give the starting signal and across the country, people will start singing at 21 locations the words to that famous song. You remember, all you need is love . We will sing it for you in just a moment.
Why the Beatles? Why "All You Need Is Love," what this says about the monarchy in Britain, nobody really knows. It just all seemed like a good idea to have a national sing-along to get the event started. Joining me is Sandy Dawe. She is the director of marketing at the British Tourism Authority. Good evening.
SANDY DAWE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, BRITISH TOURISM AUTHORITY: Hello.
QUEST: The Beatles and "All You Need Is Love," it is a bit of an odd choice perhaps. What message are they sending?
DAWE: Well, the Beatles is just simply the most famous pop band in the whole world, first of all. And they are British, so that's a good choice. And I think it is about being very inclusive and involving everyone across the whole of Britain and indeed around the world in a song that they know and they can relate to and they can join in. And the British do like a sing-along.
QUEST: It is amazing, isn't it? The Beatles, which used to be so avant-garde, they even turned down their MBEs, their honors from the queen, one or two of them did. And now, of course, she doesn't get -- she's going to push a button and we will all start singing. DAWE: Well, I suppose it doesn't get more establishment than having recognition from the queen. And I think everybody knows the Beatles.
QUEST: Let's talk about the golden jubilee. It is going to be a vast event in which many tens of thousands of visitors will be coming. What's the idea besides obviously saying, thanks to your majesty for 50 years.
DAWE: Well, the idea is a lot of it is about thanksgiving, 50 years on the throne, and about including the whole community and all aspects of British community in a particular celebration around this weekend, around the 3rd of June. Huge pageants, concerts at Buckingham Palace, street parties up and down the country, the lighting of beacons.
QUEST: Will foreign visitors, yes, foreign visitors -- let's call them that -- overseas visitors, will they feel a bit out of place?
DAWE: No, not at all. They will feel very welcome. And not just here in London where some of the main pageants are taking place, but up and down the country where smaller communities and larger communities are holding their own parties and festivities. And we would like them to feel very welcomed.
QUEST: Right. Sandy, many thanks indeed for joining us here. Bill, before we go, Sandy and me, come in a little closer, we've got to sort of finish because -- and, Bill, you're not that young so you can join in as well. You remember this...
HEMMER: I am going to leave that to you actually, Richard. Go for it.
QUEST: All right. On the count of one, two, three.
(SINGING)
Come on, Bill. Help us out here. We're struggling.
HEMMER: I can't carry a tune if my life depended on it, and you are certainly not going to get me do it.
QUEST: No. Well, let me tell you this. The only time you are going to get me singing besides this will be in the bathroom and we are certainly not doing that on television.
HEMMER: Well, you have the trombone down, though. That's for sure. Hey, thank you, Richard. Enjoy it, OK. And we will look forward to that sing-along and see how the rest of Britain responds.
QUEST: Thank you very much.
HEMMER: You got it. Richard Quest, he will be the first in line with his hand raised and ready to sing, I am sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
