There has been a lot of chat this week regarding Scotland's National anthem as MSPs at Holyrood consider a proposal to declare The Corries, Flower of Scotland as our official song

A song for us to belt out loudly and proudly on the terraces of sporting events all over the world when Scotland takes to the main stage at major events.
Unpopular as it may be, I have to hold my hand up and say that I massively disagree with this proposal.
Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s a fans’ favourite and I myself have sung it many times in public, most notably at the Ricky Burns fight in Glasgow in September 2013.
I made the catastrophic mistake of singing all three verses in their entirety, as I was asked to do for the record, which proved a tad embarrassing when 20,000 screaming fans inside the SECC decided to skip verse two and head straight on to the final verse, all the while singing a good bar and a half behind me.
I don’t know what it is about the timing of that song that proves so difficult but never in my life have I heard it sung in unison with the band or singer who’s performing it.
I also find the lyrics just a bit dated now, especially after the referendum last year, so I think something much more uplifting, with a positive message, would be a better choice.
The opinion polls online have made for interesting reading with lots of people calling for Caledonia to be named the official anthem, and I can absolutely see why.
It’s a fantastic song about the love of Scotland, and no matter where life takes you, or how far you may be from home, Scotland will always call you back.
It was Billy Connolly who once said Scottish people love singing songs about being far away even though they’re actually still there.
It’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on TV, watching Billy onstage talking about singing at parties while belting out, “Though I’m far across the sea...” which was quickly cut off with “no, you’re not” and “you shut your face”.
“It’s the only song your father knows right through. Be quiet.”
To be honest, the only problem I can foresee with Caledonia is that it’s got the potential to go a bit rock ballad on us, especially the Frankie Miller version.
I’m not sure electric guitars in national anthems aren’t in fact against the law, or at least they should be.
Other contenders include Rabbie Burns, A Man’s A Man and A’That, which is another wonderful example of the Bard’s work.
But let’s be brutally honest, with a mouthful of pie and Bovril or a few half shandies at the rugby, singing in full blown Old Scots is a recipe for utter disaster. Especially for the poor wee man innocently standing beside the pie and Bovril shower.
Runrig’s Loch Lomond and The Proclaimers’ 500 Miles are national treasures and would definitely get the party started, that’s for sure, but for what it’s worth, I’m going to throw in my two pence and go for Highland Cathedral.
It’s one of the most uplifting pieces of music I’ve ever heard. Yes, it may not have been composed by a Scotsman, but I think musically it encapsulates the beauty and warmth of our country perfectly.
Recently, lyrics by Simon Paterson Brown and Chris Thomson for the 2013 revamped version of the track have given this song a magic sprinkle to make it a true contender as Scotland’s official national anthem.
The words are so positive. I’m sure they would resonate with Scots all over the world and not just because it was sung by a team of rugby players. Although those of you who know me well know that anything involving big strapping men in shorts would get my vote every time:
“Scotland my country and my land of birth
Highlands and Islands to the Solway Firth
Where’er I travel and where’er I roam
Highland Cathedral in my heart, my home.”
The other option, of course, is to write an entirely new anthem for Scotland. Perhaps not harking back to days gone by, but looking forward to the future as proud Scots. With a wealth of music talent in this country it’s entirely possible.
Whatever the outcome, I hope that the song chosen will be a positive one, especially after the year we’ve had politically and emotionally as a people.
Scotland is and always will be one of the great loves of my life and I hope we can find a song to do it justice..