Britannia and the British Empire what Marianne is to France or perhaps what Columbia is to the United States. Britannia became a very potent and more common figure in times of war, and represented British liberties and democracy. During the 1990s the term "Cool Britannia" (drawn from a humorous version by the Bonzo Dog Band of the song "Rule Britannia", with words by James Thomson [1700–1748], which is often used as an unofficial national anthem), was used to describe the contemporary United Kingdom. The phrase referred to the fashionable scenes of the era, with a new generation of pop groups and
Rule, Britannia! opening phrase of "Rule, Britannia!" in his choral work "The Music Makers", based on Arthur O'Shaughnessy's "Ode" at the line "We fashion an empire's glory", where he also quotes "La Marseillaise". Rule, Britannia! "Rule, Britannia!" is a British patriotic song, originating from the poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. It is strongly associated with the Royal Navy, but also used by the British Army. This British national air was originally included in "Alfred", a masque about Alfred the Great co-written by Thomson and David Mallet and first performed at Cliveden, country