The National Anthem...

[sidekick]

If you saw the performance you might think differently. She purposefully mocked both herself and the banner by not trying to do it justice. I blame everyone for this debacle ... including her for trying to add comic relief to our national song.

But you cannot blame HER for that. You HAVE to blame those that hired her. Let's be serious, she has NEVER, EVER been known to be a singer by any stretch of the imagination!

 

[Lord Darth Vader]

First, the national anthem's music is based on a British drinking song from the 1760s.

Here are the original lyrics to the song the US National Anthem is set to:



To Anacreon in Heav'n, where he sat in full glee,
A few Sons of Harmony sent a petition;
That he their Inspirer and Patron wou'd be;
When this answer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian;
"Voice, Fiddle, and Flute,
No longer be mute,
I'll lend you my name and inspire you to boot,
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself airs.
If these Mortals are suffered their scheme to pursue,
The Devil, a Goddess, will stay above stairs.
"Hark," already they cry,
"In transports of joy,
Away to the Sons of Anacreon we'll fly.
And besides I'll instruct you like me, to intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.

The Yellow-Haired God and his nine lusty Maids,
From Helion's banks will incontinent flee,
Idalia will boast but of tenantless Shades,
And the bi-forked hill a mere desert will be.
My Thunder no fear on't,
Shall soon do it's errand,
And damme I'll swing the Ringleaders I warrant,
I'll trim the young dogs, for thus daring to twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Apollo rose up and said, "Pry'thee ne'er quarrel,
Good sing of the Gods with my Vot'ries below:
Your Thunder is useless"--then showing his laurel,
Cry'd "Sic evitable fulmen" you know!
"Then over each head
My laurels I'll spread
So my sons from your Crackers no mischief shall dread,
While snug in their clubroom, they jovially twine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.'

Next Momus got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with Apollo he'd cheerfully join--
'The full tide of Harmony still shall be his,
But the Song, and the Catch, and the Laugh,
shall be mine.
Then Jove be not jealous
Of these honest fellows,"
Cry'd Jove, "We relent since the truth you now tell us;
And swear by Old Styx, that they long shall intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."

Ye Sons of Anacreon then join hand in hand;
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love!
'Tis yours to support what's so happily plann'd;
You've the sanction of Gods, and the Fiat of Jove.
While thus we agree,
Our toast let it be:
"May our Club flourish Happy, United, and Free!
And long may the Sons of Anacreon intwine,
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine."
------------------------

Secondly, most singers sing (or interpret) other people's songs. It is their job to inject feeling and life to the notes. Otherwise you may as well just use a synthesizer.

See ya
Tony

You completely missed my point. I reiterate: no other song to which you refer is our NATIONAL ANTHEM. That alone sets it above all others and distinct from all others.

 

[salsadancer7]

You completely missed my point. I reiterate: no other song to which you refer is our NATIONAL ANTHEM. That alone sets it above all others and distinct from all others.

He didn't miss your point...some had asked a "trivia" type question...about the other versions of the National Anthem....and he answered.

 

[Lord Darth Vader]

Yes he did miss my point. Neither he nor you still understand it.

 

[TNGTony]

I understand your point. I just DON'T AGREE. There is a difference.

See ya
Tony

 

[Ramy]

The worst singer of the Star Spangled Banner has to have been Roseanne Barr. That was a disgrace.

I had to endure that crappy version when I was listening to the game in San Diego because my Reds were playing.

 

[salsadancer7]

Yes he did miss my point. Neither he nor you still understand it.

We both understand your point...but YOU must of missed his because he was NOT ANSWERING YOU.....

 

[Lord Darth Vader]

You still both do not understand the original point.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

 

[boston area dtv]

Holy crap. I just learned there were four verses.

As for the singing of the anthem. My two cents are that if the singers intent is to sing the anthem with sincerity and pride and to not make THEMSELVES become the focus of the anthem then I have no problem with people putting their own spin on it. (even though in my own mind I prefer simple renditions)

As for people singing on TV and sounding horrible, I follow the same belief. If they sang with respect and gave their all then I have no problem.

Roseanne was an embarrassment because she made a mockery of singing of the anthem, and thus snubbing the country in my mind.

 

[TNGTony]

You still both do not understand the original point.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Okay Ramses II!! LET MY PEOPLE GO!

Your point is that singers should sing the anthem as written and never ever deviate from the exact written sheet-music because the anthem is a unique song and there is nothing else like it to stand for and represent the United states, right?

Is that your point?


I GET IT!

I don't agree with it!

Part one: The singers should sing the notes exactly as written on the sheet music because to deviate from that, you corrupt the original song and its impact.

Now any time more than one person sings in harmony, they are deviating from the original music! Any time any one does the octive-shift on the word FREE, any time you have a chorus, you have a variation on your music.

My point that you missed was that there are no two RENDITIONS that are the same. They may be similar, but no two are the same. Even if it's the same artist singing or playing the same song, the tempo, the intensity, the life of the music is different each and every time!

Some one mentioned earlier that Whitney Houston's superbowl performance what the best ever. It was excellent, but it did not stay true to the sheet music. The phrasing was different. The notes she chose to sing were not on the sheet music.

Any time you hear a chorus sing the anthem, there is extreme deviation from the sheet music.

The difference is that there are some deviations that go beyond what many like and that is a matter of taste! Jimmy Hendrix's version of the national anthem was reviled but the "older" generation. We, who are now the older generation, consider it "our" national anthem.

MY POINT: Your favorite rendition of the national anthem is a RENDITION of the song and not a transcription of the sheet music!

As to part 2: There is nothing else like The Star Spangled Banner to stand for and represent the United states.

Three words: "America the Beautiful"
(Different lyrics to "God Save the King/Queen" from England.)

See ya
Tony

 

[mdonnelly]

Okay Ramses II!! LET MY PEOPLE GO!

Your point is that singers should sing the anthem as written and never ever deviate from the exact written sheet-music because the anthem is a unique song and there is nothing else like it to stand for and represent the United states, right?

Is that your point?


I GET IT!

I don't agree with it!

Part one: The singers should sing the notes exactly as written on the sheet music because to deviate from that, you corrupt the original song and its impact.

Now any time more than one person sings in harmony, they are deviating from the original music! Any time any one does the octive-shift on the word FREE, any time you have a chorus, you have a variation on your music.

My point that you missed was that there are no two RENDITIONS that are the same. They may be similar, but no two are the same. Even if it's the same artist singing or playing the same song, the tempo, the intensity, the life of the music is different each and every time!

Some one mentioned earlier that Whitney Houston's superbowl performance what the best ever. It was excellent, but it did not stay true to the sheet music. The phrasing was different. The notes she chose to sing were not on the sheet music.

Any time you hear a chorus sing the anthem, there is extreme deviation from the sheet music.

The difference is that there are some deviations that go beyond what many like and that is a matter of taste! Jimmy Hendrix's version of the national anthem was reviled but the "older" generation. We, who are now the older generation, consider it "our" national anthem.

MY POINT: Your favorite rendition of the national anthem is a RENDITION of the song and not a transcription of the sheet music!

As to part 2: There is nothing else like The Star Spangled Banner to stand for and represent the United states.

Three words: "America the Beautiful"
(Different lyrics to "God Save the King/Queen" from England.)

See ya
Tony

Well said, Tony. Better than I could have done it. I prefer the Whitney Houston and USAF Band versions to the Jimmy Hendrix and Marine Corps Band versions, but that's just personal preference. I sure wouldn't want to be locked into one official version of the National Anthem that could never change. At that point, it's like reciting the Koran. Heck, even the Bible has several interpretations.

 

[Lord Darth Vader]

Is that your point?




I don't agree with it!

Irrelevant.

 

[TNGTony]

LOL! Love the sound clip.
How is it irrelevant?
Why?
Because you don't agree with my disagreement of your point?

 

[Lord Darth Vader]

LOL! Love the sound clip.
How is it irrelevant?
Why?
Because you don't agree with my disagreement of your point?

It just is.

 

[bradhasbrouck]

I predict Miss America 2008-Lauren Nelson to sing the "God Bless America" and the national anthem at the BCS National Championship Game?