An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Jim Nelson ·
Sep 12, 2011 at 11:17am
This is the correct way to perform the Star Spangled Banner.
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Jul '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Now that's the way to start My morning. Thanks, Jim.
U.! S.! A!
U.! S.! A.!
U.! S!. A.!
Nov '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Thank you.
May '11
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I think all the different ways the Star Spangled Banner is played represents the improvisational nature of our culture. My 2 favorite versions are Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA all star game. The soul singer mellismatic version has become cliche.
Dec '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Sadly, the norm has become "if you have a pop hit, you can sing the Star Spangled Banner". It is not an easy song to sing, and you have to have a talented voice to pull it off. Never mind those who can't be bothered to actually, you know, learn the lyrics.
May '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Meh. It felt like the singer was having a boxing match with the song. Not my style. I prefer musicality when singing that song. I sure did enjoy the crowd's reaction, though! It seemed they just needed an excuse to cheer their country. The bombastic singer gave them that excuse.
Jul '11
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
My god that man can sing. He must be part of the local opera or operatic society. Very nice, very nice indeed. Thanks Jim!
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
It is nice, for once, to hear someone sing that song without all the urban yodeling. Hit the note and stay with it.
Apr '11
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
We should figure out a way to post a link to that on Al-Jazeera web site as well as on as many jihadi sites we can find.
May '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
loved it
Aug '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I keep waiting for someone to LEAD in the National Anthem. As in, "Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in the singing of the Star Spangled Banner."
No performances. No showing off. 60,000 everyday people just singing it like they mean it.
You would measure the power of such a moment with a Richter scale.
May '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Dave, "urban yodeling" is the perfect description for that style of singing. I don't care for it.
But I'm used to the crowd being silent during the anthem. It's great with the crowd cheering like that.
I do like that he sang it straight without much improvisation. Improv can be fine in some cases, but it's generally better if the crowd can sing along to the national anthem. If any song should be sung together by everyone, it's this one. That requires the singer to act more as a cantor than performer.
The most moving musical experience I ever had was singing "Silent Night" along with the rest of the crowd at a Christmas show, accompanied by a professional choir and and orchestra. We all sang scarcely above a whisper, with the orchestra playing softly beneath our voices. It was awe-inspiring.
Oct '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
On the contrary, I believe this is the way to do the anthem. It is so much more powerful when a huge group of Americans (or Canadians) or Englishmen )perform their country's anthem with one voice than when one singer puts his or her own spin on a song.
Side note, am I the only one who gets somewhat annoyed when you can't even hear the anthem for the cheering? I'd prefer if we all belted it out like those proud people. Even if you're an American, try to tell me you didn't get chills watching the Canadian anthem.
Edited on Sep 12, 2011 at 12:04pmNov '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I know that it's not the Star Spangled Banner but this is my favorite patriotic song rendition: Ray Charles -- America the Beautiful.
Edited on Sep 12, 2011 at 12:13pmOct '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I'm probably the only one out here who thinks this, and it's despite my agreement with Dave about the "yodeling" and other versions that seem to be self-absorbed, but I kinda liked Cyndi Lauper's version at the US Open the other night (notwithstanding the fact that she forgot one line of lyrics, which she covered up fairly well). I don't know music (or perhaps English?) well enough to articulate why I liked it (poignant? tender?), but I liked it.
Not sure if this thread is in any way a reaction to Lauper's performance, but I thought I'd cite it anyway. Thanks for indulging me.
May '11
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I have noticed more and more often that fewer and fewer players (when at sporting events) or members of the audience:
a) remove their hats
b) place their hands over their hearts
c) actually sing along
as a sign of respect.
Aaron Miller:
I do like that he sang it straight without much improvisation. Improv can be fine in some cases, but it's generally better if the crowd can sing along to the national anthem. If any song should be sung together by everyone, it's this one. That requires the singer to act more as a cantor than performer.
I have been to many Tennessee Vol football games. The stadium announcer always says, "Please join in singing our national anthem." And we do.
Oct '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Singing? I'll show you singing! Here it is: the first composition originally done for a computer game to ever win a Grammy award. It also happens to be the Lord's Prayer. In Swahili. Sung by the Soweto Gospel Choir: Baba Yetu.
Apr '11
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
Pilli: I have noticed more and more often that fewer and fewer players (when at sporting events) or members of the audience:
a) remove their hats
b) place their hands over their hearts
c) actually sing along
as a sign of respect.
Aaron Miller:
I do like that he sang it straight without much improvisation. Improv can be fine in some cases, but it's generally better if the crowd can sing along to the national anthem. If any song should be sung together by everyone, it's this one. That requires the singer to act more as a cantor than performer.
I have been to many Tennessee Vol football games. The stadium announcer always says, "Please join in singing our national anthem." And we do. · Sep 12 at 1:01pm
To both of you: Hear! Hear!
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I hate to burst everyone's bubble here, but it's a custom (like not putting ketchup on your hot dog- thinking about that makes me gag) to cheer during the national anthem in Chicago. It started with the Blackhawks- that guy sings the national anthem before every Blackhawks game- the Bears bring him in on occasion to rile the crowd up.
Alcohol is significantly more influential to starting this custom than patriotism- nothing against my fellow Chicagoans, but... it's the truth. But nowadays it's all tradition.
So every time he comes to Soldier Field, the crowd cheers during it.
Go Bears!!!
PS: I think he is an opera singer- after all that's what you get before a hockey game.
PPS: USA! USA! USA!
Edited on Sep 12, 2011 at 2:27pmOct '10
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
I thought Whitney houston's rendition at the super bowl in 1991(?) was also very good. It was good enough to actually sell as a record too. One thing that many people aren't aware of is that you're not supposed to put your hat over your heart, as you see many baseball players do, but your hand. I have to admit that often I get a little annoyed by the way athletes behave during the national anthem, especially when they're moving around like toddlers who can't sit still. Is that just me? Am I being a stickler?
May '11
Re: An Open Letter to America's Self-Absorbed, Egotistical Pop Stars
A baseball player probably hears the Star Spangled Banner 200 times a year. Basketball player over 100. Day after day that probably gets a little annoying. Even the most patriotic individual would get a little fidgety with that kind of exposure.