A true Butchered job on the national Anthem

[Devastatin Dave]

Did any of you guys watch the Super Bowl? My God, that was the worst rendition of the National Anthem since Rosanne Barr during the World Series. The Urban Yoddling comming out of Aritha's hole was nauseating. And who the hell was that nutered dude doing the whiney backups to Aritha's screaming of unintelligable lyric?
If there should be any legislation, there should be a law against the butchery of the National Anthem by "artists". What's your opinion?

[UglyandHasty]

It was really bad. I had seen a parody of this guy on SNL or MadTV(dont remember wich one), and i was thinking there was a bit of exageration. After yesterday performance, i can say it was quite close to reality ...

[Devastatin Dave]

Not to mention the Rolling Stone's "performance". A cat drinched in gas and lit on fire would have sounded better.

[Xiahou]

The national anthem was just tough to watch- I gotta admit.

[Sjakihata]

Now there is something you can learn from the former communist countries, they know how to perform a national anthem, not with a religious chorus and frog but with a big orchestra!

[Devastatin Dave]

Now there is something you can learn from the former communist countries, they know how to perform a national anthem, not with a religious chorus and frog but with a big orchestra!

Amen, God bless those commies.

[Goofball]

Did any of you guys watch the Super Bowl? My God, that was the worst rendition of the National Anthem since Rosanne Barr during the World Series. The Urban Yoddling comming out of Aritha's hole was nauseating. And who the hell was that nutered dude doing the whiney backups to Aritha's screaming of unintelligable lyric?
If there should be any legislation, there should be a law against the butchery of the National Anthem by "artists". What's your opinion?

Hey, at least she remembered the words. Unlike Bryan Adams when he was singing "Oh Canada" before a hockey game a few years ago...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I've never heard a good rendering of the national anthem at a sports event. The best was actually at the field hockey games at my school, which has a recording from an electric keyboard or something. At least it's simple. The line is "bombs bursting in air" not "warble-warble-warble".

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Hey I posted this elsewhere But anyway it was the worst I can remember, It sure wasnt like the Whitney Huston or Mariah Carey renditions. They should just let those two take turns.

Man I never lnew Arron Neville sucked so bad. And what happened to Arthea?

And the Stones sounded like crap as well.

[Major Robert Dump]

I didn't catch it, did she turn a 2 minute song into a five minute song by jazzing up all the words? Wan't it Al Green a few years back who even changed the words a little and sang "in the land of the freeeeeeeeeee...i'm talkin' bout the freeeeeeeeeeeee"


I wish the anthem would be changed to america the beautiful. its a better song, the tune is american and not an old english drinking song, and pretty much anyone can sing it

[Ianofsmeg16]

I wish the anthem would be changed to america the beautiful. its a better song, the tune is american and not an old english drinking song, and pretty much anyone can sing it

I have the same issue with our national Anthem, instead of God Save the Queen, which is actually a FRENCH, song we should use Rule Brittania. as it is also about Britain, with no lines about 'Crushing rebellious Scots', tempting as it may be, it just aint british.

Devistatin Dave I watched that national Anthem, and I wholeheartidly agree with you, I respect Aretha Frankiln for all the work she's done for music. But Butcher that anthem she did!

[BDC]

I have the same issue with our national Anthem, instead of God Save the Queen, which is actually a FRENCH, song we should use Rule Brittania. as it is also about Britain, with no lines about 'Crushing rebellious Scots', tempting as it may be, it just aint british.

Everyone likes crushing the Scots though. Even themselves.

Rule Brittania would be a lot better though.

[The_Doctor]

National anthems are an odd thing.

For example, Mexico's

Chorus
Mexicans, at the cry of war,
Prepare the steel and the bridle,
And let the earth centers tremble
To the roar of the cannon.
And let the earth centers tremble
To the roar of the cannon!

First Stanza
Wreathed be, oh Fatherland, your brow with olive leaves
of peace by the divine archangel
For in heaven, your eternal destiny
has been written by the finger of God.
But should a foreign enemy dare
To profane your soil with his step,
Think, oh beloved Fatherland! that heaven
Gave you a soldier in every son.

Stanza V
War, war without truce upon him who tries
To sully the blazon of the Fatherland;
War, war! Soak the homeland's flags
In waves of blood.
War, war! In the hill and the valley,
The dreadful cannons thunder,
And the deafening echoes resound
The cries of Union! Liberty!

Stanza VI
Oh Fatherland, before your unarmed sons
Bend their necks under the yoke,
Your countryside be watered with blood
And in blood may they stamp their feet.
And your temples, palaces, and towers
Fall with terrible thunder,
And their ruins exist to say,
"This was the Fatherland of a thousand heroes."

Stanza X
Fatherland, Fatherland! Your sons pledge to you
To breathe out, in your honor, their breath,
If the buggle with its warlike tone
Calls us to struggle with valour.
For you the garlands of olive!
For them a memory of glory!
For you a laurel of victory!
For them a tomb of honour!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_national_anthem

[Byzantine Mercenary]

nah, the british anthem should be land of hope and glory

[Nelson]

I have heard many good renditions of The Star Spangled Banner over the years. The problems occur when singers try to improvise too much.

I would never want to see anything else become the anthem. I like the fact that the people of Baltimore extemporaneously matched a drinking song to Key's’ poem. (After all, the 30’ x 42’ flag was sewn on the floor of a local brewery!) They were relieved and proud to have rejected the British attack after Washington was burned. The army and navy went on to adopt the tune as the anthem unofficially due to its’ popularity and suitability. All Congress did in 1931 was to recognize the people’s choice. Pretty democratic I would say.

Besides, no potential anthem finishes better than “Oh say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”. It is a perfect challenge for Americans of every generation.

The last stanza of the poem says that the flag “in triumph shall wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave”. But the 1st stanza, the one we sing, asks a question. In 1814 Key wondered if the flag was still there at all. For Americans today, his question has a different slant. The flag is there, but are we still free and brave? THAT”S what we need to think about, nowadays and forever.

[Reverend Joe]

I think our anthem should be changed to the Hendrix version- followed, of course, by "Purple Haze."

Yes, I am kidding.

But seriously, why not change it to "Fortunate Son," or "Keep on Chooglin'"?

[t1master]

the nypd officer who sings the anthem does the best imho. i think he's a tenner?

[Nelson]

the nypd officer who sings the anthem does the best imho. i think he's a tenner?

Yes, Daniel Rodriguez. I heard him perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in December. He can move you to tears.

[Divinus Arma]

For Americans today, his question has a different slant. The flag is there, but are we still free and brave? THAT”S what we need to think about, nowadays and forever.

I like the way you worded your reply. Although I doubt I will agree with your politics, you still make an important and valid theoretical point.

[KukriKhan]

I admit being a little embarrassed by this year's Anthem at the Superbowl - I've been a big fan of their work. Not their best day.

For my taste, my two favorite renditions of The Star-Spangled banner were:

1) 2003 Superbowl, Dixie Chicks. Listen to it here:
https://jimcee.homestead.com/SpartanTotalWarrior.html
3-part harmony done expertly, with a minimum of 'grace notes'.

2) Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace, shortly after 9-11-01. At the part where they play (and have played for hundreds of years) "God Save the Queen", they instead played "The Star-Spangled Banner", in solidarity with their US cousins. Not much tears up these old eyes. But I cried then. And sat down. And was late for work that day.

[GoreBag]

It's not like this is the first time someone screwed a national anthem in public, and it's not like the song means anything, really. It's just pomp.

[Devastatin Dave]

It's not like this is the first time someone screwed a national anthem in public, and it's not like the song means anything, really. It's just pomp.

I'll take the bait, the song menas a lot to those that love the United States. So no, maybe to you it doesn't mean anything, but to me it means a lot.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Originally Posted by GoreBag
It's not like this is the first time someone screwed a national anthem in public, and it's not like the song means anything, really. It's just pomp.

But this is the superbowl. Its supposed to put forward our best. Like I said in the last few years both Whitney Huston and Mariah Carey have given incredible stirring renditions of the Star Spangled Banner. This was horrible. I say as long as they can sing Let Whitney and Mariah take turns. No one has voices like these two.

[Goofball]

I'll take the bait, the song menas a lot to those that love the United States. So no, maybe to you it doesn't mean anything, but to me it means a lot.

I agree. And on a purely artistic note, the Star Spangled Banner is the only national anthem other than O Canada that gives me goosebumps on the back of my kneck when I hear it performed well.

I also really like hearing the two of them performed consecutively when I go to a Jays game; the two songs to me seem to compliment each other nicely.

[Devastatin Dave]

I agree. And on a purely artistic note, the Star Spangled Banner is the only national anthem other than O Canada that gives me goosebumps on the back of my kneck when I hear it performed well.

I also really like hearing the two of them performed consecutively when I go to a Jays game; the two songs to me seem to compliment each other nicely.

I agree, I miss when the Expos were still in Montreal and they would sing the songs back to back. The stadium was never occupied during games so the songs would just ring out beautifully. O Cananda is simply a grand national anthem and a delight to hear...

[Gawain of Orkeny]

I agree. And on a purely artistic note, the Star Spangled Banner is the only national anthem other than O Canada that gives me goosebumps on the back of my kneck when I hear it performed well.

I have to agree. Only the playing of the Marine corps Hymn gives me more goosbumps.

O Cananda is simply a grand national anthem and a delight to hear...

And the great thing about it is it can still have the same meaning when sung by an american

[GoreBag]

But this is the superbowl. Its supposed to put forward our best. Like I said in the last few years both Whitney Huston and Mariah Carey have given incredible stirring renditions of the Star Spangled Banner. This was horrible. I say as long as they can sing Let Whitney and Mariah take turns. No one has voices like these two.

That's kind of a stretch. It's the NFL championship game; it has nothing to do with anything else. I still can't understand why we all feel the need to hear our national ditty whenever we gather to drink beer and watch people beat the snot out of one another.

Dave, fair enough, but it's kind of presumptuous to speak for everyone who loves the US. In any case, it only means what each person assigns to it.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

That's kind of a stretch. It's the NFL championship game; it has nothing to do with anything else

Are you kdding me. Its a worldwide event. In fact the biggest event on TV every year. Even the comercials are specially made. Its supposed to represent the best we have both on the field and the entertainment. I must say I was sadly dissappointed by all of it including Stevie Wonder and the crew before the game. You would think being in Motown they could have put together a much better show.

[GoreBag]

Are you kdding me. Its a worldwide event. In fact the biggest event on TV every year.

Nope. I always wondered why everyone thought it was a worldwide event, too, if only Yank teams can get the chance to participate. I don't know about the stats about it being the biggest event on TV ever year, but I imagine something soccer-related outdoes it.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

In any case, it only means what each person assigns to it.

What is this, "close your post with your favorite truism" day? You could add that line to the end of every post on all threads in all forums -- making it functionally useless. NSDT!

I agree with Dave here.