Why is it that the single song that is supposed to represent our country is severely brutalized when sung?

[Jittles]

The Star Spangled Banner has two parts:
the music
the words


At least they keep the words correct. I rarely hear the National Anthem sung to the tune that it is meant for. Case in point, the dixie chicks did a HORRIBLE job with it at the super bowl. I mean, can't you just sing the freakin song the way it was MEANT to be sung?? It is enough to irk me when a singer decides to butcher the song to show off his/her voice, but when you change a whole section of the melody? That's especially wrong.


This is sort of a pet peeve of mine. On a side note I also think that America the Beautiful would be a much better Nat'l Anthem than the star spangled banner but that's just my opinion.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Jittles
On a side note I also think that America the Beautiful would be a much better Nat'l Anthem than the star spangled banner but that's just my opinion.

I'm in agreement with you on that..

Also, part of the problem with the Dixie Chicks is that they lack the vocal range to sing well. (This is evident in any of their songs; it sounds like they're singing in monotone.)

 

[Jittles]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33

Originally posted by: Jittles
On a side note I also think that America the Beautiful would be a much better Nat'l Anthem than the star spangled banner but that's just my opinion.

I'm in agreement with you on that..

Also, part of the problem with the Dixie Chicks is that they lack the vocal range to sing well. (This is evident in any of their songs; it sounds like they're singing in monotone.)

Come to think of it you're right. I hadn't listened to them until about a week ago when my gf downloaded 4 songs onto my computer. Went back and listened to a couple and I hear what you mean.

 

[Jittles]

Ok, I just thought of another thing.

When the US wins a gold medal at the Olympics, they play the National Anthem of our country. You can recognize the song by its melody and that's how it's supposed to be. Imagine if they just took the liberty of synthesizing something into it while playing.

 

[Jittles]

Somebody surely has a comment.

 

[DeafeningSilence]

Originally posted by: Jittles
Somebody surely has a comment.

Well, I agree that it is in very poor taste to butcher the National Anthem in order to show off one's "vocal talents" and "flair" and "creativity" and whatever else.

I don't agree, however, that the Dixie Chicks butchered it yesterday. I actually thought that their rendition was tasteful and respectful. Regardless of one's opinion of the quality of their voices, I don't think that they were too liberal with the song's melody.

edit: You seem to think that they changed a whole section of the melody. I didn't notice that -- maybe I was distracted during that part and didn't hear it.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I'd just like to know why the national anthem is about the flag rather than the nation. I think Americans view the flag as more important than the people whom it represents.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I'd just like to know why the national anthem is about the flag rather than the nation. I think Americans view the flag as more important than the people whom it represents.

The flag represents the nation. And if you think that The Stat Spangled Banner is simply about a flag, then you're not paying any attention to the situation in which it was written. Key's poem was written as a tribute not to the flag itself, but to the revolutionaries who had kept it waving (eg, had not surrendered).

Also, the melody to which Key's words were put (well after he wrote the poem, which contains 4 verses) is an old British nee German drinking tune.

Of topic: About your sig; why is it then, that all of the people I see protesting simply have a blind faith in protest instead of looking over the issue in a rational way? Why does agreement with the governement necessarily equate to "blind faith"? Is it so inconcieveable that people like me can look at this situation and come to the same conclusions as the government?

ZV

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I'd just like to know why the national anthem is about the flag rather than the nation. I think Americans view the flag as more important than the people whom it represents.

The flag represents the nation. And if you think that The Stat Spangled Banner is simply about a flag, then you're not paying any attention to the situation in which it was written. Key's poem was written as a tribute not to the flag itself, but to the revolutionaries who had kept it waving (eg, had not surrendered).

Also, the melody to which Key's words were put (well after he wrote the poem, which contains 4 verses) is an old British nee German drinking tune.

Of topic: About your sig; why is it then, that all of the people I see protesting simply have a blind faith in protest instead of looking over the issue in a rational way? Why does agreement with the governement necessarily equate to "blind faith"? Is it so inconcieveable that people like me can look at this situation and come to the same conclusions as the government?

ZV

You're reading my sig wrong. It's a counter to people who say that protesters are unamerican. If there's one thing that's "American", it's protest. Agreeing with the government isn't blind faith, but it often is in the case of people who ridicule others for standing up for what they believe in. I truly hate it when someone says they will support the government no matter what. That's the kind of thinking that Hitler would cry tears of joy for were he alive.

 

[Amused]

Yep, the national anthem is set to an old british drinking song. It's supposed to be hosed when sung.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I'd just like to know why the national anthem is about the flag rather than the nation. I think Americans view the flag as more important than the people whom it represents.

The flag represents the nation. And if you think that The Stat Spangled Banner is simply about a flag, then you're not paying any attention to the situation in which it was written. Key's poem was written as a tribute not to the flag itself, but to the revolutionaries who had kept it waving (eg, had not surrendered).

Also, the melody to which Key's words were put (well after he wrote the poem, which contains 4 verses) is an old British nee German drinking tune.

Of topic: About your sig; why is it then, that all of the people I see protesting simply have a blind faith in protest instead of looking over the issue in a rational way? Why does agreement with the governement necessarily equate to "blind faith"? Is it so inconcieveable that people like me can look at this situation and come to the same conclusions as the government?

ZV

You're reading my sig wrong. It's a counter to people who say that protesters are unamerican. If there's one thing that's "American", it's protest. Agreeing with the government isn't blind faith, but it often is in the case of people who ridicule others for standing up for what they believe in. I truly hate it when someone says they will support the government no matter what. That's the kind of thinking that Hitler would cry tears of joy for were he alive.

The right to protest is American. The right to blind faith is American.

What you protest, and what you have blind faith in, may, or may not be American.

 

[Vic]

The Star Spangled Banner is a difficult song to sing, requiring a wide range and rather difficult and precise inflection. It's an easy song to botch.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I'd just like to know why the national anthem is about the flag rather than the nation. I think Americans view the flag as more important than the people whom it represents.

The flag represents the nation. And if you think that The Stat Spangled Banner is simply about a flag, then you're not paying any attention to the situation in which it was written. Key's poem was written as a tribute not to the flag itself, but to the revolutionaries who had kept it waving (eg, had not surrendered).

Also, the melody to which Key's words were put (well after he wrote the poem, which contains 4 verses) is an old British nee German drinking tune.

Of topic: About your sig; why is it then, that all of the people I see protesting simply have a blind faith in protest instead of looking over the issue in a rational way? Why does agreement with the governement necessarily equate to "blind faith"? Is it so inconcieveable that people like me can look at this situation and come to the same conclusions as the government?

ZV

You're reading my sig wrong. It's a counter to people who say that protesters are unamerican. If there's one thing that's "American", it's protest. Agreeing with the government isn't blind faith, but it often is in the case of people who ridicule others for standing up for what they believe in. I truly hate it when someone says they will support the government no matter what. That's the kind of thinking that Hitler would cry tears of joy for were he alive.

Ah. My bad. I'm still mildly steemed about the protestors here yesterday who lay down in the city streets (no permits) and caused a traffic nightmare and that's clouding my vision. I don't support the government "no matter what", but it sure seems that way to a lot of people since I tend to be rather "hawk-ish" in my views. (I still think that MacArthur was right about Korea, if we had listened to him we might not have had to go into 'Nam, but that's a whole other can of worms that I probably shouldn't get into.)

ZV

 

[LH]

I wasnt nearly as bad as that guy that didnt even get the words right to it on American Idol. And in the end he though he did a great job when, he didnt even know the right lyrics.

 

[Jittles]

Originally posted by: DeafeningSilence

Originally posted by: Jittles
Somebody surely has a comment.

Well, I agree that it is in very poor taste to butcher the National Anthem in order to show off one's "vocal talents" and "flair" and "creativity" and whatever else.

I don't agree, however, that the Dixie Chicks butchered it yesterday. I actually thought that their rendition was tasteful and respectful. Regardless of one's opinion of the quality of their voices, I don't think that they were too liberal with the song's melody.

edit: You seem to think that they changed a whole section of the melody. I didn't notice that -- maybe I was distracted during that part and didn't hear it.

Yeah, I was expecting some change which is, regrettably, standard, but they kept on going with the changed melody for I would say about 1/4 or so of the middle of the song.

 

[Jittles]

Originally posted by: LH
I wasnt nearly as bad as that guy that didnt even get the words right to it on American Idol. And in the end he though he did a great job when, he didnt even know the right lyrics.

Ok, now THAT's bad.

 

[DeafeningSilence]

Originally posted by: LH
I wasnt nearly as bad as that guy that didnt even get the words right to it on American Idol. And in the end he though he did a great job when, he didnt even know the right lyrics.

I saw the preview of that guy, but I didn't get to see his actual performance. Did you say he ended up doing a great job???

 

[Jittles]

I think he meant he did a horrible job but _thought_ he did a good job.

 

[Lola]

I think the Star Spangled Banner is a wonderful national anthem...its historic and strong. Just the thought of what Francis S. Key must have been feeling when looking out onto "his america" while writing the song is very emotional. The song is brave and tells of how we over come trial and adversity saying even in our most weakened hour, we pulled though with a stong will and pride. Everytime I hear it, i feel alive and proud that for being part of such a young counrty, we are powerful and steadfast

 

[DeafeningSilence]

Originally posted by: Jittles
I think he meant he did a horrible job but _thought_ he did a good job.

Haha, that's pretty good!

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: ActPrincess
I think the Star Spangled Banner is a wonderful national anthem...its historic and strong. Just the thought of what Francis S. Key must have been feeling when looking out onto "his america" while writing the song is very emotional. The song is brave and tells of how we over come trial and adversity saying even in our most weakened hour, we pulled though with a stong will and pride. Everytime I hear it, i feel alive and proud that for being part of such a young counrty, we are powerful and steadfast

Yip i agree. Everytime i hear it sung THE RIGHT WAY it chokes me up. The Star Bangled Banner is a very emotional song. Nothing pisses me off more than to to hear some self-richious dork destroy a national symbol.

 

[Jittles]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: ActPrincess
I think the Star Spangled Banner is a wonderful national anthem...its historic and strong. Just the thought of what Francis S. Key must have been feeling when looking out onto "his america" while writing the song is very emotional. The song is brave and tells of how we over come trial and adversity saying even in our most weakened hour, we pulled though with a stong will and pride. Everytime I hear it, i feel alive and proud that for being part of such a young counrty, we are powerful and steadfast

Yip i agree. Everytime i hear it sung THE RIGHT WAY it chokes me up. The Star Bangled Banner is a very emotional song. Nothing pisses me off more than to to hear some self-richious dork destroy a national symbol.

There is no doubt about the way it makes me feel when I hear it sung THE RIGHT WAY is very patriotic, but I think if America the Beautiful were the national anthem, I would feel the same way about it. The Star Spangled Banner most obviously portrays how strong our country was/is and is a good song, but the former I still think would be better.