National Anthem

[transfer2BGSU]

I saw this article on ESPN.com and it made me think about the singers we have had recently for basketball games at the Stroh Center.

I am very appreciative of those that have the talent to get up and sing in front of the crowds that we have at our games, but please, just sing the song the way it should be sung. I do not want to hear someone trying to do a Whitney Houston imitation. God forbid if someone starts sounding like Steven Tyler while singing the song.

I think we have had three individuals sing so far this year. At least two have done some improvisation with the song. Please, just sing the song.

I would love for us to play the National Anthem and everyone stand and sing like they do at NHL games. I remember a Stanley Cup game a few years back where the singer sang the first few verses of O'Canada! and then held the microphone out as the crowd sang the remainder of the song.


Here is the article that brought this about -

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... edge-games

[Lord_Byron]

I was at Jacob's Field in 1994 and saw Meatloaf sing the anthem. When it was over, I turned to my friend and said, "Wow!" He held up his arm and had goosebumps.

Here a Video from the 1994 All Star Game.

As far as BG goes, at a hockey game back in the '70s, the organ went out, and the crowd finished the anthem a-capella. That was pretty neat, too.

[footballguy51]

I get so sick of people jazzing up the anthem, so I would be all for the band, or a recording, playing the anthem and people singing along. I sang the anthem at the football games this year. When other people sing it, I can't sing along because they take really stupid, inappropriate pauses and sing notes that don't exist on the actual sheet music. I just enjoy singing the Star Spangled Banner. It is one song I truly love to sing.

[Falcon Commander]

I am very appreciative of those that have the talent to get up and sing in front of the crowds that we have at our games, but please, just sing the song the way it should be sung. I do not want to hear someone trying to do a Whitney Houston imitation. God forbid if someone starts sounding like Steven Tyler while singing the song.

AMEN Brother !!!

[Flipper]

I get tired of singers "over emoting" in general.....adding vowels to lengthen words really detracts from those words. It's the land of the free...not the land of the freeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....

[jg4242]

Usually the students at hockey games sing along on Senior Night, when both O Canada and the Star Spangled Banner are performed. Of course, it helps to have the band playing so people feel comfortable singing along.

I would love for singing along with the anthem to become the norm here in the States like it is in the rest of the world. One of my favorite things in international soccer is the singing of both anthems before a match. Hearing 80,000 people belt "God Save The Queen" at Wembley is pretty hair-raising.

[BGSU33]

I thought the girl who sang it prior to the Howard game was very, very good.

[Rollo83]

"I am trying to listen to the F'ing song!"

[Class of 61]

Glad to see that others share my feelings on this...a friend of mine tends to get upset with me, when I criticize a "jazzed up" version of the Natl. Anthem. He said it shouldn't make that much of a difference...I said it does, when the singer comes "before" the song!

[MacGuy]

What does the National Anthem have do with sporting events anyway? I know it was started during WWII to boost patriotism, but singing it before a hockey game or bull riding event seems absurd. I'm a veteran, and I'd like to see it sung at the appropriate time and place.

[Globetrotter]

I could care more about this.

[Falconfreak90]

I am very appreciative of those that have the talent to get up and sing in front of the crowds that we have at our games, but please, just sing the song the way it should be sung. I do not want to hear someone trying to do a Whitney Houston imitation. God forbid if someone starts sounding like Steven Tyler while singing the song.

AMEN Brother !!!

[NWLB]

It is a poem written to match a bar song. Singing it gospel style, or "this is my American Idol moment" does wear thin. Dragging a quick little ditty out for ten minutes gets irritating. The basic disregard for the unassuming nature of the song, making it a personal showcase, is basically offensive.

It is like the kids on the skateboards in town, trying to ride rails, do tricks. It would be entertaining if they weren't so suck at it. In both cases, the talent just isn't that good.

The best we could do, is to sing the song normally, loudly, and ignore their singing, so they look like idiots when the crowd has passed them by.

[hammb]

It is like the kids on the skateboards in town, trying to ride rails, do tricks. It would be entertaining if they weren't so suck at it. In both cases, the talent just isn't that good.

I disagree. I love going to the City Park and watching those not talent kids try to ride rails and fall on their faces. That's quality entertainment in my book.

But then I do enjoy watching people hurt themselves...

[NWLB]

It is like the kids on the skateboards in town, trying to ride rails, do tricks. It would be entertaining if they weren't so suck at it. In both cases, the talent just isn't that good.

I disagree. I love going to the City Park and watching those not talent kids try to ride rails and fall on their faces. That's quality entertainment in my book.

But then I do enjoy watching people hurt themselves...

SHHHHHhhhhh, I'm using that to dissuade my boy from doing that!