National Anthem!!!!

[Tech83]

Here's the best rendition

[Globetrotter]

No politics!

[Tech83]

No politics!

[hammb]

Here's the best rendition

While I've always loved this rendition of the star spangled banner, isn't this really one of the original bastardizations of the song to make it one's own? Getting the words wrong is NEVER acceptable, but I would think everyone who hates the embellishing of syllables and whatnot should also hate the Hendrix version.

Especially considering it's widely believed (albeit with no confirmation from Hendrix) Jimi's rendition of the song was meant to be a political statement.

[Flipper]

I don't think this is a politial discussion...it's more a discussion of our culture and our treatment of traditional symbols and icons. Hendrix was probably too gooned on acid to know if he was making a statement...or possibly where he was.

[h2oville rocket]

I don't think this is a politial discussion...it's more a discussion of our culture and our treatment of traditional symbols and icons. Hendrix was probably too gooned on acid to know if he was making a statement...or possibly where he was.

Hendrix was a former paratrooper so he gets a pass.

[Tech83]

Yeah - I've never heard any political overtones about Jimmy's version.

I go back and forth, if the rendition had been really spectacular and different would we still be bent?

I'm sure she was pretty nervous.

What's everyone's thoughts about the teams themselves just sort of milling on the sideline. I remember when the team each stood shoulder to shoulder with their helmets under their arms and the hands on their hearts. No one's crabbing about that being disrespectful.

And does every performer of the SSB at the Super Bowl feel that they have to match Whitney - It was certainly embellished by .... but no one bitched about it.

[hammb]

Well I remember we discussed Hendrix's rendition of the anthem at length in my history of popular music class at BG. Jimi's version of the anthem, at the time, incited a LOT of negative reaction. It was considered a total disrespect to the song, and the country. Even though Jimi himself denied the accusations, many thought that the distortion and guitar being made to sound like gunfire/bombs was an anti-war/anti-establishment statement. Not sure I buy it, because as has been pointed out here Hendrix was likely out of his mind on acid, and of coruse he was a former military man himself. Still, thought I'd point it out.

Overall, I think anytime anybody changes the anthem it's met with a lot of detraction early on. The great renditions like Jimi's will eventually go down as a classic that we all remember. I mean c'mon, I know and love that Hendrix version of the song, and it was 11 years before I was born...

I think the real problem is that all of these singers have to try and make their version the next great version we all remember, and nobody wants to just sing the damn song. And, unfortunately, almost all of them fail miserably.

[Flipper]

Ernie Harwell almost got fired by the Tigers in 1968 because he invited Jose Feliciano to sing the anthem prior to one of the World Series games. Feliciano deviated from the "norm"...I think he was the first or one of the first to do that on TV and people HATED it...

[RobbyFalcon]

Didn't Bleeding Gums Murphy do a great version of the anthem a few years ago?

This covers "oversoulling" (Jerry Wexler's term) really well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-esko ... 19979.html

[transfer2BGSU]

My choices for singing the anthem would be

#1 - Sandi Patty

#2 - The guy who sings for the Chicago Blackhawks

The hockey singers just have something about the way they sing that song...with feeling...with emotion.

[Flipper]

Didn't Bleeding Gums Murphy do a great version of the anthem a few years ago?

This covers "oversoulling" (Jerry Wexler's term) really well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-esko ... 19979.html

That's a pet peeve of mine in virtually everything...give me a simple, solid performance with a few flourishes...they'll have some impact then.