Am I the only one who is getting tired of hearing people try to turn the singing of our National Anthem into an American Idol audition?
This song has plenty of meaning on its own. It has plenty of power and passion built into it by the author. People should sing it with passion, to be sure. Notice I said "SING" and not "PERFORM." There is no need to try to jam 48 notes into a single bar of music when the author of the song only wrote 4.
I am sick and tired of seeing people try to perform our Anthem like it was a vocal pole dance. When you stand to salute the flag, do you get down and boogie and finish with a sexy bump-and-grind? No. Let's show the same reverence for an anthem that is meant to memorialize, not only our continuing fight for freedom, but more importantly, those who gave their lives to protect the rest of us.
It is our National Anthem, NOT a burleque show.
Well, I've said my piece. What do the rest of you think? Would you like to hear it sung with respect?
I'm with you Alan. The Simpsons had an episode where Bleeding Gums Murphy did a 45 minute rendition of the national anthem, just the way you described it. It made a valid point. I think of how Roseanne Barr butchered it, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up!
Why is it that people are incapable of taking a terrific piece of music like that, and treat it with the dignity and respect it deserves, rather than turning it into a cheap carnival side show. Sadly, the singers are more into themselves, capitalizing on the publicity, than they are in singing our national anthem in all of its majesty, simply, sweetly and sincerely.
The anthem, as it is continuingly performed, is a disgrace to the people it represents. It was written during a war. It was a symbol of hope and courage, meant to inspire us to believe and persevere. Regardless of our own political views and beliefs, we still owe it to all of those who have fought and died for this country, to show our national anthem all the dignity it deserves.
I agree 1000%.
I seem to remember Faith Hill singing it at some event in the last year. She did a beautiful job because she has a great voice, and she showed the song respect. Jennifer Hudson sang it, and it sounded like she was on a Broadway Stage. Mariah Carey makes me want to vomit when she sings it.
I totally agree with you. I don't know why they have to sing it like they are trying to make a #1 hit. It's ridiculous. If they knew how stupid they sounded maybe they would sing it like it's supposed to be sung.
tried to answer this one last night but the computer was acting up.
i am with you one this one. i see a lot of abuse given to our national anthem. about the only place i am most likely to hear our song is at
sporting events. which is a shame. the national anthem is a song that
inspires national pride and i think this country needs this to feel good
about ourselves as a country. when i see the song sung by people
that sometimes don't even know the lyrics. it makes me angry that
the ones that pick these people are looking for the ratings or that they
ask them to do this because of a favor returned.. not because they are
the best singers.. and why can't they sing a straight song instead of the
embellishments that most times just sound like they don't really care
about the history and feeling of the song.. maybe it is the American idol image.. Simon would not like a song if it wasn't made ones own..
well guess what.. it isn't your own.. it is our country's and i for one want to hear it sang the way it was written..
boy this is going to be very unpopular, i may not like it sometimes, but there is a law it's called freedom is speech. you also have the right to change the channel. personally i have never seen American Idol. but it's really the owners who hire the producers, whoever is in charge of football games,etc. they provide the soap box.
George Bush waved the flag for eight years, he insulted anyone who disagreed with him, by calling them un-American. all the time he was braking the laws of our great county, and removing our rights and the rights of others. i believe in freedom of speech, and even when i don't like it and know it's lies. i'll let them have their say.
I complimented your answer because it took guts to support those who abuse their freedoms. You are right. We have the freedom to do many things no decent person should ever do. We have the right to throw the flag into the mud and urinate on it. I don't change the channel. I turn the sound off. That way I can beam with pride at the looks of deserved disgust on the faces of those who can't change the channel. If I am at the event too, I turn my back on the "singer," giving them the disrespect they
deserve. If anyone asks why I turned my back during the anthem, I am happy to tell them. As I pointed out in an article some time ago, the concepts of "right & wrong" and "legal & illegal" have little to do with each other. Just because something is legal, doesn't make it right. It is legal to have sex with one's 18yo stepdaughter but I doubt many would say it is right. Those who publicly disrespect our anthem deserve to be called on it. Publicly. That is a freedom I am proud to exercise.
who should be the art police? thanks for the complement, i really do appreciate it.
HereTaHelpYa
Jen, I have no cool nickname / Vet tech
Answered 4 months ago
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Wow, you so eloquently put into words what I've been thinking for years! Seems as though each time someone "new" sings the National Anthem they feel like they have to top the vocal pole dance performed by the singers before. The song is beautifully amazing on it's own, it doesn't need some super star's rendition of it. Sing it like it was written and you'll never go wrong.
heather_june
Heather - 'THING' !!!! / Addams Family Camper!!!
Answered 3 months ago
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Well, I'm Britsh and I love the American National Anthem, I prefer it to ours but don't tell anyone! I don't think they should ruin it! It is there as a mark of respect for those who have given their lives and thus should be left just the way it is!
There have been many attempts by various groups to get the melody changed a bit. The range is absolutely too large for the average person to sing our anthem with grace, But that still doesn't mean that singers (for wont of a better word) should try to hide their ineptitude at hitting the correct notes as they flaunt their talents (?) at trilling, screeching and chirping! It doesn't require one to have talent to sing our national anthem with heartfelt loyalty, it just takes pride in our country.
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I'm with you Alan. The Simpsons had an episode where Bleeding Gums Murphy did a 45 minute rendition of the national anthem, just the way you described it. It made a valid point. I think of how Roseanne Barr butchered it, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up!
Why is it that people are incapable of taking a terrific piece of music like that, and treat it with the dignity and respect it deserves, rather than turning it into a cheap carnival side show. Sadly, the singers are more into themselves, capitalizing on the publicity, than they are in singing our national anthem in all of its majesty, simply, sweetly and sincerely.
The anthem, as it is continuingly performed, is a disgrace to the people it represents. It was written during a war. It was a symbol of hope and courage, meant to inspire us to believe and persevere. Regardless of our own political views and beliefs, we still owe it to all of those who have fought and died for this country, to show our national anthem all the dignity it deserves.