Off topic: Super Bowl National Anthem

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Reminds me of what Safire once wrote about the plural of 'octopus', which confronts the same issue. He said that 'octopi' is wrong (uses a Latin ending), 'octopodes' is pedantic (uses the proper Greek ending), and so the best choice is to make a regular English plural with 'octopuses'.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming, despite the fact that I'm wondering how the forum's resident plumber is so knowledgeable about Greek...

Need the two be mutually exclusive? Then again, all my psyche is divided into three parts.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Need the two be mutually exclusive? Then again, all my psyche is divided into three parts.

Not mutually exclusive, just a rare combination. It's ok, as my plumber is a sociologist.

[grunewar]

Tonight's game, the announcer asks everyone to rise for the National Anthem, and then says, "And, no Ms Aguilera is NOT singing!"

[M&M Guy]

Slightly off-topic from the off-topic thread - I was at a school last night where the National Anthem was performed by only the band's tuba and euphonium players. I didn't know what to expect when they first came out, but the instruments sounded very good together. The rendition was straightfoward, with harmonies, obviously, but the 4 of them did a great job. It was unique, but very cool.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Tonight's game, the announcer asks everyone to rise for the National Anthem, and then says, "And, no Ms Aguilera is NOT singing!"

Similar in my game. Announcer asked everyone to stand and join in the singing of the national anthem. He then adds, that if anyone is having problems with the words - they are printed on the wall. (and they are)

[Freddy]

Various Points, not all of which may be universally accepted:
1. The National Anthem, such as it is, is best "presented", not "performed"
2. Any singer doing this in order to call attention to him/herself deserves to be sent to Guantanamo or somewhere
3. As cherished as our nation's anthem is, we really need to update it to something that really rocks. Canada's anthem, now that can get a crowd joining along, cranking it out at the tops of their lungs. "God Bless America" can offer that rousing spirit better than the time-worn tune of the national anthem we have before games today.
4. The pledge of allegiance, perhaps led by a local veteran, would be a more effective call to patriotism than the aged tune and lyrics of the National Anthem, as much as I cherish it personally.
5. Varsity girls' game last Friday had a harmonica player doing the anthem. Ho hum. I'm sure his parents are proud of his performance.
6. Only one school around here has fans who actually sing along. I recall when, at an away game, the CD player broke, but it didn't matter because the visiting fans from that school, singing at the tops of their voices just kept on singing. By that time, even the home fans joined in.
7. Sadly, for most people the national anthem is a time to review the league, conference, and state championship dates on the banners on the wall next to the flag.
8. I'm as American as they come, just observant enough to detect the obvious, that our national anthem needs some real help, and self-serving performers calling attention to themselves don't cut it. Here in the land across from Rut our state had a year-long "Attention for the National Anthem" project whereby the assembled crowd were specially invited to join in singing. No one really did.
9. Don't call me a commie for these opinions. Just stating what is obvious to many besides me.
10. Don't have a #10. Yes I do: If a performer seeks a stage for artistic individualism, let 'em get in line to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" for WGN's seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Freddy

3. As cherished as our nation's anthem is, we really need to update it to something that really rocks. Canada's anthem, now that can get a crowd joining along, cranking it out at the tops of their lungs. "God Bless America" can offer that rousing spirit better than the time-worn tune of the national anthem we have before games today.

8. I'm as American as they come, just observant enough to detect the obvious, that our national anthem needs some real help,...

The anthem is just fine. The band tonight at my game was incredible and their version was interestingly different yet respectful and beautifully performed. I could have listened to it again.

The bigger problem is that a lot of mediocre singers attempt to sing a highly difficult song and just can't cut it....they just don't have the range that it covers.

[JRutledge]

It cracks me up when people say "it is disrespectful to make the song their own." For one every song that is sung is someone's own. Not everyone has the range for this song as it has a lot of ups and downs in tone and pitch. The best version I have ever heard of the song has been was from Whitney Houston back in 1990. If she did it as a conventional song it would not have been as special.

It is a hard song to sing (ask Carl Lewis ). And Jimmy Kimmel proved that the average person likely does not even know the words to the song. Heck we have people that crack in officiating when they have a couple of thousand watching them, there was millions watching this. I am sure it was a little overwhelming.

Peace

[BBrules]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Various Points, not all of which may be universally accepted:
1. The National Anthem, such as it is, is best "presented", not "performed"
2. Any singer doing this in order to call attention to him/herself deserves to be sent to Guantanamo or somewhere
3. As cherished as our nation's anthem is, we really need to update it to something that really rocks. Canada's anthem, now that can get a crowd joining along, cranking it out at the tops of their lungs. "God Bless America" can offer that rousing spirit better than the time-worn tune of the national anthem we have before games today.
4. The pledge of allegiance, perhaps led by a local veteran, would be a more effective call to patriotism than the aged tune and lyrics of the National Anthem, as much as I cherish it personally.
5. Varsity girls' game last Friday had a harmonica player doing the anthem. Ho hum. I'm sure his parents are proud of his performance.
6. Only one school around here has fans who actually sing along. I recall when, at an away game, the CD player broke, but it didn't matter because the visiting fans from that school, singing at the tops of their voices just kept on singing. By that time, even the home fans joined in.
7. Sadly, for most people the national anthem is a time to review the league, conference, and state championship dates on the banners on the wall next to the flag.
8. I'm as American as they come, just observant enough to detect the obvious, that our national anthem needs some real help, and self-serving performers calling attention to themselves don't cut it. Here in the land across from Rut our state had a year-long "Attention for the National Anthem" project whereby the assembled crowd were specially invited to join in singing. No one really did.
9. Don't call me a commie for these opinions. Just stating what is obvious to many besides me.
10. Don't have a #10. Yes I do: If a performer seeks a stage for artistic individualism, let 'em get in line to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" for WGN's seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field.

I would agree with you on some of these things, #10 for example, and I think #6 is great. I don't agree that we need a National Anthem that 'rocks'. I think that 'God Bless America' is a great song and it would make a good National Anthem. However, I suspect that the reason our present anthem is only 'tolerated' by many is the lack of historical perspective, something I believe is not being taught in our schools today. Most people probably don't think about what was going on when Mr. Key wrote those words while standing on the deck of a British warship as it bombarded Ft. McHenry. They probably don't think about the prisoners below deck who asked throughout the night, "Is it still there? Is it still flying?" and the only way Mr. Key could tell was by the light provided by the bombs and rockets that were shredding his fellow countrymen. I frankly don't know how they held out. I've been in a rocket attack with 14 to 16 rockets and it seemed to go on forever. (I don't say this to brag. I was just a rabbit hiding in a hole hoping, praying it would end soon.) I can't imagine how they endured through 1500+ bombs and rockets. Our National Anthem was born in fire and blood. All other suggestions pale in comparison. No, I think the one we have now is just fine. May God bless our flag, the country it represents and those who serve under it.

[Kelvin green]

I will have to chime in here..

The National Anthem is not s spirit song

By definition anthem:
1.A hymn of praise or loyalty.
2. A choral composition having a sacred or moralizing text in English.
3. A modern ballad accompanied by rock music instrumentation.

# 3 above might be able to stretch to a spirit song but ...

Aged tune and lyrics?

The tune....The connection with Anacreon, along with the "drinking" nature of the lyrics, have caused many people to label "The Anacreontic Song" a drinking song...The song was commonly used as a sobriety test: If you could sing a stanza of the notoriously difficult melody and stay on key, you were sober enough for another round.

I think that would still apply today....If it is a raucous song sung in early America then it is perfect. The country was founded on rebellion...

The orginal name was Defence of Ft McHenry. It clearly outlined how the flag stood through terrible bombardment and stood for the free colonies.

For those who dont know the other verses

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The lryics are still as appropriate today as they were in 1812. What was displayed first at Iwo Jima, what was displayed at the Twin Towers. A US Flag..

I have stood in the place between my home and war's desolation. To me as someone who has served in the military for over three decades, the words of all stanzas ring true for me.

We were started in war, we continue to battle for freedom... as long as we do that, the words are time honored...