Is it my imagination or are we being inflicted with the most horrendous renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner" during the current election? I haven`t heard one single version yet that didn`t sound more like a cat having it`s tail stood on! I`m not even in the same room as the television (thank goodness) but once again it seems to be "sung" - or, more accurately, WAILED by someone in pop-singer mode!
It`s much better sung just by the people all together than like that!
Pat
Was it the one with a baseball game? I just caught the end of it when I had a look.
Pat
"Karen C in California" wrote
I think part of the problem lies with the "performance" ending--taking "land of the free--EEEEEE" up an octave or two, and the urge to have a big finish, with lots of runs on "of the brave". This leads far too many people to attempt notes they were never meant to sing. Dawne
A good example of that was last night's butchering of the anthem by Patti LaBelle! I feel sorry for the athletes who have to endure performers trying to reinvent this song before each game. I like the song as it was written but cringe each time someone thinks they can improve it.
A lot of sports now involve both the US and Canada. Thankfully most performers tend to sing Oh Canada as written. I can't even bare to imagine what Ms. LaBelle would do to it!
Mavia
I just hope no idiot starts to try to turn Land of Hope and Glory or our National Anthem into a pop version! I imaginw there`d be rioting in the streets! (probably led by me!).
Pat
Thank you, Sue, for posting this. I don't think I'd ever heard his version. It's truly wonderful.
Here's my current favorite version. Hubby sent this to me as he used to sing with this group back when they were called the Baker's Dozen. Now they are Simple Harmonic Motion. Geeky school - what can I say?
Thank you, Sue, for posting this. I don't think I'd ever heard his version. It's truly wonderful.
Here's my current favorite version. Hubby sent this to me as he used to sing with this group back when they were called the Baker's Dozen. Now they are Simple Harmonic Motion. Geeky school - what can I say?
Thanks, that's the way I want it to sound.
Lucille
Hey - I remember them as the Baker's Dozen. Love that style of singing. All voice and nothing but the voice
THAT`S how it should be sung!
Pat
The most stirring version I ever heard was at a swim meet. They had forgotten to get anyone to sing the anthem or bring in a recording, so we all just started singing it together, a capella. The horrible acoustics of a pool made it sound glorious - it brought tears to my eyes. I keep suggesting we should do it again, but they won't listen to me!
Linda
Do you really? You've got a connection to WPI that I am unaware of?
Donna in Virginia
Well, both of my neighbor's sons go there. But one of my best college friends sang in the "Wheatones" and I went to every concert and there were frequently guest groups including Bakers Dozen, Tigers, a group from Princeton and many others. She left after junior year and started over elsewhere, but I still love the music.
Cheryl
Wait. Your friend went to Wheaton in MA? Depending on when, you may have seen my DH sing. They loved doing exchanges with all the historically women's colleges.
Donna in Virginia
Maybe I did - graduated in 81, she left either halfway through junior year (Jan 80) or May of 79. small world.
Cheryl
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