Star Spangeled Banner..... Awesome

[Mrmerlin]

A friend passed this to me and it is awesome..








The Inspiration of Francis Scott Key: From Poem to Anthem

Before departing from a ravaged Washington, British soldiers had arrested Dr. William Beanes of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on the charge that he was responsible for the arrests of British stragglers and deserters during the campaign to attack the nation’s capital. They subsequently imprisoned him on a British warship.

Friends of Dr. Beanes asked Georgetown lawyer Francis Scott Key to join John S. Skinner, the U.S. government’s agent for dealing with British forces in the Chesapeake, and help secure the release of the civilian prisoner. They were successful; however, the British feared that Key and Skinner would divulge their plans for attacking Baltimore, and so they detained the two men aboard a truce ship for the duration of the battle. Key thus became an eyewitness to the bombardment of Fort McHenry.

When he saw “by the dawn’s early light” of September 14, 1814, that the American flag soared above the fort, Key knew that Fort McHenry had not surrendered. Moved by the sight, he began to compose a poem on the back of a letter he was carrying. On September 16, Key and his companions were taken back to Baltimore and released. Key took a room in the Indian Queen Hotel and spent the night revising and copying out the four verses he had written about America’s victory. The next day he showed the poem to his wife’s brother-in-law, Judge Joseph Nicholson, who had commanded a volunteer company at Fort McHenry. Nicholson responded enthusiastically and urged Key to have the poem printed. First titled “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” the published broadside included instructions that it be sung to the 18th-century British melody “Anacreon in Heaven” — a tune Key had in mind when he penned his poem. Copies of the song were distributed to every man at the fort and around Baltimore. The first documented public performance of the words and music together took place at the Holliday Street Theatre in Baltimore on October 19, 1814. A music store subsequently published the words and music under the title “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

During the 19th century, “The Star-Spangled Banner” became one of the nation’s best-loved patriotic songs. It gained special significance during the Civil War, a time when many Americans turned to music to express their feelings for the flag and the ideals and values it represented. By the 1890s, the military had adopted the song for ceremonial purposes, requiring it to be played at the raising and lowering of the colors. In 1917, both the army and the navy designated the song the “national anthem” for ceremonial purposes. Meanwhile, patriotic organizations had launched a campaign to have Congress recognize “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the U.S. national anthem. After several decades of attempts, a bill making “The Star-Spangled Banner” our official national anthem was finally passed by Congress and signed into law by President Herbert Hoover on March 3, 1931.

[GH85Carrera]

That is a cool story.

It is one of many reasons that the Star Spangled Banner should forever remain the national anthem. It is not just another song like so many other nations use. America the Beautiful is a nice song but is sounds like so many other countries songs.

[Superman]

Here is my favorite. 2002 Superbowl (following 9/11/01 attack). Whitney Houston. She NAILED it.

YouTube - Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner!

[Zeke]

Awesome. I think I'm seeing signs of harmony returning to the music scene commercially.

My wife's maiden name is Key and is a distant relative.

[cbush]

Yep- the kids are really cute and did a great job, but boy could Whitney Houston sing. Kind of makes you sad to see her today.

[widgeon13]

Al Sharpton will be complaining that there wasn't a black child there.

Very well done by those kids.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by Superman

Here is my favorite. 2002 Superbowl (following 9/11/01 attack). Whitney Houston. She NAILED it.

YouTube - Whitney Houston singing the Star Spangled Banner!

Thats my favorite version as well.

But, that wasnt in 2002. That was in 1991. I was in the military at the time, thinking I was enroute to the Gulf. I tear up every time I hear her version.....

Those Kids did great...Actually I tear up every time I hear it sung well.

[jyl]

The only problem with the song is that it is hard to sing. A lot of national anthems are within the ability of most every voice ("O Canada", for instance, could be sung by a sea turtle), the US anthem is not.

[jyl]

Here is a tongue in cheek discussion of the matter

Michael Kinsley - We Need a New National Anthem - washingtonpost.com

[Hugh R]

Those kids did a great job, the change in inflection, (I think its called) at 0:30 sec is very hard to do, but they nailed it.

At the end of the video in the top right click on them doing Amazing Grace, cool rendition as well.

[jyl]

Although apparently the sea turtles on our northern border think their anthem is hard to sing, and promotes gender inequality.

Ottawa Notebook - The Globe and Mail

The good thing about the Star Spangled Banner is that the lyrics are interesting. They tell a dramatic story, rather than just being a collection of platitudes and flattery. Like, say, "O Canada". Compare. One song is like applying for a bank loan, the other is a real narrative.

Michael Conniff: Con Games: O Canada, of Thee We Sing

If they would just take an octave out of the melody - and teach the words in school so it doesn't always get sung "so say can you see mumble mumble mumble", then it would be a great national anthem.

Some complain that the song is too martial, too violent. I say, jeez, have you heard other countries' anthems? How about "La Marseillaise", which requires sweet little 10 y/o French girls to sing about slitting throats, bathing in blood, and tearing off women's breasts?

La Marseillaise

Never mind the weird line about fighting an enemy who doesn't have any pants.

Faisant la guerre aux Sans-Culottes
Waging war on the unclothed (lit. without-breeches)

[flatbutt]

man would I love to send that to the troops.

[cmccuist]

The Cactus Cuties from Lubbock, TX!

[dentist90]

Those 'cuties' are VERY talented. I love the minor and dimished chords in their arrangement. And I also agree that the Star Spangled Banner is a great anthem. It is powerful and proud, tells a story. I think I like it better than ours. Hard to hit that "red glare" part for most of us, though!

[Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Al Sharpton will be complaining that there wasn't a black child there.

[Mrmerlin]

I still think this one rocks there is no musical assist its all acappella .
The gym they were in also helped acoustically,
every time i listen to it i get chills,
I would guess these girls are not professionals, just well practiced

[Targa Me]

boy, those young girls nailed it. I think some of the celebrities could take a lesson here.

[stealthn]

Originally Posted by jyl

The only problem with the song is that it is hard to sing. A lot of national anthems are within the ability of most every voice ("O Canada", for instance, could be sung by a sea turtle), the US anthem is not.

HEY!

The intent is that is can be sung while hammered!

[DanielDudley]

That was AWESOME !!!

Thanks for posting.

[cmccuist]

That's a great gimmick that they've come up with - THEY CAN SING!