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)