I don’t suggest this as a new national anthem, but I’d love to hear baseball games start with the Schoolhouse Rock song where they sing the Preamble to the Constitution.
Great piece, Chris. And congrats on having one of Substack’s best selling newsletters! As a longtime anthem singer for the Mets, I concur that The Star-Spangled Banner is not an easy song to sing (especially with a 2 second delay!) In 1989, I was scheduled to sing the anthem the day after Irving Berlin passed away, and instead of singing The Star-Spangled Banner, the Mets asked me to sing God Bless America in his honor. It was pretty special.
good to see that more people are getting on board with my opinion that Country Roads (Take Me Home) should be our national- oh. well i can throw my weight behind america the beautiful; as someone who often has very intense emotional experiences with religious/patriotic music, the star spangled banner never makes me cry, but america the beautiful always works.
This article was a lot of fun to read— patriotic songs make me happy. I debated whether or not to throw my two cents into the ring about changing the anthem. IMHO, our anthem is the greatest anthem of any nation— ever.
Every time it plays before a game, my heart swells with emotion. When Olympic athletes stand their podiums and 3 anthems are played, my husband and I always marvel at how the SSB surpasses the others with its dramatic crescendo. The lyrics paint a picture of steadfastness, strength, beauty, freedom, victory, and humanity. “oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave… o’er the land of the free… and the home of the brave.” It may not be easily adapted to modern genres, or easy for people like me to sing. But in inspires to aspire. That’s what makes it great. When someone like Whitney Houston belts it out in a jaw-dropping vocal performance, or an instrumentalist like Jimi Hendrix shreds the hell out of it on stage, one cannot help but feel uplifted, transcended. Sure, the tune itself was written by an Englishman and was a popular drinking song. But Key’s lyrics and interpretation are magnificent. And it’s still played/sung at events where lots of drinking is involved. 😉
If we WERE to change anthems, I’d commission a new song. As you pointed out, the existing oldies are goodies but don’t necessarily reflect who we are as a free, secular nation that is a continuing work in progress.
I find it interesting (disheartening) that out of thirteen comments, yours was the only one that thought highly of the Star Spangled Banner. It's strange that people want to find something that's easy to sing or... reinterpret. Regarding the singing, I like that it showcases those who can sing it well. As far as reinterpretation goes, Hendrix (an others) have done admirable renditions of the song, so I find that criticism shallow, at best. And I'm in complete agreement with you that it has the ability to make one's heart soar given the nature of the music, and especially the reverence for our country it brings forth. My Dad entered the Army Air Corps in 1943 at the age of seventeen, flew over 100 missions during the Korean War before he was shot down and spent two years, as he put it: a guest of the Chinese. He started his military career flying PT-17 biplanes, finishing his career as a pilot flying supersonic jets, then retired as a squadron commander at Eglin AFB. I revere our national anthem as he, and my Mom did. Am I biased? You bet.
"It's strange that people want to find something that's easy to sing or... reinterpret" ... I was thinking about this as I wrote. Maybe it should be a badge of honor that our anthem requires significant pipes to sing well. I obviously didn't end up writing that, but I think you could make a compelling case for it. Regardless, very grateful for your father's service.
Then there was the time when Igor Stravinsky, newly emigrated to America, was in Boston and conducted his own "progressive" arrangement of the “The Star-Spangled Banner" at a BSO concert in Symphony Hall. It caused such a controversy that the police threatened to arrest him if he repeated it.
Slate had a piece a while back about how "Choctaw Bingo" by James McMurtry should be our new national anthem. I read it every year on the 4th and every year I find myself agreeing with it.
I don’t suggest this as a new national anthem, but I’d love to hear baseball games start with the Schoolhouse Rock song where they sing the Preamble to the Constitution.
Great piece, Chris. And congrats on having one of Substack’s best selling newsletters! As a longtime anthem singer for the Mets, I concur that The Star-Spangled Banner is not an easy song to sing (especially with a 2 second delay!) In 1989, I was scheduled to sing the anthem the day after Irving Berlin passed away, and instead of singing The Star-Spangled Banner, the Mets asked me to sing God Bless America in his honor. It was pretty special.
That’s incredible. I feel like you’re one of the few who can actually pull it off.
Thanks, Chris!
What a fun loving & thoughful piece at the same time - thanks Chris.
Thank you
good to see that more people are getting on board with my opinion that Country Roads (Take Me Home) should be our national- oh. well i can throw my weight behind america the beautiful; as someone who often has very intense emotional experiences with religious/patriotic music, the star spangled banner never makes me cry, but america the beautiful always works.
Country roads is a good suggestion though might be too focused on the virginias
i am from virginia and this does not bother me at all (totally fair.)
This article was a lot of fun to read— patriotic songs make me happy. I debated whether or not to throw my two cents into the ring about changing the anthem. IMHO, our anthem is the greatest anthem of any nation— ever.
Every time it plays before a game, my heart swells with emotion. When Olympic athletes stand their podiums and 3 anthems are played, my husband and I always marvel at how the SSB surpasses the others with its dramatic crescendo. The lyrics paint a picture of steadfastness, strength, beauty, freedom, victory, and humanity. “oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave… o’er the land of the free… and the home of the brave.” It may not be easily adapted to modern genres, or easy for people like me to sing. But in inspires to aspire. That’s what makes it great. When someone like Whitney Houston belts it out in a jaw-dropping vocal performance, or an instrumentalist like Jimi Hendrix shreds the hell out of it on stage, one cannot help but feel uplifted, transcended. Sure, the tune itself was written by an Englishman and was a popular drinking song. But Key’s lyrics and interpretation are magnificent. And it’s still played/sung at events where lots of drinking is involved. 😉
If we WERE to change anthems, I’d commission a new song. As you pointed out, the existing oldies are goodies but don’t necessarily reflect who we are as a free, secular nation that is a continuing work in progress.
☺️🇺🇸🎶❤️🔥
I find it interesting (disheartening) that out of thirteen comments, yours was the only one that thought highly of the Star Spangled Banner. It's strange that people want to find something that's easy to sing or... reinterpret. Regarding the singing, I like that it showcases those who can sing it well. As far as reinterpretation goes, Hendrix (an others) have done admirable renditions of the song, so I find that criticism shallow, at best. And I'm in complete agreement with you that it has the ability to make one's heart soar given the nature of the music, and especially the reverence for our country it brings forth. My Dad entered the Army Air Corps in 1943 at the age of seventeen, flew over 100 missions during the Korean War before he was shot down and spent two years, as he put it: a guest of the Chinese. He started his military career flying PT-17 biplanes, finishing his career as a pilot flying supersonic jets, then retired as a squadron commander at Eglin AFB. I revere our national anthem as he, and my Mom did. Am I biased? You bet.
"It's strange that people want to find something that's easy to sing or... reinterpret" ... I was thinking about this as I wrote. Maybe it should be a badge of honor that our anthem requires significant pipes to sing well. I obviously didn't end up writing that, but I think you could make a compelling case for it. Regardless, very grateful for your father's service.
I appreciate your response, all of it. Your article was truly an interesting thought exercise, I only hope it never comes to pass.
Regards,
The Guy with the Porsche his Dad left for him
Then there was the time when Igor Stravinsky, newly emigrated to America, was in Boston and conducted his own "progressive" arrangement of the “The Star-Spangled Banner" at a BSO concert in Symphony Hall. It caused such a controversy that the police threatened to arrest him if he repeated it.
I think it's weird how the national anthem is primarily used for sporting events.
I'm not sure the last time I've heard it played at a non-sports event.
Slate had a piece a while back about how "Choctaw Bingo" by James McMurtry should be our new national anthem. I read it every year on the 4th and every year I find myself agreeing with it.
https://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_spectator/2009/03/choctaw_bingo.html