Christina Aguilera has become the latest star to apparently blow the national anthem. In her case, she left out the “O’er the ramparts we watched” — a critical and noticeable line. However, the real question is why we have a national anthem that only a castrato with a photographic memory can sing.
I do not wish to insult anyone, but our national anthem is pretty lame. It lacks the power of the “La Marseillaise” and the accessibility of “Oh Canada.” Just look at the words and think how few Americans can actually recite let alone sing this song:
O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?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 Battle Hymn of the Republic,” anyone? I must say that I have long had a particular fondness for O Canada (as well as the Canadian flag). While it is a bit too late to take over that country to take either item, we might consider finding a song that a citizen can sing.
Source:Huffington Post
“Somewhere, sometime in the distant past, someone got the idea that if you slowed the song down (or any song, for that matter) and put lots of warbling and sliding notes, it would naturally be better. Crap. I haven’t heard the national anthem sung worth a tinker’s dam in years.” (T. Hunt)
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I wholeheartedly agree!
If one adds bagpipes, trumpets, and drums to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” the congregation walks out of church fully prepared to kill anything and anyone.
Does anyone remember the O Canada scene from West Wing … hilarious
No one…I mean no one can do to the National song what Roseann Barr did to it…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls1YVhcLD2c&w=480&h=390]
Can ya scratch it again…just one more time…..
Mike S.,
Great memory!
Thanks for sharing it.
When in hell will I ever learn to proofread?
My apologies YT Righty. If I realized how sensitive you are I would have suggested Phil Ochs’ Power and Glory.
Raff,
I have also heard Arlo sing it at a consert for the cousteau Society in 1978. Singing it with him were Pete Seeger, John Denver and don McLean. Great concert and since I was there providing security and I got to stand right below the stage to hear it all up close. At the break I got to hang out with them in a room backstage. Besides being great performers they were wonderful people personally and very nice to me. sorry for the diversion but this is one of my fondest memories of the time I was still a hippie.
Was Christina Aguilera’s National Anthem error forgivable?
O No. If you’re supposed to sing the National Anthem, then sing it correctly.
O Yes. She made an understandable mistake. You are beautiful, no matter what they say, Christina!
O I was too distracted by Lea Michele’s version of “America the Beautiful” to pay much attention.
O Who cares? And, in a related question, does anyone know what a rampart is?
view results: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2011/02/christina_aguilera_botches_nat.html
Elaine and Mike S.,
Great discussion on Woody Guthrie’s classic. I saw his son, Arlo sing it last Fall and it was great to hear it again. Besides, I wouldn’t mind a few right wing heads exploding over the lyrics!
Elaine-
I just sang along with your “O Canada!” video. At the end I shouted, “Let’s Play Hockey!” I just couldn’t help myself.
Mike S.,
In the squares of the city – In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office – I see my people
And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’
If this land’s still made for you and me.
I’d say those words are definitely relevant to what’s happening in this country today.
“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.”
Elaine,
you are so right, but I’ve always loved the song and its’ melody.
Andy,
I agree with you:
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
words and music by Woody Guthrie
Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me
As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
I’ve roamed and rambled and I’ve followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me
Chorus
As I was walkin’ – I saw a sign there
And that sign said – no tress passin’
But on the other side …. it didn’t say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!
Chorus
In the squares of the city – In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office – I see my people
And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’
If this land’s still made for you and me.
Chorus (2x)
©1956 (renewed 1984), 1958 (renewed 1986) and 1970 TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (
BMI)
If this song doesn’t encompass the essence of america, nothing else does. Also nobody better than Springstein or Dylan to sing it.
Well, first off, the tune that Francis Scott Key chose for the words he wrote was a brawling barroom song and the tempo was very upbeat and it moved along quickly. So the national anthem is supposed to be a vigorous song, sung with gusto.
Somewhere, sometime in the distant past, someone got the idea that if you slowed the song down (or any song, for that matter) and put lots of warbling and sliding notes, it would naturally be better. Crap. I haven’t heard the national anthem sung worth a tinker’s dam in years.
It’s a happy, upbeat song. It’s a proud song. It’s a song for a nation that’s worked hard, accomplished much and is now having a well deserved beer at the end of the day. Sing it that way.
T. Hunt
IMO, The Battle Hymn of the Republic is too religious a song for a national anthem.
Lyrics:
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on.”
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
I also like the Battle Hymn of the Republic but think that it’s too associated with the north in the civil war so would be rejected by southerners. Wonderful lyrics.
The SSB spans an octave and a half. The tune is based on an English drinking song, To Anacreon in Heaven and the lyrics are way too miltaristic for my tastes.
I vote for “America the Beautiful” which most people can actually sing.
According to wikipedia, the SSB was recognized as the national anthem only in 1938, so why not do away with it? Even Woody Guthrie’s song is better, though the right wingers would freak if our national anthem was written by an avowed lefty.
haha she blew itttt!!! but she looked hot
those high notes???……..TRY!!!!!!!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dROtmQVYcQg&w=480&h=390]