SuperBowl National Anthem

[Chadtuba]

Since it hasn't been brought up yet, I'll start this year's annual anthem discussion.

Last night's rendition of the National Anthem, sung by the talented Renee Fleming was absolutely beautiful and sung with great respect, without all the stupid embellishments that so many feel is necessary. I also thoroughly enjoyed that they brought in a joint military choir for backing! That said, it was still no appropriately done. The "Star Spangled Banner" is our country's song, it is a song for the people and it should be able to be sung by the masses. This is a quote I borrowed that somebody posted on one of the FB groups I frequent; it sums this up better than anything I could ever come up with.

"Isn't the whole point of the National Anthem is that it is to be sung by the assembled masses ? Isn't the person singing/playing to be acting as a song leader?"

The SSB, was written a specific way, everybody is taught to sing it that way, so why is it so difficult for people to perform it that way? This song is difficult enough without changing it around? Please sing it as written!

What say yes TNFJ?

[The Big Ben]

I was very disappointed with the production of the National Anthem. The beauty of her voice was completely lost in the production and it was covered up by production foofoo. Me? I would have liked to hear her a cappella.

[tbn.al]

A cappella amen! One of the guys with whom I watched the game, if you can call it a game said, "What! No yodeling?" during her performance. He is decidedly non-musical but was happy she stuck to the unimbellished tune.

[UDELBR]

- C-minus-at-best arrangement

I liked all the chord substitutions and the performance, but the shifting-meter made it impossible for the SSB to do what it's supposed to do at a sporting event: let folks sing along.

[Radar]

This has been a pet peeve of mine forever. The person singing the national anthem is supposed to be a song leader, so everyone can sing along. Renee Fleming (a local girl, from the nearby town of Churchville NY) is a great singer who I have the utmost respect for her talent, did the best job with the anthem I've heard in a long time, but it still wasn't sung to make it easy for everyone in the stands to sing along.

[Chadtuba]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjR8L81yQk How it is supposed to be done!

[b.williams]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjR8L81yQk How it is supposed to be done!

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[tbn.al]

[quote="bloke"]I always thought we were supposed to hang the flag off our *** and then use it to wipe up our sweat...(??)

No, what you supposed to do is sing your *** off and never break a sweat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRuXz7fU90g" target="_blank

[Chadtuba]

I always thought we were supposed to hang the flag off our *** and then use it to wipe up our sweat...(??)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jp5pUH3knc

I think I need to go wash my ears out with some heavy duty soap after listening to the first 30-40 seconds of that, wow

[Radar]

Let me say I disagree with everyone so far except Chadtuba.
This was unacceptable to me; completely unlistenable.
What she did wrong is in her attitude.
The SSB isn't a song and the singer isn't part of the show. ( I doubt she can pass, punt, or kick)
The SSB isn't a song, but a ceremony.
It should be metronomic.
I find what she did every bit as disgusting as Cathy Lee Gifford, or any of the others.

Meanwhile on the left cost, these guys RUN on because they know they aren't the show and
They sing it straight through without a break, or even a rallentando. (Two pretty short fermatas)
They know the fans are here to see the game !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azqp5Qxxvnc" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

I certainly agree with you that the example you show is the way I would prefer to see it done. It should be done in a way that shows respect for the anthem, encourages audience participation.

My only disagreement with you is that the Super bowl isn't your average season game, a large number of viewers for this particular game (including me) haven't watched a game all year, they tune in for the Anthem, the commercials and the half time show, and really didn't care much about the game. So in Renee Fleming's defense I'm sure that she gave the performance that was expected of her buy the majority of veiwers, and the NFL and the network, and not the performance the handful or anthem purists like us, wanted to see. I do think her version was an improvement over Cathy Lee, Roseane Barr, and many others I've seen butcher it in the past.