Word about singing the National Anthem

I don't care who the Hell you are, what your level of fame as a singer is, there are some RULES about singing the National Anthem in public.

The Rules:

• The song has music which goes with it. Learn the music, which means learning the beat and the meter of the stanzas you are going to sing. Sing the music according to it's original beat and meter.
• The song is a hymn of praise to our Nation. Never forget that. The song is never about YOU, it is ALWAYS about the Nation. Respect the Nation by singing it properly and well, and YOU will be respected. This is the consequence of not singing it well. Do not have the production crew broadcast your image from weird angles, such as waist-level, focusing on your mouth as you hit high notes and hold them too long. Remember, the song is not about YOU.
• If you don't know how to sing the song, You Tube is full of fine singers, Madeline Edwards comes to mind, who have sung it properly. You Tube is also full of fine bands/orchestras who have played it properly, the USMC Band comes to mind.

Do it right or don't do it. It's not supposed to be a show-stopper, it's supposed to be a sincere gesture of respect for our Nation and it's values. If you don't feel that respect, on a daily basis, this old Veteran suggests you just keep silent. If you DO feel that respect on a daily basis, and have a decent voice, PRACTICE the National Anthem, many times, before you sing it in public. It is a technically-difficult piece to sing, and if you try to "wing" it, you will mess it up.

Comments

[Geoff]

Amen! Could not agree more...

[Doo]

One more thing, the Star Spangled Banner is a march. It is not American Idol "look what I can do with my voice!!!!"

[Jeff]

Could not agree more! It's sad that so many people go out of their way to screw it up.

[Rivrsis]

It's hard enough to sing, without the unfortunate efforts at elaborate vocal ornamentation you hear too much. Either a growling or a caterwauling.

[Ragin' Dave]

Every single pop artist who sings the Star Spangled Banner makes me want to jab icepicks into my ears. The last time I heard it properly sung on TV was when a country band sang it a cappella.

I think the entire country would be better served if you found a military band or choir to perform the National Anthem at every game on TV. There are bands from every branch of the military spread around the country. Use 'em. Call up the All American Choir from Ft. Bragg and get them on TV. Stop wasting time on no-talent hacks and washed up artists. The military music would be cheaper, better, and more appreciated as a whole.

[Justthisguy]

As an old band nerd, I think I have some authority here.

First, it is not a march, being in 3/4 time. Second, it is to be sung communally, not by some silly Emo soloist. Third, when done right, with the Fillmore, or trumpeting arrangement, it should be played at a good quick tempo. Fourth, it sounds even better with afterburners, as my high-school band did at an Orange Bowl game in 1968. (We arranged to have a couple of F-4s pass over at "the bombs bursting in air") Fifth, Rivrsis, it's not hard to sing if you know how to sing. When I was a kid, nobody had any problem with singing it.