http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A

People, that is “We the People” of the United States of America, frequently don’t know all the words. Even people who do know the words are often content to mouth them while they give over the “performance” to a professional of some kind.

As evidence, though the Dixie Chick’s performance began with an invitation to “sing along”, crickets could have been heard from the crowd (audience?). I know this may have been a preference of the sound recorder, but I noticed that most of the video showed people not even mouthing the text.

It is a bit populist/revolutionary to suggest that people should actually sing along, but imagine the results. If The Star-Spangled Banner were put back into the hands/hearts/voices of the people, what else might we be inspired to take into our own hands. Not to do so is an Orwellian recipe for disaster.

Also of note, if we are to put our national anthem into the hands of the people, we need an anthem that can be sung any time and any place. I would argue that The Star-Spangled Banner is ideal for this. Though early morning is not an idea time to sing the range of a 12th that the melody requires, it has many redeeming qualities. The melody, while a “bar” song was not your average, rowdy bar tune. The melody when sung in phrases, rather than note-by-note, is rather delightful. (Quality, properly supported public school music programs could easily solve this problem.) Unlike My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, based on the British national anthem. Unlike America the Beautiful and many other suggestions, the melody carries itself without accompanying instruments, which would limit the ease of use.

I submit that for these reasons the knowledge and public singing of The Star-Spangled Banner should be promoted as strongly as possible. Nothing can unite and inspire reflection on the positives of our great land like joining together in song.

The problem with the national anthem is more that people don’t know how to sing it. They either try the Whitney Huston scream with reverb on each note (Way-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve-ve) or they just don’t get the medly right at all.

I much prefer the anthem when all four verses (or at least the fourth, the most symolic of the verses is included.

Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,
And this be our motto–”In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I like bombastic. I always think of the Olympics when I think of our anthem – would you want to be standing on the podium to anything other than that? I love listening to the other countries’ anthems, but none quite compare to ours. It fits our country’s personality perfectly.

I also love hear Kate Smith belt out God Bless America when she’d sing it at the Spectrum. It was very brassy and just filled you with pride. Here’s a semi-decent version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gktXAlOGc6c
I’ll warn you the singing doesn’t start for about the first minute and a quarter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7c2lC9JlJo&feature=fvw

To be honest, I’m not really sure we’re even really that free, nor that freedom is the ultimate virtue that delivers the most benefit to people.

I still like my country, it’s a pretty good country, but there are a lot of other good countries, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccNwFeGU78Q

And what about “My Country, Tis of Thee”? Also a wonderful anthem, if a bit on the religious side. Here is a great video from The Air Force Band “Top Cover” with their version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDsVAL7DJ8g

Hope all have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Yeah, but I’ve shared a lot of it already in the past! Eventually I’ll have to move to re-runs, but I wanted to go one more year without doing them.

Awwww! The Cactus Cuties are from here in Lubbock. Way to represent!

Can’t you just visualize the pint of brew on the upswing: “Oh. say can you SEE, by the dawn’s early LIGHT…”

Happy 4th!