July 4, 2005
Star Spangled Banner
(To go with JK's post)
The Star Spangled Banner, one of the most difficult to sing national anthems, gets a bad rap from dirty hippies for being too militaristic.
I say "hogwash."
It's a beautiful song.
Especially if you know all four stanzas.
America, F*ck Yeah!
Posted by AlexC at July 4, 2005 9:39 AM
What a great piece -- thanks! I am a new convert to the song, and new converts are always the most fervent.
When I was young, I really did not understand the words. It is very unusual for the lyric to not make sense in single lines, you have to take a whole stanza at a time to "get it" (I think I was about 40 when I did...)
I also like the new melodic approaches you hear these days (sorry Burkeans). The guy who sings it a canella at the Avalanche games just nails it -- I cry every time.
Side note: I was a HUGE Asimov fan as a kid and I have been thinking of him lately (after reading David Deutch's "The Fabric of Reality," which all the Physics geeks at ThreeSources should drop everything and go read).
What a great piece -- thanks! I am a new convert to the song, and new converts are always the most fervent.
When I was young, I really did not understand the words. It is very unusual for the lyric to not make sense in single lines, you have to take a whole stanza at a time to "get it" (I think I was about 40 when I did...)
I also like the new melodic approaches you hear these days (sorry Burkeans). The guy who sings it a canella at the Avalanche games just nails it -- I cry every time.
Side note: I was a HUGE Asimov fan as a kid and I have been thinking of him lately (after reading David Deutch's "The Fabric of Reality," which all the Physics geeks at ThreeSources should drop everything and go read).
Posted by: jk at July 4, 2005 11:15 AMThanks for the link AlexC. I'll read it aloud at our family celebration tonight - freemen all.
Posted by: johngalt at July 4, 2005 2:17 PMHere's a tip to maximize your Anthem experience.
You all know the words, and no one cares to hear you sing it anyway.
Focus on the singer.
If they're good, and really into it (not like fat-ass Roseanne), you can feel the emotions.
*MUCH* better.
JK's on to it... just listen, enjoy and weep in thanks.
Posted by: AlexC at July 4, 2005 11:52 PM | What do you think? [3]