The National Anthem: It Is What It Is

Happy Indpendence Day. We are in the patriotic time during the summer, you can't turn a corner without seeing red, white, and blue. And it is great to see that. But I do have a major complaint. "The Star-Spangled Banner", our national anthem.

Why is it the everybody wants to but their own little twist on the song? What the hell people? It is a song about a battle during the war of 1812-- the war to retain our independence. We had beat down the British wankerism just over a quarter decade before, and it was our first true test as a new nation. It tells the story of a diplomat, and his fear that he feels as he watches helplessly from the sidelines, wondering if he has set foot on his homeland for the last time. The lyrics are an emotional ode to the bravery and resilience of true heros. As long as the stars and stripes were above Fort McHenry, we were free from the tyrannical rule of the tea-totlers.

OK, so Francis Scott Key screwed up. He put his words to the tune of a drinking song. It is a very difficult song to sing, and it requires a very rangeful voice to sing. Many a person has crashed and burned while attempting to perform it, and nobody is really safe from that embarassment-- even the mighty have fallen. So, then why do these "true American stars" insist on making it harder on themselves. You should be glad you made it through unscathed, take your bow, and get the hell out of the way before you are hit with a baseball, tackled, or run over by 40 speeding rednecks.

If you dare to change the song, you might as well perform the same version as Enrico Palazzo-- you are not singing the National Anthem you are singing a completely different song, and that is disrespectful to EVERYTHING the flag stands for (please revert to my Flag Day rant for details).

The song itself is our national anthem. It is not open to interpretive dance! Sing the damn tribute the way Frankie wrote it. The words should have a significant meaning to anyone who sings it, and to those who hear it. If any of you have veterans in your households, take a look at them during the anthem-- with people cheering, and singers changing the song-- it makes those who have fought for our freedom tear up. The disrespect shown really tears at their heart strings.

The best I have ever heard the anthem sung was during the 1991 NHL All-Star Game. As our troops were marching into Baghdad for the first time, Wayne Messmer stood at center ice of the old Chicago Stadium and attempted to belt out the anthem over 17,000 flag-waiving, screaming fans. Yes, he was drowned out at times-- but under the circumstances, it was understandable. It was a true show of patriotism. They actually sell Messmer's version of the anthem, and it still brings chills to my spine to hear it. And here is the best part-- you can throw in the audio tape (I'm sure its on CD as well), go to a Cubs game, or go to a Chicago Wolves game and hear Messmer sing the same version of the song-- he never changes it, and he doesn't attempt to spoof it up. And still, everytime you hear it, you get chills. He sings it the way it was meant to be sung-- as written, with emotion.

Stop jazzing up the song. If you want to impress us, impress us with your vocal ability to find the range of the song, and with the purest sound of your voice. It is not available for re-write.