Just now heard the most tortured version of our nations anthem as “performed” by Patti Labelle at the opening of game 4 of the World Series. There should be a law…
I really do not think there are “versions” to be interpreted as one deems necessary. Not only did she drag it out waaaay to long, her version was TERRIBLE.
Mark
What was that you said, oh wait, let take my ear plugs out. Yeah, that was a definite enthusiastic version of the anthem. 
Mark,
I wasn’t watching it, thank God! I go BONKERS when I hear our National Anthem “styleized” by so called entertainers.
Sing it the way it was written!!!
[SIZE=2]Mikey[/SIZE]
Those who choose to improve our National Anthem by personal stylization set their own value above that of the treasure. It is what it is; anything else is not.
the biggest round of applause for the Anthem all summer at Nationals Park was for a boy (of less than 12 years) who had a remarkable voice–and sang the song as if he meant it, not as if it were all about him. what a treat!
attending as many games as i do, i find that the best singers are the military folk from the various choruses that our services support, young people singly or in groups. and opera stars who seem not to bother to “interpret” the music and who just sing it really, really well.
the worst are rock stars, new and established. they seem to have to prove they can sing, and frequently they can’t! what truly amazes me is how many of the folk around me simply cannot hear the problem…
What, you never heard Roseann Barr’s version of it? Ack.
However, in defense of singers all over the country, our national anthem is HARD to sing well. Very very few people can carry that tune. You try it sometime, tape yourself, and then listen to it.
“You might be a redneck if you think the last four words of the Star Spangled Banner are… ‘Gentlemen, start your engines!’”
I agree with DG, Rosanne Barr, set the bar.
Doug
I don’t like listening to “artists” who have to scale to make a song interesting, and I certainly don’t want to hear that in our country’s Anthem.
To hear that song sung well, will set your heart on fire. “Stylized”, it just makes me want to cry.
Kirk
Here is a story some of you may have read before. It’s worth sharing again.
http://www.52best.com/star.asp
Jim
Sorry about the content: War, Politics, Religion and Flaming. It’s all in the song.
I’m with everyone on LaBelle’s ‘rendition’ of the National Anthem…but, am I the only one who cried when that soldier sang God Bless America? Amazing voice.
Buddy
The blame goes to those who select the singers(?), who know full well what sort of performance they will give. Political correctness at its finest. Gag!
If there’s anything good that comes from these stylized and poor performances, it’s that they really make the traditional singers look even better. If the teams had any backbone, they would do the RIGHT thing instead of the PC thing in their selection process. Yet another reason I don’t care for professional (?) sports. Primadonnas.
Joe
Buddy: I thought the army sergeant did a great job. But then again I might be a little bit biased.
Tim (US Army Retired)
last night’s rendition of God Bless America–that’s what I mean about the military singers. they nail it every time because their heads and hearts are in the right place. yep–shivers up the spine!
Here are two of my favorites so please turn on your audio. The first one is from the Stanley Cup Finals in Pittsburgh during the 1991-1992 season. The singer is an 11 year old girl, now very famous, from Wexford, Pennsylvania:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leTzT3v_mls
The second is one of my very favorites but then being a Veteran I am biased towards them. If you have never heard the outstanding choirs of our military academies or the U.S. Army Herald Trumpet Corps you are in for a treat:
This is still one of my favorites:
The soldier did an AWESOME job!!
Tried to pull up her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner(at the World Series). Didn’t find it but apparently she has mangled it already at NBA games and tennis tournaments. Someone should have known better already!
On the ESPN TV show “Around The Horn”, one person has a minute for final comments and today 10-27-08, Bob Ryan (Boston Globe), blasted Patty Labelle for her “screeching” version of the National Anthem.
Doug
Joe, are you suggesting that hiring a singer who is most famous for a song about a prostitute, to sing our national anthem, is in questionable taste? 
Ed
It was wretched. Glad I missed it…
Isn’t anything sacred anymore? :mad: