Best performance of the Star Spangled Banner

dar512 · 04-29-2008, 07:21 PM

Mrs. Dar just turned the radio on to listen to the Cubs game at the moment the anthem started. It was pretty uninspiring.

It's a very difficult song to sing well - an octave and a half range and they usually play it in Ab or Bb which shoves it even higher. I don't think I've seen any single person handle it well without screeching.

Groups have an easier time of it. The range isn't such an issue then. I think the best job I've ever heard was a four-part mens group (probably the Statler Brothers, but I don't remember for sure).

Have you ever heard it done really well?

SteveDallas · 04-29-2008, 08:08 PM

What I hate is when they start improvising, adding notes, etc. Maybe I'm just too sensitive.

The best I ever heard was at a Knicks playoff game (on TV, not live). Several men from the Broadway revival of 1776 came and sang it, and they just kicked ass. (Is it possible they're the ones you're thinking of?)

dar512 · 04-30-2008, 09:08 AM

I'm not sure, Steve. I've never seen the Knicks, but that doesn't mean I didn't see these guys elsewhere.

I agree with you on the vocal decorations, but I think it depends on whether I think the singer is emoting or just showing off. I kind of liked the instrumental version Hendrix did on the Woodstock album. Lots of decoration in there, but it didn't bother me.

Undertoad · 04-30-2008, 09:22 AM

The best ever performance of the S-S B remains Whitney Houston, 1991, Super Bowl 25.

If she can ever return to a fraction of what she was back then...

SteveDallas · 04-30-2008, 10:09 AM

See, it was very powerful, but I can't get past the fact that they changed it to be in 4 beats/measure rather than 3.

Shawnee123 · 04-30-2008, 10:20 AM

I agree SteveD (not about the Whitney one cause I haven't watched it) but once, just once, I would like to hear it sung "straight" meaning not going up and down the scales every other note. A little too much warbling if you ask me. And they all do it, so that it isn't really "their" version. Yawn. I'd like to hear it once, with a beautiful voice, sung in that clear as a bell sound that will stay on the notes.

smoothmoniker · 04-30-2008, 12:12 PM

Whitney ... wow, that girl has pipes.

Sundae · 04-30-2008, 01:47 PM

Yup, too much warbling. It would bother me if someone did that with our anthem. Actually I'd laugh myself the sick if someone did a Whitney/ Mariah style version of God Save the Queen!

Don't you ever have opera singers do it? We have some wonderful home grown talent at our big events (Kathryn Jenkins is a current fave). Don't let them loose on foreign anthems though.

From the BBC:

Quote:

Tony Henry belted out a version of the Croat anthem before the 80,000 crowd, but made a blunder at the end.

He should have sung 'Mila kuda si planina' (which roughly means 'You know my dear how we love your mountains').

But he instead sang 'Mila kura si planina' which can be interpreted as 'My dear, my penis is a mountain'.

Ibby · 04-30-2008, 05:50 PM

Best Star-Spangled Banner: Hendrix.
Best God Save The Queen: May

Winner: MAY

Cloud · 04-30-2008, 10:05 PM

I remember the Whitney one (in fact I was going to comment on it), and I agree, one of the best. Pop stars, if they have the voice for it, and if they don't "embellish" too much, can give good SSB.

The test is the goosebumps.

glatt · 05-01-2008, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

If she can ever return to a fraction of what she was back then...

It was kind of sad to watch that. She had such promise.

Shawnee123 · 05-01-2008, 01:40 PM

No arguments about how awesome Whitney was! I have a videotape of the old SNL Music-a-go-go (1993, hosted by Wayne and Garth) of musical bits throughout the years of SNL. There were a few full-lenth ones in between the snippets, and Whitney singing "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was so incredibly good it's almost unreal. I kept trying to look for mistakes, like she was lip-synching, because it was so good. My ex, the musician, assured me it was live. Wow. Just wow!

Urbane Guerrilla · 05-02-2008, 11:02 AM

Last night we opened our concert of Bruckner's Te Deum and Beethoven's Ninth with a unison rendering of The Star-Spangled Banner. Both the chorale and the audience delivered it with verve. Of course, we just kept with the fundamentals, no stunt vocalizations. Got everyone, in every corner of the auditorium, fired up.

Cloud · 05-02-2008, 12:01 PM

"I will always love you" by Whitney (soundtrack of the bodyguard) is soooo goosebumpy-- it will live forever. Possibly even longer than the SSB!

Bonus points for whoever knows who wrote that song!*

*Dolly Parton

Clodfobble · 05-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Ooh! I got bonus points!!

I absolutely loved that musical.* Even today, I'm pretty sure I could still sing all the words to every song.

*The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

04-29-2008, 07:21 PM	#1
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Best performance of the Star Spangled Banner Mrs. Dar just turned the radio on to listen to the Cubs game at the moment the anthem started. It was pretty uninspiring. It's a very difficult song to sing well - an octave and a half range and they usually play it in Ab or Bb which shoves it even higher. I don't think I've seen any single person handle it well without screeching. Groups have an easier time of it. The range isn't such an issue then. I think the best job I've ever heard was a four-part mens group (probably the Statler Brothers, but I don't remember for sure). Have you ever heard it done really well? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

04-30-2008, 09:08 AM	#3
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	I'm not sure, Steve. I've never seen the Knicks, but that doesn't mean I didn't see these guys elsewhere. I agree with you on the vocal decorations, but I think it depends on whether I think the singer is emoting or just showing off. I kind of liked the instrumental version Hendrix did on the Woodstock album. Lots of decoration in there, but it didn't bother me. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

04-30-2008, 10:20 AM	#6
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I agree SteveD (not about the Whitney one cause I haven't watched it) but once, just once, I would like to hear it sung "straight" meaning not going up and down the scales every other note. A little too much warbling if you ask me. And they all do it, so that it isn't really "their" version. Yawn. I'd like to hear it once, with a beautiful voice, sung in that clear as a bell sound that will stay on the notes. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-30-2008, 12:12 PM	#7
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	Whitney ... wow, that girl has pipes. __________________ to live and die in LA

04-30-2008, 05:50 PM	#9
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Best Star-Spangled Banner: Hendrix. Best God Save The Queen: May Winner: MAY __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

04-29-2008, 08:08 PM	#2
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	What I hate is when they start improvising, adding notes, etc. Maybe I'm just too sensitive. The best I ever heard was at a Knicks playoff game (on TV, not live). Several men from the Broadway revival of 1776 came and sang it, and they just kicked ass. (Is it possible they're the ones you're thinking of?)

04-30-2008, 09:22 AM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The best ever performance of the S-S B remains Whitney Houston, 1991, Super Bowl 25. If she can ever return to a fraction of what she was back then...

04-30-2008, 10:09 AM	#5
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	See, it was very powerful, but I can't get past the fact that they changed it to be in 4 beats/measure rather than 3.

04-30-2008, 10:05 PM	#10
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	I remember the Whitney one (in fact I was going to comment on it), and I agree, one of the best. Pop stars, if they have the voice for it, and if they don't "embellish" too much, can give good SSB. The test is the goosebumps. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

05-01-2008, 01:40 PM	#12
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	No arguments about how awesome Whitney was! I have a videotape of the old SNL Music-a-go-go (1993, hosted by Wayne and Garth) of musical bits throughout the years of SNL. There were a few full-lenth ones in between the snippets, and Whitney singing "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was so incredibly good it's almost unreal. I kept trying to look for mistakes, like she was lip-synching, because it was so good. My ex, the musician, assured me it was live. Wow. Just wow! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

05-02-2008, 11:02 AM	#13
Urbane Guerrilla Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,674	Last night we opened our concert of Bruckner's Te Deum and Beethoven's Ninth with a unison rendering of The Star-Spangled Banner. Both the chorale and the audience delivered it with verve. Of course, we just kept with the fundamentals, no stunt vocalizations. Got everyone, in every corner of the auditorium, fired up. __________________ Wanna stop school shootings? End Gun-Free Zones, of course.

05-02-2008, 12:01 PM	#14
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	"I will always love you" by Whitney (soundtrack of the bodyguard) is soooo goosebumpy-- it will live forever. Possibly even longer than the SSB! Bonus points for whoever knows who wrote that song!* Dolly Parton __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"*

05-02-2008, 04:45 PM	#15
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Ooh! I got bonus points!! I absolutely loved that musical.* Even today, I'm pretty sure I could still sing all the words to every song. *The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

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