[Emland]

Hello Gang,

I watched my first Superbowl on Sunday (to appease my boss, a former Pittsburgh resident and avid fan) and enjoyed the pregame entertainment of Faith Hill with "God Bless America" and the various other awards.

Once I heard Jennifer Hudson was singing the US National Anthem I was relieved. I knew this woman could sing and wouldn't do a Roseanne thing. What struck me odd was that the "Star Spangled Banner" suddenly became a gospel/bluesy tune.

I guess I was in marching band for too long. It just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think our National Anthem is a song left to interpretation. I don't even like the tempo to messed with. She sang beautifully and hit the notes, it just didn't seem right.

Since we have such a varied crowd here I was interested in knowing. Are your National Anthems sung as written or are they also subject to personal interpretation?

Just curious.

~Em

[TexasParent]

Youtube the version Whitney Houston did for the Superbowl a number of years ago.

There has never been a better rendition sung in my and many others opinion it was very moving.

So I am for artistic interpretations of the song.

----------------

Some Canadian's have tried to create a more moving rendition of the Canadian Anthem, but in my opinion
Have fell short, but I like hearing different versions. So keep them coming.

[templelane]

Brian May from Queen did a great God Save the Queen, which is quiet an achievement as the anthem is an embarrassing dirge.
YouTube - Brian May God Save the Queen - Buckingham Palace 2002

EDIT

On a political note I particularly hate our national anthem as it refers to two things I find a waste of time god and the monarchy. C'mon people lets try and use something more inclusive and inspiring.

[Skell]

Good post. I was actually thinking this myself watching the Superbowl footage. Every time I hear your anthem it is sung differently and I don't like that. I detest when artists bring their own interpretations of our anthem.

My link below shows the best and worst in my opinion. It was at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics. The first verse was sung by a pop group. Not bad but not great. The second verse (and then the first verse again) was sung by a lady who sings it right and the best. When she sings it, it makes my hair stand on end.

YouTube - Sydney 2000 OC - "Advance Australia Fair" (National Anthem)

[speechlesstx]

Being an American and a musician, artistic expression is a must. Of course one should be prepared for the backlash of not treating certain songs well... as Rosanne's version demonstrated. I thought Hudson did a fabulous job.

[Stringer]

Actually Hudson pre-recorded the Anthem herself and it was played over the speaker system during her performance. To me, her version was one of the closest to the original than I have heard over the years at the Super Bowl. I think that she did a great job of it.

[tomder55]

I'm old school on this issue. I don't recall the anthem of other countries being done that way (except Queen's version of 'God Save the Queen').

I prefer hearing it the way the Marine Corp band plays it or the way Robert Merrill sang it .

[jjwoodhull]

I thought Jennifer Hudson's version was beautiful, second only to Whitney Houston's 1991 version.

[Skell]

For the record I agree that I thought hers was one of the best I've heard. It was great. Some of the others I've heard though in my time are shameful.

[N0help4u]

Personally I am even fine with Jimi Hendrix rendition. I love artistic interpretations, renditions, etc... when it comes to music as long as the lyrics are not rude, crude or lude.

[inthebox]

She sang well, but the traditional way it is sung captures the circumstance in which the song was originally writtien.






G&P

[speechlesstx]

Nothing wrong with old school on this, it's quite grand and stately. Out of curiousity however, I took a look at the original score and noticied a few minor differences between it and the "old school," so it seems someone took license with it long before us. There is one thing that annoys me though and Hudson did it also, it is not the "per-O-lous fight." It sounds goofy.

But this is your chance to sing it right, the Smithsonian is launching "a national anthem singing contest on YouTube." Get those pipes warmed up.

[excon]

Hello Em:

The first time I heard a different rendition of the National Anthem, I didn't like it. But, music is art, and if you want an artist to sing it, you should expect some art.

Copying ISN'T art.

excon

[NeedKarma]

Jennifer Hudson lip synched the song to a recording.

[tomder55]

Then of course there was some artistic license taken by Key in composing it since it was sung to the tune of a British pub song.

[speechlesstx]

Good point, tom. Here is my favorite rendition of the anthem - by Sandi Patty.

[Stringer]

Wow, Speech you're right, she did a great job... I like this one.

[jjwoodhull]

Jennifer Hudson lip synched the song to a recording.

Of course she did. So did Faith Hill. And so do most who sing on those types of stages. The accoustics there are awful. There is also a sound delay on the stadium speakers .

Did you hear Bruce Springsteen? He sang live with his own sound equipment - he was screeming to get his voice heard. I've seen him in concert several times and he sounds a million times better than that.

[excon]

Hello again,

I'm a Jennifer Hudson fan. I love that she came from NOTHING - won American Idol, AND an Academy Award!!

Then her family was destroyed, and this was her FIRST appearance after that sad event. She could have sung it to the tune of Yankee Doodle, and I would have STILL loved it.

excon

[Emland]

Jennifer didn't win American Idol, but she has gone farther than any who have.