We Need a New National Anthem
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Should the National Anthem be replaced? And if you think the National Anthem should be replaced, what song would you choose? (Use comment area below)
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168 total votes.
Sure, Christina Aguilera butchered the national anthem at the Super Bowl. But the problem isn't just with Christina Aguilera. It's also with the national anthem.
Somehow, we got stuck with the wrong song.
Our present anthem has always grated on my ears, musically speaking. But before you start unleashing all those letters and Web comments calling me some kind of un-American pinko, please hear me out.
We're not talking about sacred Scripture here. The words to the "The Star-Spangled Banner" (referred to hereafter as TSSB) are a none-too-inspiring bit of doggerel penned by a minor poet, Francis Scott Key, about a relatively obscure military confrontation (the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British) that took place in one of our lesser-known conflicts, the War of 1812.
Next, somebody set the poem to music, choosing a British drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," originally written for a men's social club in, of all places, London. The melody is anything but beautiful. And, because it spans an octave and a half, hardly anyone short of a trained opera performer can sing the dang thing at all well - even if he or she isn't caterwauling it as grotesquely as Ms. Aguilera was on Sunday.
Lest you think I'm tampering with some ancient tradition that goes back to the Founding Fathers or the Constitution or something, be aware that TSSB wasn't officially adopted as our national anthem until 1931, under the administration of Herbert Hoover. Before that, a number of other songs bounced around auditioning for the part before the wrong one landed it.
Which brings me to the point of this column: If TSSB shouldn't be our national theme song, then what should?
Certainly not "America" (the one that starts, "My country, 'tis of thee"), which is, of all things, set to the tune of "God Save the Queen." Nor should we go with "God Bless America," a nice but rather shallow little show tune written by Irving Berlin in 1918, revised by him in 1938, and run into the ground by Kate Smith.
No, my unhesitating nominee for the national anthem for the United States is (ta-da): "America the Beautiful."
O beautiful! For spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
I confess that, every time I hear those lovely, soaring words, I have trouble keeping these old eyes from brimming with tears.
Katharine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics as a poem in the 1890s, I'm told, after being inspired by the view from Pike's Peak in Colorado. Later, her impassioned verse was set to a composition by organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward, who had originally written it as a setting for a 17th century hymn, "O Mother, Dear Jerusalem." The combined product was first published in 1910 under the name "America the Beautiful" (hereafter called ATB).
I don't want to throw off on TSSB, which has tradition behind it and is not without its strengths. It's just that ATB so much better captures the physical beauty of our land and the overarching patriotic spirit that is supposed to unite its citizens. It suggests majestic vistas instead of smoky English taverns or bombs blowing up over Baltimore.
Besides the aforementioned octave span, there are other technical and artistic problems with TSSB. In some places, the words and tune don't jibe well, putting accents on wrong syllables. The clunkiness of the phrase "and preserved us a nation" comes to mind. By contrast, the lyrics and melody of ATB just go rolling along in majestic cadence, with the rhythm of the syllables in "America," two long beats and two short ones, echoing movingly in other words or phrases.
Most of all, ATB is just so sublimely American. It sprang spontaneously and proudly from our soil, as opposed to being transplanted awkwardly into it. Therefore, it sounds more natural springing from our lips. And, I imagine, even from Christina Aguilera's.
We'll never replace our national anthem, I suppose. But some of us will never be satisfied until the day comes when the stanza that crowds sing at baseball games across the nation, just before the umpire yells "Play ball," goes like this:
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
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Comments
teufelhunden 2 years, 3 months ago
When Whitney Houston sang the National Anthem tears were rolling down my face. She made it about the song, honoring our nation & troops-not about her. She has a beautiful voice and seemed very humble when she sang it-she knew it was important to nail it and to honor others. I was serving at the time and all over the NAS you could hear it being played. For weeks and weeks that was blaring from car stereos, not some trashy, violent, disrespectful rap song.
RD28327 2 years, 3 months ago
I see nothing wrong with the National Anthem. My issue is with kids who try to sing it and can't. Too many of them think they ought to be on Glee or become the next American Idol!
nothingspecial 2 years, 3 months ago
Sure agree that the yodelling or whatever it is called be outlawed when singing the National Anthem.
coffecreme 2 years, 3 months ago
America the Beautiful is not original It is also the anthem for God Save The Queen
coffecreme 2 years, 3 months ago
Acid got it mixed up with My Country Tis of Thee
PBinNC 2 years, 3 months ago
It may be hard to sing, and some don't much care for the lyrics, but the story of why it was written is interesting. Saw a video of a retired marine who stood in a group of people who seemed to be on a picnic and sang the entire anthem, every stanza. The people stood, hands over hearts, for the entire thing. He sang from his heart and you could understand every word. I never cared if he was a little off key or not, but don't think he was. They just need to stop having celebrities sing who imitate whatever popular genre of music they perform when performing the national anthem. Let a military man or group of men do it...they sure won't yodel!
America the Beautiful is lovely, words so descriptive of the country, but somehow the music just doesn't sound like an "anthem" to me.
Darkwing 2 years, 3 months ago
I disagree. The Star-Spangled Banner is inspirational and speaks to our higher ideals. I sometimes cry when I hear it performed well, and my heart always swells when I hear it - which is every morning at Colors. Don't change it. Maybe we can make America, the Beautiful a secondary anthem, much like Hail to the Chief.
teufelhunden 2 years, 3 months ago
Do not suggest "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" or whatever it's called - please!!!
nothingspecial 2 years, 3 months ago
This is rude and obnoxious of me, but a funnier question might be, "What do Conservatives think a new Liberal National Anthem should be?" and "What do Liberals think a new Conservative National Anthem should be?" (Don't you hate it how some old men turn everything into a political discussion?).
My vote for the new liberal one would be a variation of John Denver's, "I'm Sorry"
JER 2 years, 3 months ago
The conservative national anthem, without question, should be Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)". My preference would be Edwin Starr's "War".
moonchild7 2 years, 3 months ago
"This Land is your Land, This Land is my Land"- Woody Guthrie
HillTopper 2 years, 3 months ago
You ever listened to a bunch of 3rd graders sing TSSB? That's worth keeping it for that one reason. NOBODY KNOWS THE WORDS! But it's from the heart ... Now the Lee Greenwood song "Proud to Be An American" would be a nice 2nd choice ...
wrich49 2 years, 3 months ago
I like TSSB very much and think it should remain the national anthem. Christina Aguilera wasn't terrible at singing it, but maybe she was a little nervous and made a mistake with the words. I have noticed that country music artists sing it very well and don't mess with the arrangement too much. They seem to be able to pull it off better than pop singers.
pinewoodnc 2 years, 3 months ago
I agree, HillTopper. I love the Greenwood song "Proud to Be An American." It brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. It has a beautiful melody and words.
teufelhunden 2 years, 3 months ago
Greenwood's song gives me chills-love it! How about that playing full blast with the Blue Angels flying over...now that...well, no dry eyes.
HillTopper 2 years, 3 months ago
I'm the world's worst at remembering names of songs. It's "God Bless The USA". Suck at lyrics too. Never forget a melody, though.
nothingspecial 2 years, 3 months ago
Gabanga, good points made.
teufelhunden 2 years, 3 months ago
Gabanga-yeah really. I thought we are all Americans.
packabrew 2 years, 3 months ago
A well written article, but simply here is the deal, history is for us to learn from and to never forget. The time and place for the inspiration of the National Anthem might not meet some peoples excitement level, but the fact is this country was formed by our forefathers who had fight for what we have now. They did this in many battles where many Americas have lost their life. (this was just an early representation) I feel that this is what should ALWAYS to be remembered when it is sang. I also think most people that can read, can sing it, it’s not that hard.