QUIT butchering our National Anthem
 

What does everyone thing of the person, I WILL NOT call her a lady, that I feel totally butchered our National Anthem before the Indianapolis 500 on national tv on Memorial Day weekend? If you can't sing it the way it was written many years ago, ESPECIALLY on a National Holiday honoring the fallen veterans of the US, then don't sing it, let someone that knows it do it. IRL, NASCAR, weekly tracks, ALL event organizers of any kind of event, lets at least keep our National Anthem intact as it originated. We've lost too much of the American Heritage now so lets not lose this also.

What do the rest of you think about this? As we know many of the sanctioning bodies, track promoters, etc read this board so all of you that agree with this please let them know we expect proper respect for our country and veterans.

This is a little rant I've had for years, even before the Rosanne Barr ordeal. Get the old song books out and read and sing the music like we used to learn how to do in grade school. :doh:

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TJTT....And I also agree!!.....Enough very well said!!.......Brucer'

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I am in total agreement!!!!!!!!!!!

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I Totally Agree

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same here...these clebrities aren't exactly making a name for themselves by singing at one of these races, so stop trying to show off!!!

MJ

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I thought she sang it well and with passion. She wasn't pitchy and she didn't sing it using the entire scale.

Personally, I am glad that people sing it using different styles and influences. That is the true spirit of America. In many other countries when their anthem is performed; it is used as basically a military call to arms and for political control. Basically letting whatever regime that is in charge bask in their dominance and reign.

Here in America, we are allowed to sing it in any style that we choose. That is truely what we have fought for. The right to do and see things differently from each other without being punished for our differences. That is what makes me proud to be an American.

Of course, what goes along with it is the right to not like something and express the reasons why you didn't like it.

As far as the "Lady" goes. None of us here know anything about her, so how can we judge. To my knowledge, she is a young girl who is very accomplished at her disciplines and has never once used her success as an excuse for unruley behavior.

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:applaud: Tom.
It ticks me off quite a bit. Have a little compassion, at least on this weekend of all.
Oh, and I'm pretty sure that I don't fight for my country so that people can butcher my National Anthem.

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MURRY,
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING :applaud: :applaud:

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The National Anthem should be treated as our nation's flag, with respect. The singer should never 'grandstand" the song.

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I did not like her rendition, but I many times get the feeling that they improvise a little to time the flyover? Any opinion from someone musically inclinded?

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so how is it "supposed" to be sung? i didnt know that there was a guideline on how to sing it, what pitch and tone, and how long it is supposed to be. i thought she did well....what was the problem with it??????? maybe i missed something....i mean it was no aerosmith, PUKE! i thought that was in poor taste........

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Couldn't agree more Tom, I put this in the same category of those that don't remove their hats when the anthem is being played.:thumbsdown:

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Tom,

I am in total agreement. If they want to "showboat" their style, do it on something other than this nations National Anthem. It is getting so bad, that many times you barely recognize it. As a high school & college athletic official, I have had the opportunity to hear it sung by many students who can do a much better job than these so called "entertainers".

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I prefer for the military to perform it, otherwise I prefer Memorex.

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At least it wasn't sung in Espanol which is the way it will be sung in about five freakin years at the rate we are going! :headbang

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Murry, I do thank you for fighting for our rights and freedoms. Without people who have done so, we wouldn't still be Americans.

That said, it's OUR National Anthem. All of us. There were plenty of men standing in the audience Sunday with tears in their eyes who also fought for that same National Anthem. It didn't matter to them who sang it and how it was sung.

The point isn't how the song is sung, it's that we are allowed to sing it: Anytime, anyplace and by anyone that wants to do so. I enjoy it if three year olds sing it and if the military band plays it. I even enjoyed it when Tyler from Aerosmith sang it.

I didn't even mind it in the Seventies when the Record would skip or when the eight track would change in the middle.(True Stories. If you never had an eight track, then you wouldn't understand.)

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If you think the NA was bad at Indy, you should have been at Anderson Sat. night.

Not only could this girl not sing, she did'nt even know the words.

RE: For instead of oer, just an example.

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I've posted this link previously, so you can bypass if you've heard it enough. But, I still like the way these young ladies (Cactus Cuties) handled our National Anthem.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284

Gives this old Navy man goose bumps. That said, I usually don't mind a little artistic expression by the artist. The Jose Feliciano and Steve Tyler versions were a bit over the top, even for me, however. :wink

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I think that is the best I have heard! Huey Lewis and the News also do a good one.

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Bring in Jimi Hendrix or Carl Lewis...they have mastered it

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Those who talk on their cell phones while the Anthem is being played deserve the same censure.

And don't even get me started on the jerks who won't shut up during racetrack prayers. I don't care if you're an atheist, agnostic, or if you're in church every time the doors open, please show some freaking respect.

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Late last Summer I wrote a personal note to Mr. Tony George and also to their "proper" department who is responsible for hiring these people who sing at the 500. I suggested that they hire THE FOUR FRESHMEN to sing the national anthem. Why: The FOUR FRESHMEN are celebrating their 60th anniversary of being in the jazz vocal group/entertainment business. THE FOUR FRESHMEN got their start right there in Indianapolis at Butler University in 1948 and a few of their founding members were from Columbus, Indiana. In fact there is a sign at the Columbus city limits proclaiming the home of THE FOUR FRESHMEN.

The original FRESHMEN have all retired or are deceased... but... the current four members (all young guys) are managed and hand picked by Bob Flanagan, one of the original members. THE FOUR FRESHMEN current group are one of the real class acts around. If you've never heard them, you are in for a treat. These guys are super musicians and singers and they recently released a recording of our national anthem. They will be celebrating their 60th anniversary in August in Indianapolis when the Four Freshmen Society (a huge fan club ) will hold their annual convention.

This was a perfect opportunity for this group to come back home and make Indianapolis and the 500 proud of one of the most successful vocal groups ever. Mr. George and company, you missed a great opportunity to present these class act guys for what would have been a great rendition of THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER.

P.S.... I hope Jim Nabors retires soon. Sorry, that was a not so good performance of BACK HOME AGAIN IN INDIANA.

Don Moore

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I hope Jim Nabors NEVER retires, he shall either sing it until he passes, and then after he passes, they need to have an audio recording of it to play over the PA system and video screens every year after. If there is any staple of the 500 that shall never be changed, that is it.

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Well... some entertainers never know when to get off the stage.

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I have to agree Don, I have seen the Original Four Freshman a couple times when I was a kid. They were FANTASTIC... That would be a nice N.A. with their talent in Harmonizing.

As far as Mrs. Huff? I have heard worse form others that are actually in the Music Biz. Not only is Julian HOT, Can dance her dress off, she is just venturing in the Music world. Overall I don't think she hacked it to bad compaired to others I have seen and heard.

I would perfer a 4 piece brass combo myself.

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Whitney Houston National Anthem
:thumb:applaud:

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was that pre crack addiction???

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why havent we heard Tony Funk sing the anthem more often????

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I think it was before you went on desk duty though.

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probably....looked like old video...i think i was about 10 or 12 when this video was made....but who is counting..

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Jose can you si?

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after some research i was 11......

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This was the version from the Super Bowl during the first war in Iraq. It is a slightly different arrangement than what is normally done.

I have sang this arrangement at many functions and just like television shows, restaurants, and art everyone has their own taste when it comes to music.

What you might like I could hate, and what I listen to my parents call noise, but in Ms Houghs defense - the Anthem is the most challenging song to sing and she stayed on key, on pitch and remembered all the words. She took some liberties with runs on the end of the phrasing but she did it in keeping with the original sound of the song.

That's why I like prefer singing at church functions - they can't boo you off stage there. And remind me not to tell you if I sing for any events, it's hard enough to get the guts to go on stage.

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everyone around me at the race was commenting on what a good job she did.........i thought she did a good job....

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Is this the same one that posts on here?

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thats the one.....brenttfunk......he has sang several times at local tracks and is a kokomo celebrity!

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Thats what I suspected.

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I thought she did a good job. Not great but certainly not jazzed up over the top. Nice legs, too. Jim Nabors sang like Jim Nabors. What's the beef? I like the Four Freshmen idea. Saw them in '72 and the new guys on TV. They have some decent stuff on YouTube as well.

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I think she did a fine job and she was probably nervous.

Huey Lewis rocks!

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I was refering to the catcus cuties that the video was posted.