From a Navy Commander (Retired) in San Diego
�... with all the kindness I can muster, I give this one piece of advice to the next pop star asked to sing the national anthem at a sporting event: Save the vocal warbling gymnastics and physical gyrations for your concerts.
"Just sing this song the way you were taught to sing it in kindergarten � straight up, no styling.
"Sing it with the constant awareness there are soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines watching you from bases and outposts all over the world.
Don�t make them cringe with your self-centered ego gratification.
Sing it as if you are standing before a row of 86-year-old WWII vets wearing their Purple Hearts, Silver Stars and flag pins on their cardigans and you want them to be proud of you for honoring them and the country they love � not because you want them to think you're a super star singer. They can see that from your costume, makeup and entourage.
Sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' with the courtesy and humility
that tells the audience that it is about America , not you.
And please remember �
not everything has to be sung as a Negro spiritual.
We�re getting a little weary of that. Francis Scott Key needs not your help."
Nominated for post of the year. He verbalizes exactly how I feel and up to now, could not come up with the right words without using some profanity. Thank you for posting this and a smart Salute and thank you to the author.
