It totally disgusts me to watch the opening of a game when some anti-American entertainer butchers the anthem. People like Rosanne Barr who made a disgrace of it should be driven out of their glorified status in this country.
�... 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."
It sounds almost, if not exactly, the same video that I heard six years ago at the visitor's center when we visited Fort McHenry. Very moving then and now to me. Many thanks for posting.
It was found that the rampart took many direct hits from the British ships. Every time it was again raised HUMANLY.
When the shelling was over, Francis Scott Keyes saw for himself why the flag still stood at the odd angle it did. The rampart was held by the stacks of patriot bodies that gave their lives to make sure it stayed flying.
Few exist today who would give their lives to see our Country flourish. Most think they "deserve" everything. Pitiful!
It's a different time and a sad one.
My older friends say they are GLAD that they are old and won't be around to see the demise. They Lived through the best time possible.
�... 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.