Sport, Patriotism, and Mass Destruction...

Not from your side of the pond, but:

"Is playing the US National Anthem on the electric guitar disrespectful to the country? How about playing it badly? How about singing it badly?"

How did you feel about Jimi Hendrix' version of "Star Spangled Banner"?

Or for those in the UK, what's the consensus re: The Sex Pistols' "God Save The Queen"? (Cf England fans singing God Save The Queen before the World Cup Group B match against Paraguay in Frankfurt)

I actually love Jimi Hendrix interpretation of the Star Spangled Banner. I think it was done with great talent, and passionate interpretation.

This guy last night played sloppy, and with little passion, missed and mixed up notes, and was all around awful... As I say I think he was intoxicated.

Without regard to what he was playing - he shouldn't have been allowed to do it. It shows disrespect (on behalf of the organizers) to everyone attending. Someone should have been responsible for sorting out what was going to be going out over the PA, and it sounds like they didn't do their job.

BWT also love the JH version of that - and many other - pieces. His death was a sad loss.

Regards, John.

From the other side of the pond & equator.

Note: I am not related to Jimi Hendrix.

Who started the tradition? (The Fathers of the Country or the fathers of Hollywood)

The average person sings the US national anthem badly. Only a few people have the vocal range of the song. Some in congress have tried to change it and some creative musicians can change the the song so that the range is singable but keeps the style the same. I think we can thank Jazz for that. There shouldn't be any reason an instrumental anthem would have to be played badly, but I don't think its disrespectful if that musician just makes mistakes and it not done with malice.

I think the playing of "Proud to be an American" is to differentiate themselves from other Americans who don't openly display their patriotism.

I've long tried to understand WHY songs such as "The Star Spangled Banner" are played at all during such events. Exactly how and when did, say, going to a basketball game or auto race become equated with patriotism? And why primarily when we gather for sporting events? Why not at piano recitals? Ballets? Large auctions? Broadway plays? What's the criteria here?

Sure, a lot of folks sacrificed much for the country in which I happen to be attending whatever event. But it seems the attempt isn't quite so particuarly acknowledging their sacrifices as it is trying to semi-artifically generate a sweeping, sentimental, generic "ain't it grand here!" moment.

And this usually just before we start frantically urging "our guy" on the field of play to kill/maim/destroy anybody else on the field who we've temporarily decided is evil. Odd isn't it?

Possibly I could just be a godless, freedom-hating hillbilly. Which would probably explain a lot of other things too, now that I think about it.

So, just to stir things up a bit....

Is this a throw back to Rome? The peasants have to demonstrate their loyalty to the empire before they are allowed their bread and circuses? The type of people who attend the ballet have their loyalties tied to the empire in other ways and so don't need a patriotic ceremony?

Or perhaps as in Huxley's "Brave New World" this is some sort of neo Pavlovian conditioning of the epsilon cast workers in order to keep them loyal? The Alpha's would not need such conditioning?

There are several anthems around in the UK proposed as altenatives to the "National" anthem ("God Save the Queen") - Scotland has "Flower of Scotland", Wales has "The Land Of My Fathers (Mae hen wlad fy nhadau)", Northern Ireland "The Soldier's Song (Amhrán na bhFiann)", England's in a mess.

Is this a throw back to Rome? etc... - I think that in the UK, that's what everyone is trying to avoid. Most thinking folks in the UK seem to want to put the "British Empire" far behind them.

Sorry if this is off-topic re. your OP.

Just realized - this is verging on _POLITICS - & I don't go there!

Didn't mean to sucker you into a political discussion...

'Sok. Lots of interesting/controversial points made in your OP - but not sure that this is the place for them. Others may think otherwise.

Pax vobiscum, & a Happy New Year ,

John.

<4) Is playing the US National Anthem on the electric guitar disrespectful to the country?>

Not really. If Dr. Brian May (Queen's lead guitarist and a respected astronomer) can play the melody to "God save the Queen" while standing on the top of Buckingham Palace surrounded by a couple of kW of amplification, there can't be much to worry about.....

"What really is the purpose of starting sporting events with patriotic ceremonies?"

The playing of the US National Anthem was started just prior to WWII. For the people to show spirit for what to was to come. From that it became a tradition.

"For those of you in the US, should "Pround to be an American" replace more traditional patriotic songs in this sort of venue?"

Tradition has been to give the fans a few minutes to show their national spirit in song. What song they do it with I don't think matters. Whats wrong with Lee Greenwood's Proud to be an American?

"Has this song become the new US National Anthem?"

No song will replace Star Spangle Banner as our National Anthem. Freedom was not and is not easily acquired or maintained. So why should a National Anthem be easy to sing. That is the crux of the problem.

"Is playing the US National Anthem on the electric guitar disrespectful to the country? How about playing it badly? How about singing it badly? "

Think that the sponsors of the venue should do the utmost to provide some one that can do us proud in leading any song that is to show national spirit.

No song will replace Star Spangle Banner as our National Anthem. Freedom was not and is not easily acquired or maintained. So why should a National Anthem be easy to sing. That is the crux of the problem.

Because you will never have a moment like the one in "Casablanca," where it was so easy for the French to face off with the Germans with their Nation Anthem.

If I want the pain I'd join the military, rather than strain my voice.