tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post3292400366189404937..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Oh say can you STOP?!By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7907915271497708852021-08-20T20:51:28.610-07:002021-08-20T20:51:28.610-07:00I found this article based on your comment. I agre...I found this article based on your comment. I agree that Kenny G was the WORST EVER anthem on that day. I worked for the Dodgers and could see Steve Sax visibly upset by it. After the game I asked him about it and his direct quote was “I could have farted that tune better than that idiot played it.”Greg S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02138734983463485972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48113110800248831562017-03-06T08:06:48.116-08:002017-03-06T08:06:48.116-08:00The Jose Feliciano version before game five of the...The Jose Feliciano version before game five of the 1968 World Series was so long that Tiger pitcher Mickey Lolich didn't have a chance to properly warm up before the game, and promptly gave up 3 runs in the first inning. He went on to win anyway.<br /><br />Having said that, the very best version I ever heard was on the morning of July 4, 1976 -- the Bicentennial. I believe it was on one of the morning shows (Today or Good Morning America). If memory serves it was sung by a first grade teacher from Indiana, and she did all four verses, very simply, and in exactly the right tempo. It took nearly 15 minutes, and was magnificent. Bob Sharpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42822664541837888322017-03-06T08:02:04.429-08:002017-03-06T08:02:04.429-08:00I'm genuinely stunned no one has mentioned the...I'm genuinely stunned no one has mentioned the best performance ever, from The Naked Gun.<br /><br />"And the rocket's red glare, lots of bombs in the air, gave proof through the night, that we still had our flag. Oh does that star spangled banner wave over all we see, for the home of the land, and the land of the free!"Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52578799987000216732017-03-06T07:42:07.404-08:002017-03-06T07:42:07.404-08:00I saw Hoyt Axton forget the words at a Raider game...I saw Hoyt Axton forget the words at a Raider game in the 89s. I think he was drunk.<br /><br />However, unless it is a international game, lets just cease the false patriotism and stop singing it.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11777496001166356949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60116674558175685572017-03-06T07:31:12.398-08:002017-03-06T07:31:12.398-08:00YES YES YES!
And I must agree with @ELS above th...YES YES YES! <br /><br />And I must agree with @ELS above that Meat Loaf did a fantastic job at the All-Star game in Pittsburgh (it was 1994 btw). It was the first time in my life I ever heard the musicality of the song. Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08361592930703627190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6345736039565192362017-03-06T03:40:08.296-08:002017-03-06T03:40:08.296-08:00They started doing "God Bless America" d...They started doing "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch at Yankee Stadium after 9/11. There was a "Spared in the Attacks!" singing cop involved, too.thirteennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33877209143807446132017-03-05T23:41:30.095-08:002017-03-05T23:41:30.095-08:00File this under 21st Century problems -- I went to...File this under 21st Century problems -- I went to the local Little League's season opening ceremony over the weekend, during which they decided, instead of using a CD or mp3 of the anthem, they could just stream it on someone's phone over YouTube. <br /><br />So they found a version that was not too long and had no added instrumentation, and played it over the field's PA system ... but forgot to put the phone into airplane mode. And whoever was calling was persistent enough to call back before the anthem was over.J Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15175515543694122729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6860914272572037232017-03-05T13:58:35.158-08:002017-03-05T13:58:35.158-08:00Rick Moranis impersonated Mel Torme singing the na...Rick Moranis impersonated Mel Torme singing the national anthem on a classic SCTV episode.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye7s4ybA7h4&t=6s<br /><br />One of the things Torme specialized in was musical medleys for his own appearances and other stars. This is a very sharp spoof of how he and other singers would grab a word or a note from one song and slide it into another, sometimes incongruously.Greg Ehrbarhttp://www.gregehrbar.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91976908428725990702017-03-05T09:16:15.732-08:002017-03-05T09:16:15.732-08:00Never heard the "Dead" sing better....Never heard the "Dead" sing better....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73034081703226715772017-03-05T07:14:01.332-08:002017-03-05T07:14:01.332-08:00The other Big issue with the StarSpangledBanner is...The other Big issue with the StarSpangledBanner is that very few have actually been taught what the words mean. <br /><br />Do people really what O'er means or that there are a whole bunch of question marks that tell the story. <br />As a class assignment I was forced to learn what each line means. I recommend doing itThe Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-4827150159308882222017-03-05T00:32:21.925-08:002017-03-05T00:32:21.925-08:00Let us not forget that Francis Scott Key didn'...Let us not forget that Francis Scott Key didn't write a song, he wrote a poem. The music came much later. Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48964912384238374652017-03-04T23:41:53.766-08:002017-03-04T23:41:53.766-08:00My wife Laura is a jazz singer, with a trained voi...My wife Laura is a jazz singer, with a trained voice and perfect pitch, and she grew up with a dad who was vocal group jingle session leader for PAMS, CRC and TM in Dallas. So all of today's caterwauling, over-sung, off-pitch power ballads and pseudo-gospel affectations are physically painful to her ears. But the worst is when they're applied to the National Anthem. I think these singers must be trying to insure everyone stands up by making them run for the exits. <br /><br />PS - We both really enjoyed the podcast where you saluted radio jingles. Many of those great singers were friends of my wife's parents and like aunts and uncles to her. She can listen to their harmonies and as perfectly blended as they are, often pick out the individual voices and tell me who they are. Pat Reederhttp://www.hollywoodhifi.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53118620216240934922017-03-04T21:31:14.355-08:002017-03-04T21:31:14.355-08:00The national anthem also does not need an extra hi...The national anthem also does not need an extra high note on the "land of the free" line.Jeffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51196897562553093522017-03-04T20:33:41.427-08:002017-03-04T20:33:41.427-08:00AMEN brother Ken!
I've sung it once for the D...AMEN brother Ken!<br /><br />I've sung it once for the Dodgers, twice for the Angels and once for the L.A. Kings... right lyrics, proper notes... no muss no fussSharoneRosenhttp://www.sharonerosen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19274213229263173222017-03-04T17:52:29.117-08:002017-03-04T17:52:29.117-08:00Funny and true..Ken but for my money, the current ...Funny and true..Ken but for my money, the current line up of the folk group The Kingston Trio did it to perfection for a SF Giants playoff game a few years ago. The Giants went on to win the Series. I would post a link to it here but not sure how you feel about links...<br />So I will say: You Tube "Kingston Trio National Anthem"...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21394864178187891642017-03-04T16:07:43.063-08:002017-03-04T16:07:43.063-08:00Buttermilk Sky -- You are correct that the anthem ...Buttermilk Sky -- You are correct that the anthem was started during a time of war. According to the Ken Burns Baseball documentary, a band played The Star Spangled Banner during the seventh inning stretch of one of the World Series games during the first World War. It was so well received that it became a tradition during the war and stuck. And this was more than a decade before the Banner became the official national anthem.DwWashburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057278992504418291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83263826066069769312017-03-04T14:35:38.025-08:002017-03-04T14:35:38.025-08:00Go, Dancin Homer! Get up, man!
Lively up yourself...Go, Dancin Homer! Get up, man!<br /><br />Lively up yourself, Dancin Homer.Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78541265611356453242017-03-04T12:45:53.343-08:002017-03-04T12:45:53.343-08:00The Gold Standard is still the Grateful Dead doing...The Gold Standard is still the Grateful Dead doing it in Candlestick Park:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH8ObibNCooODJenningsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3703774129023285262017-03-04T12:37:01.082-08:002017-03-04T12:37:01.082-08:00I see absolutely no reason why the national anthem...I see absolutely no reason why the national anthem should be sung at all. Other countries can get through sporting events without needing to reassure themselves about their national origins.<br /><br />wgWendy M. Grossmanhttp://www.pelicancrossing.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35422849554236578292017-03-04T11:59:15.417-08:002017-03-04T11:59:15.417-08:00Worst I was ever in attendance for: 1988 NLCS Game...Worst I was ever in attendance for: 1988 NLCS Game 6 at Dodger Stadium performed by Kenny G on the sax. We believe, that in the middle of all of his flourishes, the actual anthem was in there somewhere, but was only vaguely recognizable as such. The crown went mild, then booed.<br /><br />Though I wonder as well why we still need it played before every game? Is someone afraid we'll forget what country we're in?Elfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374380298273456994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63917880452600903432017-03-04T11:42:38.482-08:002017-03-04T11:42:38.482-08:00Umm, did you forget you co-wrote Dancin' Homer...Umm, did you forget you co-wrote Dancin' Homer?ScarletNumbernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25980530850679676242017-03-04T11:25:55.291-08:002017-03-04T11:25:55.291-08:00Buttermilk Sky led into my comment, which may be a...Buttermilk Sky led into my comment, which may be a Friday Question. What do you think of "God Bless America" during the 7th-inning stretch? I don't despise the song, but I dislike using it there - it's basically a second National Anthem, and defeats the purpose of the stretch (which is to move around and get the blood flowing - not possible when you're standing still). Yankee Stadium employees used to prevent people from leaving their seats when it was played (until they ejected someone for trying to use the restroom and the New York Civil Liberties Union sued and won). I don't particularly care if the actual song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is used (the Orioles use "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"); I just don't feel as if bringing the proceedings to a halt to confirm our patriotism a second time is necessary (and extends the game time, which MLB doesn't seem to want). Thoughts?Curt Alliaumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05875046706746482871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14975162840716461542017-03-04T11:25:25.115-08:002017-03-04T11:25:25.115-08:00Zooey Deschanel sang it in 2 consecutive World Ser...Zooey Deschanel sang it in 2 consecutive World Series a few years ago. Absolutely the best rendition ever. Traditional, with a slight flair of her own the was simply beautiful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57946049057324230432017-03-04T10:49:00.151-08:002017-03-04T10:49:00.151-08:00Does anybody know why sporting events have to begi...Does anybody know why sporting events have to begin with anthems? When did this begin? I'll bet it was during a war. Do other countries do this? Every year there are proposals to speed up baseball games (I think they want to skip the four pitches that make an intentional walk this season). Why not eliminate the music, including "God Bless America" during the seventh inning, a song that makes my skin crawl? Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31640182792244637272017-03-04T10:48:01.052-08:002017-03-04T10:48:01.052-08:00There was a PBS play called "The Bleacher Bum...There was a PBS play called "The Bleacher Bums" which I think had the funniest, most accurate reproduction of the National Anthem as it's heard in the crowd.Bill Avenanoreply@blogger.com