One of the bits David Isaacs and I wrote for THE SIMPSONS "Dancin' Homer" episode was a typical National Anthem at a sporting event that lasts forever. Here's the clip:
In today's Lions-Vikings game Aretha Franklin went ever longer. Note the graphic:
As a youth, I enjoyed Hendrix's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, with his use of feedback to sustain long, bending notes. I felt that this was a splendid mockery of a country's establishment. He royally took the piss. Decades later, in the face of these similar versions, to my intense disappointment, I've concluded that he played in earnest.
Lest we forget, Aretha sang the national anthem to open the riotous 1968 Democratic national convention in Chicago, in retrospect an event that killed classic New Deal/Great Society liberalism as we know it.
I guess I'm willing to give the Queen of Soul a pass. I was listening while driving and enjoyed it, but I imagine more NFL players thought of taking a knee while they stood there for four and a half minutes with their hands over their hearts. (Monitoring their pulse rates, maybe.)
Besides, the Lions won and are in first place in the division. There's our sign that the end of the world is near.
If it had been anyone but Aretha, the crowd would have been booing ten minutes in, just when she hit "o'er the ramparts." But it was Aretha, so the crowd went wild! That's what it means to be the Queen of Soul
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As a youth, I enjoyed Hendrix's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, with his use of feedback to sustain long, bending notes. I felt that this was a splendid mockery of a country's establishment. He royally took the piss. Decades later, in the face of these similar versions, to my intense disappointment, I've concluded that he played in earnest.
Lest we forget, Aretha sang the national anthem to open the riotous 1968 Democratic national convention in Chicago, in retrospect an event that killed classic New Deal/Great Society liberalism as we know it.
PROGRAMMING NOTE
The episode is on FXX now.
I really love that episode, giggle extra hard at how alert Lisa is the whole time.
"Ah, Mancini. The mascot's best buddy."
I didn't know he'd been on the show before his death. I'm guessing that wasn't James Earl Jones.
If Aretha ever does the Super Bowl bet the over.
I guess I'm willing to give the Queen of Soul a pass. I was listening while driving and enjoyed it, but I imagine more NFL players thought of taking a knee while they stood there for four and a half minutes with their hands over their hearts. (Monitoring their pulse rates, maybe.)
Besides, the Lions won and are in first place in the division. There's our sign that the end of the world is near.
If it had been anyone but Aretha, the crowd would have been booing ten minutes in, just when she hit "o'er the ramparts." But it was Aretha, so the crowd went wild! That's what it means to be the Queen of Soul
She's got everyone talking about her :) I'm going to have to find this to listen for myself!
Great episode!
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