[Dixielandjazz] Hamming Up Our National Anthem

[Mike Durham]

You guys have come a long way since the radio stations banned dear old 
Wingy's record of "Oh Say, Can You Swing" from airplay (late 30's). We, on 
the other hand, always seem to get VERY straight renditions of our national 
anthem, but compared to some of the overblown, exhibitionistic performances 
of your stirring tune that have been inflicted on my ears at U.S. sporting 
events, maybe dull is not so bad after all!!! Personal interpretation is 
fine, but using the anthem to show just how wild you can get........

Mike.


>From: "David W. Littlefield" <dwlit at cpcug.org>
>To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Hamming Up Our National Anthem
>Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2004 21:31:19 -0500
>
>I'm in almost complete sympathy with George's feelings, but having heard a
>few great contemporary style versions--Whitney Houston's is IMO a classic,
>and in fact I pull it out now and again just to listen to it, and get a
>thrill every time-- and a bunch of lousy "straight" versions, my only
>criteria have become: show respect for the tune, and do a bang up job in
>whatever your style is. I missed Beyance's performance because I tuned in
>late, but the clips I've heard indicate that she met my criteria, even if I
>didn't enjoy her style enough to want to listen again.
>
>We have a lot of different musics in the USA these days, and if our
>National Anthem is going to belong to every American, we need to accept
>that it's going to be sung in the styles of our various subcultures.
>
>--Sheik
>
>At 05:08 PM 2/2/2004 -0600, Kurt B. wrote:
> >Just think how boring music would be if every performer performed every 
>note
> >of every song exactly as the composer wrote it.  There would be no jazz.
> >The improvisation and, dare I say it, liberties musicians take with music 
>is
> >what makes it creative, fun to play and to listen too as well.
> >
> >I agree the National Anthem is OUR song.  America is also the land of the
> >free, so I guess when someone sings it they have the freedom to put their
> >own "creative" angle on it.
> >
> >I have heard some versions that absolutely blew me away for way the
> >performer presented it.  Remember Whitney Huston's version a couple of 
>years
> >ago?  ....
> >
> >I can't stand it when a performer draaaaaaaaaggggggssss
> >ooooooouuuuuuuutttttttt eeeeeevvvvveeeeeerrrryyyy  wwwwwooooooorrrrrdddd 
>and
> >a 60 second song takes five minutes.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: George Thurmond
> >Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 4:38 AM
> >
> >            Sorry to repeat myself Listmates, but I gotta say it one more
> >time.  Why do the producers and networks putting on U.S. sporting events 
>of
> >wide interest and televised around the globe allow performers to "ham up"
> >The Star Spangled Banner.  It happened yesterday at the ball game, as it 
>has
> >happened at the fall World Series, the spring NBA finals, etc., and  will
> >continue to happen, I'm sure..
> >
> >            "Hamming it up" means emoting too broadly, over dramatizing, 
>and
> >using overlytheatrical airs and actions.
> >
> >            The gal that "sang" the anthem yesterday, Beyonce I believe 
>is
> >her name, has a great voice for sure, but the anthem is not her song but 
>is
> >our song, and is not to be hammed up and showboated in such manner.
> >
> >George "Getting it off my chest" Thurmond
>
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