[Dixielandjazz] Lip Synching the Star Spangled Banner

[Stephen G Barbone]

On Feb 7, 2011, at 8:33 PM, dixielandjazz-request at ml.islandnet.com  
wrote:

> Harry Callaghan <meetmrcallaghan at gmail.com>
>
>
> If anyone is interested, go to the following website for a complete  
> listing
> of performances of "The Star Spangled Banner" from 1967 until the  
> present.
>
> The article mentions that one of the most highly acclaimed  
> performances was
> by Whitney Houston in 1991 (Super Bowl XXV).  However, it was  
> reported a day
> or so later that it was pre-recorded and she was singing into a dead  
> mike,
> pretty much the equivalent of lypsynching.

Dear Harry:

Actually many of the Super Bowl Star Spangled Banners were pre- 
recorded and then lip synched. You can see/hear Whitney Houston doing  
it at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHmdu_I_0zI&feature=related

or Jennifer Hudson doing it at;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE-7YqwZZ4o


Personally, I like both of them. Probably because I despise the fact  
that some idiot suggested Francis Scott Key's Poem be sung to a  
British Song called; "To Anacron in Heaven"  (See below quote".)

"Key wrote this as a poem and nothing in his original notes suggest a  
tune to be played. When the handbills of the poem were printed, they  
bore the name of a tune to be sung. - 'To Anacron In Heaven", a  
British drinking club tune. In 1880 the US Military ordered this tune  
played at all ceremonies. In 1916, President Woodrow Willson ordered  
that it should become the National Anthem, but it wasn't until March  
3rd, 1931 that it was officially designated as the National Anthem by  
act of Congress."

To me, it is ironic that OUR National Anthem should be sung to a  
British Tune because some unknown person suggested it. For all we  
know, the suggestion was from a British sympathizer who played a joke  
on us Colonials. And even more ironic that we jazz heads who relish  
improvisation, blast folks who improvise on this drinking song.

IMO the Whitney Houston version was FANTASTIC. And the Jennifer Hudson  
Version was VERY GOOD. Christine? Well, she should have pre-recorded  
it even though she has sung it before (much better) live at other  
outdoor events.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband