Sing it Proudly, Sing it Right

While I am no longer a rabid fan of the NFL, I do pay attention during the playoffs, and usually watch at least part of the Super Bowl. Much to my distress, I watched tonight as yet another recording artist found a way to mangle the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Some years, the arrangements are designed to draw attention to the artist. Other years, whether out of nervousness or plain lack of preparation, they trip over the lyrics. I don't want to be too harsh here, but I really wonder if we're raising a generation that can't be bothered to learn the words and music to our precious national songlist.

Browsing around tonight, I found that there many people expressing their frustration at tonight's rendition, and nearly all of them pointed back to the 1991's Super Bowl XXV as the best they ever heard. In 1991, of course, the Gulf War had just started, so there was something extra in the air. Nevertheless, the performance by Whitney Houston is simply powerful. She doesn't perform the anthem, she sings it. As I view it, she's not drawing attention to herself, but rather she leads the crowd in a large group revival.

The point is, the Star Spangled Banner is an American treasure, and should be treated as such. Sing it proudly, sing it triumphantly. And above all, sing it right.


(h/t): Everybody.