Christina Ag. and the Anthem... just one man's opinion

Ed Iarusso · Post by **Ed Iarusso** » 10 Feb 2011 10:07 am

I am also sick and tired of these singers trying to out do each other and stylize the SSB. I agree they should have a brass band play and have the crowd sing the song. Put the lyrics up on the big screen if necessary. and...these half time shows are usually awful. The only good ones I recall are Tom Petty and Prince (although I hate saying it)and...enough of the spectacle with all the dancers and lights and glitz! Just get a good band on stage and let them play for 29 minutes. I think the NFL and others are being sold a bill of goods by these so called "producers". Every year it seems more peole are dissapointed in these productions than enjoy them . When will the NFL learn if ever.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 10 Feb 2011 2:28 pm

Are you kidding me? The whole thing is a friggin' farce. Who pays attention, anyway?

Roseanne Barr? Let's not forget her. She set the standard.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2011 5:22 am

Here you go. Now this is the way it is supposed to be sung: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaMtyJroVw

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 11 Feb 2011 6:04 am

The only comment I can add after reading this thread is that we sure are a 'stuck in our ways' crowd of players and it's very defining why we are stuck in Steel Guitar is a Country Instrument.

I am not defending CA for messing up, she did, big time, and she knew it and stated so. I'm not even a fan, not by any stretch.

What gets me is our individual " this is the way it should be" attitudes..are we not musicians here ? Are we not supposed to express music from within ?

OR do we all just play Night Life exactly like Buddy and brag all the way to and from the gig how great our PP's sound and we got all the Buddy licks down... Yessirree, I can play Together Again exactly like Tom,every note, exactly the same, wanna here me ? I have arrived...

I don't particularly like CA or her style but I'll defend her as a performer everyday of the week.

Then I read that she is Un-American for her style of singing ? I wonder how many in our Armed Forces love her singing and do not like our music ??

tuff crowd..

Oh and by the way, unless you play Take Five exactly like Brubeck, don't bother playing it..

that's all I got

t

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Feb 2011 8:11 am

Once again, only my opinion, but this is not a pop song, open to improvisation, etc. With all due respect, there is a lot more gravitas attached to the SSB than there is to Night Life or Take Five. What would it sound like if orchestras or marching bands started adding their own improvisational embellishments? Yes, I know it's a free country and it's not a crime to play our own version of SSB, but just because we can, doesn't necessarily mean we should, (e.g. Roseanne Barr) ….. my 2¢

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2011 9:57 am

In a song about the Land of the Free, I would hate to think we aren't "free" to interpret it any way we want. It is a song about personal freedom after all. If I wanted to follow protocol, I'd move to England.

You are free to like or dislike what someone is doing, but their right to do it they way they see fit is an important part of being an american. Personally, I had no problem with Rosanne Barr's version. It was her interpretation and I "got" what she was trying to do. Even if she failed.

In fact, I think, as americans, we should encourage personal expression.

As Ben Franklin said (to paraphrase) on why he didn't kneel when visiting the queen: american's don't do that.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 11 Feb 2011 10:13 am

There are a few layers to this "issue".

Apart from the "issue" of patriotic reverence, I think a lot of those objecting to CA's performance are objecting on essentially musical grounds.

Musical judgments being inherently subjective, these are just my personal opinions:

Everyone does indeed have the right to do whatever they want musically, to the Anthem as much as to anything else, but I wouldn't hire CA to sing the Anthem, and I would discourage those who make the decision for the Super Bowl from hiring her, if I was asked.

Is all that gingerbread she lavished over the SSB really "expressing music from inside"? I hear it as all surface, no heart. I've already posted earlier that I respect and in fact am moved by Cher's take on the Anthem, despite the fact it is not a literal reading, because to me (others may not share my reaction) it is musical and connects to me emotionally on the same level as a good literal reading would--to borrow Barry's apt word, it doesn't lose the gravitas (the arranger gets a lot of the credit as well). But CA's melismageddon is no different from what one hears on superficial pop songs and commercials for mundane commodities.

I recall an interview with Pete Anderson where he was discussing the distinction between players with ability and players who have a good sense of what's appropriate. He said the problem with a lot of sax players, for example, is that they'll come into a gig for blues or old R & B and play bebop. Pete's dictum: "Play the bag!"

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Feb 2011 10:26 am

Wow. "Play the bag." Succinctly well put.

In fact, I think, as americans, we should encourage personal expression.

We have Burning Man for that.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 11 Feb 2011 11:23 am

no argument with any of the above..

question is..

Was CA hired to sing because of her style or did she beg to be the singer of record ?

I suspect she was invited to sing because of her style...which removes it from her shoulders... The only real issue is she flubbed and she has to live with that...there is no delete key...

CA sang what she does, she was not a different performer, she performed, unfortunately not very well ! But in the scheme of things she flubbed, knew it and stayed the course, that's the sign of a pro, like it or not. I'd be willing to bet that a million thoughts were going through her mind in that last minute or so... " I just seriously messed up the NA at the Super Bowl ".. "and I'm not done singing yet " !!!!

t

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 11 Feb 2011 11:24 am

With due respect, the National Anthem is not a song about personal freedom. Literally, it's about the author's awe and wonder at seeing the symbol of our young country survive an artillery bombardment at Fort McHenry. Metaphorically, it's about endurance, sacrifice, and perseverance.

To the extent the word "free" even appears in the lyrics (twice) it's used in the greater, national sense of the word. "Land of the free" and "when freemen shall stand" connote a style of government free from tyranny, not personal freedoms or rights. Those are enumerated in the Constitution.

That said, my objection to CA's performance has absolutely nothing to do with her style or botched lyrics. Whether she has the "freedom" to interpret a song is irrelevant. When the National Anthem is performed as part of a ceremony, the song should be the focus, not the singer. Not their attire, not their hair style, not their five-octave vocal range. IMO, CA (for whatever reason -- lack of talent, arrogance, nerves, etc.) overshadowed the song itself. The National Anthem is not performed in ceremonies for the benefit of the singer/picker. It's done to honor a symbol of our country.

FWIW, I enjoyed the Dead's version. I would love to hear Ray Charles sing it. (If someone could point me to a link to his recording, I'd be grateful. I love his version of America The Beautiful but can't find the SSB anywhere.) I have no doubt Ray could do it with love and respect. A musical giant like Ray has the chops to pull off a musical interpretation unique to him without it sounding like artifice or an audition for American Idol. Sadly, Christina overreached her bounds.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 11 Feb 2011 1:26 pm

I'm really enjoying this thread. Some very heartfelt expressions about musicality, and patriotism.
If those were really the basis for the "performance" of the national anthem, I suppose they would just hire a good-singing nobody, or perhaps one of the stellar vocalists from the Marine Corp Band.

Like just about everything else these days, the Super Bowl is really about entertainment in the name of merchandising. Advertising dollars.
The decisions made reflect that, although being somewhat amusing over the years as a committee idea of what a cross-section of American viewers will respond to.

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 11 Feb 2011 2:07 pm

"With due respect, the National Anthem is not a song about personal freedom. Literally, it's about the author's awe and wonder at seeing the symbol of our young country survive an artillery bombardment at Fort McHenry. Metaphorically, it's about endurance, sacrifice, and perseverance.
"

I don't disagree with that. My point being that as Americans, personal liberty and expression are hallmarks of what we stand for as a nation and the SSB is an expression of that freedom.

Actually personally I prefer America The Beautiful and have never cared for the SSB as a national anthem. It's lyrics are hard to remember, it requires a pretty good range to sing (one out of the range of most people), and it is not a very interesting tune (IMHO). American the Beautiful on the other hand...

Ron Davis · Post by **Ron Davis** » 11 Feb 2011 5:19 pm

Cristina's style usually involves showing off her vocal chops. It seems to be the common thing with so many pop/r&b artists these days.
For my taste, it's to often overdone...
Way overdone. IMOFO. (in my old fart opinion)

But, with that said, I have heard her kick some major ass, in the past.
I saw her do something on tv once that really blew me away.
Not really my cup of tea, but she does have the ability to do amazing stuff.

She does have a huge, fairly young fan base. Perhaps the fact that she even sang the SSB may have some kind of positive influence on some of them.

As far as her SSB Super Bowl thing. I bet she's hatin' it... I can only imagine.
She's an American, too. And, she knows she blew it.

Just another mans 2 cents...

rd

John Ed Kelly · Post by **John Ed Kelly** » 12 Feb 2011 4:23 am

I heard 'Advance Australia Fair' sung like this at an international cricket match, as I vaguely recall.

Well................we don't go much for national anthems and flag waving down here in Oz and the team and crowd were duly relieved when the singer finished...........partly because of the woeful performance and partly because most of them didn't know the words anyway!

But just to diverge from the original theme of this post a bit.............it seems that a lot of 'pop' type singers seem to want to model themselves on Aretha Franklin or some other gospel singer or another.............usually with disastrous sounding results.

It is, apparently, quite fashionable to attempt to ape American soul and gospel singers. Many very young singers, on talent shows and the like, seem to think that singing like Ms Aguilera (for example) is hip.....or worse.........is actually the right way to sing!

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 12 Feb 2011 7:56 am

I don't watch TV - don't you remember your grandmother telling you that watching TV all the time will turn you into an idiot? Oh wait, you can't remember...

-> But due to this thread, I finally got around to watching it on YouTube. ->

Man, that part where Slash rose up out of the stage like Neptune (or Satan

) was really cool.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Feb 2011 9:57 am

John Ed Kelly wrote: Many very young singers, on talent shows and the like, seem to think that singing like Ms Aguilera (for example) is hip.....or worse.........is actually the right way to sing!

but that implies that there is only one given correct way to sing...so which is it ?

Frank, Elvis, Buddy H, Willie, Merle, George, Michael B, J Cocker , Tiny Tim, Michale J, Streisand, Franklin, Loretta, Wynette, CA, Sista Soldia' , Ga Ga..etc..

If people are singing it wrong, how should they be singing ? and even better who decides if they are singing wrong ?

t..just askin'...

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 12 Feb 2011 10:07 am

Outsider's (Canadian) perspective: While I didn't like the CA performance, it's what she was hired to do. No one would ask her to sing a meat and potatoes version, unless they were delusional. If you watch the Superbowl, or any other massive sports for TV bombastic show-type musical performance, and expect subtlety and tradition, you are more often than not setting yourself up for disappointment.

My dad always used to watch the Edmonton Oilers with the TV sound off and the radio broadcast on. Perhaps you could mute the TV and play your own favorite version of the anthem at the same time?

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 12 Feb 2011 10:23 am

Marc,

Good point.

Just to extend it a bit furthur, and not impinge on the topic at hand; My dear mother just loved the MUTE button on remote's when they first came out (40 yrs ago?).

She just loved to mute the tube and get-off on the real visual aspect of what TV could offer. She got a second bang. Just watched peoples' mouths and motions, without the clutter of audio. My mom did grow up in the silent movie era, after all.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 12 Feb 2011 11:59 am

Man, that part where Slash rose up out of the stage like Neptune (or Satan ) was really cool.

But the most un-necessary addition to a halftime show that I have ever seen. Outside of flashing another "big name" in front of the crowd, he did not add anything to an already dismal performance.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 12 Feb 2011 12:46 pm

yeah..it all sucked. what a waste of a halftime.

and to the advertisers....not one commercial made me realize what company was advertising what, let alone make me want to buy anything.......but hey, it was only multi-millions wasted, you saps!

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Feb 2011 2:27 pm

chris ivey wrote:yeah..it all sucked. what a waste of a halftime.
it was only multi-millions wasted, you saps!

I didn't watch any halftime stuff, am I still a sap ?

t

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 13 Feb 2011 9:36 am

...referring to the advertisers, tony.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 13 Feb 2011 12:53 pm

With all the pre-super bowl hype about how great the commercials were going to be, I can't remember a single one that had any effect on me.

Orville Johnson · Post by **Orville Johnson** » 14 Feb 2011 12:54 am

I've got another question...what the heck does the national anthem have to do with a football game, a baseball game,or any other kind of pro sport gathering of a bunch of millionaires playing a kids game? I don't see any relationship between the two. It's not really "ceremonial". baseball teams play 162 games a year, each with an anthem. All those games aren't ceremonies. Why not skip it and play ball? Whose idea was it, anyway, to play the national anthem before sports matches?

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 14 Feb 2011 8:19 am

I believe the tradition of playing it at sports events dates back less than 100 years--possibly the 1930s? I think that is what I read in the aftermath of an earlier controversy regarding someone's dreadful performance of the song.

I'm all for eliminating it entirely at sporting events, but can you imagine the posturing such an idea would generate? Every political weasel in the country would wrap themselves in the Anthem as they tried to gain an advantage by opposing any such proposal.

So we are stuck as long as pop culture is what it is---excess and spectacle.