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Best renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Our friends over at Patrol have posted YouTube videos of what the editors consider “the greatest moments in the history of national anthem performance.” Their criteria?
Our selections are hardly the “best ever,” as many incredible moments no doubt occurred long before they could be caught on tape and shared around the globe. But these ten videos represent a cross-section of Star-Spangled Banners from the past 50 years, from performers of various ages, races, and genres. Some, as you’ll see, came at crucial moments of national grief. All are shining moments of patriotism at its brightest.
Celebrate our country’s independence by clicking on over and giving them a view and a listen.
Topic: Culture, WorldMagBlog
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back to top17 Comments to “Best renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner””
Loved; 4,5,8,9
Liked; 1,3,6,10
Didn’t care for; 2, 7
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Loved: 1,3,8,9
Liked: 4,5,6,7,10
Didn’t like: 2
I take it that they meant it was a cross-section from the last 40 years, with Hendrix’s rendition being the oldest (1969). No great performances from the 1970’s? And only one from the 1980’s?
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Gov. Palin secedes from office.
A direct transcription from her Fourth of July Eve speech
and im not gonna put alaskans through that ?i promised efficiency ?and effectiveness ?thats not how im wired ?im not wired to operate ?under the same old politics as usual ?i promised that four years ago ?and i meant it ?it thats not what is best for alaska at this time ?im determined to take the right path for alaska ?even though it is unconventional ?and its not so comfortable ?with this announcement ?that im not seeking reelection ?ive determined its best to ?transfer the authority of governor ?to lieutenant governor parnell ?and i am willing to do this ?so that this administration ?with its positive agenda ?and its accomplishments ?and its successful road to ?an incredible future for alaska ?so that it can continue without interruption ?and with great administrative and legislative success
my choice is to take a stand and effect change ?and not just hit our head against the wall ?and watch valuable state time and money ?millions of your dollars go down the drain ?in this new political environment
rather we know we can effect positive change ?outside government at this moment in time ?on another scale ?and actually make a difference for our priorities ?and so we will for alaskans ?and for americans
lemme go back quickly to a comfortable analogy for me ?and thats sports ?basketball ?and i use it because you are naive ?if you dont see a full court press from the national level ?picking away right now
a good point guard heres what she does ?she drives through a full court press ?protecting the ball ?keeping her head ?up because she needs to keep her eye on the basket ?and she knows exactly when to pass the ball ?so that the team can win
and that is what im doing ?keeping our eye on the ball ?that represents sound priorities ?remember they include energy independence and smaller government ?and national security and freedom ?and i know when its time to pass the ball ?for victory
and ive given my reasons now ?very candidly ?truthfully ?and my last day wont be for another few weeks so ?the transition will be very smooth ?in fact we look forward to swearing in sean parnell ?up there in fairbanks at the conclusion ?of our governors picnic at the end of the month
and i really dont want to disappoint anyone with this announcement ?not with the decision that i have made ?all that i can ask is that you trust me with this decision ?and know that it is no more politics as usual ?and some alaskans it seemed today ?maybe they dont mind wasting public dollars and state time ?but i do ?and i cannot stand here as your governor ?and allow the millions of dollars and all that time go to waste ?just so i can hold the title of governor ?and i dont know if my children are gonna allow it anyway
some are gonna question the timing of this ?and let me just say ?this decision has been in the works for a while ?in fact this decision comes after much consideration ?prayer and consideration ?and finally i polled the most important people in my life ?my kids ?where the count was unanimous ?well in response to asking hey do you want ?make a positive difference and ?fight for all our childrens future ?from outside the governors office ?it was four yesses ?and one hell yeah ?and the hell yeah sealed it ?and some day ill talk about the details of that
i think though much of it for the kids ?had to do with ?recently seeing ?their baby brother trigg ?mocked and ridiculed by some pretty mean spirited adults ?recently ?and by the way i sure wish folks could ever understand ?all that we can learn all of us from someone like trigg ?i know he needs me ?but i know that i need him even more ?and what a child can offer to set priorities right ?know that time is precious ?the world needs more triggs not fewer
my decision was also fortified ?during this most recent trip to kosovo and landstuhl ?to visit our wounded soldiers overseas ?those who truly sacrifice themselves ?in war for our freedom and our security ?and we can all learn from our selfless selfless troops ?theyre bold and they dont give up and they ?take a stand and they ?know that life is short ?so they choose not to waste time ?they choose to be productive and serve something greater than self ?and to build up their families and their states and our great country ?these troops and their important missions now ?there is where truly the worthy causes are in this world ?and thats where our public resources should be ?our public priority ?with time and resources spent on that ?not on this superficial ?wasteful ?political bloodsport ?so may we all learn from them
really weve just gotta put first things first ?and first things first as governor ?i love my job ?and i love alaska ?and it hurts to make this choice ?but im doing whats best for alaska ?and i have explained why
though i think of the saying on my parents refrigerator ?a little magnet that says ?dont explain ?your friends dont need it ?and your enemies wont believe you anyway ?but ive given my reasons ?its no more politics as usual ?and im taking my fight for whats right ?for alaska ?in a new direction
now despite this i dont want any one ?any alaskan ?dissuaded from entering politics ?after seeing this real climate change ?that began in august ?no we need hardworking average americans ?fighting for whats right ?and i will support you ?because we need you ?and you can effect change ?and i can too ?on the outside ?we need those who will respect our constitution ?where government is supposed to serve from the bottom up ?and not move toward this top down big government takeover ?but rather ?will be protectors of individual rights ?who also have enough common sense to acknowledge ?when conditions have drastically changed ?and theyre willing to call an audible ?and pass the ball when its time ?so the team can win ?and thats what im doing ?remember alaska ?america is now more than ever ?looking north to the future ?and itll be good
so god bless you ?and from me and from my family ?to all alaska ?you have my heart
and were gonna be in really great hands ?the capable hands ?of our lieutenant governor sean parnell ?and lieutenant general craig campbell ?then will assume the role of lieutenant governor
and its my promise to you that ?i will always be standing by ready to assist ?we have a good positive agenda for alaska
take the words of general macarthur ?he said ?we are not retreating ?we are advancing ?in another direction
so with that imonna hand this over ?to our good lieutenant governor ?and again i say thank you ?and god bless you alaska
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Pres. Obama fulfills a duty of his office.
A direct transcription from his Fourth of July radio address.
We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all;
that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire;
and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known –
a government of, by, and for the people.
That is the spirit we are called to show once more.
We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time.
We are waging two wars.
We are battling a deep recession.
And our economy – and our nation itself – are endangered
by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs;
inadequate schools;
and a dependence on foreign oil.
These naysayers have short memories.
They forget that we, as a people, did not get here by standing pat in a time of change.
We did not get here by doing what was easy.
That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.
We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it.
And on this July 4th, we need to summon that spirit once more.
We need to summon the same spirit that inhabited Independence Hall two hundred and thirty-three years ago today.
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The best rendition of God Bless America was when Democrat and Republican congressmen sang it together after 9/11.
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#4 Scroop – Who are the naysayers, I wonder, standing pat in a time of social change? Who are those evil folk standing in the way of social-ism? I think it is probably the same people who are on the Homeland Security watch list. Obama should simply send them to Guantanamo and be done with it.
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OK, smartass, you’re going on the no-fly list.
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What’s 3 and 4 got to do with the Star Spangled Banner?
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The only ones that gave me chills was the first one–the Royal Scottish Band, something about that drum roll–and the last one–Whitney Houston’s singing.
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I don’t suppose Jimi Hendrix made it??
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Oops, should have read before posting. Glad he did.
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I n celebration of freedom the
N oise makers and fireworks go off. It’s a
D ay of family cookouts and
E njoying our family and friends. There are
P arades and floats all
E xtolling the freedom we claim
N ow and forever we are independent.
E lation under red, white, and blue
C hildren , our legacy, playing and being free.
E xhiliration of being in America
D ining in the outdoors
A ffable friends sharing
Y ou and me and freedom.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
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“What’s 3 and 4 got to do with the Star Spangled Banner?”
Nothing. Old Scroops just being ugly again. I believe his indictment in #7 is self-inflicted.
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I’d rather have heard Jennifer than Patti any day. I don’t care that Jennifer was at the DNC. Patti just overdoes it.
And man… only Marvin Gaye could turn that song into a groovin’ song. Leave that one off too…
Liked Whitney Houston’s rendition also. Beyonce? Eh, it was ok.
Jimi Hendrix? Wild, man, just wild.
I liked the one at Buckingham Palace the best.
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Dat der Jimi fellow chur can play dat geetar, doontcha noo?
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I did not watch any of the videos because of an old, slow computer (and not much time). I have always loved Jimi Hendrix’s rendition the best, even though the man himself is not one I would have called patriotic.
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Is this a joke, too?
Dear Scroop Moth:
Watch your language and your name calling:
Mickey
–
Mickey McLean
Web Managing Editor
WORLDmag.com
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