[ Non-USA ] Do entertainers regularly mangle your Country's National Anthem? FORKED

[frankthedm]

Forked from: http://www.enworld.org/forum/media-...team-will-win-super-bowl-xlv.html#post5454478

Do entertainers regularly mangle your Country's National Anthem? IMHO it happens depressingly often at US sporting events with grandstanding singers who want to put "their own take" on the song. To say nothing of those who don't even know the song but still took the job.

 

[Sutekh]

Frank: The Australian National Anthem (Advance Australia Fair) dosnt really get mangled a lot. Generally only the first bit is sung, however there are more verses and it gets messy when they are also played.

Generally I find its the singers poor voice for the anthem that gets in the way.

A lot of the time now its proceeded by a 'Welcome to Country' indigenous Australian performance that we tend to find a bit awkward. Its becoming a lot more prevalent and Ill be honest. Im not a fan of it.

 

[Janx]

I wonder if your welcome to the country song is akin to our America the beautiful.

To me, the Star Spangled Banner (when sung correctly) epitomizes our country and our "we are always victorious against jerks who burn out stuff" attitude.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

As a musician, I have to point out one thing: the American national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing as written, requiring a grater than normal vocal range. And some with the range need to have it transposed to a lower register (and forget to do so).

So it's no surprise to me that so many try to put their own spin on it...by doing it in your own style, you've won half the battle, at least in terms of difficulty.

Still, not all reinterpretations are created equal. (For one of the best, look for Marvin Gaye's version, done before a NBA game.)

 

[Sutekh]

To put it in perspective, think of 'Welcome to Country' and then think about if Americans let the Native Americans/Indians perform any sort of ceremony before any sporting event, or political event or social event.

In much the same way as the Indigenous Australian was here before the Anglo Australian male, Native Americans were there before Anglo Americans. Ive never heard of a similar welcome to country in the US.

 

[Phaezen]

The South African national anthem has been butchered on occasion, most notably by [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beg0-kMN3fM"]Ras Dumisani [/ame]just before an international rugby match in France.

 

[TanisFrey]

Singers mangling a song is probably one of the reasons that the Olympics only plays an instrumental of the national anthem for the winner of an event.

 

[Morrus]

Entertainers don't tend to sing our national anthem.

Footballers (as in the team) do at international football games, but they just pretend to mouth the words. And some of them don't even do that much.

 

[Katana_Geldar]

Frank: The Australian National Anthem (Advance Australia Fair) dosnt really get mangled a lot. Generally only the first bit is sung, however there are more verses and it gets messy when they are also played.

Generally I find its the singers poor voice for the anthem that gets in the way.

Unless it's sung by that very special lady, Julie Anthony. When she sang the national anthem at the 2000 olympics, I had tears in my eyes. There would have been no justice if it was not her.

 

[Sutekh]

I can honestly say I prefer the recorded song to sing along to at sporting events. There is no chance of a stuff up by the singer and you are still singing along to the voice.

For some interesting times, look at the podium medal presentations in Olympic sports. A lot of the time the person competing in a ring in (that is a person who has gotten nationality in a country so they can get direct entry into the event.. or got citizenship for money/tax breaks). A lot of the time they cannot even speak in the language of the country they won the gold for. So yeah its mime central.