In case you missed it, Marc Anthony was criticized by some viewers of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in New York City last week for singing "God Bless America". Not that he did a bad job of singing it...just that folks who complained, did so because they thought of him as "a foreigner". The New York City born Puerto Rican is proud of his roots, heritage and being an American citizen at birth (as all Puerto Ricans are regardless of where we are born since 1917). The controversy reminded me of the summer of 1968 when José Feliciano sang the National Anthem during the World Series. Here is an account from the book Summer of 68 – The season that changed baseball, and America, forever. By Tim Wendel author of “High Heather Perez October 7, 1968 – World Series Game Five, the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan. “Tigers play-by-play announcer Ernie Harwell invited José Feliciano, whose cover of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” was high on the pop charts, to sing the national anthem before Game Five. The rendition soon ignited the kind of public-relations firestorm that could seemingly only take place in 1968.” “It was a long version of the song and at that point in time, singers weren’t supposed to give their own interpretations,” Denny McLain recalled. “This was the height of the Vietnam War and the protest movement. The National Guard was all over the field in a patriotic display, and here’s this blind Latino supposedly ‘butchering’ the anthem. It was viewed as sacrilegious rather than an impressive artistic interpretation.” “As Feliciano finished his soulful version, angry fans were already calling NBC affiliates and local newspapers nationwide. More importantly, in terms of the game at hand, the artistic interpretation derailed Mickey Lolich’s pregame routine. Usually the Tigers’ left-hander took about twelve minutes to warm up. That tired his arm a touch, allowing his deliveries to sink, just like pitching coach Gerry Staley back in Portland had taught hi. Yet before Game Five, “They played it early,” Lolich said. “It took that guy three minutes to sing. Then the umps came out and started the game. I decided to rear back and throw as hard as I coud. When Id o that the ball comes in straight.” “After the game, Feliciano’s rendition of the national anthem garnered almost as much attention as Brock’s play at the plate.” “I picked him because he’s one of the outstanding singers in America today,” Ernie Harwell told the Detroit Free Press. “I had heard from people in music whose opinion I respect that he had an interesting version of the national anthem. I feel a fellow has a right to sing any way he can sing it.” “For his part, Feliciano tried to explain his soulful, sometimes meandering performance. “I wanted to contribute something to this country, to express my gratification for what it has done for me,” said Feliciano, who had flown in from Las Vegas. “I love this country. When anyone knocks it, I’m the first to defend it.” Final score Tigers 5, Cardinals 3. Tonight on "¡Con Salsa!" the voice of Marc Anthony - 10:00pm - 3:00am on wbur90.9fm or worldwide on the web wbur.org
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 01:10:46 +0000
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