Welcome to TERRIBLE! Week, Day 6! The Star-Spangled Banner is 200 years old this year, and man, does it show. Its truly an awful song. The verses lurch and lumber along, zombie-like, dragging their feet through the mud of their own musical making. The one point of interest, the high note on free, is often the low point, as very few singers are able to bring it off successfully. Even if they can, they usually milk it so long its practically another verse. Meantime, Im thinking for the luvva Mike, wrap it up so we can play ball / get to monster trucking / freaking eat. Because as Im sure youre aware, this is song is used for any sort of gathering, patriotic or not. Talk about overplayed. I dont even stand during our national anthem anymore. Besides being a terrible song, its about a flag. How stupid is that? Its about fighting and flags. Hows the 15th Cavalry doing? Not so good, sir! Theyre out of ammo and taking a beating! Screw them! Is the flag still up? Sir? The flag! Is it still flying? Uh, yeah, I think so, but- Send a message to Washington: Yaay! Were winning! I understand that its a statement about the persistence of America and its people. Well never give up the fight as long as theres a glimmer of hope. Which is great when were fighting, but what about when were not? Are we supposed to fantasize about the times we were fighting, hoping to fight some more? Id like to think that fighting is something that we do only under specific circumstances, not something thats ingrained in our culture. And I understand that the flag is symbolic. It stands for America and her indomitable spirit. I just happen to think that symbols are stupid. I feel stupid trying to stare lovingly at a flag. The America I know has more than three colors, is more complex than the arrangement of fifty stars, and is more disorderly than the simple up-and-down of white stripes on red. I cant, just for the sake of tradition, bring myself to equate the symbol with the real thing. So, terrible song, awful subject matter, I just cant even. Whats to do? Many other countries have war as the subject of their national anthems, but I think that America can do better. Maybe talk about the country itself? You know, some of the reasons to love America, other than They fight! And Fight! While Itchy and Scratchy would probably sum up the United States lately, Id rather hear about some amber waves of grain. Yeah, Im takin about America, America the Beautiful, that is. While making the Ray Charles version the national anthem might be asking a bit much, even a more standard arrangement is just dandy. Or perhaps even my song for today, God Bless America as sung by Kate Smith. I think it strikes a nice balance. Youve got some America-positive stuff, toss a little God in there, just a mention of fighting. And what I think is most important: home. My home, sweet home. Thats something Id fight and die for. And, unlike a flag, its something worth living for.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 15:48:50 +0000
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