Post by johneppstein on Jun 1, 2017 20:26:09 GMT -6
This isn't meant to be political, but if it's inappropriate please delete.
This is about our national anthem, and specifically the way it is often performed at sporting events and similar productions.
I was watching the opening of the NBA Finals at my local bar and it came time for the singing of the national anthem. I don't know who the guy was singing it, this isn't about any singer in particular, just about the way it's all too commonly handled at these types of events. (Edit: I just googled it and it appears that the singer was Pat Monahan from Train, not that it really matters.)
The anthem started and the singing was OK, a bit lackluster with not very good sustain at the end of the lines, but decent and on track. Then towards the end the SOB starts showboating, doing melismatric improvisations that are not part of the song. At that point I exclaim "Just sing the song, it's not about you, it's about the country!" And a bunch of the bar's yahoos (political orientation redacted) start coming down on me for criticizing this guy who, IMO, is disrespecting our national anthem. My take on it is, "Hey DOOD, it's not about YOU, it's about the COUNTRY! Just sing the song, with respect."
Am I wrong in this? Is it right for a singer, no matter who he/she might be, to co-opt this moment to show off themself? Or, possibly, to engage in a cheap showboating cover-up of the fact that maybe he can't quite hit the high notes? I'll tell you, if it was me (fat chance) and I was asked I'd run through the song a few times and if I couldn't hack it (it's not an easy song to sing correctly) I would respectfully decline the honor.
Would, for example, Tony Bennet do something like that?
Or any other of our truly GREAT singers? If Roy Orbison, with his incredible range, stoop to a self aggrandizing stunt like that (were he still with us)? (Man, I would love to hear Orbison sing the Anthem!)
What's wrong with the young singers these days? Does nobody have any respect or thought for anything but themself?
How is this any better than Rosanne grabbing her crotch?
OK, rant over...
This is about our national anthem, and specifically the way it is often performed at sporting events and similar productions.
I was watching the opening of the NBA Finals at my local bar and it came time for the singing of the national anthem. I don't know who the guy was singing it, this isn't about any singer in particular, just about the way it's all too commonly handled at these types of events. (Edit: I just googled it and it appears that the singer was Pat Monahan from Train, not that it really matters.)
The anthem started and the singing was OK, a bit lackluster with not very good sustain at the end of the lines, but decent and on track. Then towards the end the SOB starts showboating, doing melismatric improvisations that are not part of the song. At that point I exclaim "Just sing the song, it's not about you, it's about the country!" And a bunch of the bar's yahoos (political orientation redacted) start coming down on me for criticizing this guy who, IMO, is disrespecting our national anthem. My take on it is, "Hey DOOD, it's not about YOU, it's about the COUNTRY! Just sing the song, with respect."
Am I wrong in this? Is it right for a singer, no matter who he/she might be, to co-opt this moment to show off themself? Or, possibly, to engage in a cheap showboating cover-up of the fact that maybe he can't quite hit the high notes? I'll tell you, if it was me (fat chance) and I was asked I'd run through the song a few times and if I couldn't hack it (it's not an easy song to sing correctly) I would respectfully decline the honor.
Would, for example, Tony Bennet do something like that?
Or any other of our truly GREAT singers? If Roy Orbison, with his incredible range, stoop to a self aggrandizing stunt like that (were he still with us)? (Man, I would love to hear Orbison sing the Anthem!)
What's wrong with the young singers these days? Does nobody have any respect or thought for anything but themself?
How is this any better than Rosanne grabbing her crotch?
OK, rant over...
