National Anthem Poll and "don't cheat" question! (teach, students)

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by Boompa

God Bless America, too many years as a Flyers Fan

god bless america kate smith - Google Videos

This x10,000.

It's the essential American song. It was written by an atheist Jewish immigrant who is one of our nation's greatest composers. It's lyrics are easy to sing and remember, unlike the Star Spangled Banner, and it glorifies the ideals that America was founded upon rather than simply a single battle of a long-forgotten war.

Unlike our current national anthem, which is set to the tune of an old drinking song and and is essentially unsingable for any without musical training, God Bless America is a very simple song to sing and it would encourage stadiums and events to belt the song out with pride rather than remaining stoic and silent.

This is our greatest patriotic song and it would make a great anthem.

[doctorjef]

God Bless America has an advantage - much like the anthem O Canada - of being lyrically and musically simple and straightforward. The SSB is ritually slaughtered at every ballgame played anywhere in the USA, and really I don't think much of Francis Scott Key's poetic abilities. America the Beautiful has lovely imagery - much better poetry than Key's commemoration of an unsuccessful British naval seige in the War of 1812. AtB, however, has difficult high notes, almost as unsingable as the SSB.

In any event, I can't really imagine that the national anthem would be changed after so long. The only feasible thing would be to vigorously promote an alternative patriotic song as an unofficial popular anthem.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

God Bless America has an advantage - much like the anthem O Canada - of being lyrically and musically simple and straightforward. The SSB is ritually slaughtered at every ballgame played anywhere in the USA, and really I don't think much of Francis Scott Key's poetic abilities. America the Beautiful has lovely imagery - much better poetry than Key's commemoration of an unsuccessful British naval seige in the War of 1812. AtB, however, has difficult high notes, almost as unsingable as the SSB.

In any event, I can't really imagine that the national anthem would be changed after so long. The only feasible thing would be to vigorously promote an alternative patriotic song as an unofficial popular anthem.

I doubt it will ever happen, but the subject has come up many times before.

Nita

[TT Dave]

I'm tempted to say "My Country Tis of Thee" would be a better anthem simply because it's a direct copy of the British national anthem with the lyrics changed, from "God Save The Queen" to "Let Freedom Ring" for example

But...I guess I'll stick with the one we have, I think it's a great song too.

[doctorjef]

In Britain, God Save the Queen is criticised for sounding dirge-like. I like the lyrics to God Save the Queen and find that they go well with the melody. However, I find My Country 'Tis of Thee to be overly sentimental and lacking in the substance of America the Beautiful, and the sentimental lyrics of My Country 'Tis of Thee ("America") just seem to magnify the trite melody.

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

Ok...I get the hint (not that it took much!) from fellers like Willy and Stan.

Yep...there ARE a few more tunes that might work for us Texans...

I hope these come thru ok...


YouTube - The Eyes of Texas Acapella


YouTube - Texas Our Texas

Wow and you wonder why people want Texas to secede
Can we get back to America without talking about Texas





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNNlt...eature=related

[Ketabcha]

Star Spangled Banner. That is my choice.

I like where it was written and why it was written. It is very American.

I know all the words. I was a child of the military and grew up singing that song a lot.

[Cha Ching]

Originally Posted by TexasReb

That some may have capitalized on it (which I deplore, too), doesn't take away from the fact Lee Greenwood's song "Proud To Be An American" wasn't sung from the heart and....jingoistic? What does that mean? Dictionary defintion is excessively patriotic.

So what? If it makes me a jingolo guy to say it is my country right or wrong, then I plead proudly guilty!

You forgot the second part:
Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy.

That means we'll bomb anybody.

[B4U]

I love our national anthem. I'm a traditionalist I guess. +1 for keeping it.

[TexasGirl@Heart]

I still get goosebumps every time I hear the SSB. I vote to keep it.