Comments on: Marvin Gaye’s Star Spangled Banner

By: PJ

PJ — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:25:03 +0000

Interesting fact: According to the music-themed Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader I’m currently making my way through, that was the first video ever aired on either VH1 or MTV2 (can’t remember which).

By: Michael0511

Michael0511 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:54:18 +0000

Just in case you missed it, the full audio Feliciano version is posted there with the NPR story, but I thought the context was every bit as interesting as the version of the song.

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:20:19 +0000

Nice history snip, Michael. I really like this quote from your link:
“Since that game, singers have taken more artistic liberties with the anthem. Some versions have succeeded; others have failed miserably.”

Dang, too bad the video is him talking over his controversial rendition.

By: Michael0511

Michael0511 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:04:01 +0000

Thanks Marvin, but thanks to Jose Feliciano first.

Marvin couldn’t have done it without Jose Feliciano’s 1968 personalization of the Star Spangled Banner coming long before.

Even before Jimi Hendrix.

His changes were quite simple, but for the time, extremely unexpected and unappreciated.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6394213

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrY9RVfVkws

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:16:08 +0000

Thanks for sharing the video, thoughtbubble!

By: Ryno68

Ryno68 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:31:16 +0000

My favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4880PJnO2E

By: KevinS

KevinS — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:14:29 +0000

This would make my old high school band director cringe. He always insisted that since the National Anthem was composed as an up tempo march, it should be preformed that way.

If it is over a minute long, you are going way too slow.

and I agree with him. Although Marvin was an amazing singer, the National Anthem isn’t something you should just take creative liberties with.

By: tommyjoe

tommyjoe — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:20:03 +0000

I think, Gaye, and Underwood, along with all the singers that add notes to the Anthem, are only trying to show their voice range, Why can’t they just sing it like it is written. I would rather hear a Band play the anthem then some of these that come out to jive up the anthem, its a disgrace.

By: joe

joe — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:54:41 +0000

Have to disagree about Carrie Underwood. She hit, and I mean hit, a few notes that were off just enough to make your fillings hurt. But this is singing, not shouting. Genius.

By: Kevin Hodges

Kevin Hodges — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:22:27 +0000

Always hated the American National Anthem.(I’m Canadian) that is till today. That actually brought a tear to my eye! lol. Really very moving and beautiful. Incredible. I loved it! Awesome! Truly awesome. And my new favorite song!

By: A Fool

A Fool — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:03:47 +0000

Yo all, if you like Hip Hop or think you don’t… Check this song out, “Marvin”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgUwNq9bVds

By: thoughtbubble

thoughtbubble — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:20:16 +0000

This is my video. I posted it on youtube a few years ago after discovering it in a box of old marvin gaye beta tapes that a record company sent me for a compilation job I was hired to do. How random to have it pop up on Neatorama, one of my favourite daily websites…
hope you enjoy it!

By: ~Emma

~Emma — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:06:49 +0000

Wow…my nipples are hard now.

Is that wrong?

By: Wesley

Wesley — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:38:01 +0000

While I love me some Marvin Gaye I have yet to find anyone who could top Whitney Houston singing the National Anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHmdu_I_0zI

Still gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it.

By: Zoltan Pendragon

Zoltan Pendragon — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:10:45 +0000

Still got nothing on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcZRFcjbhw

Nothing in the world like Bosox fans.

By: Cola

Cola — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:21:05 +0000

Yeah, george. It’s downright sacrilegious. The only people who get to play around with our precious national anthem are country music stars who want to throw in some electric guitar and gravelly undertones.

Now get off my lawn!

By: george

george — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:59:12 +0000

Awful, just awful…what song did you day that is? Was the flag flying upside down too??

By: pumblechook

pumblechook — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:48:52 +0000

This is my newest favorite thing ever.