# What Should Be the American National Anthem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993 "2010-09-08T00:33:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/61 "2010-09-09T17:14:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’ve also always found it easy to sing, but I would never suggest that people need to get voice lessons in order to sing what is supposed to be a universal song. Music education _should_ be universal. Anyway I said “music classes”, not voice lessons. I’ve never had voice lessons in my life and I can sing the national anthem just fine. ---
**Author:** ![zoog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7ea924/32.png) [@zoog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoog)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/62 "2010-09-09T17:39:03Z")
_Livin’ In America_ by James Brown. Saw him do that a few years before he died, and he had a couple of red, white, and blue bikini clad dancers gyrating on stage behind him. I’ve never felt more patriotic in my whole life. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/63 "2010-09-09T18:25:15Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > (Now if I were starting an entirely new country somewhere, I’d use the “Imperial March”–AKA the “Darth Vader Theme”–from the _Star Wars_ movies. No lyrics, but who needs 'em?) We wanted to use that for our wedding recessional. 😃 I picked Other, because my favorite is America from The Jazz Singer. Neil Diamond makes my hair curl with that rendition. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/64 "2010-09-09T21:53:51Z")
I know nothing about music/singing Why is the star spangled banner hard to sing? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/65 "2010-09-09T22:20:26Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > I know nothing about music/singing > > Why is the star spangled banner hard to sing? Because the difference between the lowest notes and the highest notes is a wider stretch than in most popularly sung songs. Many people don’t have a vocal range that stretches up and down enough to include both extremes. Especially when everyone has to sing together in the same key, a key which may well cut even more useful range out of some people’s voices that aren’t suited to that key. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/66 "2010-09-09T22:33:25Z")
> [@zoog](#): > > _Livin’ In America_ by James Brown. Saw him do that a few years before he died, and he had a couple of red, white, and blue bikini clad dancers gyrating on stage behind him. I’ve never felt more patriotic in my whole life. For that matter, you could also go with the Steve Miller Band’s _Livin’ in the U.S.A._. That would kick ass. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/67 "2010-09-09T22:34:44Z")
[quote=“Johanna, post:65, topic:552993”] > [@PSXer](#): > > Especially when everyone has to sing together in the same key, a key which may well cut even more useful range out of some people’s voices that aren’t suited to that key. Big deal; switch octaves. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/68 "2010-09-09T22:41:41Z")
I voted to the Star Spangled Banner. I love that we have that as the anthem and I wouldn’t want to change it. Unless we got to steal the anthem from [Kazakhstan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWGm8HvOrNI) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/69 "2010-09-09T22:57:45Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > > [@PSXer](#): > > > > I know nothing about music/singing > > > > Why is the star spangled banner hard to sing? > > Because the difference between the lowest notes and the highest notes is a wider stretch than in most popularly sung songs. Many people don’t have a vocal range that stretches up and down enough to include both extremes. Especially when everyone has to sing together in the same key, a key which may well cut even more useful range out of some people’s voices that aren’t suited to that key. Any particular reason why everybody has to sing it in the same key? I’ve got some musical education, but it was in the marching band, where the important lesson was “Throw enough instruments at it, and skills matters not as much” ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/70 "2010-09-10T00:21:43Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > I picked Other, because my favorite is America from The Jazz Singer. Neil Diamond makes my hair curl with that rendition. I voted for “America the Beautiful” before I read downthread to this. How do I change my vote? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/71 "2010-09-10T00:27:27Z")
[Shenandoah](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gtJkeXAMt0). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/72 "2010-09-10T00:42:27Z")
[quote=“Odesio, post:56, topic:552993”] > [@foolsguinea](#): > > Then there’s that pesky problem of “God shared his grace with thee” repeated over and over. It’s not “God shared his grace with thee”. It’s “God shed his grace on thee”. You’re asking for divine blessing on the land, not claiming that it’s under divine protection. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/73 "2010-09-10T00:45:57Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Never heard of “Battle Cry of Freedom.” The title sounds aggressive. It’s an aggressive song. It’s from the Civil War: > [@](#): > > Yes we’ll rally round the flag, boys, we’ll rally once again, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom, > We will rally from the hillside, we’ll gather from the plain, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > > ``` > (Chorus) > The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah! > Down with the traitor, up with the star; > While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > > ``` > > We are springing to the call with a million freemen more, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > And we’ll fill our vacant ranks of our brothers gone before, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > > ``` > Chorus > > ``` > > We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > And although he may be poor, not a man shall be a slave, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > > ``` > Chorus > > ``` > > So we’re springing to the call from the East and from the West, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! > And we’ll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love best, > Shouting the battle cry of freedom! It’s very stirring. I mean, just listening to it makes me want to burn Atlanta. But it is very Civil War. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/74 "2010-09-10T00:48:28Z")
I made a pick but I would almost prefer either “Bonnie Blue Flag”, “Fish Cheer” or Charlie Daniels “In America”. Let’s face it, we’re the United States of America. We’re going to piss off a big part of the world and large parts of our own population whatever we do. So lets do it with a catchy tune to march by. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/75 "2010-09-10T00:57:07Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I made a pick but I would almost prefer either **“Bonnie Blue Flag”** , “Fish Cheer” or Charlie Daniels “In America”. Let’s face it, we’re the United States of America. We’re going to piss off a big part of the world and large parts of our own population whatever we do. So lets do it with a catchy tune to march by. That’s a Confederate song though… ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/76 "2010-09-10T01:59:19Z")
Stars & Stripes. Gives a great feeling when you hear it, without ramming war or patriotism down your throat. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/77 "2010-09-10T02:21:25Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Any particular reason why everybody has to sing it in the same key? I’ve got some musical education, but it was in the marching band, where the important lesson was “Throw enough instruments at it, and skills matters not as much” Sounds like the concept behind the Portsmouth Sinfonia. To answer your question: Because if people sing the same thing in various random keys at the same time, it majorly sounds like crap. The same goes for singing off key. It’s just something that nobody wants to have happen. Unless your name is Lucille Ball and you’re making comedy out of singing off key. And even then, she used that shtick sparingly. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/78 "2010-09-10T03:43:22Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > > [@kopek](#): > > > > I made a pick but I would almost prefer either **“Bonnie Blue Flag”** , “Fish Cheer” or Charlie Daniels “In America”. Let’s face it, we’re the United States of America. We’re going to piss off a big part of the world and large parts of our own population whatever we do. So lets do it with a catchy tune to march by. > > That’s a Confederate song though… And Fish Cheer isn’t actually a song. But when I set out to piss people off I figure going half-way isn’t worth the effort. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/79 "2010-09-10T13:04:02Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > > [@BigT](#): > > > > I’ve also always found it easy to sing, but I would never suggest that people need to get voice lessons in order to sing what is supposed to be a universal song. > > Music education _should_ be universal. > > Anyway I said “music classes”, not voice lessons. I’ve never had voice lessons in my life and I can sing the national anthem just fine. The reason it’s called hard to sing isn’t because the melody is hard to learn–it’s because it doesn’t fit in a lot of people range. The average untrained voice range is just a hair over an octave, and expands to about two octaves with minimal voice training. I’m unaware of any other types of music lessons that would help with range. So obviously what they would need is voice lessons, so that’s what I assumed you meant. And, while I can respect the idea that said lessons should be universal, until they are, I can’t in good conscience tell people they have to have them to sing the anthem. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-the-american-national-anthem/552993/80 "2010-09-10T13:05:18Z")
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