STAR-MANGLED BANNER

#43 - The Star-Mangled Banner is an editorial about the ways our National Anthem is sometimes performed by various pop stars whose renditions tend to mangle rather than spangle the anthem.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Keys For New Leaders, a podcast Serving Leaders Serving Others.  This is your host, Dr. Charles Boyer, but just call me Charlie, my friend.  Thank you so much for listening.  Serving Leaders Serving Others is what we’re all about.  In this series of podcasts, my goal is to serve you, the new leader, helping you serve others through sharing ideas, helpful hints, suggestions, inspiration, insights, encouragement and sometimes a laugh or two to lighten the load along the way.

This is Episode #43 with a slightly wacky title:  The Star-Mangled Banner.  Yes, you heard that right:  The Star-MANGLED Banner.

This is a different type of episode.  Actually, it’s more of an editorial than an episode, so please bear with me.  I want to share some personal thoughts about certain performances I have heard over several seasons.  If you’re wondering about the setting for this editorial, I’m basing it on the custom of beginning many televised sporting events in the United States with a performance of our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.  Some renditions are performed by instrumental or vocal groups, some by solo performers or pop stars.  Some performances are superb –  such as the recent Olympics, where each country’s National Anthem was performed with dignity and honor.  And then there are some other renditions.  As I’ve discussed my thoughts with friends, I’ve received a lot of agreement and encouragement to share my thoughts with others, so I wrote a short article to present these thoughts in some organized way.  These are my opinions, and you may agree or disagree, of course.  If you would like to express your opinion, your comments are most welcome.  Send an email message to:  charlie.keys4nl@gmail.com  or click on the “send us a text” link under the transcript copy on the podcast website.  This article is not copyrighted, so feel free to share it with others if you wish.  Here’s the article:

* * * 

THE STAR-MANGLED BANNER

My ears ache from being assaulted by horrendous renditions of our National Anthem, foisted upon us at the beginning of fall football games on TV.  Striving for performance excellence on the gridiron doesn’t seem to include the musical mayhem we have been subjected to while celebrities and stars rend their versions of what should be a musically accurate and respectful performance – but most often isn’t.

Granted, the anthem is difficult to sing.   It has a range of an octave and a fifth, a challenge for most of us.  Francis Scott Key’s inspiring poetry was set to the tune of an old drinking song.  Maybe it’s easier to sing after a few beers.  But that doesn’t excuse the poor performances we’ve all heard and endured by various pop stars whose renditions tend to mangle rather than spangle the anthem.  Thank goodness for the mute button on my TV remote!

I can count the great performances I’ve heard this fall on the fingers of one hand and have a few fingers left over:  an Army sergeant who sang solo, a quartet of talented gospel singers, a combined performance by two excellent university bands.  Perhaps there are others you have heard.  The point is that we should expect – and accept – nothing less than the best performance of our National Anthem whenever and wherever it is performed.  I don’t know where or to whom to protest these poor performances.  Maybe you do – and I hope you will!  The Star-Spangled Banner should never be the Star-Mangled Banner.

Respectfully, Charles  G. Boyer, Professor of Music Emeritus

* * *

Based on some of the reactions I’ve received from others, this topic seems to have struck a nerve. Here are just a few of the comments I’ve received from friends and colleagues:

·      I yell at the TV when there’s a bad performance

·      I often reach for the mute button

·      The Anthem is not a pop song; sing it with respect

·      At least, try to hit the right notes

·      Let the band play it – they do it well.

And what are your thoughts?  I’m interested in your comments, so send a note if you wish.  Send an email message to:  charlie.keys4nl@gmail.com  or click on the “send us a text” link under the transcript copy on the podcast website.  

This has been an interlude of some thoughts and opinions I wanted to get off my chest, as the saying goes.  Now, it’s time to get off my soapbox and get on with the next episode.

It’s been awhile since I posted the last episode.  I haven’t run out of good topics to discuss with you.  Lots of good things have happened – and a few others as well.  It’s time to get back on track.  The good thing, though, is that listeners continue to join the podcast, now from more than 1200 different cities around the world.  That’s amazing!  Thank you very much for tuning in and listening!

As I mentioned in an earlier episode, the next one will be about your Agility Ability, no, not the “leap tall buildings” kind of agility, but the ability to lead by being flexible, innovative, and resourceful, all things and more that a leader must be able to do and demonstrate these days.

Thanks for listening.  Take care, and join me for the next episode, your Agility Ability.