The myrtle of Venus and Bacchus's vine

[serai]

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Just reading a post over at Metafilter where a lot of people are bitching about the national anthem. You know, it's soooo hard to sing, the lyrics are stupid, why can't we have another song, yadayadayada. The same old stuff that gets trotted out every year.

I've never understood it. To me, it's a beautiful song. The melody is wonderful, if challenging, hearkening back to a time when pretty much everybody could sing. (The tune was a drinking song, after all, meaning it was written to be sung by people already shitfaced.) And the lyrics, while describing a battle - not the nicest of scenes - are poetic and descriptive, full of wonder and pride. Why does everybody hate this song so much? Because it's old? Because it just points out how much we've lost in common talent?

I love singing this song. Yes, it's not simple like "Happy Birthday", but it's the challenge that makes it so great. I've found that the way to overcome the challenge is to go full tilt with it; if you try to sing half-heartedly, you're sure to fail. But if you let go of your nervousness and let yourself be carried away by the feeling of the song, you're much more likely to come out with something wonderful.

Plus, I just love the original lyrics. It's my fantasy that one day at some official function, some smart-aleck singer will be getting ready to begin, but will instead belt out the original:

To Anacreon in Heaven - Oak, Ash & Thorn


Happy 4th of July!

Comments

[aussiepeach.livejournal.com]

If it's any comfort, Advance Australia Fair gets the same attitude. People tend to say we should have Waltzing Matlida instead. But we used to have God Save the Queen! And our anthem sounds great during the Olympics etc, with nice lyrics. You'll never have a song that pleases everyone.

[shirebound]

The melody is wonderful, if challenging

I agree. I always get chills when I hear it sung.

[fantasy-fan.livejournal.com]

I personally like it, except when some "celebrity" butchers it at a sporting event. It ought to be something that everyone sings, not a personal American Idol-type performance. I like the way at some Hockey games recently, the singer will stop after the first few lines and turn the microphone to the audience, encouraging them to just belt it out. Can send chills up your spine. (Of course, this was started by a Canadian singer with the Canadian national anthem, but it still works in the US.) I always sing it at baseball and football games I go to.

I've never heard the original words before. If someone sang that, it would surely confuse the crowd. I would like to see a performer at least do one of the other official verses. The fourth is nice, but probably too religious to be done these days. I like that it makes the distinction that conquering should be reserved for when it is just.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their beloved land and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
And if conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
Then this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!