I'm normally VERY picky about the national anthem. I don't like when singers make the song about them, rather than about the song. That said, if a country singer sings it, it will inevitably sound country. If an opera singer sings it, it will ineivtably sount operatic. Musicians all have their own sound. That's why they garner the attention which gets them the gig of singing the national anthem in the first place. If not, we could just have a recording of the Marine Corps Band playing it, and copyright it so that no one could ever screw it up again.
For me, it comes down to two questions: Were they sincere in their rendition? In other words, were they honoring America, or were they promoting themselves. Was their style in keeping with the spirit of love of country, that this song is intended to evok?
The 2nd question is: Was the thing you don't like about it, because it was ACTUALLY bad, or even unpatriotic, or was it simply not your taste?
For me, the Fray's rendition was not really my taste, but it wasn't bad, and it certainly wasn't self-serving or mocking. It was just a different sound than we've heard before. And isn't diversity one of the most important ideals on which this country was founded in the first place? E Pluribus Unum.
WATCH > The Fray's National Anthem: Decent or Dreadful?
SodaHead Music
2012/04/03 20:24:50
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The public seems to be taking up arms against yet another performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner," but this time it's not for forgetting the words (Christina Aguilera, Natalie Gilbert) or even for a questionable singing voice (Roseanne Barr, Steven Tyler). The Fray is getting negative feedback for its rendition of the anthem before the NCAA championship game Monday night.
In addition to negative feedback on YouTube, the performance is getting flak from media outlets, as well. Entertainment Weekly calls it "Francis Scott Key meets 'The Rainbow Connection,'" The Washington Post calls it "a version that made you want to curl up in the corner and drunk text an ex," and Yahoo! calls it "finger-picking mood guitar, emo vocals and a guy doing his best impersonation of a Civil War drummer boy." But we want to know what you think. Was The Frey's National Anthem rendition decent or dreadful?
In addition to negative feedback on YouTube, the performance is getting flak from media outlets, as well. Entertainment Weekly calls it "Francis Scott Key meets 'The Rainbow Connection,'" The Washington Post calls it "a version that made you want to curl up in the corner and drunk text an ex," and Yahoo! calls it "finger-picking mood guitar, emo vocals and a guy doing his best impersonation of a Civil War drummer boy." But we want to know what you think. Was The Frey's National Anthem rendition decent or dreadful?
Top Opinion
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elijahin24 2012/04/03 20:57:29
It was not written about an emo kid who lost his puppy, hence the version by The Frey is not quite up to the task of properly demonstrating the specific gravitas that the National Anthem of the United States deserves.
Maybe they'll fix it by next year, when the game's in Alanta...... teehee
the guy with the acoustic guitar was cute.
For me, it comes down to two questions: Were they sincere in their rendition? In other words, were they honoring America, or were they promoting themselves. Was their style in keeping with the spirit of love of country, that this song is intended to evok?
The 2nd question is: Was the thing you don't like about it, because it was ACTUALLY bad, or even unpatriotic, or was it simply not your taste?
For me, the Fray's rendition was not really my taste, but it wasn't bad, and it certainly wasn't self-serving or mocking. It was just a different sound than we've heard before. And isn't diversity one of the most important ideals on which this country was founded in the first place? E Pluribus Unum.