General Discussion

DonCoquixote

(13,965 posts)

30. Keep in mind the anthem is a waltz

Mon Nov 16, 2015, 04:47 PM

Nov 2015

3/4 time whereas thanks to John Philip Sousa, most bands play it as a march, 4/4. To give you an idea, take any waltz and add an extra beat to it, awful, right?

but every anthem has some bad stuff:the Internationale has some god awful lyrics about killing people, even those on "our own side."

Personally, if we had to change the anthem, I could go with "this land is your land" or, the song "simple Gifts" The latter, a very old Shaker tune, may not strike a chord, but I bet you have heard this song.

or done in orchestral form:

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Our national anthem sucks. [View all] Archae Nov 2015 OP

and few can sing it properly niyad Nov 2015 #1

Except Roseanne, of course KamaAina Nov 2015 #2

If that bothers you then you are missing the point. Nt Logical Nov 2015 #24

I can make any point I choose. niyad Nov 2015 #50

Bad singers don't do well with it, whathehell Nov 2015 #29

A bit harsh GummyBearz Nov 2015 #3

Most veterans, democratic or republican get it. My WW2 father knew first hand the horror B Calm Nov 2015 #26

This is the same in my family GummyBearz Nov 2015 #34

I don't know that the lyrics are all that hard to remember Orrex Nov 2015 #4

That is rather amazing to me also. redwitch Nov 2015 #43

The French lyrics are something! I don't think they are easier to remember than our own, though... yawnmaster Nov 2015 #5

Agreed, not any easier or less war-like than ours. It just sounds better in French. brush Nov 2015 #7

'America The Beautiful' is so much nicer and easy to sing. CurtEastPoint Nov 2015 #6

That's my favorite too. And This Land is Your Land n/t TexasBushwhacker Nov 2015 #64

Methinks you don't speak French... jeff47 Nov 2015 #8

All national anthems suck. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #9

I disagree yeoman6987 Nov 2015 #14

Keep in mind the anthem is a waltz DonCoquixote Nov 2015 #30

I went to a funeral that was Unitarian and this land was plated. So awesome yeoman6987 Nov 2015 #44

Youre forgetting about this one: Nac Mac Feegle Nov 2015 #53

The problem with this one DonCoquixote Nov 2015 #61

+100. nt whathehell Nov 2015 #32

I rather admire the South African anthem in five languages struggle4progress Nov 2015 #16

I admire that it was written for five languages... Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #19

It reflects a brilliant political reconciliation, combining the national anthem struggle4progress Nov 2015 #22

Oh, I get that. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #25

Sez you.. whathehell Nov 2015 #31

Yes, says me. Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #33

Lol, I think I understand how subjectivity works better than you whathehell Nov 2015 #38

Did I state an opinion as a fact? Act_of_Reparation Nov 2015 #41

Yes. whathehell Nov 2015 #62

"War Song for the Army of the Rhine" - La Marseillaise's original name. nt hack89 Nov 2015 #10

Horrible, clunky, hard-to-sing tune. Paladin Nov 2015 #11

At least we don't have a God reference. Imagine singing God Save the Queen LittleBlue Nov 2015 #12

God shows up in the fourth verse Retrograde Nov 2015 #36

Yeah but we don't sing the other verses LittleBlue Nov 2015 #37

I've got to agree with you on the French anthem - COLGATE4 Nov 2015 #13

Better link SwankyXomb Nov 2015 #49

Much better. Thanks. nt COLGATE4 Nov 2015 #63

That clip from Casablanca will always be the most moving version, imo Hekate Nov 2015 #66

We should change it struggle4progress Nov 2015 #15

You forgot one. immoderate Nov 2015 #54

+ struggle4progress Nov 2015 #56

Canada's is nice too! KT2000 Nov 2015 #17

I disagree. It sounds excellent at Baltimore Orioles games. Tommy_Carcetti Nov 2015 #18

I've suggested here before that Springsteen's "My Hometown" should be our national anthem. nt raccoon Nov 2015 #20

When I become Emperor our national anthem is going to be Louie, Louie... hunter Nov 2015 #21

I love our anthem...always chokes me up. nt clarice Nov 2015 #23

I like our national anthem.. whathehell Nov 2015 #27

La Marseillaise, verse one: guillaumeb Nov 2015 #28

i wish anthems weren't so much about war. nt restorefreedom Nov 2015 #35

I think our anthem is strikingly poetic. uawchild Nov 2015 #39

I kind of like this one: The Velveteen Ocelot Nov 2015 #40

I won't go that far as to say that Blue_Tires Nov 2015 #42

Do you know French? Glassunion Nov 2015 #45

I like it. bigwillq Nov 2015 #46

Other national anthems only WISH they were ours derby378 Nov 2015 #47

Jose Feliciano did a great version as well in '68 Mnpaul Nov 2015 #48

I thought that too. Got to see him do it at the Atlanta redstateblues Nov 2015 #57

For something scribbled down during a battle, it's pretty damn good FLPanhandle Nov 2015 #51

Uruguay's is ripped from a Donizetti opera and has a cadenza Recursion Nov 2015 #52

The French is a military march written for the Marseilles militia Yorktown Nov 2015 #55

I think we should change it to "Sweet Caroline" but Albert Brooks had another idea: Gidney N Cloyd Nov 2015 #58

Being Latvian, I really like this one... tavernier Nov 2015 #59

Mexico National Anthem Unknown Beatle Nov 2015 #60

In French theirs says they'll water the furrows with the impure blood of their enemies. Cool, huh? Hekate Nov 2015 #65