[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

Who performed it last night? Does anyone know?

There are times when it's sung well, but I am most moved by the instrumental version played by an orchestra or band (such as the version used in the Olympic medal ceremonies).

It was performed by Anastacia -- whoever the hell she is ...

Yea, Not sure why she was chosen, it was pretty bad. Each night during the World Series, I always get real excited about who could it be thats gonna sing. Usually its someone great like Patti Labelle or Faith Hill.

There are certain songs that should be treated with respect, and a country's national anthem--any country's national anthem--are among those that should be so honored. This does not mean a performer cannot perform it in a personal, individual manner--but with respect. Anastasia (whomever she is) didn't treat the anthem with respect; hell, she didn't even bother to learn the words!

~Adam

I agree that Anastascia (sp?) did a horrible job. I guess we should have known from the hour-long pregame that it was going to end up being an all-around bad night!

I mean geez... usually I can't wait for the All-Star game every year. Now I'm beginning to wonder why I watch... I guess I still keep clinging to the memories as a child of when it was exciting and competitive! And the lone representative for a team didn't always get to play....

So sorry I missed it. Well, not really, from the sounds of it.

Trivial question: So, who sang the Canadian anthem? WAS there a Canadian anthem? And was it bilingue?

I agree that Anastasia' rendition was godawful. But, there have been many alternative totally untraditional versions of the Star Spangled Banner that have stood out as crowning achievements.

Jose Feliciano's version done for the World Series back in the glorious '60s and Jimi Hendrix' instrumental version performed at Woodstock. These are timeless.

Untraditional is one thing; ear-shatteringly bad is quite another. Especially bad given the fact that it was the first All-Star game post September 11. Baseball, as well as other sports, did such a wonderful, respectful job in the weeks after 9/11. Another thing gone wrong in a evening that was pretty much a complete debacle.

Maybe the lady who sang was from Milwaukee, and was a B.O.B. (Bud of Bud's)

[quote]Originally posted by Seph:
So sorry I missed it. Well, not really, from the sounds of it.

Trivial question: So, who sang the Canadian anthem? WAS there a Canadian anthem? And was it bilingue?

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Unless I dozed off, I didn't hear 'O Canada' in either English or francais. Celine Dion probably would have done us proud in both official languages, but I guess she didn't want to make Anastacia look bad by comparison.

The anthems of Dominican Repubic, Japan and several other countries were not performed either, and they had more All-Stars than Canada. Dodgers' pitcher Eric Gagne was our sole rep this year (I think there were at least two Canadians last year).

[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

[ January 03, 2003: Message edited by: Ump25 ]

I've heard some wonderful non-traditional renditions of our anthem. James Earl Jones reading it as poetry, Boys to Men (I think) singing it at the opening of the Atlanta Olympics a capella, and others. I've heard far more horrendous traditional presentations. The Star Spangled Banner is one of the most difficult nationalistic feats in the history of music.

[quote]Originally posted by Marc:

The anthems of Dominican Repubic, Japan and several other countries were not performed either, and they had more All-Stars than Canada. Dodgers' pitcher Eric Gagne was our sole rep this year (I think there were at least two Canadians last year).

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But the Canadian national anthem is performed because there are Canadian TEAMS in the league. I don't think it was good of Fox to cut our anthem out entirely, esp. since there was no "Canadian" coverage--we were watching the Fox broadcast.

Blame it all on Marvin Gaye. His "non-traditional" rendition before a Lakers finals game in 1984 set the trend. Unfortunately, 99% of the people following him aren't worthy to lick clean the bottom of his loafers with their bare tongues (tm Monty Python), talent-wise. When singers turn the SSB in to a coloratura aria, my mom screams at the TV "Just sing the damn song!". Exactly.

Of course, I hate the SBB as music and lyrics, so anything that nudges along the idea that it should be replaced with say, America the Beautiful, is fine with me. It's like telling people that the tune is from an old British pub song in praise of Anacreon, an ancient Greek fond of f**king young boys. That's the best tactic I've found for getting people to re-consider the use of the SBB.

And O'Canada? Best. anthem. ever.

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Jim Allen ]