I understand a singer was invited to sing the national anthem to launch a City of Denver governmental event ("state of the city" address by the mayor, maybe?) and instead of singing the Star Spangled Banner substituted "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," also known as the 'black national anthem.' The singer was black and said she sang this song because it expressed how she felt about living in the United Sttes, as a black woman, as a black person.
What do you all think? When I am next invited to sing the national anthem to launch a solemn state affair is it OK for me to substitute my own preferred lyrics, maybe some of my favorite passages of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," or some of La Rochefoucauld's "Maxims"?
It occurs to me this places governments in a dilemma: if they ask a black singer (or, perhaps in the future, a hispanic singer or some other member of a special interest group or political sect) to sing the national anthem they risk the singer appropriating the occasion to their own political statement, if they decline to ask a black singer to sing the national anthem, they risk being accused of racism.
Clearly, what is needed is a new audio system that comprises a microphone coupled to an amplification and loud speaker system that promotes real-time switching from the microphone to a pre-recorded version of the national anthem, the microphone additionally coupled to a political-message-extinguisher bottle that is operable to spray a smelley, gooey substance over the co-opting singer.
What do you all think? When I am next invited to sing the national anthem to launch a solemn state affair is it OK for me to substitute my own preferred lyrics, maybe some of my favorite passages of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," or some of La Rochefoucauld's "Maxims"?
What do I think, I think it's bullchit!!! It's like being hired to detail cars and instead you decide to paint the cars a different color!!
It should give Denver a black eye, and I hope it does!!
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I understand a singer was invited to sing the national anthem to launch a City of Denver governmental event ("state of the city" address by the mayor, maybe?) and instead of singing the Star Spangled Banner substituted "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," also known as the 'black national anthem.' The singer was black and said she sang this song because it expressed how she felt about living in the United Sttes, as a black woman, as a black person.
What do you all think? When I am next invited to sing the national anthem to launch a solemn state affair is it OK for me to substitute my own preferred lyrics, maybe some of my favorite passages of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," or some of La Rochefoucauld's "Maxims"?
It occurs to me this places governments in a dilemma: if they ask a black singer (or, perhaps in the future, a hispanic singer or some other member of a special interest group or political sect) to sing the national anthem they risk the singer appropriating the occasion to their own political statement, if they decline to ask a black singer to sing the national anthem, they risk being accused of racism.
Clearly, what is needed is a new audio system that comprises a microphone coupled to an amplification and loud speaker system that promotes real-time switching from the microphone to a pre-recorded version of the national anthem, the microphone additionally coupled to a political-message-extinguisher bottle that is operable to spray a smelley, gooey substance over the co-opting singer.
I will assume that the song expressed the fact that she still feels that black people are not treated as equals in this country. Well that is total BS.
If you are black and still feel like you do not have equal rights in this country, then you are probally not where you want to be in life because you are just lazy.
Things are equal now, I understand that it didnt used to be, but now it is.
As far as that lady is concerned if she hates this country so much she should consider the alternative. Even if she doesnt know exactly where it is that her anscestry hails from; there is a good chance that it is a third world country ridden with famine and AIDS. So in a round about way she actually has alot to be thankful for.
What do I think, I think it's bullchit!!! It's like being hired to detail cars and instead you decide to paint the cars a different color!!
It should give Denver a black eye, and I hope it does
+1
Quote:
will assume that the song expressed the fact that she still feels that black people are not treated as equals in this country. Well that is total BS.
If you are black and still feel like you do not have equal rights in this country, then you are probally not where you want to be in life because you are just lazy.
Things are equal now, I understand that it didnt used to be, but now it is.
+2
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I read the song. It is not overtly, obviously anti-american or harranguing about lack of equality for blacks. I'm not sure how it is interpreted by blacks. That may be worth exploring by others who have greater understanding and insight into this song than I have. I was responding to the event on a pretty simple level. I think it is wrong, whenasked to dignify a public proceeding by singing the standard national anthem, to substitute on one's own authority and inclination some other material of one's own choosing, it mattereth not the chosen content. This activity is not an invitation to express a political opinion or a personal message. I think it is very bad manners and will drive a change in how this is done in the future. For example, forgoing live singers altogether in favor of using pre-recorded music that can be controlled. That seems regrettable but necessary ifsingers insist on usurping the occasion for their own personal purposes.
Regardless of her personal feelings, she was invited to the event to sing the National Anthem of the United States of America, not the song she chose. Had I been hizzoner I would have stopped her after the first couple of words left her lips and firmly reminded her of that fact. Her dermal pigmentation is irrelevant, she purosely showed disrespect to our national anthem and should have been called on it.
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Another thing that drives me nuts is when the singer decides to "make it her own..." It's not her own, it belongs to all of us, and singing some skat version with bunch of added vocal tremolos and whatnot is just asinine.
After hearing more on this subject this morning, it turns out that several of the people that were there were asked why they didn't stop her, to that they replied that they simply beleived that she would "get to the national anthem" after she sang the first song.
There are no signed contracts and no pay checks for singing the national anthem. It's simply a privilage and honor to be asked to perform. Unfortunately, there will be no real punishment, other than the BAD publicity that she will be recieving. The mayor was upstaged, even the local papers headline what she did, and NOT what the mayor spoke about!!
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A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.
Singing "Black National Anthem"
