Treat Our National Anthem With Respect. Don't Sing It Like a Rap Tune

Sing it right, damn it! I'm certain that the majority of mature Americans feel that way about many of the off the wall interpretations of our national anthem over the past decades.. The entertainment industry has used the opportunity for singing the anthem as a showcase for the talents of many high priced entertainers, many with questionable vocal ability. Not all of us recognize their hip hop or gospel inspired musical ranting as being appropriate for presenting our nation's beautiful anthem to a crowd of 70,000 rabid football stadium fans and 40 million more at home.

A growing number of us, outside the hip-hop culture don't appreciate the way these show-offs hog the spotlight trying to outdo the last highlighted singer. These clowns forget that the invitation to sing our "Star Spangled Banner" is an honor, not an opportunity for self promotion that often results in forgotten or botched lyrics. They need to leave the styling for the stage and sing our song in a heartfelt, honest manner, in keeping with the way it was originally written. Forget the long held high notes held to the point of near expiration. Breath like you should and sing loud and clear, just as the theme was originally written. Of course, that could be the problem for some of the singers in that they might not be able to read music.

One mor thing that is important, Learn the words. It's the leqst you can do.

It was suggested that to capture the real spirit of the anthem, the performer should imagine him or herself singing in front of a group of WWII vets who paid the price for their country. If that doesn't inspire them nothing will. The fault lies in the hands of the game promoters who believe that a big name entertainer will improve the ratings and even help draw a bigger crowd to the event. A better idea would be to give a local choir or a veteran the opportunity to sing like we all did when were in grade school. It was rousing then and sent a shiver up our spines when we sang it. It could again if we stop trying to turn it into a spectacle.

There are penalties in force for desecrating the American flag. Why not extend those penalties to those who abuse the national anthem? At the next halftime show, let's vote on that.