[budster101]

My favorite instrumental version to date:

Have a listen, but the best is really near the end of the song, so just buy it.


Anyone else have any favorites?

Not to be geocentric, so include your favorite anthem for your country. I'm interested in hearing some new ones.

[Oisín]

Bar Strangled Spanner is my favourite version.

[Dimethyltrypt]

I love my gf.. does that count?

[fromthecloud]

Originally posted by Dimethyltrypt:
I love my gf.. does that count?

I love lamp.

Seriously, though, the version by Boston is the best.

[mattyd]

Jimi Hendrix

[kemuri]

I think a version that someone farts out would be cool.

[starman]

Originally posted by kemuri:
I think a version that someone farts out would be cool.

Rosanne?

[OldManMac]

Originally posted by mattyd:
Jimi Hendrix

Second that.

[bubblewrap]

Another Hendrix here.

[JohnSmithXTREME]

It's not a very entertaining song, to be honest. A bit on the boring side, don't you agree? I do, however, like "Beat It" by Michael Jackson.

[mattyd]

Originally posted by kemuri:
I think a version that someone farts out would be cool.

I'm pretty sure there's a proposed consitutional ammendment that would make that illegal.

[James L]

I am not American, but I am a semi pro musician. Jimi Hendrix works for me!

Incidently, I just saw THE Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian in DC this summer as it was being restored... pretty cool.

Cheers!

James

[Dale Sorel]

Whitney Houston

[KeriVit]

Originally posted by Dale Sorel:
Whitney Houston

second that- and I don't like her anymore- but that was te best

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally posted by James L:
I am not American, but I am a semi pro musician. Jimi Hendrix works for me!

Incidently, I just saw THE Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian in DC this summer as it was being restored... pretty cool.

Cheers!

James

I used to work at that museum and I have actually been inside the glass enclosure where they did the conservation work.
You have to put on all this surgical gear to keep any stray fabric threads and dust/dirt off of you before entering the room (so as not to contaminate the flag).
I have stood right next to the flag while working on computer scanning equipment the conservators used to take images.
It looks so much more majestic and frail when you are up close to it. It was a WAY cool experience to see it like that.

[xenu]

Boraq Sagdiyev from Kazakhstan

[paul w]

Originally posted by mattyd:
Jimi Hendrix

His version at Woodstock was absurdly great and he used it to lead into Purple Haze.

Awesome!

[effgee]

Originally posted by budster101:
..., so include your favorite anthem for your country. ...

Meh - there's only one good anthem and that's the old Soviet Union one - no contest. Any other anthem I've ever heard pales in comparison - be it French, American, British or the German "sing-along".

And no, I am neither Russian, a "pinkie Commie" (what retard said that in a recent thread again?) nor do I even speak Russian. Not sure about the legality of putting up an mp3 file - so you're going to have to google it.

[scottiB]

Marvin Gaye's version at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game at the LA Forum. Tremendous.

Links to articles--I'm searching for a video:

one

two

[analogika]

Originally posted by effgee:
Meh - there's only one good anthem and that's the old Soviet Union one - no contest. Any other anthem I've ever heard pales in comparison - be it French, American, British or the German "sing-along".

It has to be among the most majestic pieces of music ever written.

Info, lyrics, and version history
MP3 download of the 1977 version
MP3 download of the 1944 version

Regarding the melody, I actually really, really like the former GDR (German Democratic Republic) anthem, especially in this arrangement (listen to the strings in the last two verses - just magnificent):

RealPlayer link to former East Germany's anthem

[effgee]

Originally posted by analogika:
It has to be among the most majestic pieces of music ever written. ...

"Majestic"

Yessss - that's exactly the word which describes it perfectly (and that I, of course, couldn't think of *g*)

[paul w]

Originally posted by effgee:
Meh - there's only one good anthem and that's the old Soviet Union one - no contest. Any other anthem I've ever heard pales in comparison - be it French, American, British or the German "sing-along".

I agree, it is the most stirring. Although La Marseillaise is pretty damn good. That scene in Casablanca where they sing it practically brings tears to my eyes. God Save the Queen comes in third.

Most disappointing: Italy. You'd think they could come up with something better than that singsong nonsense.

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally posted by analogika:


It has to be among the most majestic pieces of music ever written.

MP3 download of the 1977 version
MP3 download of the 1944 version

The 1977 version with the Red Army Choir ROCKS!
(I downloaded them both and they are now in my iTunes library.)

And a second for calling it majestic. That is exactly the phrase that describes how it sounds.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by dcmacdaddy:
I used to work at that museum and I have actually been inside the glass enclosure where they did the conservation work.
You have to put on all this surgical gear to keep any stray fabric threads and dust/dirt off of you before entering the room (so as not to contaminate the flag).
I have stood right next to the flag while working on computer scanning equipment the conservators used to take images.
It looks so much more majestic and frail when you are up close to it. It was a WAY cool experience to see it like that.

This is very cool, I am quite jealous.

While I think the words to the Star Spangled Banner are stirring (if you know the history) I have never liked the tune -- that's probably because I can't sing it. Personally, I'd prefer something like America the Beautiful, but I don't see the anthem being changed any time soon.

Most countries do seem to have pretty lame anthems. O Canada! comes to mind. Billy Connolly did a skit once complaining about how dreary God Save the Queen is. He said a better national anthem for Britain would be the theme music the BBC World Service uses. Pompe Pe Pom pe pom pe pom, pom pe pom de daaaa daaaa.

I agree with those who say the old Soviet anthem was pretty stirring. But I am glad that isn't played any more.

[effgee]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
... Billy Connolly did a skit once complaining about how dreary God Save the Queen is. ...

• "...
  God attack the queen
  Send big dogs after her
  that bite her bum
  ..."

Eddie

[SimeyTheLimey]

Originally posted by effgee:

• "...
  God attack the queen
  Send big dogs after her
  that bite her bum
  ..."

Eddie

I thought you would quote this:



We love you maaaaaam

[effgee]

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
I thought you would quote this: ... *punk*

Hey!

I'm not that old!




Well, almost - I must have missed the pistols by a year or two. Phew.

[budster101]

The Russian National Anthem is awesome. I own that as well. Very dramatic. I was introduced to it when watching "The Hunt for Red October".

[lavar78]

Originally posted by scottiB:
Marvin Gaye's version at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game at the LA Forum. Tremendous.

I agree. I also like the Jimi Hendrix and Whitney Houston versions that were also mentioned. The a cappella version we sang in high school was pretty good, but I can't remember who arranged it.

[wdlove]

I don't care for that version at all. Prefer the traditional version.

[lavar78]

Originally posted by wdlove:
I don't care for that version at all. Prefer the traditional version.

It was a "moment in time" kind of thing. I wouldn't want anyone else to sing it like that, but it was a very powerful performance.

[JustAnOl'Broad]

Originally posted by effgee:

• "...
  God attack the queen
  Send big dogs after her
  that bite her bum
  ..."

Eddie

Hendricks version; The best

Izzards view on history and politics (humor-wise); hysterical!

[skipjack]

Originally posted by budster101:
The Russian National Anthem is awesome. I own that as well. Very dramatic. I was introduced to it when watching "The Hunt for Red October".

I think this anthem is great (and I'm a 20 year US military veteran from the late Cold War era).

Here's a great website: http://www.vad1.com/anthems/ from which you can download for free.

The English version is particularly interesting. (It's about a quarter of the way down the page, in the section, Anthem of Soviet Union 1944 ("Stalin's"), In other languages, by Paul Robeson.

Who is Paul Robeson?

"During the 1940's Robeson continued to have success on the stage, in film, and in concert halls, but remained face to face with prejudice and racism._ After finding the Soviet Union to be a tolerant and friendly nation, he began to protest the growing Cold War hostilities between the United States and the USSR._ He began to question why African-Americans should support a government that did not treat them as equals._ At a time when dissent was hardly tolerated, Robeson was looked upon as an enemy by his government._ In 1947, he was named by the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and the State Department denied him a passport until 1958._ Events such as these, along with a negative public response,_ led to the demise of his public career."

from http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/njh/PaulRobeson/PRBio.htm

Incidentally, there is a tomato, of Russian origin, named after Paul Robeson.

As for the Star Spangled Banner, the piano solo performed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, who became a U.S. citizen, is good.

[ghporter]

The Air Force Band of the West does an outstanding version of "The Star Spangled Banner." They don't have their recordings available for downloading, but the Air Force Band Ceremonial Music page
here has tons of really well done pieces, including this instrumental version of "The Star Spangled Banner."

I've been in the position to professionally play this and other "military band" music for over two decades, and I can tell you categorically that "The Star Spangled Banner" is one of the most effective and least tiring national anthems around. There's one South American national anthem (I want to say Argentina's) that's about 20 minutes long! One verse of "The Star Spangled Banner" runs anywher from 60-80 seconds, depending on the director's pacing.

That said, Jimi's version has something you won't find in a serious military band's repertoir-deep emotion. A lot of people hated his version, thinking that he was intentionally scorning the music. They were wrong; he was celebrating it. I love this version; I just never was asked to play it for a formal ceremony. Tradition, you know.

[analogika]

Originally posted by ghporter:
That said, Jimi's version has something you won't find in a serious military band's repertoir-deep emotion. A lot of people hated his version, thinking that he was intentionally scorning the music. They were wrong; he was celebrating it. I love this version

The pain evident in his version makes it obvious how much he loved - or wanted to love - his country.

Tremendously moving performance.

[budster101]

Originally posted by analogika:
The pain evident in his version makes it obvious how much he loved - or wanted to love - his country.

Tremendously moving performance.

I agree, and he showed his discent to the war by way of his interpretations that mimicked the dive bombers and chaos of war on the ground... It was quite moving and is one of my favorite reditions of the SSB.

[UNTeMac]

Here's another one for Hendrix. Another one of my favorites is the Dixie Chicks' version.

[budster101]

Originally posted by UNTiMac:
Here's another one for Hendrix. Another one of my favorites is the Dixie Chicks' version.

� Dittsy Chicks

[Ozmodiar]

Sandi Patti's 1986 Fourth of July version is the best I've ever heard. You can probably find it on the internets (looked on iTMS, not there).

[mattyd]

Originally posted by analogika:
The pain evident in his version makes it obvious how much he loved - or wanted to love - his country.

Tremendously moving performance.

Totally agree. That's the difference between an artist and someone who can play music.