Robert Merrill was a marvelous singer, especially operatic, who valued his career in America, the United States! He was a good friend of NBC conducting and radio legend, Paul Lavalle, a member of Toscanini's NBC Symphony and founder of various NBC shows, Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street, Highways of Melodies and more. His shows with the Stradivari Strings, in which ALL instruments were Stradivarius. Later, this conductor of the Cities Service Band of America, PAUL LAVALLE once told me, as I was one of his trombonists on his Band of America, that Robert Merrill had autographed a special photo "to my Chamber Music Maestro, Paul Lavalle." They were both great friends and colleagues.
Your anthem when performed by a magnificent star of opera (check out his recordings with Bjoerling!) who just happens to be of working class origin, Jewish and a Yankees fan actually means something beautiful.
it might be interesting to note that amateur poet Francis Scott Key wrote these words about the 'land of the free' in 1814 long before the Civil War and the slaves being freed.
No question that the SSB is a difficult song to sing. The only question is why so many who can't, do it anyway. Robert Merrill and Whitney Houston do outstanding jobs. Since we have two quintessential performances, why don't we just play their recordings at all events. Wannabees shouldn't bother; they disgrace themselves and dishonor the country.
Perfect, simply perfect...The Star Spangled Banner has been sung. Period! Robert Merrill has given us a performance of our National Anthem that will, like our great Nation itself, last for all time.
Oh say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilght's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rocket's red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.🇺🇸🎼🎵🎶🎤🎺
Plain and simply, how it should be sung, with no "putting your mark on it". Others may not sing as well as this, but it's what you pop/rock/country/opera/etc @holes should aim for. The song is not 'yours', it OURS! I don't care if you stand, kneel, or sit. I understand, if not support, all of these forms of protest. I just feel that the way some sing it is more insulting.
THIS is the gold standard for our national anthem. Every note correct, no embellishments, "perilous" pronounced correctly as "pehr ih lus" instead of "pehr oh lus" or "pehr uh lus" and also sung at the intended tempo instead of the slow plodding tempo singer today (even Renee Fleming) use. Any pop singer who wishes to sing the national anthem on TV should be required to watch Mr. Merrill sing it before attempting it themselves.
No matter what you think of the religio-political sentiments expressed in the words, the singer is overwhelming. What a magnificent voice riding on the orchestra and chorus! It was said that Leonard Warren and Lawrence Tibbett possessed larger voices but recordings don't give that impression.This a command performance - the singer not the song.
they used to play this version before every NY yankees home game. this is the best version. robert merrill has a beautiful and powerful voice. no one can sing it better
I have to sing it for the Red Sox Next year and I have decided to do it very traditional with no ad libs. Everyone tries to make it there own and it not there own its the free people of the United States. A singer needs to get out of the way of the song and sing it like it was written and its better than any other arrangement you can come up with.
Merrill had the largest voice I ever heard, even in the Metropolitan Opera House. THIS is how our National Anthem should be sung. And add it to Debbie C's comment that it should also be sung at all Red Sox games, at least at Fenway Park.
By his own choice, he sang it the way it was written ... no embellishment. I dare say that the 1991 Super Bowl version by Whitney Houston is also very good.
What a novelty, singing the S. B. B. as it should be sung. I see comments of praise about renditions by certain pop singers who seem to need to jazz it up a bit, or more likely adjust it to meet the limits of their vocal ability. This one is miles above all of those.
