Hey all, I'm am one of Steve's guitar techs, I was his tech for this event. Without getting into anything, everyone speaking ofcreativeness/embellishment etc, keep in mind an artist may be limited with time constraints, especially when it's happening seconds before a live broadcast. Second, tone, his rig was sounding nice that day, MSG then mics that tone with vocal mic and runs it through a pa that's meant for commentary and organ. So all I'm saying, try not to judge without facts.
I actually really appreciate that he chose to keep this rendition mostly free of extra shreddyness. This is one song that I feel is best performed without a lot of excess wankery. The version that he did for the MTV Rock n jock game back in 91 or 92 had some AMAZING passages, especially near the end when the delay kicks in and it sounds like he’s playing for the entire world, but for an indoor venue like this, this was very well done.
The main melody notes cut through beautifully being played right up the top of the neck 🎸 Steve Vai never disappoints when it comes to a guitar fireworks show! Best guitar version of 'Star Spangled Banner' I've ever heard. 🎸 👍
This is now my favorite performance the audience really is listening I always get a visual of the crowd all different ages they can't contain their Applause amazing❤
All guitar players of this scale have crazy input. Steve Vai, whatever he would like, like to see anyone do any better under big fan pressure. He's used to it. Rock and Jack Butler
In music composition at University I had to write the SSB in it's relative minor key. And harmonic minor. It's really cool to listen to it in different keys and modes.
Mozart's student, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, called the piano sustain pedal the "Sündendecker" (the "sin coverer") for its ability to cover up problems that should be resolved by the fingers. The distortion pedal is the 20th century Sündendecker.
+Virgilio Marques Satriani's was good. If ur referring to the one on RU-vid. I have seen and/or heard many renditions on guitar. Satch's little spurt at the end took away from his tasteful adherence to the melody. Personally? I like oranges a little more than apples...;)
@MetalBuffalos Yeah, better than all the other guitar versions. SRV never practiced it, though. He winged it while high. I'd like to hear Satriani do it.
You're missing the fact that distortion "distorts" the signal and therefore it is much more difficult to make the notes sound clear and precise. A master on the guitar can play with high levels of distortion and still make it sound crisp and clear. Just because it ads more sustain, doesn't necessarily mean it covers up mistakes.
@Vaekkrinhart Dude I think you have Vai all wrong, thats what I thought at first, but he isnt showing off or letting his ego run, hes just playing with passion, he loves the guitar and its his life. If you want to know more about what im trying to say you should look up the video "steve vai how to be successful" That video really inspired me in times when I was feeling about to quit.
Steve va is the only one who plays it the correct way, high notes are key when playing this, everyone likes the high notes. bum bum BAAAAAAAAAAAAYM! bum bum bum bum.
gladly we are not still @ war with Vietnam. sadly we are @ war with ourselves. I'll take the old days & Jimi anyday. my own opinion, this is a great version also
Let's just be brutally honest here, shall we? And admit, that THE Penultimate, no holds bared - explode the universe performance of this song is the COMPLETE, as in the entire suite, version that Jimi did. NO ONE is ever going to best that. As good as Mr. Vai is, and I really dug his playing on "In From The Storm", he - along with just about anyone you want to name -- will never be able to channel the zeitgeist of that moment. And it would take someone of equal onomatopoeic abilities -- someone who, like Jimi, is able to transcend the instruments limitations -- not play within them, like virtually everyone after him has done. To be fair, it is acknowledged that Jimi rewrote the book on a lot of modern approaches and techniques to recording, etc. and there is an awful lot of ground to cover to acheive anything that even approaches the supernatural kind of master level I am talking about. What it all gets at is the abilitiy to convey emotion -- Mr. Vai does a pretty nice version in the vein of that epic performance, considering the severe constraints. In fairness to Mr. Vai, this is MSG, to a mostly numb and pascified audience of "consumers". There is nothing to channel, regardless. To see what could be done in an instance like this, please check out SRV's version at an Astro's game, I think. He plays his Danelectro Strat with a slide. Totally off-the-cuff, mistakes and all. But, it is warm and playful, almost. Nostalgic, maybe -- What version would we play for those folks in Ferguson, Mo, hmmm? Another hymn to the glories of our wars? Blessings
Just because he did it a long time ago and died doesn't mean he was the best. I'm sure if Jimi was still alive Steve Vai would still smoke him. Although Hendrix was amazing for his time, Steve Vai has so much soul and talent it's un real. He spends countless of hours trying to be unique and getting the right sound and Hendrix just kinda did it. Hendrix is amazing but he'd never be near as good as Steve. Just because someone died doesn't mean that they should be the king when there are people that are much superior to him now. And hell, back 25-30 years ago Steve was still better than Hendrix was.
This is the 4th star spangled banner video played by famous people I've seen you troll all over. I'm not bashing, ridiculing, or domineering you in any way. I just ask, why? Lol
So it's ok for 1 person to do it this way and not another? If you really want to see this done where the audience has class(and not cheering before it s over, I fucking hate that!) You should watch the vid with the little girls singing it. That is the best version! Better than Whitney's and Jimi's! Period!!!
@abbiescadia27 Tell em brudda.If it wasn't for us doing what we did in the name of our country...I'm almost certain they wouldn't have the choice of laughter.I only hope they learn before it's too late !
Some people just cant understand...this didnt suck. It sure as hell isn't one of steves greatest moments, but lets try to rember that this song isn't very..."flexible" with steves style.
Respectful...nice job. The tempo on "The Star Spangled Banner" is so slow that it's difficult for it to sound musical on a single guitar, no matter if it IS the most accomplished player on the planet.
Vai's version of this at the 1990 Rock n Jock is way better than this one here. And certainly better than Hendrix or anyone else's.... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tyCRSZjtYBI.html
