Why the US national anthem is terrible - and perfect

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Vox's Estelle Caswell and Joss Fong debate "The Star Spangled Banner"
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When Francis Scott Key attached his poem about the War of 1812 to a popular British song called "To Anacreon in Heaven," he kicked off over 200 years of painfully bad singing by patriotic Americans. The Star Spangled Banner became the official national anthem of the United States in 1931, but it had been used by the Army and Navy for decades before that and was popular from the start. One big problem? The melody wasn't exactly written for the masses, but for trained soloists.
Commentators pointed out early on that it was exceedingly difficult for most people to sing, suggesting that "America the Beautiful" might be a better alternative. Critics have noted that the music requires a uniquely wide vocal range, it's full of tricky intervals, and the lyrics are confusing and uninspiring.
But if you look at the national anthem as a sport, where we get to watch performers at the top of their game tackle the gauntlet that is the Star Spangled Banner, you may come to appreciate it. In this video, we debate whether the difficulty of the Star Spangled Banner is a feature or a bug for a national anthem.
Further reading:
Star-Spangled Banner: The Unlikely Story of America's National Anthem www.amazon.com/Star-Spangled-...
Star Spangled Music: starspangledmusic.org/
Slate: Proudly Hailed www.slate.com/articles/arts/mu...
Emily Cope: / music-to-what-extent-d...
Some songs don't just stick in your head, they change the music world forever. Join Estelle Caswell on a musical journey to discover the stories behind your favorite songs.
Check out the entire Vox Earworm playlist here: bit.ly/2QCwhMH
And follow Vox Earworm on Facebook for more: / voxearworm
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com
Check out our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
Or on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o

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3 июл 2018

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Комментарии : 12 тыс.

@Vox 5 лет назад

If you want to learn more about the anthem, check out this site: starspangledmusic.org/blog/ They're obsessed with the Star Spangled Banner and have tons of interesting facts and videos. This book by Marc Ferris is also really interesting www.amazon.com/Star-Spangled-Banner-Unlikely-Americas-National/dp/1421415186/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

@AnnaBloom972 5 лет назад

Vox please do a video on the USSR national anthem

@alexj7440 5 лет назад

Not to mention that it's not a land of the free when it is legal to own people.

@alexj7440 5 лет назад

Very shitty national anthem

@regulartomatoes5625 5 лет назад

Vox land of the expensive, and home of the gay's

@Sheratim 5 лет назад

Why didn't you didn't mentioned that the US national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner is one of the most racist, pro-slavery, anti-black songs in the American lexicon? Few people know this because they only ever sing the first verse. But read the end of the third verse and you’ll see why “The Star-Spangled Banner” is almost a celebration of slavery: No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

@goodman25 4 года назад

Vox: Why the US national anthem is terrible.. FBI: * clears throat * Vox: *AND PERFECT*

@pochuyma9530 3 года назад

LOL 😂

@dulsinlobo3008 3 года назад

Lol why is this so underrated

@fbitm8089 3 года назад

*Ahem*

@mr.stalin4070 3 года назад

@robertphelps1574 3 года назад

Reason is the words are from a poem and the music was composed for an English song called To Anacreon in heaven and it was also used in a presidential campaign song called Adams and liberty

@clowntub5070 5 лет назад

Fun fact: The National Anthem ends with a question mark.

@bruhchamp16593 5 лет назад

And people wonder why the title of _Who Framed Roger Rabbit_ doesn’t end with a question mark.

@TeeLeigh66 5 лет назад

Oh, no. Everyone knows that the two words of the national anthem are PLAY BALL!

@andrewcooper7256 5 лет назад

Untrue. That is the first section of the National Anthem. There are two more sections and neither of those end with a question mark.

@1doobiedoo 5 лет назад

Mistaria Spellsinger nah it’s “let’s get ready to rumble”

@dekim_37 5 лет назад

@@andrewcooper7256 r/woooosh

@Surreality22992 3 года назад

Basically... Joss's argument: "No normal person can sing it." Estelle's argument: "But the memes!"

@random_girlypop_ontheinternet 2 года назад

Effectively the whole video

@malvinolimit 2 года назад

Fergie...

@dy7296 Год назад

The DNA of the soul

@Blue_Azure101 Год назад

@@malvinolimit 😂

@boi7316 Год назад

@@dy7296 And it will come, like a flood of pain. Pouring down on me! And it will not let up until the end is near.

@lynx2179 3 года назад

I actually really like José Feliciano’s performance of that anthem

@user-cv6kd3vk4g 3 года назад

2nd best only to whitney Houston

@phoenixdoom 3 года назад

i think its just by that time people were lot more racist, its back in the 60th. Sang today it would blow out

@blockpart2184 3 года назад

Honestly sounds amazing

@lai7981 3 года назад

Now Lady Gaga's version in Biden's inauguration 2021 becomes a strong competitor.

@random_girlypop_ontheinternet 2 года назад

Same

@thejiddy 5 лет назад

"America loves watching people publicly failed". Wow.

@1doobiedoo 5 лет назад

thejiddy it’s true

@redapple360 5 лет назад

Thats fuking elitist! We other nations love people publicly failing too!

@godlyanteater7075 5 лет назад

It’s true

@saadawan5502 5 лет назад

Ouch that was deep

@iosungs 5 лет назад

thejiddy it’s true ;))

@TheMan21892 4 года назад

Fact: Whitney Houston's performance of the "Star Spangled Banner" can make anyone feel American.

@Rybik007 4 года назад

Totally true! The most amazing rendition till today.

@TheCartooncompany 4 года назад

Fact: Long live Catalonia

@DavPMUSIC 4 года назад

Yeah. Until you realize it's pre-recorded

@lordvoldemort5725 4 года назад

Dav-P \ Ðɐvv She sang it live multiple times, and it is still better than all of the other versions.

@shiftyclouds9591 4 года назад

@@lordvoldemort5725 still, the best performance is the one with prerecorded tracks.

@gudegudemeh5195 3 года назад

I’m asian and one time my American english teacher made us sing star spangled banner for 5% of our grade. I’m still not sure why he did that but it was hilarious watching everyone (including me) tried to succeed in singing this song

@Courage2bwell 3 года назад

Did you have to do it alone or in a group?

@andrewauto6082 3 года назад

I remember my British teacher in America made us sing God Save the Queen.

@adamhastie8439 3 года назад

@@andrewauto6082 should have been rule britannia or Jerusalem but god save the Queen is still amazing

@ghostlightplays 3 года назад

@@adamhastie8439 It's hard NOT to get into Rule Britannia. It's great earworm. (and it's back) One of these years I will go to a Last Night of the Proms.

@popmasteralan5594 3 года назад

Probely because your teacher is racist

@vennelaj.994 3 года назад

In elementary we would sing the anthem **every day** Imagine 500 kids ranging from kindergarten to 6th graders singing this at the same time **every day**

@calderonryan3575 3 года назад

haha elementary days

@winchesterchua7600 2 года назад

I can imagine that because I've been through that. Nearly 1000 students from 1st grade to 12th grade sing our national anthem every day.

@chick-fil-a2737 Год назад

Every day? That seems a little dramatic

@cg0825 2 месяца назад

I remember singing it in class every morning--that and the Pledge of Allegiance. Then I remember we did a chorus concert for parents one year and we did a ton of anthems and patriotic songs--so amazingly still remember all the words to O Canada, God Save the Queen (now king) and a few others. Then we ended with America the Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner.

@Demian_Garcia 5 лет назад

I'm gonna sing the Spanish anthem for you ... ... ... Did you like it?

@bag3lmonst3r72 5 лет назад

Good one :) (In case anyone doesn't get it, the Spanish anthem "Marcha Real" is wordless and is purely music)

@nohcks 5 лет назад

Nice Referencing!! LMFAO!!!

@eliseomartinez7911 5 лет назад

Démian García Viva España Alzad Los Brazos hijos de Pueblo Español.

@ekanshagarwal5125 5 лет назад

Nonono that was the indian national anthem

@michaelguthrie1598 5 лет назад

Actually since there are no words you have to follow the instruments creating the exact same noise as they do making it really hard to sing

@Aluxix 4 года назад

The title should be more like. Why the US anthem is hard to sing.

@apersononyoutube4971 4 года назад

All this time, I thought it was easy.....

@lunahetfield 4 года назад

A Person On RU-vid same, tbh i'd rather sing god save the queen, yet im american and it sounds wrongful of me. To sing a different anthem rather than my own.

@jthejedigaming8303 4 года назад

I like how the video chose people who probably aren’t even American to sing the national anthem in the beginning

@stevethea5250 4 года назад

@@Aluxix what's JO'S FONGS Instagram?

@LarissaDawn 4 года назад

But it's not tho

@peterlane1391 3 года назад

It's just like America to pick The Star Spangled Banner because it is stylish. It's meant to be performed, not sung. And when it is, it sounds amazing. It's just hard to connect a nation to something half of us can't remember and no one can sing. The thing about every other choice they highlighted is you can sing them without training

@WaveRider1989 2 года назад

@🌲Läcveg rd🌲 can you though? Lol

@XevenYT143 2 года назад

@🌲Lacveg rd🌲 what country?

@helos5079 2 года назад

Im Asian and i really love the lyric

@phoenixrising4995 Год назад

Personally I think "America The Beautiful" should be the National Anthem. Plus its Harmonically structured to be sung as a group (SATB)

@Marinaheidi 3 года назад

It's kinda sad its own people can't actually sing it. We see it in sports events the crowds like Brazilians, for exemple, proudly singing their entire anthem and it gives you goosebumps, but its silent when the anthem is too difficult to sing.

@gabrielrodrigues6064 3 года назад

Brazilian crowds are on another level

@anavideos2445 3 года назад

As a Brazilian, I can just agree.

@Marinaheidi 3 года назад

Ps. Eu sou br ta meu povo 🤪

@frameturtle 3 года назад

This video is kind of an exaggeration imo. I can sing the national anthem, most people aren't belting this thing. Honestly i have no idea why so many events choose to have one singer sing it. At fourth of July events I always sing it with a crowd

@Marinaheidi 3 года назад

@@frameturtle but does it sound good? I would love to hear a crowd singing it, cause it's indeed a pretty athem, I just think is sad that the crowds doesn't seem to sing it along. If you have a video of the crowds singing it I would love to see 🤗

@menaceman9011 5 лет назад

“All Star” by Smashmouth is the unofficial anthem

@marshdidit1676 5 лет назад

This is what America is now

@marshdidit1676 5 лет назад

*This is america*

@thedrunkcossack1705 5 лет назад

*Some Bodyyyyyyyyy*

@lukeperry5050 5 лет назад

No, OFFICIAL

@mats7492 5 лет назад

"Hey now youre an allstar"

@sydney3170 4 года назад

Oh, American schools have a national anthem too. *Pumped up kicks*

@maddilinekathryn5684 4 года назад

Hey it’s easier than the regular one

@patricktsai2303 4 года назад

*ALL THE OTHER KIDS*

@ignitelegend5957 4 года назад

you have a messed up head

@LeShrimpDuMer 4 года назад

*BETTER RUN BETTER RUN*

@G1rl0nline 4 года назад

@@LeShrimpDuMer outrun my gun

@jodic.rosalejos4474 3 года назад

Phillipines singing national anthem on -every screening in cinema -every theatrical performance -every seminars/webinars -every monday morning and (supposed to be) every friday afternoon -almost all public ceremonies But the good thing is the rhyme of the lyrics is matching

@pascallaw5909 Год назад

I don't know why the national anthem is played by the orchestra before a classical music concert anyway... and everyone (including me a foreigner in the PH) is obliged to stand up in the meantime just like others. I mean it is a classical music concert!

@primerouno3739 Год назад

@@pascallaw5909 respect the country you’re in

@pascallaw5909 Год назад

@@primerouno3739 That's why despite not being able to or willing to sing Philippines' national anthem I also stand up like others instead of staying in my seat. Not trying to be disrespectful, I mean I just can't comprend the meaning of displaying patriotism during a classical music concert.

@maddoxmonteza Год назад

I can confirm as a Filipino

@heatherboyd1180 3 года назад

Fun fact: Even though Whitney Houston's SSB was prerecorded (which is extremely common for sporting events, especially ones that include fly-overs, as hers did), she recorded it a few months before in ONE TAKE. So, though she didn't sing it on the field, that's still all her!

@Arthur-be3qu 4 года назад

Blind folk singer: “oh say can you see...”

@davidhalper5525 4 года назад

@Sean Wilkinson Whoosh

@lora1002 4 года назад

David Halper dude the singers name was josé feliciano “Jose cannot see” R/whoosh yourself

@davidhalper5525 4 года назад

@@lora1002 Do you know what whoosh means? It's the sound of a joke going over someone's head. Whoosh is a term used by people to show that the other person missed a joke.

@aymanslife9995 4 года назад

@@davidhalper5525 no it's r/woooosh

@toddkobell162 4 года назад

egg everyone above you is just r/woooosh on sean’s joke, which is awesome

@fefeisbored1958 5 лет назад

6:54 He's blind and sings "Oh, say can you see?" ironic

@micaeladotcom 5 лет назад

Lmaooo savage

@thewaywelive2775 5 лет назад

Why is that iroinic? If he follows up with "And could you please describe it to me" it would make perfect sense

@cryptoram4203 5 лет назад

ok im rolling lol

@jasmineduran6731 5 лет назад

😂😂

@rioforeverplays269 5 лет назад

@@thewaywelive2775 he can't see but he says oh say can you *see*

@dimitri_tsm 3 года назад

A good anthem is one that either: 1. Sounds good all the time 2. Can only sound *real* good, or *real* bad.

@llllllllll552 3 года назад

”how many times do you even hear the national anthem” **my school forcing us to sing it at 6am and will not let us go until we sound like a singing group**

@jayce453 Год назад

Also, in the Philippines, the National Anthem is played in almost every public event: - Every morning at schools and government offices and agencies before the classes and work starts - It is played in the signing-on and signing-off of all TV channels in the morning (usually at 4 AM or 5 AM) and midnight (usually at 12 MN until the latest 2 AM) - at the cinema, before the movie starts - at competitions whether school competition, street competition, community competition. Even in constests in any form - at almost any event conceivable from small seminars, talks, conferences up to sports championships, graduations, concerts. - the Anthem is played at the President's Inauguration (duh) BUT, it is also played at the start of the State of the Nation Address (SONA/PH's counterpart of State of the Union) - it is also played at the beginning of EVERY session of the Senate and House of Representatives In summary, it became an unwritten rule that the Philippine National Anthem is played (or should be played) before the day begins and/or before any work is done. In the Philippines, the day is not complete when you do not hear the Anthem playing.

@jayce453 Год назад

I am GENUINELY AND DISAPPOINTLY shocked that Americans do not play and sing their NATIONAL ANTHEM that many often...

@haritha.514 4 года назад

i feel like every asian country sings their national anthem like,, every morning or once a week for the school assembly :')

@chocobombs 4 года назад

stop exposing us

@hanoisme7858 4 года назад

Every morning for me ;-; and if it plays you literally have to stop once you hear it and stand straight, doesn’t matter if you’re on the road :’) just move a bit until you’re not on the road then stand and wait

@hanoisme7858 4 года назад

@uminacis lol

@dhruvdatta1055 4 года назад

yep...in india

@mifinkmaybe2149 4 года назад

In malaysia even if you flinch while the national anthem was sang the teacher will get like super mad ;-;

@GabrielAlmeida-hl8wk 4 года назад

Karen in the 60s was like, "I'm going to complain to my senator"

@Throughthelurkingglass 3 года назад

In the 60s maybe senators were good for something.

@danayanmiew9648 3 года назад

Where's your SENATOR

@corabuchholz356 3 года назад

But her name was ARLENE.

@reemaalmu9172 3 года назад

@Woodcuck My senator is me obviously

@riccardo9953 3 года назад

Pls dont give them ideas

@yanatarkhaeva 3 года назад

After the "too many notes ti hit" I expected that counterargument would be that you must sing it together with someone to make your overall range wider. And I hoped we would hear some group singing.

@kevinkent6351 3 года назад

Yes. It's actually an amazing song when sung in an ensemble or played on instruments. It wasn't really meant to be sung alone. In fact, the tune itself was a song sung in a bar among a crowd of people.

@srinidhi5592 3 года назад

I was born in India and lived there for five years Then I moved to US and living here for eight years. I can barely sing the US anthem while the Indian anthem is ingrained into my brain. Let’s be honest here, everyone knows the pledge of allegiance more that the national anthem

@Perririri 3 года назад

**T-Series uploads the star Spangled Banner**

@shruthakeerthi4559 3 года назад

Jana Gana Mana is just really easy, but that's why I love it and I'm proud of it. It feels so grand when played by orchestra but yet so simple when sung by school children every assembly.

@oscarosullivan4513 Год назад

Honestly Amhrán na bhFiann isn’t the best but far better than the Star Spangled Banner

@matthewvanvught Год назад

What is the pledge of allegiance

@gominuke 5 лет назад

the spanish anthem is the easiest to sing in the entire world... it's got no words.

@gominuke 5 лет назад

we don't! we just hum a little if we want

@enzosw 5 лет назад

gominuke wow that is interesting...i find that so odd to hear that it has no words...wonder if other countries are like this

@tomhetterscheid4244 5 лет назад

emmanuel rosel ben je een spanjool ofzo

@karma916 5 лет назад

Greg Caesar technically there were words but they were introduced by a dictator who was close to hitler, so the government afterwords started to phase it out of use. But in many places where the anthem plays, almost a quarter of people will sing with the words.

@elijah-he975 5 лет назад

gominuke Really?! I just researched it and it has lyrics… 🤨 are you sure you’ve heard it before? 🤔

@jugemujugemugokonosurikire4735 4 года назад

Literally only whitney houston, was able to slay this national anthem. And whitney Houston was one of the most powerful singers, who has not been topped till this day.

@dion_mh 4 года назад

listen to tori kelly's

@notastrangeperson2298 4 года назад

Furgie doe

@hamzaelaloui2070 4 года назад

Mariah carey killed it too

@athenalee5524 4 года назад

I beg to differ.

@skypidge2093 4 года назад

Charice

@riosulysto2068 2 года назад

2:37 in the case of Indonesian national anthem, if you’re in school, we have to sing it every Monday for school assembly... sometimes if we sang it badly, we had to sing it again until it was satisfactorily good. Even in online classes, some schools still have Monday school assembly and a student randomly selected to sing the anthem

@Ifaal_AT 2 года назад

Yeah our daily routine

@risannd 2 года назад

And it's also difficult to sing, like one and a half octaves.

@darwinqpenaflorida3797 Год назад

Indonesia Raya was a title of National Anthem and which is my favorite anthem aside our anthem, Lupang Hinirang because Philippines and Indonesia are brothers so I hope to sing Indonesia Raya soon

@bealu9459 Год назад

same in Colombia

@Aaron-tt3pc 3 года назад

There are 2 singers that sang it beautifully, masterfully. Whitney Houston Beyoncé

@ismth 2 года назад

Agreed. I liked Gaga's version as well

@Charlize064 2 года назад

Yes.

@Jpk21 Год назад

Don't forget Enrico Palazzo's. That one was on point

@kingtomas7276 5 лет назад

There is no song that will replace the nati- **All Star starts playing**

@drawsalgado9017 5 лет назад

Lol

@tranhoanghieu4576 5 лет назад

Somebody once told me

@undertoasted9067 5 лет назад

The world is gonna roll me.

@plasmaphy2512 5 лет назад

BoomDiamond I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed

@waddupgrooch2827 5 лет назад

Rice Soap she was looking kinda dumb with her finger and her thumb

@chazclifford327 5 лет назад

Whitney Houston made it look easy

@guacamoli7 4 года назад

probably cause she lip synced it

@jays-move8803 4 года назад

Cause it was! 😃

@mathfreak2521 4 года назад

@@guacamoli7 Shut up .

@mathfreak2521 4 года назад

@@vids595 shut up .

@PierreaSweedieCat 4 года назад

Gaga NAILED it!

@kinderwan 3 года назад

So we're agreed that only whitney can do it perfectly ✨

@blizzbee 3 года назад

Through the whole history,,, yes

@basedguns8218 3 года назад

@amelsalkic2998 2 года назад

She did it the best, there are many other good ones who are close. Is it perfect we will never know cause of how you can change the anthem

@gerard0529 2 года назад

Or just flip the script entirely, it worked for Jose Feliciano

@gerard0529 2 года назад

@@amelsalkic2998 the best rendition is Jose Feliciano's no question

@SimplyV3rna 3 года назад

In 🇵🇭 PH the national anthem is a march. The song needs to run fast and finish quickly. Made for war. Saves time and vocal chords during peace time.

@mashedpotatoes6754 5 лет назад

Wow, I find it surprising that Americans barely sing their anthem. I sing mine every Monday and Friday at school during our assembly's (here in South Africa) and our anthem has 5 languages in it.

@strawberrysana4497 5 лет назад

You say the pledge of allegiance in the mornings and the national anthem + pledge of allegiance in assembly’s in the U.S

@HideFromReality 5 лет назад

Canadian here. We sang it every day in school in one of 2 languages, sometimes mixing the 2 midway through

@bro-ss2eu 4 года назад

Us everyday

@junjunagbayani4792 4 года назад

May I just say that I love the South African national anthem, even though I'm Filipino :)

@julianheichelbech7838 4 года назад

wait wot, we sing it loads

@yojeffrow5505 5 лет назад

This is just proof that Whitney Houston is the best singer on the planet. She sung it *again* live and it sounded the same.

@alicedubois1348 5 лет назад

Jeff DeWitt *was* the best singer.... Rip

@yojeffrow5505 5 лет назад

Good catch. Nobody will ever surpass her. Gaga came close though.

@mrhubertlouis1 5 лет назад

Yo Jeffrow Wait, love Gaga, but do you actually think that out of all the singers, Gaga’s the closest to Whitney? What about all the other divas? Aretha, Patti, Mariah

@yojeffrow5505 5 лет назад

I think in terms of PERFORMANCE wise, Gaga did it the best.

@yapgimkwee8842 5 лет назад

totally agree

@amaionnaise1594 2 года назад

when whitney houston sang the anthem i literally got chills

@boeman6702 3 года назад

Idk if its just me, but the Star-Spangled Banner is the only national anthem ive sung more times in my life and I aint even American. It just feel patriotic and just.... so.... *American*

@8GB215 3 года назад

The power of freedom

@AndT101 3 года назад

Same here. I especially like the complex lyrics of the anthem. Not American either.

@richdwayneadamdelacruz7633 3 года назад

I'm not also an American, but I sing it more than 10 times a day.

@mashihodpotatoetm4572 3 года назад

I'm also not American, and I feel intrigued about this song and would like to try singing it.

@DemoDaBoi 3 года назад

I'm American.

@erapadasas5804 4 года назад

in the Philippines, when you try to change the anthem tune. you get punished

@aperm510 4 года назад

it's not that hard to sing as long as you know the words

@siopao8137 4 года назад

Wait really?

@reymartmacanang8330 4 года назад

It's in the Philippine Constitution that's why artists are really careful not to do any changes in the song. They aren't even allowed to sing it according to their style :)

@P_Shii 4 года назад

Dont forget the fact that people in vehicles and pedestrians that hear it are expected to slow down and/or stop and sing along till its over.

@MoonLight-cb8db 4 года назад

true and when the anthem plays you have to stand straight no matter what your doing

@harini7891 5 лет назад

People complaining about the American national anthem... at least the lyrics are good... Meanwhile, in the UK: God Save the Queen God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen

@jormungandrrework4899 5 лет назад

The way to sing the american national anthem is with a choir

@lewis2255 5 лет назад

I mean at least people can sing it easily enough. It’s nice and simple

@purpleties127 5 лет назад

‘Send her victorious Happy and glorious’ xD

@laas735 5 лет назад

The german one is pretty good and easy oh and the french is really beautifull and you can sing it alright

@moon_marina 4 года назад

Brazil’s national anthem is the description of its independence and after in the second part of it how glorious the country is, basically. With a bunch of unused and complicated words so nobody really knows how to sing it

@sarahnunez318 2 года назад

I thought I was only bad at it bc I was a foreigner, also I think it's poetic justice that African-American singers so far are responsible for the best versions of it.

@ufcasual 3 года назад

Why our USSR national anthem is perfect -- and perfect

@kamanashiskar9203 3 года назад

The British anthem and patriotic songs are the best.

@eliaslaurent479 3 года назад

@@kamanashiskar9203 J'AIME L'OIGNON FRIT À L'HUILE J'AIME L'OIGNON QUAND IL EST BON

@mango9602 3 года назад

I really like the USSR, God save the queen, and the French one

@jigbizzer 3 года назад

Russian *

@NathanPlays395 3 года назад

@@eliaslaurent479 *hehehe*

@camf03 5 лет назад

Whitney Houston's performance will always be the greatest rendition of the anthem. no questions asked.

@jisookruzat 5 лет назад

I think i like the Journey's star spangled banner on the super bowl live

@bobsmith-ru7xp 5 лет назад

Nah, the best performance is Jimi Hendrix's.

@dimitripapadinikolaus 5 лет назад

Bruh Fergy 👌🏽👌🏽

@ambrizfer7898 5 лет назад

Lady Gaga wasn't bad

@finmc388 5 лет назад

Fenix03 The only person that comes close to Whitney’s was Beyoncé’s in 2004 her “brave” was probably one of the best “braves” ever

@vaughanvanderstarren832 5 лет назад

The Soviet anthem is my favorite, aesthetically.

@crocs4304 5 лет назад

Murica f yeah is way better

@wserthmar8908 4 года назад

French and German...

@kuyajayy 4 года назад

Soyus nerushimy

@Aluxix 4 года назад

Oh that's me

@kakaksmart3139 4 года назад

Our favorit

@KYRONROCKS101 3 года назад

Everyone just has to realize it’s a super hard song to sing, and cut even the best singers some slack if they mess it up. I think in a perfect world, if we did that, it would make our country closer together, and stronger by acknowledging the mistakes and difficulty of the song. :)

@ozone8897 3 года назад

There was a point when I was just beginning puberty that I could make really high notes and really low notes. But those days are over and I can't do the high notes anymore

@narniadici1976 5 лет назад

The French anthem is honestly not bad, but never search the translation. It's, um,... It's peculiar.

@bramsou1311 5 лет назад

Yeah but the historic context explains it

@narniadici1976 5 лет назад

@@bramsou1311 True

@thatoneemokid2026 5 лет назад

Narnia Dici I love your profile picture

@Alhmaleonn 5 лет назад

Our French anthem is just the best, it's a badass war song.

@ricardopieper11 5 лет назад

The anthem of my state in Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) says "people without virtue end up being slaves" and we know who were the slaves both in America and Brazil... so I guess they aren't too happy about the anthem.

@peytoncox8146 5 лет назад

The National anthem is very American, when it works, it’s very amazing, but it is way more likely to crash and burn

@alejandromendoza4324 5 лет назад

Heey vsauce, michael here

@perreban 5 лет назад

BUT IS IT?

@callmecarsonfan1644 5 лет назад

Just like the towers

@benjaminmarker 5 лет назад

Just like the country itself.

@resmarted 5 лет назад

sounds like every government.

@XFz2nLDWo73x95 2 года назад

As an American, I can sing the Star Spangled Banner with ease. . I thought everyone could? It's so drilled into our minds.

@therealannakonda 3 года назад

I’m not an American but I love the anthem! I like that it is so hard and that at football games or at other events, there is always someone who has their special moment and sings the national anthem. I’m from Germany and except from the ending our national anthem is quite boring and not that hard to sing. We usually don’t have singers at soccer games but everyone sings it together or at political events there’s only a track in the background. I like how emotional the American anthem is. And Lady Gaga’s performance at the Inauguration was amazing! ❤️

@butterflyera2399 3 года назад

Yea i fell in love with the song, despite being a canadian, whitney sung it perfectly, but i also loved lady gaga's version, it was amazing as well!

@tartaglia. 2 года назад

The American anthem is certainly beautiful, but so is Germany’s anthem! Take pride in your country, my friend!

@benkahnke2546 5 лет назад

thats why we leave the national anthem to Whitney

@TimmyTickle 5 лет назад

But she's dead... is there someone still alive we can leave it too?

@LuisGarzaHo 5 лет назад

@@TimmyTickle Maybe Gaga? She sang the national anthem years ago at The Superbowl

@chaclan05 5 лет назад

@@TimmyTickle Fergie

@RoxieMarquez_marroxeli 5 лет назад

@@TimmyTickle jack black actually did a good job

@The5thChapter 5 лет назад

Or any red blooded patriotic American that is proud of their country.

@sarasudin 5 лет назад

I'm agree with the girl that say national anthem is supposedly something that everyone can sing. it's not a job for one people. it's an anthem. everyone should have the right to sing it proudly and feel joy too without thinking too much on how you sounds. that's how you gonna feel the patriotism in your heart. through the anthem. I can sing my country song and have a goosebumps at the same time especially if you hear the voice of thousands sing it together.

@carriefrederick5280 5 лет назад

srsdn journal that’s why you start in your middle or lower range where it is comfortable to sing. In the case of the US national anthem, the notes are just telling you whether to go higher or lower. There are times when people do follow the sheet music exactly, but I am sure it was not intended for people to strain their voice.

@neehgurg2111 5 лет назад

@DJMISTERCRINGE in a broken English too

@drawsgaming7094 5 лет назад

Yes! It's not just me that thinks that Canada is doing it right!

@hannahwyatt4830 5 лет назад

I think that's why the anthem is so amazing. When people sing it alone they sound horrible but when everyone sings it together its awesome

@lemoncardboard4877 5 лет назад

I feel It doesn't matter whether its singable by the average Joe or not. The song was made to represent America, and I feel it shouldn't be changed. If it were changed it would take away the glory of the thousands of patriots that died holding up that flag because the British declared if the flag fell, the colonies would be back under British rule. In other words, changing the National Anthem would be the equivalent of taking the valor of war from veterans of the United States.

@animeyahallo3887 3 года назад

That is why we should all sing the Soviet Union Anthem. Cue music.

@endlesserrors 3 года назад

@Zodboeg good, lets sing

@shalinitiwariscorner5210 3 года назад

@Zodboeg How do you know that they are pro-soviet???!! This episode is about the musical theory of US national anthem in context of analysing why Americans fail to sing it perfectly.

@adhitypratamairwanto5450 3 года назад

@@shalinitiwariscorner5210 hes probably just joking

@tatotenaglia6548 3 года назад

Lets just get down To it SOYONZ NERUSHIMI

@banglaball54 2 года назад

The Russian musics are also so good.

@Jesse_mlo 2 года назад

I agree that the anthem is complicated and difficult to sing. But I definitely disagree that it's uninspiring

@mikemike8424 3 года назад

That hippie version of the anthem literally sounded so good wow

@markfrommaryland3825 3 года назад

Good thing the Hendrix version from Woodstock hadn't been born yet, though. They could not have handled that much awesomeness.

@NeedForMadnessSVK 5 лет назад

So, its purposefully hard, stacks odds against you and then people laugh at you when you fail? Perfect! Encompasses american life just right.

@Ildskalli 5 лет назад

As underrated a comment as there ever was!

@Coolsomeone234 5 лет назад

*Cough* Vietnam *Cough*

@vincelamb4063 5 лет назад

The melody is from a drinking song, which is intended to mess people up, in more ways than one.

@sirbenjamaicad.6472 5 лет назад

But for real, like in America, if you succeed, you succeed big.

@zacharyhenderson2902 5 лет назад

EliteXtasy it was not. That's a lie

@MegaRaked 3 года назад

I'm Canadian and I sing the US anthem like... A lot lol IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL!!! And when I see audiences sing it, or someone singing it really well, it always gives me goosebumps 😆

@heronimousbrapson863 3 года назад

The tune is that of "to Anacreon in heaven" written in the late 18th century by English composer John Stafford Smith. It was adopted as the anthem of the London-based anacreontic society, and was deliberately made difficult to sing.

@_ysai 4 года назад

Wait, schools in America don’t sing the national anthem? I sing it everyday in Canada ;-;

@icedmorning7610 4 года назад

@musicalasian No, we recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” every day. They teach us the anthem in elementary school but we rarely sing it.

@gezi5927 4 года назад

IcedMorning yeah

@skellaberry 3 года назад

huh, which part of canada? most places in canada dont have that. Nobody I know has too, I dont for that matter.

@_ysai 3 года назад

Strawberries and Suffering well, I go to school in Ontario. Different classes force you to sing or not but my first period made us

@Lynnme-eh9cz 3 года назад

we say the pledge of allegiance at school every day tho

@cocoapuff_x 5 лет назад

In Mariah’s rendition, she sings from lowest to highest E3-B6. More than three octaves.

@CitiesSkyGay 5 лет назад

Mariah is a goddess. Her range is amazing

@slenderman3510 5 лет назад

but no one cares about that rendition

@yuh8946 5 лет назад

Slender Man only you💓

@slenderman3510 5 лет назад

Dmitri Alcantara no :( a lot

@slenderman3510 5 лет назад

a bland rendition

@miyuslittlechannel5785 2 года назад

The National Anthem is something we should all be able to sing - not just talented singers

@benjaminraymundo6711 2 года назад

Nah... it gives power when it's sung

@masterbaiter0fthebait572 Год назад

I was in the middle school band and we legit picked a high school choir student to sing it it's not that bad to sing.

@MrMonsterKen Год назад

When you have a bunch of privileged nostalgia-obsessed punks trying to replace it with something else, there's not gonna be much of it left to sing.

@Aquasliph Год назад

I think a little practice and people could get it down no problem. Sadly, most people don’t even want to try.

@phoenixrising4995 Год назад

Only the Elite can sing it, just like those who control the country. Personally "America The Beautiful" I think is a perfect substitute.

@jengb7057 3 года назад

Me, an Indonesian : Wait you guys dont sing ur anthem every morning on school?

@lukesguywalker 5 лет назад

"the most unlovely tune that was ever wrung from the quivering bowels of a horn" damn lmao

@molly_beatrix 5 лет назад

nice bi icon :,)

@lukesguywalker 5 лет назад

pkm thx bb! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@zachh2166 5 лет назад

The Washington Post being The Washington Post.

@BagoPorkRinds 5 лет назад

They had a way with words using and encompassing a larger vocabulary in daily life back then but nowadays, all we get is "oh damn skeet skeet".

@4our31 5 лет назад

except for my farts

@drowsy_mouse8406 5 лет назад

on the other hand, be happy we aren't forced to sit through the other verses

@RonquixoteDIII 5 лет назад

Drowsy_ Mouse that 4th stanza looks like such a piece of work Oh this be it ever when when freemen shall stand / Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation/ Blest with vict'ry and peace may this heaven rescued land / praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation How the hell does that fit in the standard melody I'd rather sing Take on Me than try that and I'm only a bass with regular range lol

@apoloniaespinal8402 5 лет назад

Drowsy_ Mouse it talks about slaves

@ssj4gogeta77 5 лет назад

That’s because it was simply. A poem written by Francis Scott key and he decided that the popular song of the time went with his poem after writing it.

@GFSLombardo 5 лет назад

There is a RU-vid video where all 4 verses are sung. Listen.

@amandamate9117 5 лет назад

I fap to electro swing

@butchie0415 3 года назад

a few years ago out of curiosity I listened to about 25 national anthems sung in different versions and my favorites are South Africa, Russia, Italy, Brazil, Canada and Philippines.

@may-vi5zq 3 года назад

im not even american but when josé feliciano started singing i teared up

@alexmasubay2101 5 лет назад

6:57 was actually a good version of the anthem (in my opinion)

@erinjoleen1571 5 лет назад

AT LEAST SOMEONE ELSE AGREES WITH ME!!!!

@schneedgod 5 лет назад

To me that sounds better than anyone else I've heard sing it even Whitney

@xtianarce8996 5 лет назад

7:06 but still

@andie361 5 лет назад

Yes.. I like it too!

@ethanjames8426 4 года назад

@@xtianarce8996 it's all America's fault because they declared the war in Vietnam. So, Jose should not be jeered.

@yunianiceto9805 5 лет назад

“No one with a normal esophagus can sing that without screaming.” “Most unlovely tune that was every wrung from the quivering bowels of a horn.” yup.

@vercingetoricks 5 лет назад

Yuni Aniceto who are you?

@vercingetoricks 5 лет назад

Go home

@Tmanaz480 5 лет назад

Who sings from their esophagus?

@morganrobinson8042 5 лет назад

We're America. If you're not screaming the anthem, why are you even here?

@nurlindafsihotang49 5 лет назад

@@morganrobinson8042 USA. your country is just one country in CONTINENT OF AMERICA. Seriously!?

@just2bears606 2 года назад

Vox: Most people don’t sing the Star Spangled Banner daily. Private School Kids: *Laughing* *Sobbing*

@vexxcon8125 3 года назад

Does anyone know this version of the star spangled banner? 0:56

@makoosh3448 2 года назад

Star spangled banner trumbone or trumpet maybe

@mohdshow 5 лет назад

Wait!!! Whitney’s version was pre-recorded! Why do you gotta ruin my memory like that?!

@tsntana 5 лет назад

Welcome to Vox. :)

@kaidellTV 5 лет назад

She sang it live a couple weeks later on HBO “ welcome home hero’s” look it up!

@Michaila95 5 лет назад

Just because it was pre-recorded doesn't mean she didn't sing it. She had to have sung it in order to record it lol

@breebreezy9980 5 лет назад

Yet its still the best! 😁

@jamaalshelton6793 5 лет назад

Mosdef Shel Lol wasn’t pre recorded she sang over a prerecorded record. People tend to confuse the two. Which is why she sang it again accapella for the troops. On RU-vid as well

@joskayal5999 5 лет назад

You wanna know why? *It's a British drinking song.* I'm not joking. A 1771 drinking song called "To Anacreon in heaven" (sometimes just called "the Anacreon song") I wish I was joking.

@NovaStarling 5 лет назад

that describes us perfectly

@joskayal5999 5 лет назад

@SMH wtf Yes, but the music, therefore most of the problems come from to Anacreon in heaven.

@SomeoneCommenting 5 лет назад

They didn't even wanted to mention it here because of the SHAME.

@ChristChickAutistic 5 лет назад

Absolutely true.

@EmrysCorbin 5 лет назад

Anytime I am somewhere that the national anthem is played publically, I just start singing To Anacreon in Heaven instead.

@Goober651 3 года назад

Me reading the title* "You better pick your next words very carefully."

@grandy 3 года назад

Whitney's rendition always gives me goosebumps

@isskamiria8978 5 лет назад

if someone outside indonesia asks, "how often do you sing your national anthem?" "every single week" edit: i mean my school sing it every day before class, on monday ceremony we sing 1/3 of it and 2 other song, then the rest of the week before class we sing the full song and one other song, oops

@rkhbr2154 5 лет назад

Umm we sing everyday before the school bell rings

@isskamiria8978 5 лет назад

@@rkhbr2154 so is mine. but the full version is every week and i hope you guys survive singing it ;w;

@canned_can_chan4590 5 лет назад

But then again. It's an easy song. If you can't sing high you can always sing low and get away with it since the range is not too far

@baseddepartment4163 5 лет назад

@@canned_can_chan4590 lmaooo you could even sing it while doing your homework in the morning and still nailed it

@potatoos 5 лет назад

In Finland once a year

@Christian-xb6no 4 года назад

So sad they booed Jose Feliciano. Absolutely love his version

@mayte_j4008 4 года назад

Best version so far

@alilordoftheskies5079 4 года назад

It makes me proud to be Puerto Rican.

@Alice-sh1qy 4 года назад

Yeah his highkey slaps!

@fania_mania 4 года назад

Jose Feliciano’s version was really good! I feel like he got booe’d just for being puertorican.

@zacharyfelder6604 3 года назад

@@fania_mania no it got booed because it was too nice, and many people that it didnt represent america at the time. Many peopel hated it because of time he sang it. And how he was generally disliked by many before.

@christianpaul2918 3 года назад

At this point I know more of US National Anthem than my own country national anthem

@ScarletJannaStaAna 3 года назад

4:25 Gawd! I got tears again! I'm not even American😢 How legendary Whitney is... until now it's very wonderful!😭

@thehopeofeden597 5 лет назад

I just think every event should just play Whitney Houston's version because it'll never be done better.

@rosesflowers4722 5 лет назад

Awsamazing Eden Yes, or Ssndy Patty!

@vice88 5 лет назад

Awsamazing Eden So true.

@dialiaga 5 лет назад

Awsamazing Eden FOR REAL

@goodolmeplant5809 5 лет назад

Because it will get old and no one wants that beautiful song to get old

@Aaa-ho3sq 5 лет назад

Awsamazing Eden, Why do you have to compare different singer's versions? Everyone is unique in their own way, I think it is important to give others the opportunity to share their own version of the national anthem, and to be able to hear it come from different Americans. What makes it more special is the fact that it was a one time thing that people experienced in the moment. Please.

@DigitalicaEG 5 лет назад

Whitney Houston is legend

@SOLOIIguru 5 лет назад

seriously brought a tear to my eye. Her voice is so powerful

@Radi0he4d1 5 лет назад

Did you know that Whitney Houston's debut LP, called simply Whitney Houston, had four No. 1 singles on it?

@NG-sz2xi 5 лет назад

Yep and Mariah and Ariana and Christina

@margawabet9639 5 лет назад

Jadryl Veloria true, ariana was literally a 7 year old.

@Wakeupgrandowl 5 лет назад

lmfao, weak trolling.

@sixthjayhawk 3 года назад

Considering that Feliciano was blind, I wonder if he ever did a rendition later in life that started “Jose, can you see?”

@trifio5242 3 года назад

The ending was so incrredibly emotional, I've cried, even though I am not american and probably won't even ever visit US. Well done, Vox! Great work. Go vote!!!

@Minboelf 5 лет назад

USA:our anthem is perfect! USSR: *HOLD MY VODKA*

@porchofgeese_crockpot 5 лет назад

Germany: Hold My beer

@raghavgupta2399 5 лет назад

India: Hold my chai

@foundersoleil2334 5 лет назад

@@raghavgupta2399 Cambodia: Hold my.. Rice? (the cambodian anthem sounds like they are being forced to sing it)

@abrahampowell6792 4 года назад

@@Proxlynmeow yes сомгаdе

@absbrah38 4 года назад

USSR anthem is for boys, Moldovian ssr is for men.

@aversion.boston 5 лет назад

seems like the only people who nail it everytime, ironically, are the descendants of the people the original lyrics speak so badly of..

@shesmargiela 4 года назад

wowza

@peorakef 4 года назад

Not ironic anymore if you consider they are the ones today most fervently preaching the very book that was used to oppress their ancestors

@dalesajdak422 4 года назад

It is properly sung by a choir

@wonderlanddreamer1021 2 года назад

If even professional singers can't correctly sing your anthem maybe it's time to change America. I mean it should be accessible to every citizen.

@oogabooga9546 3 года назад

does anyone know the link to the version of the star spangled banner at 0:56 ?

@lamikiminach9503 5 лет назад

Whitney is the absolute GOLD STANDARD of anthem performances and will never be outdone!! Lipton TEA

@sabrinatheteenagebitch6805 5 лет назад

wigflew Adele tho *sips Tea*

@YoshiBlue 5 лет назад

ICON

@wewentolentino 5 лет назад

It wasnt live i guess

@goose0078 5 лет назад

ed tolentino she did a live rendition for another occasion, forgot which one. It was just as good honestly.

@alexdelacruz3543 5 лет назад

live version was on the concert that same weekend "welcome home heros" its on youtube.

@starringmeag4487 3 года назад

Well, for the awkward phrasing, you have to remember that it was originally a poem, not a song :)

@yurashida Год назад

Kimigayo as well, everyone can sing it comfortably.

@tanvikhare9710 3 года назад

The "and perfect" has such scared of the government vibes😂

@MP-cv6if 3 года назад

Indian national anthem has a range of 10 notes, and pretty singable.

@suyash5648 4 года назад

Me as an Indian: "Oh so you don't have to sing your national anthem everytime before a movie?" Edit: wow i didn’t expect it to get this many likes 😂

@ayelitasiddiqui4663 3 года назад

Ikr

@Lynnme-eh9cz 3 года назад

older movie theaters do it here

@abdulmannanbabar8020 3 года назад

And everyday in school

@Abhishek-sr2pu 3 года назад

@@abdulmannanbabar8020 we don't do that here.

@Abhishek-sr2pu 3 года назад

Wait isn't that only about standing? And not singing.

@hopegasm2757 5 лет назад

In our country, we sing our anthem every single weekdays before school starts.

@a.4549 5 лет назад

Here we sing it every time before and after summer vacation

@ephemerally1017 4 года назад

are you perhaps indonesian ahaha

@a.4549 4 года назад

@@ephemerally1017 you mean me?

@ephemerally1017 4 года назад

Akane umm i was referring to the original commenter oops but where are you from? :o

@hopegasm2757 4 года назад

ephemerally no, actually im from Mongolia

@pinkpandamiranda 3 года назад

I sang it in front of my entire community college with my choir. It's tough.

@anirudhsharma2182 3 года назад

Vox: the French anthem is the best USSR: hold my vodka

@ryansouthworth7055 3 года назад

Haha

@kamanashiskar9203 3 года назад

No, Britain is the best in the modern-day. But in the Age of New Imperialism, it was Austria-Hungary's was the best.

@polartheiceseawing2346 5 лет назад

Me:*lives in Australia* Me:*watches video anyway*

@stevethea5250 4 года назад

Do we even know the 2nd part lol

@stevethea5250 4 года назад

@Will Hill I used to remember the first line of 2nd verse and that was it AHAHA my schools didn't know any better either. We just sung 1st verse at all occasions

@julianbo5870 4 года назад

Yeah I like Down under

@kirin1230 4 года назад

@@stevethea5250 I learnt the second verse myself. I prefer it tbh. One thing that I found odd, when I sing the second verse, I forgot the first verse. 😅

@stevethea5250 4 года назад

@@kirin1230 it's too long together! (2 verses)

@sampa2nyc 3 года назад

Yes, Whitney Houston was singing along to a pre recorded track (which is commonplace), she could and did sing this live later to debunk the naysers. You could have mentioned that, just saying.

@butterflyera2399 3 года назад

But still amazing not saying u were bashing her or anything

@felipeberlim3587 3 года назад

The only country in the world where you need to be a professional singer to sing your own national anthem. Now I know the US is not just peculiar for not being metric... Loved Whitney Houston by the way. She was the best!