Well, the Star Spangled Banner was set to the tune of a British club's drinking song- it worked as a sobriety test, if you could still sing a verse you weren't too drunk for another round :-)
The Sans-Culottes were the revolutionary poor of France, they wore regular long pants instead of the fancy knee breeches (culottes) of the royallists. Kind of like the Roundheads of the British Civil War who didn't wear the elaborately curly wigs favoured by the Royallists.
I personally like the Australian national anthem :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_Australia_Fair
I even know both official verses :-)

While I like our anthem, I agree it IS difficult to sing. Perhaps that's why so many "professional" singers today sing it in their own style - they can't sing it the way it was written. However, the beauty of the Star Spangled Banner is that it is historically authentic & evokes a powerful historical memory to us of what our country has gone through.

If we looked for a song that's easier for citizens to sing, I think our anthem should be America the Beautiful.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful
I've always like the lyrics.

I also think Irving Berlin's God Bless America would be a good anthem to sing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America

Colleen, I'm so impressed at you knowing so much about anthems - I need to study more. I had never heard of the Sans Culottes!

Nice topic, John - thank you.

Every past year on Bastille Day, actually on the Sunday closest to 7/14, I participated with the French Institute in the celebrations. There would be a big street fair, and we would sing La Marseillaise first then the Star Spangled Banner second. The French ambassador and his wife normally would show up and sang with us.

I agree La Marseillaise paroles are kind of bloody. But the parties afterwards had been delicious. :-)

dcarch

-One song is like applying for a bank loan
-"O Canada", for instance, could be sung by a sea turtle

Not flattering for a Canadian to read this; it's just your opinion, of course,
but it's our anthem, as simplistic as it is , we stand proud when we hear it.

I also stand proud when I hear the U.S. anthem, we are such good neighbors.

It depends on who is the sea turtle:

Oh Canada

Star Spankled Banner

dcarch

I like them both and I think Celine Dion makes both of them sound wonderful.

I hate the way so many singers turn the Star-Spangled Banner into yet another cheesy pop showcase. Sing the actual melody, dammit! I did recently hear it done very nicely and simply, by Willy and Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly. It has a country flavor but is not junked up with ornamentation. Not well recorded but nice vocals.

Here is a link that might be useful: Star-Spangled Banner

Amen, Christine! I will turn off the TV if a singer does "their" stylized version of our national anthem. Gaghhhh!

That is a nicely done version by the guys of Reckless Kelly. I can appreciate that, rather than wanting to scream. The "cheesy pop showcase" is the main reason I do not watch American Idol.

Teresa

thanks dearch for linking the two, I got goose pimples listening to her sing both of them !!!

I completely agree with CC and Teresa. I just can't stand when performers "oversoul" the Star Spangled Banner. I think that was what threw Christina A. off at the Super Bowl. If she'd kept her mind on the words instead of the yodeling then she might have made it through.

I like O Canada and can sing it more easily than the SSB. I absolutely can;t stand Celine Dion, no matter what she sings.

I can make you puke instantly.

Roseanne Barr

dcarch :-(

I meant goose bumps, lol.......

Mitch, I kind of like "goose pimples". I also like "O Canada", we ARE good neighbors and good friends, and my Grandfather came to Michigan from Canada in 1905, and I still have family in Ontario.

As for the National Anthem, like many others, I don't want "The Star Spangled Banner" turned into whatever currently fashionable pop singers "stylize" it into. Just sing it, darn it, generations of drunks have done it successfully, sheesh. As for being difficult, I can sing it and I'm no singer. Ashley can sing it, she has a lovely voice and can hit every note without hestitation. Maybe the "professionals" should practice a bit more and not chance screwing it up in front of millions.

Ashley sang it once in 6th grade on a tour bus in Washington DC and made the bus driver cry. I can get "misty" hearing it sung too and my girls knew that if we were (or still are) at any function where we are asked to stand for the anthem, they'd better be prepared to sing or they get "the look" and maybe a small reminder tap on the back of their heads!

Annie

Shoot, I just plain ol' cry and get too choked up to finish it. I can't sing well either, but still do. Mom and son say I sing it well, but I think it's more about pride in how I sing it than the actual tone. I don't think John meant to offend, just meant it easy enough to enjoy singing it. O Canada is very beautiful.

Don't get me started on our national anthem. Try playing the John Phillip Sousa version on the clarinet! :) Let me just say that it is NOT a clarinet showcase, lol! Needs BRASS!
And what the heck is a "rampart?" (Actually a rhetorical question, I do know!)
I used to dislike it. So violent - bombs bursting in air, rockets red glare.
Now I like it. When times get tough, really tough, I want to see proof thru the night that our flag is still there.
I want it to wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave.
But I also want G-d to crown us with brotherhood from sea to shining sea too!