The Finicky Public: Imagine this. You're at a baseball game, and the announcer asks fans to stand for the playing of "God Bless America." The fans start booing and remain seated. This...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Imagine this. You're at a baseball game, and the announcer asks fans to stand for the playing of "God Bless America." The fans start booing and remain seated. This has never happened, of course, but the song received a huge amount of criticism when it was presented to us by Irving Berlin. Even Woody Guthrie thought it was inappropriate and wrote "This Land is Your Land" as a response.

Some complaints -
We have no right to tell God what to do.
It was too optimistic and uplifting.
The composer was a Jew.
The composer was an immigrant.

Irving Berlin must have been flabbergasted by this response. He gave the royalties to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of NYC.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

I am a Woodie Guthrie fan, and Arlo also. I think that "This Land is Your Land" should be our National Anthem. At least it is not an English tavern song. Anybody who objects to "God Bless America" need to get over themselves. It is a nice song that celebrated this great country. Everybody uses the phrase "God Bless America" at some point. Politicians, lawyers, everyday people. What's wrong with that. Also, nobody sang it like Kate Smith.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

PhotoPhred wrote:

I am a Woodie Guthrie fan, and Arlo also. I think that "This Land is Your Land" should be our National Anthem. At least it is not an English tavern song. Anybody who objects to "God Bless America" need to get over themselves. It is a nice song that celebrated this great country. Everybody uses the phrase "God Bless America" at some point. Politicians, lawyers, everyday people. What's wrong with that. Also, nobody sang it like Kate Smith.

FrankR Loc: NYC

I think far too much importance is attached to this song that Berlin wrote while in the Army during WWI. If I'm not mistaken, it was written for some play or musical revue about life on the base he was at on Long Island and he decided it wasn't fit for the show. It became popular decades later, when the Philadelphia Flyers started playing it as a good luck charm, before their home hockey games. I should stand and take off my hat for this?

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

I don't know why the Flyers picked that song, but they did win the cup 2 years in a row. Maybe they should start using it again.

MontanaTrace

It's a fine piece. Respectful to our country.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

iif we ever decide to replace our national anthem, it and "my country tis of thee" and America , would be my short list.

FrankR Loc: NYC

bull drink water wrote:

iif we ever decide to replace our national anthem, it and "my country tis of thee" and America , would be my short list.

I don't think we ever will and I'm not in favor of it, but agree with your choice of "America the Beautiful."

mdfenton

We older folk are debating something that the youngest generation could not care less about. American history, patriotism are low priority.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Most of the complaints about our National Anthem seem to be centered on its 'singability,' that F above high C. It was once quipped that even sopranos have to 'scream' it. For me I just hum it, quietly.

MontanaTrace

John_F wrote:

Most of the complaints about our National Anthem seem to be centered on its 'singability,' that F above high C. It was once quipped that even sopranos have to 'scream' it. For me I just hum it, quietly.

The story behind my ancestor's words to the Stars and Stripes is too good to ever drop but boy is it hard to sing. I played it in high school and college marching bands and therefore never had to sing it. Thank goodness.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The members of The Anacreontic Society never complained about the range. However, "To Anacreon in Heaven" was usually sung after a sufficient number of pints were consumed. At that point neither the singer, or those listening were in a position to critique the range.
--Bob

John_F wrote:

Most of the complaints about our National Anthem seem to be centered on its 'singability,' that F above high C. It was once quipped that even sopranos have to 'scream' it. For me I just hum it, quietly.

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

Interesting situation.

Personally, I would be offended if I was asked to stand for this song instead of our national anthem. I like the song itself.

As for the song, it was written in 1916 for a musical review (Yip Yip Yaphank) at Camp Upton in Yaphank on eastern Long Island. Brookhaven National Laboratory now occupies that location. The song was removed from the review, and first performed on a radio program by Kate Smith on Armistice Day, 1938.

FrankR Loc: NYC

I don't recall exactly when they started doing it, but at Yankees Stadium, they have this little ceremony before the bottom of the seventh inning. They have a Vet with his or her guests behind home who is honored for their service. Then they announce everyone should remain standing remove their caps and sing along with Kate Smith, "God Bless America." I sit after honoring the Vet because it isn't the National Anthem or the Marine Corps Hymn and those are the only two songs I will stand for.

MontanaTrace

FrankR wrote:

I don't recall exactly when they started doing it,... (show quote)

I look at it as similar to giving a standing ovation, before/during the performance. Sure, it's not mandatory protocol but what the heck. I love my country. Probably no more than you or others but to me, it's no big deal to stand up for any patriotic song.