I must be a softy for overrated songs. Every time I hear the Star-Spangled Banner my eyes well up with tears and I get chill bumps too.
Me, too.
Ditto... unless some pop star decides to do a horrible rendition of it.
I still have trouble singing it without getting tears in my eyes. I love that song and what it stands for.
As I'm reading this, I'm sitting about a half mile from Fort McHenry.
I wonder how people can NOT know enough American history to know what could have happened when Francis Scott Key wrote those inspiring words.
Me too!
A recent Harris poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans don't even know the words.
Well, so what! I bet 2/3 of the country couldn't name 3 signers of the Declaration of Independence, or tell you what year the Constitution was passed, or name the Secretary of State, or 5 state capitals, or their 2 Senators, or their House Rep, or 2 Supreme Court justices. Besides, my 6 y.o. almost knows all the words, and loves to sing it. Talk about tears in your eyes!
A radio station in Detroit, 105.1, has someone, usually a kid call at 7:30 every morning and recite the Pledge of Allegiance then they follow it up with a patriotic song. Usually it's the National Anthem. I get the goosebumps and usually remove my hat and listen well as I'm driving to work.
Watch NASCAR, they never preempt the anthem, although too often the loser "celebrities" they get massacre the song. Last week, Diamond Rio nailed it with a perfect rendition.
My reaction exactly. I hate it when some idiot is eating popcorn or yapping on a cell phone during the Anthem. My Father said that after WWII if you were in a public place and the National Anthem was played that anyone that did not stand up straight and respect the flag would catch hell from any number of vets. In some cases people would get that butts whipped.
I'm the same way.
My Grandfather, who immigrated to this country in the early 20th century, was so touched by The Star Spangled Banner that he cried every time he heard it.
That makes two of us, and I practically bawled when I heard it at a symohony performance a few months ago. The guest conductor (can't remember his name) started off the evening with the "Star-Spangled Banner." He was probably in his fifties or sixties and came from East Germany. The anthem wasn't on the program, but the instant that the first few notes sounded the entire audience leapt to their feet, put their hands over their hearts and sang as loud as they could. Afterwards, he explained that his dream as a young conductor had been to be in America and hear the "Star Spangled Banner" play under his direction; since he couldn't then, he took every available chance to do so now. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. Needless to say, it was a fantastic performance.
I love "America" and "God Bless America" too, but the "Star Spangled Banner" has been our anthem throughout our wars and is itself a beautiful tune, if not murdered by idiot pop stars who find it necessary to use it to show off their improvisational techniques (gag).