Readers add to the canon:
Controversy around the National Anthem and baseball dates back to 1968 and Jose Feliciano's glorious rendition at the World Series that got him blacklisted from radio. And would anyone really consider Marvin Gaye's now legendary 1983 NBA All-Star Game version as triumphant? Certainly not traditional, but inspiring in its own unique way. This is what artists do: re-imagine us into thinking about the world in a new and different way. What has always made our nation so great are the grounds of freedom that have made these new visions possible.
Another on Gaye's version:
It's like a love song. And there's a great back story too.
Another writes:
Personally, my favorite rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is by Sufjan Stevens, who not only changes the arrangements of the song but also the lyrics. Some might call it overly sentimental and bastardization, but for me it perfectly captures both our country's last decade of wars and the resiliency of our country.
Another points to Smokey Robinson's rendition before the 1986 World Series game 5 between Boston and the Mets. Another writes, "I've always liked Laurie Anderson's commentary on the national anthem, preserved by YouTube here." Another offers up some history:
Granted there are times when the Star Spangled Banner is performed and the entire situation is moving and inspiring (such as Whitney Houston's Super Bowl performance). However, even that performance goes against Congress' original intent in recognizing the SSB as our national anthem and the code which was adopted for that purpose. The code, which can be found here [pdf], is very detailed as to how the music should be performed in public. It also gives reasons as to why it is to be performed and what steps should be taken to ensure that the performance of the music meets the standard that Congress had in mind. The original actions taken by Congress came at a time when our nation was in need of ways to draw people together and rally them behind the policies and actions of our government, and in a way it was nothing more than propaganda.
Among music educators and musicians there is some debate currently about what should be done with this song (America the Beautiful is preferred). The SSB is very difficult to sing accurately (as evidenced by the many and varied ways "singers" manage to mutilate it almost daily), and so many of our citizens can't even sing the words correctly! I wonder how many presidential candidates can pull off an acceptable performance. Through the years the meaning and intent of public performances has shifted from being that of pride and reverence to being about ego and flash.
Another:
Our knee-jerk patriots, who want not just to enforce patriotism at sporting events but even determine the tone of that patriotism, need a history lesson. Until the First World War, no one would have dreamt of playing the "Star-Spangled Banner" before a baseball game. Sports, especially professional sports, were thought to be inherently unworthy of the dignity and gravitas assigned to our national anthem. Only pro-war patriotic zeal – and the desire of baseball owners to be allowed to continue to play during the conflict – led to the now-unquestioned pairing of flag-waving and jock-sniffing that is so central to one strain of "America Fuck Yeah!" patriotism.
And it only got worse with 9/11: the addition of "God Bless America" to all ballparks on Sundays and some (Yankee Stadium) for every game has led to all sorts of nonsense. I have been berated more than once for not removing my cap during this latter song, and when I inform my moronic interlocutor that you only take your hat off for the National Anthem, you’d be amazed how many don’t know which song is which. I now joke that the back of your ticket to a baseball game no longer has a rain check: it has a loyalty oath.
Now, back to what Ring Lardner appropriately called "the World's Serious."
The Dish 