Why the US national anthem is terrible - and perfect

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  • čas přidán 3. 07. 2018
  • Vox's Estelle Caswell and Joss Fong debate "The Star Spangled Banner"
    Subscribe to our channel! goo.gl/0bsAjO
    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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Komentáře • 12K

  • @Vox
    @Vox  Před 5 lety +3027

    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
      @AnnaBloom972 Před 5 lety +19

      Vox please do a video on the USSR national anthem

    • @alexj7440
      @alexj7440 Před 5 lety +16

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

    • @alexj7440
      @alexj7440 Před 5 lety +10

      Very shitty national anthem

    • @regulartomatoes5625
      @regulartomatoes5625 Před 5 lety +6

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

    • @Sheratim
      @Sheratim Před 5 lety +6

      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
    @goodman25 Před 4 lety +10706

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

    • @pochuyma9530
      @pochuyma9530 Před 3 lety +81

      LOL 😂

    • @dulsinlobo3008
      @dulsinlobo3008 Před 3 lety +71

      Lol why is this so underrated

    • @fbitm8089
      @fbitm8089 Před 3 lety +96

      *Ahem*

    • @mr.stalin4070
      @mr.stalin4070 Před 3 lety +6

      Xd

    • @robertphelps1574
      @robertphelps1574 Před 3 lety +8

      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
    @clowntub5070 Před 5 lety +6121

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

    • @bruhchamp16593
      @bruhchamp16593 Před 5 lety +347

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

    • @TeeLeigh66
      @TeeLeigh66 Před 5 lety +228

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

    • @andrewcooper7256
      @andrewcooper7256 Před 5 lety +82

      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
      @1doobiedoo Před 5 lety +53

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

    • @dekim_37
      @dekim_37 Před 5 lety +32

      @@andrewcooper7256
      r/woooosh

  • @Surreality22992
    @Surreality22992 Před 3 lety +3644

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

  • @gudegudemeh5195
    @gudegudemeh5195 Před 3 lety +2176

    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
      @Courage2bwell Před 3 lety +16

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

    • @andrewauto6082
      @andrewauto6082 Před 3 lety +75

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

    • @adamhastie8439
      @adamhastie8439 Před 3 lety +13

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

    • @ghostlightplays
      @ghostlightplays Před 3 lety +15

      @@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
      @popmasteralan5594 Před 3 lety +1

      Probely because your teacher is racist

  • @thejiddy
    @thejiddy Před 5 lety +12132

    "America loves watching people publicly failed".
    Wow.

  • @TheMan21892
    @TheMan21892 Před 4 lety +6110

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

    • @Rybik007
      @Rybik007 Před 4 lety +61

      Totally true! The most amazing rendition till today.

    • @TheCartooncompany
      @TheCartooncompany Před 4 lety +4

      Fact: Long live Catalonia

    • @DavPMUSIC
      @DavPMUSIC Před 4 lety +18

      Yeah. Until you realize it's pre-recorded

    • @lordvoldemort5725
      @lordvoldemort5725 Před 4 lety +76

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

    • @shiftyclouds9591
      @shiftyclouds9591 Před 4 lety +17

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

  • @lynx2179
    @lynx2179 Před 3 lety +2405

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

    • @user-cv6kd3vk4g
      @user-cv6kd3vk4g Před 3 lety +65

      2nd best only to whitney Houston

    • @phoenixdoom
      @phoenixdoom Před 3 lety +78

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

    • @blockpart2184
      @blockpart2184 Před 3 lety +4

      Honestly sounds amazing

    • @lai7981
      @lai7981 Před 3 lety +8

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

    • @random_girlypop_ontheinternet
      @random_girlypop_ontheinternet Před 2 lety +1

      Same

  • @peterlane1391
    @peterlane1391 Před 3 lety +889

    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
      @WaveRider1989 Před 2 lety +4

      @🌲Läcveg rd🌲 can you though? Lol

    • @XevenYT143
      @XevenYT143 Před 2 lety

      @🌲Lacveg rd🌲 what country?

    • @helos5079
      @helos5079 Před 2 lety +1

      Im Asian and i really love the lyric

    • @phoenixrising4995
      @phoenixrising4995 Před rokem +3

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

  • @sydney3170
    @sydney3170 Před 4 lety +8782

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

  • @Demian_Garcia
    @Demian_Garcia Před 5 lety +4742

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

    • @bag3lmonst3r72
      @bag3lmonst3r72 Před 5 lety +735

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

    • @nohcks
      @nohcks Před 5 lety +62

      Nice Referencing!! LMFAO!!!

    • @eliseomartinez7911
      @eliseomartinez7911 Před 5 lety +36

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

    • @ekanshagarwal5125
      @ekanshagarwal5125 Před 5 lety +26

      Nonono that was the indian national anthem

    • @michaelguthrie1598
      @michaelguthrie1598 Před 5 lety +40

      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

  • @vennelaj.994
    @vennelaj.994 Před 3 lety +324

    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
      @calderonryan3575 Před 3 lety +2

      haha elementary days

    • @winchesterchua7600
      @winchesterchua7600 Před 2 lety +5

      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
      @chick-fil-a2737 Před rokem +3

      Every day? That seems a little dramatic

    • @cg0825
      @cg0825 Před 2 měsíci

      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.

  • @Marinaheidi
    @Marinaheidi Před 3 lety +1683

    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
      @gabrielrodrigues6064 Před 3 lety +52

      Brazilian crowds are on another level

    • @anavideos2445
      @anavideos2445 Před 3 lety +22

      As a Brazilian, I can just agree.

    • @Marinaheidi
      @Marinaheidi Před 3 lety +12

      Ps. Eu sou br ta meu povo 🤪

    • @frameturtle
      @frameturtle Před 3 lety +58

      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
      @Marinaheidi Před 3 lety +48

      @@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 🤗

  • @Aluxix
    @Aluxix Před 4 lety +4751

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

    • @apersononyoutube4971
      @apersononyoutube4971 Před 4 lety +28

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

    • @lunahetfield
      @lunahetfield Před 4 lety +21

      A Person On CZcams 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
      @jthejedigaming8303 Před 4 lety +16

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

    • @stevethea5250
      @stevethea5250 Před 4 lety +2

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

    • @LarissaDawn
      @LarissaDawn Před 4 lety

      But it's not tho

  • @menaceman9011
    @menaceman9011 Před 5 lety +5968

    “All Star” by Smashmouth is the unofficial anthem

  • @heatherboyd1180
    @heatherboyd1180 Před 3 lety +327

    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!

  • @jodic.rosalejos4474
    @jodic.rosalejos4474 Před 3 lety +237

    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
      @pascallaw5909 Před rokem +8

      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
      @primerouno3739 Před rokem +2

      @@pascallaw5909 respect the country you’re in

    • @pascallaw5909
      @pascallaw5909 Před rokem +4

      @@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
      @maddoxmonteza Před rokem +1

      I can confirm as a Filipino

  • @Arthur-be3qu
    @Arthur-be3qu Před 4 lety +2104

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

    • @davidhalper5525
      @davidhalper5525 Před 4 lety +13

      @Sean Wilkinson Whoosh

    • @lora1002
      @lora1002 Před 4 lety +52

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

    • @davidhalper5525
      @davidhalper5525 Před 4 lety +7

      @@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
      @aymanslife9995 Před 4 lety +15

      @@davidhalper5525 no it's r/woooosh

    • @toddkobell162
      @toddkobell162 Před 4 lety +5

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

  • @GabrielAlmeida-hl8wk
    @GabrielAlmeida-hl8wk Před 4 lety +5472

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

  • @dimitri_tsm
    @dimitri_tsm Před 3 lety +80

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

  • @srinidhi5592
    @srinidhi5592 Před 3 lety +301

    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
      @Perririri Před 3 lety +22

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

    • @shruthakeerthi4559
      @shruthakeerthi4559 Před 3 lety +21

      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
      @oscarosullivan4513 Před rokem

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

    • @matthewvanvught
      @matthewvanvught Před rokem

      What is the pledge of allegiance

  • @gominuke
    @gominuke Před 5 lety +6613

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

    • @gominuke
      @gominuke Před 5 lety +759

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

    • @enzosw
      @enzosw Před 5 lety +95

      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
      @tomhetterscheid4244 Před 5 lety +4

      emmanuel rosel ben je een spanjool ofzo

    • @karma916
      @karma916 Před 5 lety +208

      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
      @elijah-he975 Před 5 lety +7

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

  • @kingtomas7276
    @kingtomas7276 Před 5 lety +4895

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

  • @yanatarkhaeva
    @yanatarkhaeva Před 3 lety +77

    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
      @kevinkent6351 Před 3 lety +14

      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.

  • @llllllllll552
    @llllllllll552 Před 3 lety +89

    ”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
      @jayce453 Před 11 měsíci

      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
      @jayce453 Před 11 měsíci

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

  • @haritha.514
    @haritha.514 Před 4 lety +6151

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

    • @chocobombs
      @chocobombs Před 4 lety +704

      stop exposing us

    • @hanoisme7858
      @hanoisme7858 Před 4 lety +586

      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
      @hanoisme7858 Před 4 lety +17

      @uminacis lol

    • @dhruvdatta1055
      @dhruvdatta1055 Před 4 lety +114

      yep...in india

    • @mifinkmaybe2149
      @mifinkmaybe2149 Před 4 lety +251

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

  • @fefeisbored1958
    @fefeisbored1958 Před 5 lety +2018

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

  • @riosulysto2068
    @riosulysto2068 Před 2 lety +114

    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
      @Ifaal_AT Před 2 lety +2

      Yeah our daily routine

    • @risannd
      @risannd Před 2 lety +4

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

    • @darwinqpenaflorida3797
      @darwinqpenaflorida3797 Před rokem +1

      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
      @bealu9459 Před rokem +1

      same in Colombia

  • @Aaron-tt3pc
    @Aaron-tt3pc Před 3 lety +68

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

    • @ismth
      @ismth Před 2 lety +4

      Agreed. I liked Gaga's version as well

    • @Charlize064
      @Charlize064 Před 2 lety

      Yes.

    • @Jpk21
      @Jpk21 Před rokem

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

  • @jugemujugemugokonosurikire4735

    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.

  • @harini7891
    @harini7891 Před 5 lety +1201

    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
      @jormungandrrework4899 Před 5 lety +120

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

    • @lewis2255
      @lewis2255 Před 5 lety +95

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

    • @purpleties127
      @purpleties127 Před 5 lety +47

      ‘Send her victorious
      Happy and glorious’ xD

    • @laas735
      @laas735 Před 5 lety +39

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

    • @moon_marina
      @moon_marina Před 4 lety +23

      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

  • @boeman6702
    @boeman6702 Před 3 lety +453

    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
      @8GB215 Před 3 lety +21

      The power of freedom

    • @AndT101
      @AndT101 Před 3 lety +30

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

    • @richdwayneadamdelacruz7633
      @richdwayneadamdelacruz7633 Před 3 lety +13

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

    • @mashihodpotatoetm4572
      @mashihodpotatoetm4572 Před 3 lety +3

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

    • @DemoDaBoi
      @DemoDaBoi Před 3 lety +1

      I'm American.

  • @SimplyV3rna
    @SimplyV3rna Před 3 lety +37

    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.

  • @yojeffrow5505
    @yojeffrow5505 Před 5 lety +627

    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
      @alicedubois1348 Před 5 lety +15

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

    • @yojeffrow5505
      @yojeffrow5505 Před 5 lety +20

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

    • @mrhubertlouis1
      @mrhubertlouis1 Před 5 lety +28

      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
      @yojeffrow5505 Před 5 lety +14

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

    • @yapgimkwee8842
      @yapgimkwee8842 Před 5 lety +1

      totally agree

  • @mashedpotatoes6754
    @mashedpotatoes6754 Před 5 lety +2331

    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
      @strawberrysana4497 Před 5 lety +93

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

    • @HideFromReality
      @HideFromReality Před 5 lety +22

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

    • @bro-ss2eu
      @bro-ss2eu Před 4 lety +5

      Us everyday

    • @junjunagbayani4792
      @junjunagbayani4792 Před 4 lety +18

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

    • @julianheichelbech7838
      @julianheichelbech7838 Před 4 lety +3

      wait wot, we sing it loads

  • @kinderwan
    @kinderwan Před 3 lety +162

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

    • @blizzbee
      @blizzbee Před 3 lety +4

      Through the whole history,,, yes

    • @basedguns8218
      @basedguns8218 Před 3 lety +4

      No

    • @amelsalkic2998
      @amelsalkic2998 Před 2 lety +3

      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
      @gerard0529 Před 2 lety +1

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

    • @gerard0529
      @gerard0529 Před 2 lety +1

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

  • @sarahnunez318
    @sarahnunez318 Před 2 lety +52

    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.

  • @chazclifford327
    @chazclifford327 Před 5 lety +491

    Whitney Houston made it look easy

  • @camf03
    @camf03 Před 5 lety +1683

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

    • @jisookruzat
      @jisookruzat Před 5 lety +2

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

    • @bobsmith-ru7xp
      @bobsmith-ru7xp Před 5 lety +23

      Nah, the best performance is Jimi Hendrix's.

    • @dimitripapadinikolaus
      @dimitripapadinikolaus Před 5 lety +11

      Bruh Fergy 👌🏽👌🏽

    • @ambrizfer7898
      @ambrizfer7898 Před 5 lety +7

      Lady Gaga wasn't bad

    • @finmc388
      @finmc388 Před 5 lety +8

      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

  • @ufcasual
    @ufcasual Před 3 lety +188

    Why our USSR national anthem is perfect -- and perfect

    • @kamanashiskar9203
      @kamanashiskar9203 Před 3 lety +8

      The British anthem and patriotic songs are the best.

    • @eliaslaurent479
      @eliaslaurent479 Před 3 lety +8

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

    • @mango9602
      @mango9602 Před 3 lety +10

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

    • @jigbizzer
      @jigbizzer Před 3 lety +2

      Russian *

    • @NathanPlays395
      @NathanPlays395 Před 3 lety +3

      @@eliaslaurent479 *hehehe*

  • @amaionnaise1594
    @amaionnaise1594 Před 2 lety +30

    when whitney houston sang the anthem i literally got chills

  • @peytoncox8146
    @peytoncox8146 Před 5 lety +1589

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

  • @NeedForMadnessSVK
    @NeedForMadnessSVK Před 5 lety +1705

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

    • @Ildskalli
      @Ildskalli Před 5 lety +63

      As underrated a comment as there ever was!

    • @Coolsomeone234
      @Coolsomeone234 Před 5 lety +15

      *Cough*
      Vietnam
      *Cough*

    • @vincelamb4063
      @vincelamb4063 Před 5 lety +51

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

    • @sirbenjamaicad.6472
      @sirbenjamaicad.6472 Před 5 lety +11

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

    • @zacharyhenderson2902
      @zacharyhenderson2902 Před 5 lety +1

      EliteXtasy it was not. That's a lie

  • @XFz2nLDWo73x95
    @XFz2nLDWo73x95 Před 2 lety +26

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

  • @MegaRaked
    @MegaRaked Před 3 lety +27

    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 😆

  • @sarasudin
    @sarasudin Před 5 lety +1204

    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
      @carriefrederick5280 Před 5 lety +22

      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
      @neehgurg2111 Před 5 lety

      @DJMISTERCRINGE in a broken English too

    • @drawsgaming7094
      @drawsgaming7094 Před 5 lety +1

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

    • @hannahwyatt4830
      @hannahwyatt4830 Před 5 lety +9

      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
      @lemoncardboard4877 Před 5 lety +10

      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.

  • @narniadici1976
    @narniadici1976 Před 5 lety +1024

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

    • @bramsou1311
      @bramsou1311 Před 5 lety +168

      Yeah but the historic context explains it

    • @narniadici1976
      @narniadici1976 Před 5 lety +13

      @@bramsou1311 True

    • @thatoneemokid2026
      @thatoneemokid2026 Před 5 lety +8

      Narnia Dici I love your profile picture

    • @Alhmaleonn
      @Alhmaleonn Před 5 lety +71

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

    • @ricardopieper11
      @ricardopieper11 Před 5 lety +53

      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.

  • @KYRONROCKS101
    @KYRONROCKS101 Před 3 lety +53

    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. :)

  • @animeyahallo3887
    @animeyahallo3887 Před 3 lety +108

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

    • @endlesserrors
      @endlesserrors Před 3 lety +2

      @Zodboeg good, lets sing

    • @shalinitiwariscorner5210
      @shalinitiwariscorner5210 Před 3 lety +2

      @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
      @adhitypratamairwanto5450 Před 3 lety +1

      @@shalinitiwariscorner5210 hes probably just joking

    • @tatotenaglia6548
      @tatotenaglia6548 Před 3 lety +4

      Lets just get down To it
      SOYONZ NERUSHIMI

    • @banglaball54
      @banglaball54 Před 2 lety

      The Russian musics are also so good.

  • @erapadasas5804
    @erapadasas5804 Před 4 lety +1088

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

    • @aperm510
      @aperm510 Před 4 lety +53

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

    • @siopao8137
      @siopao8137 Před 4 lety +13

      Wait really?

    • @reymartmacanang8330
      @reymartmacanang8330 Před 4 lety +64

      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
      @P_Shii Před 4 lety +45

      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
      @MoonLight-cb8db Před 4 lety +16

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

  • @vaughanvanderstarren832
    @vaughanvanderstarren832 Před 5 lety +1535

    The Soviet anthem is my favorite, aesthetically.

  • @therealannakonda
    @therealannakonda Před 3 lety +58

    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
      @butterflyera2399 Před 3 lety +5

      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.
      @tartaglia. Před 2 lety +4

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

  • @miyuslittlechannel5785
    @miyuslittlechannel5785 Před 2 lety +120

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

    • @benjaminraymundo6711
      @benjaminraymundo6711 Před 2 lety +4

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

    • @masterbaiter0fthebait572
      @masterbaiter0fthebait572 Před rokem +2

      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
      @MrMonsterKen Před rokem +1

      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
      @Aquasliph Před rokem +4

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

    • @phoenixrising4995
      @phoenixrising4995 Před rokem

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

  • @lukesguywalker
    @lukesguywalker Před 5 lety +2386

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

    • @molly_beatrix
      @molly_beatrix Před 5 lety +10

      nice bi icon :,)

    • @lukesguywalker
      @lukesguywalker Před 5 lety +5

      pkm thx bb! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

    • @zachh2166
      @zachh2166 Před 5 lety +32

      The Washington Post being The Washington Post.

    • @BagoPorkRinds
      @BagoPorkRinds Před 5 lety +35

      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
      @4our31 Před 5 lety +3

      except for my farts

  • @yunianiceto9805
    @yunianiceto9805 Před 5 lety +1127

    “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.

  • @Jesse_mlo
    @Jesse_mlo Před 2 lety +17

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

  • @heronimousbrapson863
    @heronimousbrapson863 Před 3 lety +15

    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.

  • @benkahnke2546
    @benkahnke2546 Před 5 lety +810

    thats why we leave the national anthem to Whitney

    • @TimmyTickle
      @TimmyTickle Před 5 lety +14

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

    • @LuisGarzaHo
      @LuisGarzaHo Před 5 lety +26

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

    • @moe9732
      @moe9732 Před 5 lety +17

      @@TimmyTickle Fergie

    • @RoxieMarquez_marroxeli
      @RoxieMarquez_marroxeli Před 5 lety +1

      @@TimmyTickle jack black actually did a good job

    • @The5thChapter
      @The5thChapter Před 5 lety +2

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

  • @drowsy_mouse8406
    @drowsy_mouse8406 Před 5 lety +1955

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

    • @RonquixoteDIII
      @RonquixoteDIII Před 5 lety +83

      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
      @apoloniaespinal8402 Před 5 lety +6

      Drowsy_ Mouse it talks about slaves

    • @ssj4gogeta77
      @ssj4gogeta77 Před 5 lety +22

      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
      @GFSLombardo Před 5 lety

      There is a CZcams video where all 4 verses are sung. Listen.

    • @amandamate9117
      @amandamate9117 Před 5 lety

      I fap to electro swing

  • @jengb7057
    @jengb7057 Před 3 lety +13

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

  • @just2bears606
    @just2bears606 Před 2 lety +11

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

  • @mikemike8424
    @mikemike8424 Před 3 lety +874

    That hippie version of the anthem literally sounded so good wow

    • @markfrommaryland3825
      @markfrommaryland3825 Před 3 lety +16

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

  • @cocoapuff_x
    @cocoapuff_x Před 5 lety +1258

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

  • @ozone8897
    @ozone8897 Před 3 lety +11

    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

  • @butchie0415
    @butchie0415 Před 3 lety +13

    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.

  • @suyash5648
    @suyash5648 Před 3 lety +1288

    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 😂

  • @alexmasubay2101
    @alexmasubay2101 Před 5 lety +928

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

    • @erinjoleen1571
      @erinjoleen1571 Před 5 lety +77

      AT LEAST SOMEONE ELSE AGREES WITH ME!!!!

    • @schneedgod
      @schneedgod Před 5 lety +45

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

    • @xtianarce8996
      @xtianarce8996 Před 5 lety +22

      7:06 but still

    • @andie361
      @andie361 Před 4 lety +7

      Yes.. I like it too!

    • @ethanjames8426
      @ethanjames8426 Před 4 lety +7

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

  • @may-vi5zq
    @may-vi5zq Před 3 lety +15

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

  • @grandy
    @grandy Před 3 lety +28

    Whitney's rendition always gives me goosebumps

  • @_ysai
    @_ysai Před 4 lety +895

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

    • @icedmorning7610
      @icedmorning7610 Před 4 lety +279

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

    • @gezi5927
      @gezi5927 Před 4 lety +5

      IcedMorning yeah

    • @skellaberry
      @skellaberry Před 3 lety +20

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

    • @_ysai
      @_ysai Před 3 lety +21

      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
      @Lynnme-eh9cz Před 3 lety +7

      we say the pledge of allegiance at school every day tho

  • @DigitalicaEG
    @DigitalicaEG Před 5 lety +2035

    Whitney Houston is legend

    • @SOLOIIguru
      @SOLOIIguru Před 5 lety +44

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

    • @Radi0he4d1
      @Radi0he4d1 Před 5 lety +18

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

    • @NG-sz2xi
      @NG-sz2xi Před 5 lety +3

      Yep and Mariah and Ariana and Christina

    • @margawabet9639
      @margawabet9639 Před 5 lety +1

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

    • @Wakeupgrandowl
      @Wakeupgrandowl Před 5 lety +5

      lmfao, weak trolling.

  • @ScarletJannaStaAna
    @ScarletJannaStaAna Před 3 lety +5

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

  • @christianpaul2918
    @christianpaul2918 Před 3 lety +10

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

  • @mohdshow
    @mohdshow Před 5 lety +1481

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

    • @tsntana
      @tsntana Před 5 lety +67

      Welcome to Vox. :)

    • @kaidellTV
      @kaidellTV Před 5 lety +113

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

    • @Michaila95
      @Michaila95 Před 5 lety +302

      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
      @breebreezy9980 Před 5 lety +26

      Yet its still the best! 😁

    • @jamaalshelton6793
      @jamaalshelton6793 Před 5 lety +98

      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 CZcams as well

  • @thehopeofeden597
    @thehopeofeden597 Před 5 lety +1978

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

    • @rosesflowers4722
      @rosesflowers4722 Před 5 lety +1

      Awsamazing Eden Yes, or Ssndy Patty!

    • @vice88
      @vice88 Před 5 lety +10

      Awsamazing Eden So true.

    • @dialiaga
      @dialiaga Před 5 lety +19

      Awsamazing Eden FOR REAL

    • @goodolmeplant5809
      @goodolmeplant5809 Před 5 lety +22

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

    • @Aaa-ho3sq
      @Aaa-ho3sq Před 5 lety +2

      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.

  • @wonderlanddreamer1021
    @wonderlanddreamer1021 Před 2 lety +2

    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.

  • @trifio5242
    @trifio5242 Před 3 lety +7

    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!!!

  • @joskayal5999
    @joskayal5999 Před 5 lety +458

    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
      @NovaStarling Před 5 lety +37

      that describes us perfectly

    • @joskayal5999
      @joskayal5999 Před 5 lety +33

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

    • @SomeoneCommenting
      @SomeoneCommenting Před 5 lety +22

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

    • @ChristChickAutistic
      @ChristChickAutistic Před 5 lety

      Absolutely true.

    • @EmrysCorbin
      @EmrysCorbin Před 5 lety +9

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

  • @isskamiria8978
    @isskamiria8978 Před 5 lety +844

    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
      @rkhbr2154 Před 5 lety +73

      Umm we sing everyday before the school bell rings

    • @isskamiria8978
      @isskamiria8978 Před 5 lety +34

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

    • @canned_can_chan4590
      @canned_can_chan4590 Před 5 lety +19

      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
      @baseddepartment4163 Před 5 lety +35

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

    • @potatoos
      @potatoos Před 5 lety +1

      In Finland once a year

  • @Goober651
    @Goober651 Před 3 lety +5

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

  • @tanvikhare9710
    @tanvikhare9710 Před 3 lety +9

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

  • @Minboelf
    @Minboelf Před 5 lety +786

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

  • @aversion.boston
    @aversion.boston Před 5 lety +744

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

    • @shesmargiela
      @shesmargiela Před 4 lety +5

      wowza

    • @peorakef
      @peorakef Před 4 lety +9

      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
      @dalesajdak422 Před 4 lety

      It is properly sung by a choir

  • @anirudhsharma2182
    @anirudhsharma2182 Před 3 lety +25

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

    • @ryansouthworth7055
      @ryansouthworth7055 Před 3 lety

      Haha

    • @kamanashiskar9203
      @kamanashiskar9203 Před 3 lety +1

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

  • @jaimanohar
    @jaimanohar Před 3 lety +11

    Seems only “Whitney Houston” knew how to sing it.

  • @815pm9
    @815pm9 Před 5 lety +1209

    did anyone else get goosebumps when witney sang?
    Wow thanks for all the likes!😊

    • @downbntout
      @downbntout Před 5 lety +27

      There's only one Whitney

    • @MrZachgonz
      @MrZachgonz Před 5 lety +5

      8:15 pm Michael Jackson also performed the half time show that Super Bowl.

    • @flippy4951
      @flippy4951 Před 5 lety +1

      tears in my eyes

    • @Kaddywompous
      @Kaddywompous Před 5 lety +3

      Zach Gonzales And he was amazing! And the game was amazing! And I lost 1 dollar to my uncle Artie betting on the Bills! What a time to be alive!

    • @or4nge314
      @or4nge314 Před 5 lety +2

      8:15 pm I don’t like the way she sings it

  • @Christian-xb6no
    @Christian-xb6no Před 4 lety +388

    So sad they booed Jose Feliciano. Absolutely love his version

    • @mayte_j4008
      @mayte_j4008 Před 4 lety +6

      Best version so far

    • @alilordoftheskies5079
      @alilordoftheskies5079 Před 4 lety +5

      It makes me proud to be Puerto Rican.

    • @Alice-sh1qy
      @Alice-sh1qy Před 4 lety +3

      Yeah his highkey slaps!

    • @fania_mania
      @fania_mania Před 4 lety +3

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

    • @zacharyfelder6604
      @zacharyfelder6604 Před 3 lety

      @@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.

  • @MP-cv6if
    @MP-cv6if Před 3 lety +7

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

  • @felipeberlim3587
    @felipeberlim3587 Před 3 lety +8

    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!

  • @lamikiminach9503
    @lamikiminach9503 Před 5 lety +410

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

    • @sabrinatheteenagebitch6805
      @sabrinatheteenagebitch6805 Před 5 lety +2

      wigflew Adele tho *sips Tea*

    • @YoshiBlue
      @YoshiBlue Před 5 lety

      ICON

    • @wewentolentino
      @wewentolentino Před 5 lety

      It wasnt live i guess

    • @goose0078
      @goose0078 Před 5 lety +3

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

    • @alexdelacruz3543
      @alexdelacruz3543 Před 5 lety

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

  • @jk-gb4et
    @jk-gb4et Před 4 lety +1509

    America in a nutshell:
    Terrible - And perfect

  • @sixthjayhawk
    @sixthjayhawk Před 3 lety +3

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

  • @vikgetman2180
    @vikgetman2180 Před 2 lety +6

    Ukrainian anthem (my country) is pretty easy to sing and we had to sing it every year at school. it’s also considered impolite and unpatriotic to not sing it. but when i came to the US i realized Americans didn’t sing along because of how difficult it is. like why so difficult 😭

  • @menahelsultan3389
    @menahelsultan3389 Před 5 lety +1456

    Every other country: Knows their anthem and sings ok
    USA: 0:00

    • @Fischerr
      @Fischerr Před 5 lety +18

      Very stereotypical

    • @lea-zq4uw
      @lea-zq4uw Před 5 lety +36

      Honestly i live in Switzerland and most people don't even know the first words of our anthem (probably because we have three version of it, one in every langage swiss speak)

    • @jimmysboringplace8502
      @jimmysboringplace8502 Před 5 lety +7

      Anthems without lyrics: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO

    • @MrComando5
      @MrComando5 Před 5 lety +22

      Spain: Sing?? What's that?

    • @jimmysboringplace8502
      @jimmysboringplace8502 Před 5 lety

      Verdad 😂😂

  • @sampa2nyc
    @sampa2nyc Před 3 lety +516

    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
      @butterflyera2399 Před 3 lety +9

      But still amazing not saying u were bashing her or anything

  • @NZC_Meow
    @NZC_Meow Před 2 lety +3

    The Star Spangled Banner uses the tune of a British drinking song named To Anacreon in Heaven. It's the anthem of the Anacreon song (a music society that dissolved in 1710s). That song was also written for soloists. That's why it's so hard

  • @PistachioDean
    @PistachioDean Před 3 lety +8

    I like the Japanese anthem, it's so poetic. Aoi Teshima, think Ghibli, sang it one time, and it sounds like some ancient Japanese goddess.

  • @estenba
    @estenba Před 5 lety +2032

    Just because you can't sing it doesn't means it's bad

    • @reinerjung1613
      @reinerjung1613 Před 5 lety +237

      This depends on the use case. If the majority of the population should be able to sing it, hard to sing songs are not good. If only professional singers are going to sing it then this is not that big issue. As a lot of national anthems have terrible phrases in them, maybe we should just get rid of them from time to time and replace them with something uplifting or nothing.

    • @toad7395
      @toad7395 Před 5 lety +40

      Its a national anthem though something that represents your country

    • @corrinflakes9659
      @corrinflakes9659 Před 5 lety +3

      ​@@reinerjung1613 I think that's just for national anthems where any citizen is going to attempt the song at some point, if it's just any song (not-anthem) hard to perform but sounds _really_ good, it's good, like are you saying "Freebird" is bad for guitarists in that case?

    • @MsZeldasaga
      @MsZeldasaga Před 5 lety +48

      A national anthem should be able to be sung by all of its citizens. If an anthem is so technically challenging that most people can't sing it, it's not a good anthem, great song, but exactly something for the people.

    • @erikaesselbach6685
      @erikaesselbach6685 Před 5 lety +8

      @@MsZeldasaga You can't make an anthem everyone can sing or we would just end up with a song like the ones we all learned in kindergarten. Plus, I think half the battle is starting low enough. Everyone has songs they have trouble with. It doesn't mean that they are even necessarily hard songs. I have a small gap while transitioning from my chest voice I find challenging.

  • @andre-cmyk
    @andre-cmyk Před 5 lety +225

    If anyone wants a more musical analysis of the anthem, Adam Neely's Anthem talks about that.
    Actually it's pretty much the same video but a bit more in depth.

  • @holldolldee7582
    @holldolldee7582 Před 3 lety +6

    Wonder how if feels for Americans knowing that “their” national anthem was a drinking song made by drunk Englishmen in a pub🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿