Episode description

The American national anthem AKA The Star-Spangled Banner is absurd — in terms of the lyrics, the music, and also the weight behind it as a performance piece. And we can't just never talk about that, can we? So we're going in on it today, exploring the origins of this song and some iconic performances from the past 50 years. 

The national anthem is a very hard song to sing and a high stakes milestone/legacy song for a lot of artists because, to put it simply, nationalism is real and rampant. Performances of the anthem and their outcomes can tell us a lot about an artist and Where We're At, culturally. Our Star-Spangled Banner, Ourselves.

We promised to share some crucial links in the show notes, and here they are:

Vox, Why the US national anthem is terrible — and perfect

National Anthem performances (and remix):

• José Feliciano, 1968
• Jimi Hendrix, 1969
• Marvin Gaye, 1983
• Whitney Houston, 1991
• The Chicks, 2003
• Christina Aguilera, 2011
• Fergie, 2018
• Fergie/Warriors remix, 2018

This episode is sponsored by Nubian Vibes Yoga and Retreats. Get ready to de-clutter the mind, replenish the body, and revive the soul through yoga. Nubian Vibes Yoga and Retreats is excited to offer virtual and in-person yoga classes and yoga retreats.  Connect with your favorite instructor and fellow yogis without all of the stressors of the world. The founder, Taja, might even host a beach yoga class at a location near you! Subscribe to their newsletter, issa Yoga Vibes, to be the first to know about their offerings and resources: tinyurl.com/issayogavibesretreats.

Check out Shared History, a history and comedy podcast about the overlooked and underrepresented people and events from ancient to modern history. Join comedians Cass and Natalie for an educational, entertaining and sometimes irreverent romp through history as they share the tales your textbooks glossed over, whitewashed, man-washed...or left out completely.

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