• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

National Anthem: Star Spangled Banner vs America the Beautiful......

Which Song do you Think Should be the US National Anthem?

  • Total voters
    18

MMC

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
56,981
Reaction score
27,029
Location
Chicago Illinois
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Private
The Star Spangled Banner vs. America The Beautiful.....



In The United States of America, our National Anthem is The Star Spangled Banner. It has been so since it was made official by congressional resolution on May 3, 1931. The lyrics are taken from a poem titled “The Defense of Fort McHenry”, written by amateur poet Francis Scott Key in 1814 after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by The British Navy in The War of 1812. There are actually four stanzas to the song, but only the first is commonly sung or played today.

The song has a rich history, being inspired by the perseverance of the American spirit in battle, and the American flag itself. What it isn’t is easy to sing, with an octave range that is challenging to even the best of singers. Many Americans consider it to be militaristic, and for many years, people have lobbied for it to be replaced by what they believe to be a better representation of our nation, America The Beautiful.

This is no new movement. America The Beautiful was written in 1893 by Katharine Lee Bates – a thirty-three year old English professor from Wellesley College – as she traveled by train across our great nation. Her inspiration was her awe for what she witnessed, very much like Francis Scott Key almost a century before.

Perhaps the preference comes down to whether you’re a “spacious skies” or a “bombs bursting in air” kind of person.....snip~

The Star Spangled Banner vs. America The Beautiful | Cutting Edge Entertainment

So which do you Prefer to be the Country's National Anthem.....The Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful?
 
Last edited:
Well first, I'll tell you right off you're going to get someone, most likely someone who leans left, whose going to come in and say "What about 'This Land is Our Land!'" because that's what happens pretty much in every one of these. Similarly, you'll probalby have someone...likely that leans right...putting forward "God Bless America" as an option as well. Typically it's always down to those four when these discussions come up.

Personally, I prefer to keep the Star Spangled Banner and see no good reason to change what's been our anthem for nearly a century. The country was born through a "milatistic" situation...we fought for our Freedom. I have no issue with a song having an uplifting patriotic military bent to it. The one argument I keep hearing people say is it's hard to sing....meh, that's not a reason to change for me.
 
MMC said:
So which do you Prefer to be the Country's National Anthem.....The Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful?
Click to expand...

Personally the Star Spangled Banner (when not mangled by some singer) always brings a tear to my eyes when I hear it.
 
Personally I see no logical reason to change it :shrug: its history is solid and just. SO i wouldnt push to have it changed im content.

Now with that being said, if they put it to a national vote I "might" vote for America the beautiful, i just think its a better flowing song but admittedly thats a poor reason to make it a national anthem.

As far as this land is our land and god bless america, for me those arent on the same level as the two in the OP.
 
I'm tossed - the Star Spangled Banner does indeed have a rich history, but then America the Beautiful does as well.

Star Spangled Banner
Pros: Current National Anthem, History, well-known, rousing lyrics
Cons: Very difficult to sing, lyrics cover but a single historical event

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
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.

America the Beautiful
Pros: Beautiful song, well known, lyrics span the nation, lauding our land and its people, emotive lyrics
Cons: Can't think of any other than it's not our current anthem

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

I have to cast my vote for America the Beautiful
 



Mornin AJ. :2wave: Yeah a lot of singers say the SSB is harder to sing. Although, I don't care for any adding to it either.

Yeah the other two really don't beat out American The Beautiful.
 

I tend to agree with the whole "if there is no reason to change it, don't" line of thinking in most cases. I think in this case if it came down to it and I had a vote, I would probably go with America the Beautiful however, just because musically it is both better sounding, and not a British drinking song. Not something I would campaign for or put any real effort into though. Both songs are plenty worthy of being a national anthem.
 
I could not care much less.


Btw, I think both are rather dull.

The Russian national anthem...now there is a nationalistic song with some oomph behind it.

Russian National Anthem - YouTube
 
Last edited:
I'm voting for The Replacements "Beer for Breakfast"
 

Frankly, I'd prefer the Battle Hymn of The Republic. :mrgreen:

 
America the beautiful is easier to sing, but I wouldn't actively try to get the national anthem changed.
 

I will say of the three commonly referenced "replacements", America the Beautiful would be the only one I'd feel okay with going to and wouldn't really be bothered by.
 
MMC said:
Mornin AJ. :2wave: Yeah a lot of singers say the SSB is harder to sing. Although, I don't care for any adding to it either.

Yeah the other two really don't beat out American The Beautiful.
Click to expand...

morning MMC

yeah the SSB CAN be hard to sing especially if you dont practice it and think ahead and start to high. We've all seen even great singers make this mistake

Whitney Houston may be my favorite around 90 before she had her "issues"


and as far as America the beautiful id have to pick Ray Charles version, it was epic in my opinion.
 


Oh hell yeah.....good call on Ray Charles. His version too.


 
I would suggest that Americans amend the Star Spangled Banner by refusing to sing the line "and the land of the free" until American freedom is restored.
 
The bellicose SSB is nearly impossible for all but the best trained singers to wrangle It is a tribute to our sides survival in a single battle rather than an observational ode to the nations timeless perpetual beauty.
ATB has my vote
 
Risky Thicket said:
I would suggest that Americans amend the Star Spangled Banner by refusing to sing the line "and the land of the free" until American freedom is restored.
Click to expand...

Heya RT. :2wave: Bye Bye American Pie.....huh?

 

Is the Flag in the picture made of silk?
 
MMC said:
Oh hell yeah.....good call on Ray Charles. His version too.


Click to expand...

yeah he did it at the world series not to long after 9/11 and heres a live version i like a lot, doesnt start till about the 1:45 mark


world series

just something about his delivery and timing I like. And also the rasp in his voice just makes it seem perfect IMO.
 

I have to say, I think you lot should stick with the Star Spangled Banner. It's a great, interesting, rousing song with lots of history behind it, and it comes from an era steeped in your country's national mythos.

Militaristic? Maybe. Difficult to sing? Certainly. Even so.

The Marseillaise remains the national anthem of France, because of the historical and cultural importance it evokes. The Marseillaise has to be the bloodiest anthem in the world (some lines, if you don't know, sing of slicing peoples' throats and using their blood to water French fields -- really nice guys), but it comes from the time of the Revolution, and is thus hugely important in the French national psyche (as well as a pretty catchy tune to boot!).

Hell, 'God Save the Queen' is boring, arcane, and not nearly as cool or 'bad-ass' as the Marseillaise (or the Star-Spangled Banner for that matter), but we pretty much have to keep it, for the cultural continuity, despite having way better and more 'bad-ass' pro-Britain songs (check out Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory or Rule Britannia if you want a taste).

I think you should keep it.
 


I think most would Prefer the Star Spangled banner over America the Beautiful. Even though they don't sing all the stanzas to the Star Spangled banner. Although here we only have 12 that have responded so far.
 
MMC said:
I think most would Prefer the Star Spangled banner over America the Beautiful. Even though they don't sing all the stanzas to the Star Spangled banner. Although here we only have 12 that have responded so far.
Click to expand...

I chose Star Spangled banner. Both are great songs, but America the Beautiful is more solemn, and I like a more fast moving upbeat song. I guess. And that's our flag!

Greetings, MMC. :2wave:
 
polgara said:
I chose Star Spangled banner. Both are great songs, but America the Beautiful is more solemn, and I like a more fast moving upbeat song. I guess. And that's our flag!

Greetings, MMC. :2wave:
Click to expand...

Yeah Lady P.....I agree with you. I like a fast upbeat tempo too. Here is the Chicago Blackhawks National Anthem Singer when he did the Da Bears Game on 9/11.



Chicagoans luv this guy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…