Texan Is Murdered By High A In ‘God Bless America’

Ugh. Every performer has those moments. I’ve played enough recitals to know, and when they happen to others, I feel their horrified and disappointed ‘I blew it’ pain.

But don’t get me started on the singing ‘God Bless America’ at all. Or turning these moments into spectacles rather than all of us participating.

The first game in Miami featured a national anthem singer who managed to sing parts of the song it at least three different keys. I don’t value bad singing at games. This especially true for the celeb of the day ‘singing’ at Wrigley. If we have to do this, do it right or do it pre-recorded.

I'm all for pre-recorded and for fans to participate. I'm not for making each singing some sort of 'concert' or 'performance.' And I'm NOT for singing these things like dirges ... pick a tempo that is conducive to participation rather than to show off your skills. This is why I'd prefer the National Anthem be sung once at the first game of the series ... for all of us ... so it has true meaning, for all of us ... and not have to endure these horrible 'concertizing' spectacles. I find that more disrespectful than anything.

I realize I probably started this back and forth with my comment "But don’t get me started on the singing ‘God Bless America’ at all. Or turning these moments into spectacles rather than all of us participating", so I'm going to remind everyone ... this isn't about anyone's individual patriotism, so let's not go there.

I'm not a fan of the song, never have been, and think Irving Berlin has done much, much, much better than this composition. And I cringe when I hear it. For me, it's not about being patriotic or not, it's just ... ugh ... there are better songs out there, imo. If you want to stay with the patriotic theme, 'America the Beautiful' for instance, is just a beautiful song. Further, at these moments in the game, I think fans should be encouraged to participate ... whether it's singing this song, or any other song ... and this moment has been turned into 'concertizing' rather than encouraging fan participation or appreciation. I just don't like that aspect. At all. And it has nothing to do with my or anyone else's patriotism. Also, 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' has been that tradition for so many years, and I don't like that being supplanted. Again, it has nothing to do with my or anyone else's patriotism.

But back to the article ... whatever the song ... I feel for the performer as one myself. But he'd probably have done better with a better song to sing. And it has nothing to do with my or anyone else's patriotism. So let's not go there.

For the record, at least in Texas, they still do Take Me Out To The Ballgame after God Bless America.

 

And lots of the people in attendance participated in both.

Did they do ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’? That used to be a mainstay and everyone got into it. In San Fran it’s ‘Lights of the City’ and everyone gets into it. I just really dislike these ‘performances’ in the middle of the game. Before or after? Great. Whenever they break and say ‘and now so and so will sing ...’ I groan. More often than not it’s a terrible rendition of whatever. Sometimes it’s so augmented you can’t sing along. And there are times I’ve been shushed for singing along so some do think we’re all just supposed to stand there and listen to the performance. We’re there for the game. Let’s do the traditional thing and move on. That’s just how I feel about it.