Ben Harper playing lap steel at the NBA finals

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 13 Jun 2007 8:38 pm

According to the New York Times, 9.5 million people watched Game 3 (the game in question) on television. I don't know how many watched in person.

It's a big deal - basketball is one of the major US sports, not as big as baseball or (American) football in most areas of the US, but still pretty significant.

Gerard Ventura · Post by **Gerard Ventura** » 13 Jun 2007 8:47 pm

Alan F. Brookes wrote:
Americans, will you put up with anything ?

Television has a numbing, pacifying effect, particularly when you watch it 4 hrs a day.

In other words, yes

Craig Prior · Post by **Craig Prior** » 13 Jun 2007 9:15 pm

He trotted out in front of 9.5 million people, sat down, and proceeded to play the national anthem... including getting a little gritty at the end. In that situation I would have been scared sh#$less.

I feel that he did a fantastic job.

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 13 Jun 2007 9:18 pm

I can't wait for Game 4 (or The Beelzebub Memorial Figure Skating Finals) to see which of you righteous geniuses-without-sin gets the call.

Craig Prior · Post by **Craig Prior** » 13 Jun 2007 9:28 pm

I guess that applies to me too...

We are the righteous geniuses,
......... without sin
We sit in judgement of all you do,
......... you can never win
When you get the call to strut your stuff,
We give it thumbs down, "Not good enough!"
We are the righteous geniuses,
......... let the games begin!!!

No angry posts, please. Just my idea of a joke.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 14 Jun 2007 1:09 am

I repeat what I said on the IGS forum: Imagine walking in to sit down on a chair in front of thousands (and millions on TV I guess) to play one song for two minutes. I would be quite nervous and most probably not play as well as I could after warming up with a song or two or if playing in a more comfortable environment.

Ben Harper has turned many younger people, myself included, onto lap steel, and I think he deserves a lot more respect than he's getting in this thread. So it wasn't great - what's the big deal? Bob Brozman said on the IGS forum "I'd rather hear Ben play it than Celine Dion singing it". What about you guys?

Alan F. Brookes wrote:I'm not sn American, so the song means nothing to me. But if I were, I would be appalled at this and the Jimi Hendix effort. Don't even mention the Rosanne "performance". If someone played the British national anthem like this at the FA Cup Final the whole country would be up in arms.

Americans, will you put up with anything ? What happened to the sense of national pride ?

If I were American, I would find plenty of things more upsetting than Ben Harper playing the national anthem with distorion.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 14 Jun 2007 2:24 am

Brad and Craig nailed it. It's a notoriously difficult song and he had to play it solo on lap steel in front of huge audience in a nerve-wracking venue. The millions of people are basketball fans - not BH fans, per se. If he was a little shakey at the start, heseemed to have a 4th quarter rally. Hats off to Ben!

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 14 Jun 2007 5:53 am

"I'd rather hear Ben play it than Celine Dion singing it". What about you guys?"

That's for sure!

and this...."I can't wait for Game 4 (or The Beelzebub Memorial Figure Skating Finals) to see which of you righteous geniuses-without-sin gets the call." is inappropriate when others are voicing an honest opinion of a musician's performance....

Pete Blakeslee · Post by **Pete Blakeslee** » 14 Jun 2007 6:55 am

It is a shame that Mr. Harper couldn't play "America The Beautiful", which I am sure many of us have heard played to extraordinary effect at many steel conventions by many players. Instead, we get "The Star Spangled Banner", and I don't envy anyone the task of trying to get that tune to sound good.

Pete Blakeslee

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 14 Jun 2007 4:47 pm

To me, a country's national anthem is a serious thing. It should be played with deference. If you can't have a brass band there, then don't play it at all. To insult the anthem is to insult the people it represents.

I was appalled by the Vietnam War, and the way the military were abused, just like I'm appalled at the way the current administration uses the military for their own private police action, which they like to call a war to get support. I was also appalled at the Jimi Hendrix performance.

Too many people think they have a monopoly on patriotism.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 14 Jun 2007 4:58 pm

Alan F. Brookes wrote:If you can't have a brass band there, then don't play it at all.

Jeez, Alan, now you're gettin' "over the top!"

Some of the finest renditions of the Star Spangled Banner I have heard have been done by vocalists, a capella.

The song does have lyrics, after all.

As I wrote earlier - I wasn't real impressed with Ben's performance myself - but I have read a number of interviews with him, like a lot of his music, and I'm impressed with Ben.

Check out some of his stuff!

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 14 Jun 2007 5:06 pm

Wow, I had no idea.........

The Star Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)

"O say, can you see by the dawn's early light..."
As a national anthem, the familiar first verse of Francis Scott Key's is known to many, but how many know the complete original poem?

O say, can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? -
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming!
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb's bursting in air,
Gave proof through 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 that shore dimly seen through 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, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the beam, 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 washed 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!

O, thus be it ever where freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In god is our trust";
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key was an attorney and an amateur poet and hymnist. He is best known as the author of "The Star Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States. His poem, which was later set to the music of the English drinking song "To Anacreon in Heaven", gave new meaning to an ordinary garrison flag and is a symbol of pride and patriotism across the United States.

Key was born on August 1, 1779 in Frederick, Maryland. He grew up on his family's estate, known as "Terra Rubra", and attended grammar school before graduating form St. John's College at seventeen. Key had established his law practice by 1805 in Georgetown, Maryland, and had appeared before the Supreme Court on several occasions by 1814. Key was a religious man, and, although opposed to the war, he served for nearly one year in the Georgetown Light Field Artillery.

Key wrote "The Star Spangled Banner " in 1814, following Britain's attack on Fort McHenry in Baltimore. As the twenty-five-hour bombardment on the fort ended with the British retreat, Key looked out a porthole found that the American flag "was still there." This image along with America's victory over the British inspired him to pen the poem that would become our national anthem.

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 14 Jun 2007 5:32 pm

And some other interesting history..........

Star-Mangled Banner
A look at some controversial, and botched, renditions of our national anthem

by John Gettings

Since World War II the Star-Spangled Banner has become a permanent fixture at sports events in the United States. And over the last 30 years artists have gradually made non-traditional renditions of the song commonplace.

Frequency doesn't necessarily breed acceptance, however. While America may seem less surprised by new renditions of the national anthem, it still considers the song's performance a litmus test for patriotism.

Jose Feliciano
Oct. 7, 1968
Puerto Rican blind singer/guitarist Jose Feliciano stunned the crowd at Tiger Stadium in Detroit, and the rest of America, when he strummed a slow, bluesy rendition of the national anthem before Game 5 of the World Series between Detroit and St. Louis. The 23-year-old's performance was the first nontraditional version seen by mainstream America, and it is generally considered the Lexington and Concord of Star-Spangled Banner controversies. The fiery response from Vietnam-weary America was not surprising, considering the tumultuous year for American patriotism. Good or bad, however, Feliciano's performance opened the door for the countless interpretations of the Star-Spangled Banner we hear today.

Jimi Hendrix
Aug. 17, 1969
It wasn't a sports event, but it was controversial. During the final set of the historic Woodstock music festival Jimi Hendrix let loose with a rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner on electric guitar that's been called everything from the most important political rock statement of the 1960s, to an afterthought caught in one of Hendrix's worst performances. It was his first gig since the breakup of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and all but 10% of the festival's 400,000 concert goers stayed for his Monday morning set. But there was no question the performance was controversial. Even today, music scholars can't agree on what message, if any, Hendrix's screaming guitar and ballistic feedback was trying to deliver.
[Note: Hendrix's entire Woodstock set, including the Star-Spangled Banner, can be heard on the 1999 MCA release Jimi Hendrix Live at Woodstock.]

Marvin Gaye
Feb. 13, 1983
A little more than a week before Motown legend Marvin Gaye picked up two Grammy Awards for his classic "Sexual Healing," he performed the national anthem before the 1983 NBA All-Star Game at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Accompanied by a drum machine, Gaye's interpretation added elements of soul and funk to the national anthem. Gaye, who, coincidently, also sang the anthem during the same World Series as Jose Feliciano in 1968, was scrutinized for his performance, but the fallout didn't compare to that of Feliciano's rendition. The NBA players were most receptive. Especially Gaye fan Julius Erving, who loved the performance and went on to win game MVP honors.
[Note: Gaye's performance is the first track of the 1996 Polygram compilation NBA at 50: Musical Celebration.]

Roseanne Barr
July 25, 1990
The poster child for Star-Spangled Banner controversy, Barr (whose last name and reputation were still intact at this time) tried to add her own brand of humor to the singing of the national anthem before a baseball game in San Diego. After screeching through an off-key version of the song she added some clichéd baseball humor by spitting and grabbing her crotch. The popular sit-com comedian immediately became public enemy number one. After hearing a tape of Barr, President George Bush called it "disgusting" and "a disgrace."

Aerosmith
May 27, 2001
Singing on Memorial Day before the start of the Indianapolis 500, Steven Tyler, lead singer of the rock group Aerosmith, angered veterans by changing the last line of the song. Instead of singing "home of the brave," Tyler sings "home of the Indianapolis 500." He apologized the next day, releasing the following statement: "I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth. I'm very proud to be an American and live in the home of the brave."

And then there are the unforgettable performances where we watched confident artists painfully struggle with this very difficult song. Here are two examples:

Robert Goulet
May 25, 1965
Although he was born in the United States, Robert Goulet moved to Canada when he was 14 years old and had never sang the Star-Spangled Banner in public before May 25, 1965. That night, moments before the much-anticipated rematch of boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine, Goulet began, "Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early night..." The bout lasted less than one round, and the disappointing fight didn't provide a big enough shadow for Goulet's performance to hide behind. Although he's done it without incident hundreds of times since, Goulet says he is always asked about his infamous flub.

Carl Lewis
Jan. 21, 1993
There's no question nine-time Olympic track-and-field gold medallist Carl Lewis can carry a baton—as he did many times for U.S. Olympic relay teams—but how about a tune? Before a Chicago Bulls–New Jersey Nets basketball game, in front of a sellout crowd in East Rutherford, N.J., Lewis orchestrated the musical equivalent of a train wreck. Later explaining that he was hoarse from participating in inaugural events at the White House the day before, Lewis faltered during the lyric "rockets red glare," and then mid-song told the fans, "I'll make up for it." He never did.

wt golden · Post by **wt golden** » 14 Jun 2007 11:55 pm

I don't want to cause a ruckus here - but I have never been a fan of the thought that a national anthem MUST be played with a brass band. I have heard people complain about vocal ornamentation of the Star Spangled Banner and say that it shouldn't be messed with - but really, isn't any arrangement of the song, "messing" with the song. Francis Scott Key didn't imagine a symphonic band when wrote the poem to the tune of an old drinking song. [br][br]I am not sure that a brass band arrangement is any more valid than an string quartet arrangement of the tune - or a solo guitar arrangement - or a solo voice arrangement. Is an opera singer singing the song better than an R&B singer? [br][br]I think if the song is treated with respect - no matter what the ensemble is - the performance is true. You might not be crazy about the arrangement - but I think (especially for a national anthem) it represents the variety of the people the song stands for. [br][br]While I think Ben Harper had a few technical problems with his performance (playing in front of 9 million people can do that to you) - I think that it was respectful rendition of the song, and I enjoyed hearing his take on it. [br][br] Just my two cents.

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 15 Jun 2007 4:25 am

Alan F. Brookes wrote:To me, a country's national anthem is a serious thing. It should be played with deference. If you can't have a brass band there, then don't play it at all.

Actually, the belief in the inalienable right to play one's own national anthem on ANY instrument and at any skill level was one of the lesser known reasons for the American Revolution.

Gerard Ventura · Post by **Gerard Ventura** » 15 Jun 2007 6:00 am

I think most musicians agree that the Star Spangled Banner is unplayable and unsingable. Especially as a solo act.
Was it the superbowl this year, Billy Joel sang it and the network AutoTuned his voice!! He sounded like Cher singing with that robot voice!!

Also, Mark Twain: “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it".

Rick Alexander · Post by **Rick Alexander** » 15 Jun 2007 6:01 am

If I were American, I would find plenty of things more upsetting than Ben Harper playing the national anthem with distortion.

I am, and I do.

You guys are being pretty harsh on ol' Ben.
I'd probably seize right up in those circumstances.
I think he did very well under extreme duress.
And how the hell can you judge one instrument to be more "patriotic" than another?
Patriotism, if it truly exists, is in the heart.

Bill Blacklock · Post by **Bill Blacklock** » 15 Jun 2007 6:21 am

So the guy was a little off, big deal. He sure nailed this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3q8PIx3BBE

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 15 Jun 2007 6:42 am

And this is a great perfomance by Ben Harper (on teardrop Weissenborn):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb0F2dYKTOM

Many people here were criticising his pitch - try to sing this well and play as good at the same time. Then let's see if you still want to slag him off.

Peace.

Fred

Gary Lynch · Post by **Gary Lynch** » 15 Jun 2007 6:58 am

Here's what a Weissenborn sounds like......Check his break........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXeqblkA6Y0

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 15 Jun 2007 7:40 am

Thanks, Gary, for circulating the words. I guess, as Mark says, it does have lyrics so it has to be sung. I would just like to hear it sung with some dignity.

The lyrics are often quoted as having been written to an old English drinking song. Does anyone have the words for the old drinking song from which it originated?

At least Americans don't have to put up with a National Athem like "God Save the Queen", of which I find objection to almost every single word. Kings and Queens of England over the years have been anything but "Our Gracious King", "Our Noble King", etc. They've historically been a bunch of rascals, and the line "send her victorious" advocates going out and bullying/conquering other peoples, while the line "long to reign over us" puts down any idea of democracy.

There you go, now I've probably upset both sides of the Atlantic. If I go on like this I'll probably become one of those nationless mariners who sail the world without citizenship of any country...

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 15 Jun 2007 7:49 am

Kings and Queens of England over the years have been anything but "Our Gracious King", "Our Noble King", etc. They've historically been a bunch of rascals, and the line "send her victorious" advocates going out and bullying/conquering other peoples, while the line "long to reign over us" puts down any idea of democracy.

It's a good thing the President and politicians in the USA are good, righteous, upstanding and honest individuals who always put the people before the profit.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 15 Jun 2007 7:57 am

The original song "To Anacreon In Heaven" was first published in England circa 1780, probably written by British composer John Stafford Smith. The words were written by Ralph Tomlinson. Both were members of the Anacreontic Club of London. To Anacreon in Heaven was their theme song. The Anacreontic Club was a group of wealthy men who met to celebrate music, food and drink.

Visit http://www.contemplator.com/america/anacreon.html for more information and a MIDI version of the song, with full lyrics.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 15 Jun 2007 7:59 am

I always thought the Star Spangled Banner was written by Leo Kottke's great-uncle Francis Kottke (say it fast).

wt golden · Post by **wt golden** » 15 Jun 2007 8:47 am

haaa - Gerald

The Steel Guitar Forum

Ben Harper playing lap steel at the NBA finals

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