Request for the Shocker Band

[Shox21]

Okay. I admit it. I'm sentimental and a pushover for our National Anthem. I love it when the fans all sing the Anthem, but the last stanza just kind of gets lost in a flurry of horns. The Band's rendition of the Stars Spangled Banner is really cool and great for an instrumental with all the flares and runs at the end, but it plays havoc with the fans trying to stay with them. If just the last stanza could be toned down to let the vocals shine through a little (and maybe everyone, instrumental and vocal, all end up together), I think it would make the whole singing of the National Anthem so much more stirring.

[WstateU]

I've told my musically inclined Mrs. the same thing; it's simply ackward at the end and could be totally awesome. Dancin' Don Hall and the WSU media people could do a better job encouraging fans to participate. "We request that all 10,500 (+/-) here tonight join us in singing the national anthem." It's not rocket science; about half of the people in my section sing, but fade towards the end. I'm always dissappointed following the anthem knowing we missed another opportunity to make it special; I'm sure they (WSU media relations) read Shockernet and I hope we see a change in the near future.

[OTR Shockfan]

PLAY it .... and SING it the way it was written !! ,, But sorry I won't be singing ,, I Still lock it up for the National anthem from start to AFTER the last note. Semper fi !!

[SPEShox25]

I don't understand why they don't have someone sing the anthem anymore.

[pinstripers]

I don't understand why they don't have someone sing the anthem anymore.

Yeah. I really liked this the first time, and would like to continue doing it, but not every time.

[WuShock16]

The one good thing about a band playing it is that it'll be performed generally as written by the particular composer, which usually is a straight-forward manner. When a vocalist performs it, it can easily go off the rails. Words can get forgotten (it is harder than you think for a soloist---I've flubbed words before). Also, what is more maddening is when the vocalist takes his/her own liberties with it.

"...land of the free----EEEEEEEE EEEEEE EEEEEE..."

That absolutely drives me bonkers! I'm all for artistic expression...except on that song.

[The 'hut]

I love having the crowd sing the National Anthem. Find a middle school band arrangement so we can really sing along. Section 126 rocks it far better than any soloist, but the ending to this arrangement isn't made for vocal accompaniment. BTW, this is in my wheelhouse as my mother was a music instructor and I have been singing in choirs since I was a child. (At WSU we had at least two Miss Kansas' in the choir while I was there. Maybe that is why I sang even though I was a non music major. I can't even follow the conductor as his cues don't match any lyrics in the final phrase.

[Shockers5150]

The end is dumb... I guess we should all sing home of the brave like they play it. That would be funny