Ind. Girl's National Anthem Rendition Stirs Flap

[BrianW]

An Indiana school district that told a black teenager to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" in a "traditional way" after receiving complaints about her performance is drawing questions now about whether the complaints and directive were racially motivated.
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/sto...on-stirs-flap/

If that video is the version that people are complaining about, then some folks need to re-evaluate their priorities, imo
I think the young lady has a beautiful voice & rendition and it's much more respectful than some versions I've seen/heard from "professional artists".

"Principal Jeff Henderson told The Herald-Times in a statement that people had complained that while the words to the anthem were the same, the tune was unrecognizable."
Give me a break!

[Uncle Bill]

Other than her nervousness, she did great! The "Anthem" has 'always' been a difficult piece for any singer...it has a huge range requirement, which is obvious the young lady had a problem with in the key she selected. So many singers try to put it in a key where they can reach both the high notes of the piece, as well as the low notes at the beginning, which she was struggling to do.

But to deride it as being non-traditional is a batch of hooey! In a gym,
a cappella, not on stage, just in the crowd,...how many handicaps should she endure?

I applaud her getting through it at all. Bravo!!!

UB