Today, March 3, 2024, is National Anthem Day
I decided today’s post will be about my experiences singing The National Anthem at baseball games–and auditioning to sing it at the big league parks.
As you can probably surmise, I haven’t been successful in those auditions at the big stadiums.
But I haven’t stopped trying.
In the mid-1990s, a new minor-league team, the Valley Cats, then-affiliated with the Houston Astros, came to Troy, New York, about fifteen miles from my house. I called and asked if they were looking for people to sing the National Anthem before games. They were new to town and asked what my singing experience was. I mailed them a copy of my CD, “Singing Along with the Radio.” They never even asked me if I could hit the high notes in our anthem, which has a very wide range within its notes. They said, “Sure, come on over. Here’s your first date.”
Now, one thing that drives me crazy is people who try to turn the National Anthem into a pop song or rhythm-and-blues tune by changing the notes or screaming throughout the song, which only lasts, I must admit, for less than two minutes. I sing it “straight”–the way I learned in grammar school. I guess I’m just old school in so many ways.
I also find it inexcusable when people forget the words. That may sound harsh, but that’s my opinion.
The first time I sang on the field, I was admittedly nervous. I didn’t know what to wear or how to present myself on the field. I decided to wear black pants and a nice top. I didn’t want to wear “fan gear,” because I didn’t want to make a statement about a particular team.
I walked by the home team dugout (the Valley Cats) and noticed a number of players speaking Spanish. I said a few words to them in Spanish. Little did I know that a couple of them would make it to Major League Baseball! One was Jose Altuve. He was even shorter than I am!
I picked up the microphone, and it was like magic to me. I’ve been singing in public since I was four years old. I’d practiced the Anthem at home, sure, but this was a powerful experience.
When I finished, I climbed the steps up to the free seat they had given me. I can’t tell you how many people approached me to compliment me for the fact that I didn’t try to make it a performance. After all, I believe in having respect for our country and its anthem.
For the next few years, I sang it regularly. Then management changed and they started having National Anthem contests and auditions. I didn’t think I needed to audition, so I gave it up.
Then, I had a chance to audition for the Red Sox at their first Winter Weekend. The audition went well; they asked me if I could sing “God Bless America.” I did that, too. They asked if I could sing the Canadian National Anthem.I told them I could learn it. They asked if I would have difficulty in standing on the field and having to deal with echoes. I told them I’d announced a full game a Fenway Park and didn’t think it would be a problem (that’s for another blog at another time). I thought I’d done well during the audition.
Not so fast.
The person who judged the auditions was someone who puts all kinds of trills and changes the Anthem’s tune. She asked me why I didn’t embellish the song. I replied that I sang it the way it’s written. She frowned. “You must be more creative,” she replied, then she sang her version, which took about three minutes to complete.
I wasn’t impressed. She could read by the expression on my face that I didn’t like her version, so she selected three other people who had auditioned after me to sing at Fenway.
I was, to say the least, devastated. But, ob-la-dee, ob-la-dah, life goes on.
I remain committed to respecting my country, my flag, and my anthem by singing it the way I do. I might be able to sing harmony with another person, but that’s my limit. Integrity has to come from somewhere, right?
My late parents would be proud that I stand my ground. After all, they’re the ones who instilled this in me.
Hi, Wanda,
I’m sure your late parents would be proud of you. I am, too! From your blogs, I know you as a person of impeccable integrity. We need more like you in the world.
Every time I hear the National Anthem, I stand and place my hand over my heart. Even at home. We heard it often, growing up as Army Brats. It still brings tears to my eyes when sung as it was written. Thank you for sticking to your principles.
Blessings,
Patty
Thanks, Patty. I still get a thrill when I sing the National Anthem!
In my opinion, the National Anthem is a song that doesn’t need any personal style. How cool it must have been to sing it in a stadium for so many people!
It was cool, Karen. I don’t think the National Anthem needs embellishment, either. I will say that once I heard the Gatlin Brothers sing it in four-part harmony, but they didn’t change the melody. Two friends of mine, Reggie Harris and David Roth, sang it many years ago for the Chicago Bulls. They also did it in harmony, but didn’t change the melody. I can live with that!
Hi Wanda,
One of my dreams is to sing the German National Anthem in the Alliance Arena in Munich. I haven’t got there yet, but I haven’t given up on my dream either.
I don’t mind an embellishment of the National Anthem for the USA as long as it is done well and comes from the heart. I stand and salute when I hear the National Anthem for the USA. It is a beautiful song that makes me aware of my origins. No, the USA is not perfect, but it is the land of freedom that allowed me to learn and serve as a United States Soldier.
Don’t give up on that dream.
Shalom shalom
Hi Pat–Wouldn’t that be cool, if you could sing the German National Anthem in the Alliance Arena in Munich? I’ve got my fingers crossed that you’ll get too do it!
Kudos to you, Wanda! I’m like you and frown when the National Anthem is altered during all the latest sports events. It makes me cringe every time it happens. Calling a baseball game had to be a challenge. Did you have to memorize details about each player to mention in between pitches? Keep on blogging!
Hi John–No, I didn’t have to memorize anything about the players. I was the public address announcer, not the play-by-play person. I was doing things like, “Now batting…the second baseman…number 15…Dustin Pedroia…” I had a producer working with me to tell me exactly what to say. I had a script, which is more than I have when I’m on the radio every Saturday night.
Wanda, let me try again to leave a comment. This will be try #3. As I said in the other two, it is amazing the amount of activities you are involved in, and how much good you do!!
It’s here, Maura Beth! Thanks so much for your comment! Let’s see if I survive this year’s 30 days worth of blogging!
Hi Wanda, good for you ,standing by your priciples. More of us would benefit from following that tactic. I had no idea you were the great singer you are. My Dad used to make me enter singing competitions when I was young. I didn’t always win. I still sing when I’m doing the housework, nothing as grand as your achievements.
Hi Wanda. I don’t understand why someone would want to embellish the National Anthem either. If its not done well, it can be a disaster; like trying to rewrite the tune. I like listening to a gifted singer do the song justice. You are a credit to your parents and the way they raised you. Your passions and your sense for fairness and justice are something to be admired. I appreciate you showing us your passions.
Have a wonderful day.
P.S. Some of your comments are disappearing in your blogs. I even think one of your blogs is gone because I wrote a comment on a blog talking about how cheap a stamp used to be and now I can’t find it. There are comments in your first couple of blogs and on the tour page about it.
What a great topic. I don’t mind variations of the national anthem. I have heard some beautiful voices sing it and have appreciated them all… just as I do the original version. I am not standing at the moment with my hand over my chest… not until I see some major changes in “our” country… the one that’s supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave. That anthem and that flag are supposed to stand for a lot more than what some of our citizens (and even those who are seeking asylum for a better life for their family… their kids) are being shown right now, and until it changes, I won’t be. I am from a family of MANY service men and women (2 grandfathers, my father, 3 brothers, 8 uncles, 9 cousins – male and female – 3 didn’t return home) and I honor and am so grateful for their service and sacrifice, just as I am for all the many other service men and women who have fought, and those who today sacrifice for our freedoms. The REVERENCE I have for them has nothing at all to do with whether I stand and salute and cover my heart.
I also get a kick out of looking around with a snarl, daring someone to tell me how I should be standing up.
Thanks for the post.
I completely understand what you’re saying. I don’t stand as I used to. I guess people just think, “Yeah, she’s old. She has artificial knees…I understand where you’re coming from. After all, I am married to a conscientious objector who actually went into the Army but wouldn’t carry a gun, and they still sent him to Vietnam.
I am so confused about how our country got to the place it’s in now, Nonnie. I have worked so hard and in so many capacities to help improve it, and improve the quality of life for the people I meet. My latest book was intended to be a bit of a spoof on Hallmark movies, but I couldn’t help myself from dabbling into social justice issues! I guess that’s just who I am…