This began as a criticism of overproduced, hammy, yowly, look-at-me, as-arranged-by-a-junior-high-assistant-band-director interpretations of the National Anthem. It deteriorated. I blame the Russians.
Does Anyone Sing the National Anthem These Days?
Because Francis Scott Key was all about Who-Whoa-Whoa and Yay-Yay-Yay
A minute or so of recorded music Over-produced in that insta-emo style Then followed by “Whoa whoa yay oh yay whoa Whoa yay yay yay whoa oh yay whoa whoa whoa
Whoa yay oh yay whoa whoa yay yay yay whoa Oh yay whoa whoa whoa whoa yay oh yah Yay whoa whoa yay yay yay whoa oh yay whoa Whoa whoa whoa yay oh yay whoa whoa yay yay
Yay whoa oh yay whoa whoa whoa yay yay It’s all about me-me-me-me-me-meeeeeeeeeeemeeeeeeeeeeeemeeeeeeee!”
Followed by –
Baseball: “Play ball!”
Racetrack: “Gentlemen, start your engines!”
Rodeo: “Gentlemen, start your cattle!”
The federal government’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Lease Sales Close: “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s open your sealed bids!”
School: “Teachers, start your sophomores.”
Austin, Texas City Council: “And now, Comrade Muffin Snort-Ponsonby, BA, MA, MEd, Chair Emerita of the Travis County Sensitivity League, will chant her original composition, “Spiritual Wind-Song Ode to Comrade Stalin.”