Yeah, I noticed it sounded different too. Maybe they're trying to Class it up a bit?

[This message has been edited by Cadboy (edited August 27, 2004).]

If the IOC wants to "class up" the National Anthem they should have "The President's Own" - United States Marine Band play it. It doesn't get any better.

I'm not saying it needs classing up, I just think the IOC wanted to give it a more International "flavor" by using stringed instruments, seeing as it was played repeatedly

I know this is going to offend some people, and this is not my intention, but the IOC can go fly a kite. (I would have worded this differently, but then I would really p**s people off.) “International Flavor”, “The Star Spangled Banner” needs to be played as it was intended. Slightly below march tempo, and by an organization that has earned the right to play it, “The President’s Own”. By the way, there are other anthems that sound best when groups with similar instrumentation perform them. If the IOC wants to really class things up they can have “The Stars and Strips Forever” played after “The Star Spangled Banner”. That would be a major improvement. God, I’m such a homey.

All just speculation on my part, correct or incorrect. I agree it should not have been altered.....just seems wrong. It was meant to be majestic, not balletic!

[This message has been edited by Cadboy (edited August 30, 2004).]

Oil Can, what you are saying is perfectly valid.

I wonder what U.S. citizens will think about IOC using synthesizer to play U.S. National Anthem? You know, if they decided to modern it up a little. That would be an insult to this nation.

In this day and age when electronic media transfer is so commonly done, it would make a lot of sense to have each participating country to record their national anthem and send it to IOC.

As shown in this example, relying much on International Committee of this and that may prove to be a disappointment.