Didn’t click, not interested in another torturing of the National Anthem by an aspiring cover band no matter their bonafides as vets or whatever. From Hendrix forward, the need for “musicians” to imprint their stamp on this piece is just uncalled for, IMO. There are few that can do it right (Hendrix was not one, IMO, my baby boomer peers can just suck on it) and everybody else needs to put down their mike and their “axe.”
I woke up this morning thinking of this anthem.
I thought of how it reflects the relatively strong gospel sense of early America. Many groups of Christians who broke off from the mainstream because they devoted themselves to a manner of worship that got not just the official frown but active (and un-Christian) mistreatment from the older congregations they had lived among, came to the shores of the USA. The result was a unique gospel environment, certainly badly and often tragically flawed (chattel slavery anyone?), but one which had only been rivaled in the 1st and 2nd century church. The whole song can be easily interpreted via biblical metaphors.
I agree the traditional melody, which this band frequently leaves behind, carries the sense better. But don’t be so quick to pooh-pooh the attempt to carry the spirit in vessels that aren’t traditional. Even if it fails, we understand what they mean. If we do not like the format, our answer should be to improve it.
And incidentally, the fact that the original manages to harness the tune of the very pagan “To Anacreon In Heaven” — and give it a sober kick-ass power that it never had as a drinking song — is a testimony to the conquering Christ. Christ does not stand on worldly ceremony and is not daunted at all from His resolute mission by small minded people’s hoots at Him (though He is grieved). He owns the entire world. He paid for it. We (as Christians) are in a mop up operation now, clearing out the devils as God sets up the battles which also train us. Those who all their lives stubbornly refuse to join the spiritual revolution, the revolt against Satan, will go to where their captors will also go, which is to infernal regions.
It is very well done and gave me chill bumps. But I'm still an old rocker at heart! :)
Well, I’ll stick up for you. I am a HUGE Jimi Hendrix fan to this day & I didn’t care for it, either (At 13 or 14 yrs old, I was pretty indignant).
I don’t care if anyone thinks I’m a purist or tighta## or what. Some things are sacred. I wouldn’t like it if anybody messed with Dixie, either.