Posted on 05/30/2006 6:50:30 PM PDT by WildPlum
A controversial Spanish version of the US national anthem was given its first live performance at Ellis Island -- the former immigration gateway to the United States.
"We chose Ellis Island because of the obvious symbolism it has for the whole American immigrant experience," said New York-based British music producer Adam Kidron.
Kidron, 46, provoked a heated debate last month when his recording label, Urban Box Office (UBO), released "Nuestro Himno" (Our Anthem), a Spanish version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" which he hoped would become a rallying song for protest marches against immigration reform.
Tuesday's event coincided with the launch by UBO of an album "Somos Americanos" (We Are Americans) which features the anthem and other songs about the immigrant experience by artists from across the United States and Latin America.
"Nuestro Himno" became the target of angry criticism on its release, with US President George W. Bush echoing others who argued that the national anthem should be sung in English.
"We're not political. We didn't do this to create a big stink," Kidron said. "But the fact is that the worst thing you can do is make people leave their culture at the border, because that's not what made America great."
The mini-concert on Ellis Island in the middle of New York harbour was held under a white marquee with the skyline of downtown Manhattan offering an impressive backdrop.
The island was formerly used as a processing station for millions of immigrants seeking entry into the United States. It is now a museum.
After a group of schoolchildren sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" in its original form, an a cappella trio from the Dominican Republic, Voz a Voz, sang the Spanish version.
One of the trio, Gio D'Olio, said he was unfazed by the controversy surrounding the "Nuestro Himno" recording, on which his group was just one of many featured artists.
"When you do something for the first time, you're always going to have differences of opinion," D'Olio said.
"But we haven't changed the music or the lyrics. Music is the same language for everybody in the world," he added.
The only thing a Spanish Star Spangled banner does for me is piss me off.
Does it really start, "Jose can you see?"
It's really not that hard to learn another language. Especially when you're immersed in it.
Somebody need their --- kicked for allowing this kind of crap to happen. This is a disgrace.
Yes, quite ironic that.
If you ignore them long enough, maybe they'll go away.
That cracked me up
Their nations are the step children of Spain. They ruined them so now they want to jam into this "Anglo" nation. Where the money is. England colonized North America and the rest is history. We have English law, English language and our ruling classes and presidents were very Anglo for a long time.
England warred with Spain for centuries. This immigration invasion is a bastardized continuation of it
This is so very fuc*ing WRONG!!!!
not to be confused with the state department translations so non-english speakers know what the anthem is saying.
This is a spanish REVISIONIST anthem. It is NOT the original words translated.
I learned a saying. Tu madre comemos mi carne. Hey, you have to be diversified.
"Bring us your tired, your poor, your emboldened masses infected with TB... The wretched refuse of all other shores... Send these, who work the system, no matter the cost to me... I empty my pockets and open my doors!"
Just keep pissing off us American's.....yeah, that's the ticket....
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