A jazz singer shocked some Denver residents after replacing the words to the national anthem with those of the “Black National Anthem” during the annual State of the City address this week.
While the words are rather uplifting, many at the event think it was innapropriate to replace the words of the National Anthem with that of another song. Some have also taken an issue with the last line of the song, “True to our native land” as these words may refer to Africa rather than America. The singer later appologized for the act to the Mayor. Later when confronted by Denver news crews recanted her appology.
See the Video of the event Here
Rene Marie was asked to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper delivered the annual address on Tuesday. Instead, she sang the lyrics of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — a hymn commonly referred to as the “Black National Anthem” — to the tune of the national anthem, MyFOXColorado.com reported.
“If anyone has got a right to be angry it’s probably me,” Hickenlooper told the station. “I guess what I feel most is just deeply disappointed.”
The mayor said only Marie, her husband and a musical adviser knew what the local jazz singer had in mind.
“What she said was that she was very sorry, that she meant no disrespect, that she was trying to make a creative expression of her love for the country,” Hickenlooper said.
But the change in lyrics angered many residents, including City Councilman Charlie Brown.
“I was mad,” he told MyFOXColorado.com. “I almost walked off the stage.”
Brown said the matter needs to be addressed. “There is no substitute for the national anthem.”
Source: foxnews.com via politisite
Here are the Lyrics
LIFT EV’RY VOICE AND SING
also known as “The Black National Anthem”
by James Weldon Johnson
Lift ev’ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
Till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by Thy might,
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
Shadowed beneath thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land. (Source: The Black Network)
This is what the singer said before singing the song
“I wanted to express how I felt about living in this country as a black woman,” Marie said.Once she finished performing, there was a moment of awkward silence and then the crowd gave her mild applause. Marie said she understood why the audience was confused, since the song sounded familiar but the lyrics were different.”Art is supposed to make you think,” Marie told 7NEWS.Some people were offended and others, including the mayor, were caught off guard.”She was making an artistic expression in a ceremonial role, so obviously, that is inappropriate,” Mayor John Hickenlooper said.
Source: thedenverchannel.com via politisite
State of the Anthem: outrage: Comments from people who were at the event
Her performance evoked angry reactions among some of the estimated 700 people at the event.
“There is no substitute for the national anthem. Period,” Councilman Charlie Brown said.
“This is the State of the City address. It’s not an NAACP convention,” he said, referring to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Hickenlooper and his staff said they expected Marie to sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and that they were surprised when she sang something different.
In a statement late Tuesday, Hickenlooper said: “I’m disappointed that this matter has been a distraction from the great work and significant accomplishments of our city employees over the past year and the many important initiatives on tap for the coming year.”
Hickenlooper said in an interview that he spoke to Marie after the ceremony and that she apologized profusely.
The mayor also said that Marie told him she meant no disrespect.
Source: blogs.rockymountainnews.com via politisite
What Others are Saying
Obama’s Definition of New Patriotism on Display in Denver «
She Can’t Be Serious…(part 2 in a series) | Denver Metblogs
NEWS & OPINION ROUNDUP (2 JULY 2008) THE “BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM” EDITION | Democrat=Socialist
Patriotism in Denver: Black national anthem
Patriotism in Denver: Black national anthem
By Michelle Malkin
Out: The Star-Spangled Banner.
In: The Black National Anthem.
Racial separatism at an official government gathering.
Hey, it’s “art!”
Source: michellemalkin.com via politisite
The Politisite Bottom Line:
While Ms. Marie tried to tie the words of theBlack National Anthem with the Music of the National Anthem and meant no disrespect to America or Americans, the attempt at an artistic rendering of emotions felt for America was misplaced. The National Anthem has little to do with art and much more to do with Patriotism. There is no replacement for this song at a public event or governmental address.
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