When it was revealed that Aretha Franklin was going to be singing at Obama's Inauguration, some wag piped up that Obama really was going to be doing things differently because usually the fat lady sings at the end.
I will leave every other blogger to argue how good the day was or wasn't and concentrate on the one part of the day that amused me as a Brit.
America has its fair share of decent song writers, i dare say they have a few people who could knock out a halfway decent tune if needed so why, at such a prestigious event as the swearing in of the American President, did they nick the tune to God Save The Queen?
A quick google search shows that Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" in 1831 and presumably didn't think anyone would notice if he set it to the tune of the British Monarchy. Obviously the ruling King, William IV, wouldn't of noticed because as the father of 10 Illegitimate children he was probably otherwise engaged in a barn somewhere.
If America is going to steal our tunes there are some much better ones they could put some lyrics to and sing at newly elected Presidents because to be honest, God Save the Queen is a rubbish tune.
With a bit of work i'm sure we could make 'The Star Spangled Banner' fit the tune of the Kaiser Chiefs 'Everyday I Love You Less And Less' and 'Anarchy In The UK' could be the perfect tune to the lyrics of 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'.
Nice to know that us Brits had a role to play in Obama's big day by providing the music.
5 comments:
I was hoping she'd sing Respect.
But did you catch that hat? Wow.
I love that tune, whether souled up by our Queen or sung slow and solemn for yours.
Maybe i have just heard the tune too many times but it just sounds a dirge. I like the French one and yours but ours needs a synth or drum machine or something incorporated into it.
I think it needs to be changed full stop. To 'Land of Hope and Glory' preferably. Or possibly 'Three Lions'.
I would plump for 3 Lions everytime.
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