The US National Anthem in....Spanish?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:05pm

MIAMI (April 2 - British music producer Adam Kidron says that when he came up with the idea of a Spanish-language version of the U.S. national anthem, he saw it as an ode to the millions of immigrants seeking a better life.

But in the week since Kidron announced the song - which features artists such as Wyclef Jean, hip-hop star Pitbull and Puerto Rican singers Carlos Ponce and Olga Tanon - it has been the target of a fierce backlash.

Some Internet bloggers and others are infuriated by the thought of "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung in a language other than English.

"Would the French accept people singing the La Marseillaise in English as a sign of French patriotism? Of course not," said Mark Krikorian, head of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that supports tighter immigration controls.

The initial version of "Nuestro Himno," or "Our Anthem," comes out Friday and uses lyrics based closely on the English-language original, said Kidron, who heads the record label Urban Box Office.

Pro-immigration protests are planned around the country for Monday, and the record label is urging Hispanic radio stations nationwide to play the cut at 7 p.m. EDT Friday in a sign of solidarity.

A remix to be released in June will contain several lines in English that condemn U.S. immigration laws. Among them: "These kids have no parents, cause all of these mean laws ... let's not start a war with all these hard workers, they can't help where they were born."



Click for a sample of the song and more info Updated On: 4/28/06 at 01:05 PM

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:14pm

Bsobw2 , it sounds awful. I am fluent in spanish and I could barely make out the words with all the moaning. The lyrics , those I could understand, weren't very good.

[Zyla]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:16pm

I think this is a great idea. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the United States has an official language.
(Edit: Just noticed what Chita said...actually, I didn't listen to the sample before I commented...I probably should have. Sorry.)

When I was in grade school (in a predominantly English-speaking area of the US), foreign language teachers would occasionally recite the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish or French over the school's loudspeaker. Once, a student who spoke Russian did so as well.
Updated On: 4/28/06 at 01:16 PM

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:39pm

Well... even though the US has no 'official' language, I'm not sure how I feel about The Star Spangled Banner being sung in Spanish. It does't seem right to me.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:09pm

Because the vatican told you it was wrong? :P

Am I the only person who doesn't really care that our violent national anthem, which has only actually been our national anthem for less than a century, has been translated into Spanish? Just think of it as a repeat of what Francis Scott Key did (take an English tune and set his own lyrics to it), at least the same patriotic idea. Every time anybody does anything to it, people freak out. Who effin' cares? People get their feathers puffed over the stupidest non-issues.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:24pm

This no doubt will result in an entire hour of Bill O'Reilly rant. And of course, itt will give the Bush "base" something to kvetch about about waiting in line to have their $3.25 a gallon gas pumped (notably, by someone "willing to take such a low paying job...", who's humming "...I like to live in America, for a small fee in America!")

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:26pm

It's the War On English! Batten down the hatches!

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:52pm

For what it is worth, I am not happy about this. Specifically if any words were changed or modified. For some reason it bothers me.

But, that is just me.

[wexy]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:53pm

I'm in Brooklyn where there are tons of Russians and many of the store fronts have Russian signs. An African-American woman who was a home attendant for a Russian woman stopped me and asked
"Excuse me , Do you speak Russian?"
I said "No maam, Some of us white people still speak English."

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 2:57pm

The National Anthem survived Roseanne, so it will survive Pitbull.

Really -- The tune is alluded to in opera (Madame Butterfly), musicals (1776), etc. What's the difference here?

[wexy]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:06pm

Calvi, I don't know if you ever saw my '1776' post. I took my sister, her husband and my niece to see the revival. There were a bunch of very agitated Russians arguing amongst themselves as the overture began.

My sister gave them a dirty look. "Deb," I said, "Maybe they thought they were seeing "1917."

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:11pm

Perhaps they should musicalize "State of Revolution."

That reminds me -- the bloggers who are talking about La Marseillaise...have they never listened to the 1812 Overture?

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:21pm

Wexy, you REALLY hate Russians, don't you?

[wexy]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:27pm

No I don't, I like Russians. The 1776 story is funny and so is the other one. You have to be in Bklyn and understand the cultural impact, they've poured lots of money and revitalized alot of neighborhoods but humorous situations happen.

I met a Russian girl of the train that was dying to go out with me, the only drawback was that she was married and she didn't understand why I wouldn't go out with her. More cultural stuff.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 3:47pm

I'm Latina, and this pisses me off. What hypocritical bull****.

Oh, and the arrangement and translation is awful.

Posted: 4/28/06 at 4:02pm

amen sister. quien carajo hizo la traducion?

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 4:55pm

I hate our national anthem anyway. I think it's the most boring song I've ever heard other than "Afternoon Delight." And at least that one had sex in it.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 4:59pm

Like many others, I've always preferred the lesbian-penned alternative.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 5:14pm

YWIW, it bothers me too.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 5:15pm

Political and emotional issues aside, if you are going to do something like this, at least make it GOOD!

I don't mind the anthem being translated - as long as the anthem is as close to the original. Where both the idea and emotion come across.

Sure, there are many immigrants and perhaps it is nice for them - and people all around the world - to undertsand what our anthem means.

That is, as long as they don't play it at sporting events and other functions where they sing the anthem.


wexy - here's another cultural thing of Russians...they talk during shows. In Russia, it isn't considered rude to talk during a performance.
Updated On: 4/28/06 at 05:15 PM

[singingwendy]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:04pm

I often do a unit on the National Anthem in my 5th grade class. The first thing I do is show them a copy of "The Code for the National Anthem of the United States". (the link is below). Then we listen to several different versions, (including Jimi Hendrix and Bela Fleck) and decide if these versions follow "the code". Then for fun we vote on the ones that we like best. It usually ends up with about half of them liking a traditional version, and half liking someone who "made it their own". Which can lead to discussion of artistic interpretation.

Personally, I'm more upset that they changed pitches in the Spanish version, and not being fluent in Spanish, I can't tell you if the translation is any good. However, it will be an interesting thing to add to my collection of "Star Spangled Banners", especially at my one school where the majority of the kids come from Puerto Rico!

The Code for the National Anthem of the United States (interestingly, it says nothing about what language!) Updated On: 4/28/06 at 06:04 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:41pm

as I feel there are more important issues such as the war, people with no healthcare, high gas prices, and many, MANY more.........this silly national anthem thing makes no difference to me....except for the fact that it is a way for Bush to rally the Bubbas around him......

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 4/28/06 at 6:55pm

When one tranlates something from one language to another, the original is often changed. Out of respect for our national anthem I don't think this should happen. Would O Canada be the same in Italian? La Marsellise in Polish? I don't think so. However, I once heard a recording of Mandy Patinkin singing "G-d Bless America" in Yiddish and although it lost something in the translation, it was humorous.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 4/29/06 at 2:40am

actually La Marsellise in Polish would definately sound better, and Oh Canada is not even good in English

all they are, are languages....nothing more. You're acting like this is sacred text.......right from the mouth of Buddha

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 4/29/06 at 2:52am

I'm disgusted that this is a scandal. It's the intention of the singer that matters---not the language used. And, I'm someone who believes that people should learn the language of the country they choose to live in. If I moved to Mexico or France or Japan, I would expect myself to learn Spanish, French or Japanese. And, while America doesn't officially declare English as its language, it did choose English over many choices back in our early years. However, people should not be flogged for not speaking English or for choosing to express themself in a different language.

And whoever fights for a law to make English the official language or official language of the Anthem will cause their party much damage in the elections. The same is true in this immigration debate. Assuming the 2004 election was legit, it was the Hispanic population of Florida that nailed those electoral votes for Bush. Don't think for a second, the community as a whole won't make these issues their number one priority. It's offensive and borderline racist.